I have spent more hours than I care to admit trying to get eyeliner to stay on my waterline without looking like a raccoon who just lost a fight. We have all been there, right? You apply a crisp line in the morning, and by your 10:00 AM coffee break, it has migrated halfway down your cheeks. The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil has been around since the dawn of time, and while $23 feels like a lot for a pencil you have to sharpen, I finally stopped trying to find a cheaper thrill. My eyes were the ones paying the price for those dry, scratchy drugstore pens.
Like Butter But For Your Eyelids
The first thing you notice about this pencil is that the name is not lying. It really does glide. There is zero tugging at the delicate skin around my eyes, which is great because I am trying to avoid premature wrinkles for as long as humanly possible. The texture is almost like a melted crayon—creamy, rich, and immediately pigmented. I tested the shade Perversion, which is the matte blackest black I have ever encountered. Seriously, it is darker than my soul before I have had caffeine. It is formulated with Jojoba oil and Vitamin E, so it feels hydrating rather than like you are dragging a piece of charcoal across your lid.
The Rainy Commute Reality Check
I decided to put this to the ultimate test: a rainy Tuesday morning commute followed by a particularly humid afternoon. I did a simple tightline on the upper lash line and a bit of a smudge on the outer corners. Here is how it actually held up in the wild:
- Pigment Payoff: One swipe and you are done. No need to go over the same spot three times.
- Smudge Time: You have about 30 seconds to blend it out before it sets. Once it dries, it is locked in.
- Waterline Wear: It lasted about six hours on my waterline before I saw any fading, which is a record for my watery eyes.
- The "Panda" Factor: I had zero flaking or transfer onto my brow bone, even with my hooded lids.
The Final Verdict
Is it a staple? Absolutely. The only real downside is that because it is so creamy, you do have to sharpen it often to keep a precise point, and you will go through the product faster than a stiffer pencil. But for the comfort and the fact that I do not have to check the mirror every twenty minutes to see if my face is melting, it is worth every penny of that $23. It is a classic for a reason, and sometimes the cult favorites actually live up to the hype.
Who Should Buy This:
- Anyone with sensitive eyes who hates the feeling of "scratchy" pencils.
- People with hooded eyes who struggle with eyeliner transferring to their lids.
- Waterline enthusiasts who need a formula that actually sticks.
Who Should Skip This:
- The "set it and forget it" crowd who hates sharpening pencils.
- Budget-conscious shoppers who can find decent (though less creamy) options at the drugstore for a third of the price.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Lauren