Allure Best of Beauty 2024: Eye Winners

Whether you're a makeup minimalist or maximalist, you're probably picky about what you use on your eyes. And rightfully so! Nothing sabotages an elaborate or low-key look quite like eye shadow fallout, mascara that runs at the first inkling of a tear, or a brow pencil that has no concept of precision. We get it—and we want you to avoid encountering such annoyances, hence our meticulous Best of Beauty testing practices that eliminate the products that let us down and pinpoint our ultimate picks.

We're not talking about one mascara or a single eyeliner here. You'll discover the best of every category's subcategory. Do you want the longest lashes or prefer major volume? We've got you (and every lash) covered. Pencil or liquid liner? You'll get both formats here, in neutral and bright colors. We insist on being thorough because we insist on equipping you with the tools you need to achieve your ideal eye looks.

Now go forth and find the false lashes that will actually make you look forward to applying false lashes, the palette you'll make room for in your carry-on for every trip, and the pomade that's brow-raising in the best way.

Best of Beauty Awards 2024: Eyes

Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best mascaras, brow gels, and eye-shadow palettes.

• Best Mascaras
• Best Eyeliners
• Best Brow Products
• Best Eye Shadows
• Best Eye Shadow Palettes
• Best False Lashes

Why It Won: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Mascara creates such fanned-out volume that people might feel a gentle breeze when you blink near them. The tapered, catch-every-lash brush coats lashes in eye-opening richness that stays put until you decide to remove (which happens to be very easy to do).

Tester Feedback: "Every bit as elegant as pricier mascaras, this bold formula is my drugstore beauty staple," says deputy beauty director Elizabeth Siegel.

Why It Won: The flexible wand of Essence Lash Without Limits Extreme Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara carries color (black or brown, depending on your preference) from roots to the tippiest tips. Use it for everyday oomph or special-occasion eyelash exaggeration.

Tester Feedback: "I've never been a mascara girl," says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "That's because my lashes are so short and wispy that most formulas weigh them down after a couple of layers. This one does the opposite—its bristles catch every single hair to lift, define, and lengthen."

Why It Won: With Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara, you look like you're wearing false lashes—except it comes off even more easily (with just a little warm water). The smudge-proof fibers are packed with niacinamide, biotin, and panthenol to nourish as they extend beyond the limits of conventional mascara.

Tester Feedback: "No, I'm not wearing lash extensions," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. "It's just the power of this tubing mascara that makes my lashes long and voluminous."

Why It Won: The uniquely powdery feel that Gen See Spectator Sport Mascara starts out with contributes to the formula's ability to withstand workouts, weather washouts, and weeping (we tested all three scenarios), and its curling, lengthening, and volumizing effects are amplified with each coat.

Tester Feedback: "Unlike so many water-resistant mascaras, this one goes on weightlessly, with clump-free buildability," says contributing editor Marci Robin.

Why It Won: Unlike white and colorless primers, Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Tinted Primer can be worn alone for a boost. But when worn under mascara as intended, it noticeably amplifies mascara's effects, upping thickness and length for an all-day extra-fluttery look.

Tester Feedback: "'You know what the most ridiculous makeup step is? Lash primer.' That's what I said before I started using Maybelline's Sky High primer a couple of years ago," says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. "I have since been converted to the merits of applying mascara before your mascara. Whatever your favorite formula is—I'm currently alternating between the Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing and the Victoria Beckham Vast Lash Mascara—your lashes will be more elongated if you put this on first. And because the primer is tinted, on weekends I often just wear it on its own for a little natural-looking enhancement."

Why It Won: Whether you're creating a bold, sharp line or a smoky look, L'Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner has the versatility, intensity, and longevity to deliver. Its smudger tip makes for easy blending, and once these eight colors are set, they hold on for dear life.

Tester Feedback: "The glide on this liner is the perfect balance: It doesn't drag and pull, but it's also not so slippery that you know the color is going to smush around all over your lid," says Robin.

Why It Won: Estée Lauder Smoke & Brighten Kajal Eyeliner Duo is a two-in-one, waterproof pencil that opens up your eyes in two ways: The darker side defines the lash line, while the lighter end creates the illusion of brighter, bigger eyes when traced along the water line.

Tester Feedback: "These liners create the best of both worlds: They can stay crisp and sharp or blend out to a beautiful, seamless smoky eye," says contributor Sam Escobar.

Why It Won: As smooth as it is smudge-proof, Kulfi Kajal Eyeliner makes bold shades—we adore the green Jungle Gems and terra-cotta Tiger Queen—feel everyday-easy to wear. The twist-up pencil formula sets in 20 seconds and remains vibrant all day.

Tester Feedback: "I love wearing these colorful liners for any look, day or night," says associate content manager Hannah Brower. "They're super creamy, pigmented, and long-lasting."

Why It Won: The intensity and precision provided by Lisa Eldridge Kitten Flick Liquid Liner is everything we dream of for a classic eyeliner look. The ultrafine felt tip is unwavering in its delivery of pitch-black pigment and makes it easy to navigate on any eyelid type, so you can customize your wing with confidence.

Tester Feedback: "My signature cat eye is created using this inky, long-lasting black pen," says Calaor. "It never skips, and its fine point makes it easy to effect a sharp wing."

Why It Won: When impermeability is paramount, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner's neutral, bold, and playful shades set to a strong, satiny finish. It lets you draw the thinnest or thickest of lines that, once set, are stubborn in the best possible way.

Tester Feedback: "I would go to war for this eyeliner…knowing it wouldn't smudge in battle," says senior audience development director Lexi Herrick. "I cannot overstate how impressive and high-quality this liquid liner is and I've tested dozens. It will not bleed or smudge and it goes on like a breeze, making even the most average makeup user feel like a 2016 beauty influencer applying a pristine cat eye. The pigment is bold and its consistency is very smooth, making the line perfectly straight, even for eyelids with some creasing. In my book, this is a hall-of-fame champion of liquid eyeliners."

Why It Won: Paint on punchy color with this shake-to-awaken pen. The uniquely ergonomic design of Urban Decay 24/7 Inks Liquid Eyeliner allows for such smooth application of its nine vibrant shades that you'll wonder when you got so good at doing cat eyes and graphic liner looks.

Tester Feedback: "There is no other liquid eyeliner on Earth quite like Urban Decay's 24/7 Inks (and I should know, I'm Allure's resident cat-eye expert)," says senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "With a long, pointed-brush tip, an ergonomic grip built into the packaging, and a colorful range of highly pigmented shades, these eyeliners couldn't be easier to apply and last right up until you take an oil-based cleanser to them."

Why It Won: A laminated look is easy to attain with this wax-gel hybrid. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel has two types of teeth for total control over shaping and setting, and it holds your lifted look whether you use it on bare hairs or atop other products.

Tester Feedback: "I love the look and feel of laminated brows and this gel helps me achieve that feathery, brushed-up appearance with just a couple of swipes, even if it's been a few months since my last lamination appointment," says associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen. "I start with the wand's bristled side, combing hairs in the direction I want (usually straight up), and then quickly follow by brushing them with the flattened side, which creates the shiny, laminated effect and holds them in place. Once locked in, these babies stay stiff and in place all day, even through workouts and sweaty commutes."

Why It Won: The mousse-y texture of Kosas Air Brow Tinted's 10 castor oil-spiked shades creates a matte finish that's softer than other products in this category. The result: Fuller-looking brows that seem feathery, not severe.

Tester Feedback: "This brow product is fantastic," says senior copy manager Leslie Lipton. "The tinted gel darkens my brows and keeps them in place all day—without the dreaded Groucho Marx effect."

Why It Won: Sparse eyebrows have never had a friend like Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Precision Pencil. The angular tip allows you to sketch little hairlike strokes that water won't interrupt once set. The six shades meld seamlessly with the hairs you already have, so brows never look overly "done."

Tester Feedback: "Despite the microblading I get done, I still have some sparse areas," says Trakoshis. "This pencil is so precise that it mimics hair by creating perfect mini-strokes."

Why It Won: When subtle structure is the goal, Joey Healy Brow Powder is the means to achieving it. The balance of softness and definition it offers results in realistic refinement that complements both low-key and high-impact makeup looks.

Tester Feedback: "My brow artist once told me that powder is the only way to go," says Dall'Asen. "This buildable formula is easy to apply lightly. What's more: The color doesn't change as it wears, which is an issue I’ve had with other powders."

Why It Won: Maybelline New York Build-A-Brow is like a tiny dual-ended brow studio. The tapered-tip pen helps create precise, no-budge strokes, while the clear gel sculpts natural hairs into your preferred position, setting the final look with a non-crunchy finish.

Tester Feedback: "I microbladed my brows about seven years ago for the first time and it was the best beauty decision of my life," says Trakoshis. "Sadly, I recently moved away from my technician and I refuse to see anyone else, so during those in-between-session periods, I use this pen. It's the easiest, most user-friendly brow product in the game—just a few flicks and you have full brows in no time."

Why It Won: Inspired by the fluffy soap-brow trend, E.L.F. Cosmetics Brow Lift shapes and holds everyone's eyebrows. No, really—everyone's. The clear, glycerin-packed formula offers universal wearability that makes emphasized, uplifted brows achievable across the board.

Tester Feedback: "I normally don't use a wax or gel to hold my brows in any particular shape, but now I’m a changed woman," says Robin. "It's so easy to brush this through for a long-lasting look that isn’t haunted by residue."

Why It Won: Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Wax's delicate spoolie picks up the just-right amount of lightweight, pigmented product for sculpted, enhanced eyebrows. Once it's set, you don't have to worry about overly frozen crunch; just enjoy your brow supremacy.

Tester Feedback: "An ideal product for less-makeup days, it adds just a touch of tint and hold for a natural—but polished—finish," says content director Kara McGrath.

Why It Won: We can't all be born with lush brows, but RevitaBrow gives us all the opportunity to see what a little TLC can do for what we've got. Its peptides, biotin, lipids, and green tea extract offer nourishing defense against breakage and brittleness, reviving the brows of numerous staffers at Allure HQ.

Tester Feedback: "I graduated from high school in 1994. I think you can imagine what my poor brows endured during that dark, dark decade for the human eyebrow. By the time I arrived at Allure in my 20s, they were still shadows of their former selves," says Bailly. "A strict tweezers-off policy certainly helped, but I saw the most improvement after I started using Revitabrow around the mid-aughts (pretty much as soon as it came out). I've tried other brow conditioners over the years, but always come back to this one and use it consistently every day (which I can't say for many other beauty products)."

Why It Won: How can a creamy crayon deposit color that won't crease or smear? Ask Laura Mercier. All we know is that her Caviar Stick Eye Colors (now in more than 30 matte and shimmery shades) have never met an eyelid they couldn't cling to.

Tester Feedback: "It's ideal for touch-ups on the go, and all you need is a quick swipe with your fingertip to blend it out," says social director Kassidy Silva. "If you're an eye shadow beginner, this is the product for you."

Why It Won: When unflinching color is your top priority, nothing delivers like the long-wearing Violette_Fr Yeux Paint. The matte and metallic lineup—including a velvety Yves Klein blue to a twinkling scarab green—can be manipulated into graphic and blended looks. Either way, critics will praise your art.

Tester Feedback: "Full-impact pigment in a single swipe," says Dall'Asen. "It doesn't budge once it's dry, but dries slowly enough to let you play around with it before it's stuck on your face all day."

Why It Won: Easy to apply with a brush or just your finger, the eight shades of Merit Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color impart a wash of soft pigment that grounds any understated makeup look. And with its chamomile, peptides, and sunflower seed oil, your eyelids get a soothing, smoothing treat.

Tester Feedback: "These single eye shadows are perfect for a laid-back, swipe-and-go look, especially because the neutrals are so approachable and go with everything," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "The creamy formulas melt onto your lids before settling down to a matte powder finish."

Why It Won: The five cream-to-powder Kulfi Zari Eyes Eyeshadow shades dress up eyelids in ethereal shimmer. Glycerin and jojoba keep skin soft and moisturized without losing grip on the color, which politely declines to crease all day.

Tester Feedback: "I love these buildable colors—especially the shade Sitara Sparkles, which is a rosy tone," says art director Ingrid Fowler.

Why It Won: The unexpected color combos of the Rabanne Mini Palette let you experiment with assurance. They come in 10 duos of satin, matte, shimmer, and metallics that play together beautifully and feel like an extension of your outfit with their fashion-forward sensibilities.

Tester Feedback: "There may only be two (gorgeous!) shadows in these Rabanne Mini Palettes, but there are countless ways to mix and match the shimmering pigments," says senior beauty editor Paige Stables. "And besides playing nicely together, they also wear beautifully just swept across lids on their own."

Why It Won: Based on the original Born This Way palette, Too Faced Born This Way Natural Nudes Mini Eye Shadow Palette offers so many look options with its satin, shimmer, and metallic finishes all in one place. The two versions—cool taupes and warm bronzes—breathe new life into neutrals, making them the palettes you'll turn to over and over.

Tester Feedback: "So nostalgic! I love the grown-up take on these palettes," says commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann. "They're still really pigmented and high-quality."

Why It Won: The Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette: The Original is so universally useful, that there should be a government program in which it's issued to every single eye shadow wearer. Until then, its 12 skin-tone-inspired shades, which go on without fallout, are worth the investment.

Tester Feedback: "Even though I adore sparkly eye shadows, I have a deep appreciation for the basics, which this palette delivers," says Han. "Whether these matte shades are worn alone for a low-key look or as a base—I like using the light peaches or browns as a primer for my shimmers—they, no doubt, belong in any makeup collection."

Why It Won: For the most natural flutter, the Ardell Seamless Underlash Extensions clusters are applied under your natural lashes with a special tool that comes with the kit. Also included: a dual-ended wand of adhesive and sealant that keeps your new lashes in place for up to 10 days, plus a gel remover for when you're ready to say goodbye.

Tester Feedback: "This kit is it when it comes to quick-and-easy lashes," says beauty closet associate Edward Horgan. "The hassle-free application means no extra glue (or mess) and natural-looking falsies that last all day."

Why It Won: Kiss The New Natural Lashes are the false lashes for the false-lash-averse. Designed to look realistic, these comfortable, synthetic styles never feel too theatrical—just incredibly pretty. They come in nearly a dozen styles and not one will look overdone, thanks to their intentionally imperfect lash patterns.

Tester Feedback: "If you have major eyelash envy, these Kiss falsies are a game-changer," says Silva. "Before any big night out, I apply the strips to finish off any eye look for that extra 'pop.' Pro tip: Don't forget to let the glue get tacky (I let it dry on the strip for about 25 to 30 seconds) before you apply, to help control your grip on the lash."

Written by Marci Robin

How we test and review products for Allure Best of Beauty

Ubiquitous with the beauty market's cream of the crop, Allure's little red Best of Beauty seal is known worldwide as being a trusted indicator of the year's top products—and we do not take that trust for granted. Each year, we painstakingly test tens of thousands (yes, really) of products across over a dozen categories, including Hair, Skin, Makeup, Nails, Fragrance, Splurges, Steals, Tools, Breakthroughs, and Sensitive. We employ a large group of testers—including editors, top industry professionals, and other experts— to ensure representation for a wide range of ages, genders, skin tones, and hair textures, as well as dermatological sensitivities and conditions.

How we determined Allure's Best of Beauty Eye Winners

For our Best of Beauty winners in the Eyes category, we considered each product's performance across the following categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance (where relevant), and product experience (including texture and wear). We tested over 7,000 products for 24 weeks on different skin tones. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from relevant experts.

To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Discover more 2024 Best of Beauty Winners:

• Best of Beauty 2024: Skin-Care Winners
• Best of Beauty 2024: Lips Winners
• Best of Beauty 2024: Base Winners

Watch us test our Allure 2024 Best of Beauty Eyes winners: