I still remember overhearing someone describing me back at university: “Ellen, you know, the one with the red hair and the perfect eyeliner.”

That was many years ago and while a lot has changed (including the red hair… I’ve been a lilac hair person for six years now), one thing has remained constant: a daily application of a black cat-eye flick. It feels self-important to say, but liquid eyeliner has sort of become my trademark. It’s what I’m known for and I often get compliments and questions (namely ‘how do you get it like that?’ and ‘what eyeliner do you recommend?’) on it. 

This makes sense because no matter what I’m doing or wearing, my eyeliner is there. I’ve been doing it since my teens and it’s very rare I leave the house without a black line on my lids. This isn’t only because of how my eyeliner makes me look (more awake, with bigger eyes) but due to how it makes me feel. The process of painting on the angle each morning is an essential component of feeling ready for the day. I almost see it as a meditative act; it’s a moment of quiet focus. And I find that when I skip it, I don’t feel as on it as usual. When I was on a deadline for the first draft of my book and skipped a shower, I had to run back upstairs to apply eyeliner before I could write anything decent. 

Similarly, my eyeliner acts as a bit of a mood ring for everyone else to observe. If it’s especially big and dramatic, I’m probably distracting from the dark circles under my eyes. Have I added some glitter or another colour? I’m feeling festive. Smudged or wobbly? I must be unwell.

But no matter what the variations, it’s there. And after over a decade of testing various liquid eyeliners, I’ve discovered which are worth the faff and which definitely aren’t. Which ones come out a sort of watery grey and which are true black; which have terrible brushes and which have formulas that smudge or transfer. Now, and for the last few years, there’s only one that I use day in, day out: Kiko Milano Definition Waterproof Eyeliner (£10.49).  

Why do I love this eyeliner so much? Let me count the ways. The brush is spot on. There are no gimmicks here, just a pot of eyeliner and a thin paintbrush with an easy-to-hold handle. It’s firm enough for a controlled line, but with enough flex to do a nice flick. 

Then there’s the eyeliner itself. This is a true black. No need to apply multiple layers, no watery grey tone. And when the brand says waterproof, they absolutely mean it. Some things this eyeliner has withstood without budging a millimetre: cycling in torrential rain, sobbing through One Day, multiple naps, dunking my face in cold water (I was testing a make-up hack), hot showers, chopping onions, heat that made me sweat through my dress in five minutes in Mexico, getting a fly in my eye while cycling and trying to get it out, and a 13-hour flight. 

With other eyeliners, I often notice black marks transferred onto the upper part of my eyelid. That’s never an issue with this one. It takes a few seconds to dry down (so don’t look upwards right after applying) then once it’s dry, it won’t go anywhere. 

If I were about to be stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing… I’d probably take something life-saving or a really chunky book. But if I could take five things, this eyeliner would definitely be in my bag. If I could only use one make-up product ever again, it would be the Definition Waterproof Eyeliner. Whenever Kiko Milano does a sale or a special offer, I buy a stash of at least six. If I were in Ancient Egypt, a few pots of this eyeliner would definitely be in my sarcophagus. Does all that hammer home enough how much I adore this product? I’d recommend it to absolutely everyone. 

While we’re talking about liquid eyeliner, I’ve also bullet pointed some of my top tips as a veteran applier. 

• The key to good eyeliner application is practice. I’ve applied it most days since I was 16, so of course I’m decent at it. If you’re just getting into the liquid eyeliner game, expect your skills to take a while to hone.  
• When you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to have something solid to rest your elbow on when applying. That’ll give you a stable base. A make-up table is ideal. 
• Go close to the mirror. I like to apply my eyeliner sat down right in front of a massive full-length mirror, or I’ll stand up and lean in close to a mirror if I’m not at home. I don’t love a make-up table these days because my eyesight sucks and I want to be able to get as close up as possible. 
• Let go of the pressure of perfection. I really don’t think eyeliner needs to be perfectly identical. As long as it’s roughly the same size, thickness and shape, you’ll be fine. No one will notice a slight discrepancy and if they do, they have too much time on their hands. 
• Get a good make-up remover. This liner is so waterproof it can be a struggle to get it off without an oil cleanser. Any sort of cleansing oil, applied gently on the eyes and wiped away with a warm, wet microfibre cloth, will work a treat. I’m currently using the Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil and loving it, and have previously been a big fan of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm. 

• Experiment with angles. There are lots of ‘formulas’ and recommendations for the best eyeliner style for your eye shape. Those can be helpful but what’s better is just testing out a few different angles and figuring out which you like the best. I know that I prefer a slightly more horizontal flick rather than an one that goes more up.
• Make it a ritual. Liquid eyeliner is not something to attempt on the Tube, or to be hurriedly slapped on two minutes before your cameras-on Teams meeting. Give the eyeliner your full attention and some time. I have told my partner to stop talking to me and leave the room just for the eyeliner portion of doing my make-up. 
• Make it fun. I love playing around with eyeliner looks. During the pandemic when I was at a job that only let us work from home on Fridays, I made that my fun make-up day – I’d log on with white eyeliner instead of black, painted on lower lashes and exaggerated cat-eyes in bright purple. These days, a special occasion might have eyeliner flecked with glued-on gems, or a neon green glow-in-the-dark arch below my eyebrows, or a lot of glitter. 
• Find eyeliner inspiration. I love the eyeliner on Euphoria. I often Google ‘60s make-up’ for fresh ideas. Ariana Grande is a constant presence on my make-up Pinterest board. I have paused TV shows to study someone’s eye look. Keep an eye out and you’ll find inspiration everywhere. That can be the jumping off point for all sorts of make-up fun. 

Images: Ellen Scott