Maybelline Tattoo Studio Pencil vs. NYX Epic Ink: Which Eyeliner Suits Your Line?
Compare a sharpenable gel pencil and a fine liquid brush pen for soft lash definition, small wings and makeup done in a hurry.
In this guide
When you have a quiet bathroom and enough time, eyeliner can be a nice part of getting ready. With two minutes to spare and poor lighting, it is easy to draw a different line on each eye. A good purchase for that routine starts with the line you actually wear. Maybe it is a soft brown mark tucked at the base of the lashes. Maybe it is a narrow black wing that needs a sharp point. A pencil and a pen offer different ways to get there.
Maybelline Tattoo Studio Waterproof Gel Pencil and NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Liner are useful examples. The Maybelline is a sharpenable gel pencil. Epic Ink is a liquid pen with a flexible brush tip. The comparison is based on the U.S. manufacturers’ product descriptions, including the waterproof labels. It does not independently measure wear time, water resistance or how the products behave on a specific lid.
Start with the last eyeliner look you liked
Look at a photograph where the eyeliner looks right to you. If you mostly see darker lash roots and a slightly blurred outer corner, you probably want to place and soften color, not draw a crisp outline. A gel pencil is the easier first format to compare. If you can see a narrow, defined line and a point at the outer corner, a pen makes sense because it can deliver a more precise edge with less shaping afterward.
There is a separate question about intensity. A black pencil can look stronger than a brown pen, depending on the formula and application. Do not mistake a shade preference for a format preference. When comparing, start with the colors you are most likely to use. A pencil in brown and a pen in black can both be useful, but comparing them side by side will not tell you which tip shape works better for the same result.
What the Maybelline gel pencil offers
Maybelline Tattoo Studio Waterproof Gel Pencil uses a sharpenable pencil format. That gives you some control over the shape. A fresh point can be useful when you want to place small strokes in a narrow area, and a slightly rounded point can be useful if you prefer a softer line. Check for a compatible sharpener before you buy. A retractable pencil and a sharpenable pencil can look similar on a website and require different upkeep.
Try it for the part of the line you find hardest. Rest your elbow on a surface, look slightly downward into a mirror and use short strokes near the upper lash line. If the outer edge looks stronger than you intended, soften it early with a clean suitable tool rather than adding more on the other eye to match. This approach makes sense for someone who likes a little definition with mascara and rarely wants an exact wing.
The cost of the format is maintenance. A point gets dull and product is used up when you sharpen. If you plan to leave the liner in a travel pouch, keep the right sharpener with it and clean out the sharpener when needed. Consider a different pencil format if you know you will always forget that step. If what you want is a very narrow point every time with minimal prep, compare the liquid pen first.
What the NYX brush pen offers
NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Liner is a liquid pen with a brush tip. NYX describes a fine and flexible tip, with the line influenced by pressure. That is the feature to consider if you want the outer tail to start thin and build closer to the lash line. The pressure sensitivity is also the tradeoff. Pressing harder than intended can put down a thicker line right when you wanted control.
Try the technique in two movements. Mark a short, small tail at the angle you like, then connect the tail to a line at the outer third of the lash line. Compare both sides with your face relaxed before extending the line inward. The aim is a line that reads the way you want from a normal distance. A longer wing can be easy to draw with a brush pen, but longer is not necessarily easier to match.
A wet line needs a moment to settle. Keep that in mind if you usually apply liner, immediately put on mascara, then blink or put on glasses. If you tend to finish both eyes with one quick sweep and go, you may find a pencil’s application more forgiving. The brush pen makes the most sense if crisp edges are part of the look and you enjoy taking a minute to draw them.
Decide which upkeep you will actually do
The pencil needs sharpening. The pen needs a cap that clicks or closes securely so the tip stays usable. Both should be stored according to the manufacturer’s directions. Think about where you will use it. A pencil and sharpener can live together in a drawer at home. The pen may be easier to pack for one night if you already know how it handles. Neither option saves time if you take it out just before work and find the tip needs attention.
Removal belongs in the purchase decision as much as application. The fact that both examples are marketed as waterproof is a good reason to check that you already own a remover suitable for the product and the eye area. On a day when you only need a softer line that is easy to remove, you can also compare these products with a washable liner. There is no benefit in choosing harder-to-remove makeup if you do not need that feature. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and use the FDA’s eye cosmetic safety guidance for hygiene and handling.
A replacement is also an opportunity to check how the liner fits with your other eye makeup. If you use a shadow on most days, try drawing the line over the usual amount of shadow and see whether the tip gives you the same control. A pencil that glides on bare skin may pull through a textured base. A brush tip that makes a sharp wing over bare skin may pick up loose powder. Test the actual order in which you apply the products before deciding the liner needs replacing.
Compare without buying two black liners
| What you draw most often | Format to try first | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A soft line close to the upper lashes | Gel pencil | Whether a short stroke applies evenly and softens in time |
| A short wing with a fine outer tip | Liquid brush pen | Whether the brush stays controlled with light pressure |
| A line you want to use at home and on trips | Whichever fits the actual pouch | Sharpener for the pencil and cap fit for the pen |
| A quick mark you want to take off easily | The liner and remover you already use | Whether you need waterproof wear at all |
Before shopping, try drawing only the outside third of the line with the product you already own. Examine it in daylight and from an ordinary distance. If it does the job without touching up the entire lid, you may only need to change where you apply it. If the tip is the problem, go to the store with a specific requirement such as a narrow brush that can draw a point or a sharpenable pencil that can make a soft mark.
Buy the Maybelline if you like working in short strokes and want a pencil point you can reshape. Consider Epic Ink if a thin, clean wing is the main reason you wear liner. If your current formula already produces the look and the trouble is poor light or not having a surface to rest your hand, address that first. A better mirror position can be a more useful change than another eyeliner.
