Beauty Stila Stay All Day vs Revlon ColorStay: Flick Face Off Now
We compare the two feline flick liners head to head: Stila Stay All Day, the professional gold standard, and Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner, the drugstore wing specialist. Precision at two prices.
| Factor | Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner 2-Pack | stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Felt-tip liquid pen | Ultra-fine tip liquid, 2-pack |
| Tip precision | Ultra-fine, sharp | Ultra-fine, precise |
| Pigment | Intense, one-stroke black | Intense blackest black |
| Wear | All day, waterproof | Up to 16 hours, smudgeproof |
| Best for | Perfect sharp wings | Bold everyday wings |
| Skill level | Beginner to pro | Beginner friendly |
| Removal | Needs eye makeup remover | Standard remover |
| Price tier | Mid range | Budget |
Our Verdict
Choose Stila Stay All Day if you want the gold-standard wing liner, since its ultra-fine tip and all-day waterproof formula deliver the sharpest, most reliable feline flicks. Choose Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner if you want excellent wing performance at a drugstore price, since its ultra-fine tip and 16-hour smudgeproof wear handle bold cat eyes beautifully, and the 2-pack is great value. Both create gorgeous cat eyes. Ultimate precision goes Stila; smart value goes Revlon.
Wing Angles for Deep-Set vs Prominent Eyes
Every wing tutorial assumes the same average eye, but wing geometry changes completely with eye placement. Deep-set eyes have a prominent brow bone and lids that sit back; the wing should be drawn with eyes open, following the lower lash line's upward angle, and kept shorter than tutorials suggest, because length disappears into the socket when the eye opens. The flick's endpoint should align with the tail of the brow, not extend past it. Prominent or protruding eyes are the opposite: the lid is fully visible, so a longer, more dramatic wing balances the eye, and the liner can be slightly thicker along the lash line to anchor the look.
Hooded eyes, the most common variation, need the bat-wing adjustment: draw the wing with eyes open, then connect it to the lash line with the eye still open, creating a shape that looks broken when closed but perfect when open. Closed-eye application is what makes hooded wings disappear. The Stila Stay All Day pen's fine tip suits precision work on deep-set eyes, while the Revlon ColorStay's firmer felt tip gives the control needed for the bat-wing's angles. For the technique anchor on feline flicks specifically, our Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick guide covers wing construction step by step.
Tightlining for Beginners: The Exact Technique
Tightlining, filling between the lashes rather than above them, is the technique that defines the eye with no visible liner, and no guide explains it precisely enough. The product goes between the lash roots on the upper lid, not on the waterline itself. The tool: a waterproof pencil or a small angled brush with gel, never a liquid pen, which is too wet and migrates. The method: look down into a hand mirror, gently lift the upper lid with a finger, and dot or wiggle the product into the gaps between lashes, working from the outer corner inward. The dots merge into an invisible line that makes lashes look denser.
Common mistakes that cause irritation: pressing too hard, which scratches the waterline; using a dull pencil that drags; and tightlining the lower waterline, which looks harsh and transfers. Keep the lower waterline clean or use only nude liner there. The beginner schedule: practice tightlining alone for a week before attempting it plus a wing, because the two skills together overwhelm. Once tightlining is automatic, it becomes the five-second base that makes every other eye look more polished. For the pencil format best suited to this technique, our Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On guide covers the glide and staying power that tightlining demands.
Waterproof Liners for Swimmers and Athletes
Pool chlorine, sweat, and goggle pressure form a triple threat that standard liners cannot survive. Chlorine breaks down most cosmetic film formers; sweat delivers salt and oil that lift product; goggle straps press directly on the outer corners where wings live, smudging them mechanically. The formulas that survive are true waterproof liquids and waterproof gel pencils, not water-resistant ones; the distinction matters enormously here. Between the two compared here, check each formula's waterproof claim specifically, because water-resistant will fail at the first swim.
The swimmer's routine: apply liner to completely dry, primed lids; set with matching powder shadow; avoid the inner corner where goggles press hardest. Post-swim, do not rub; press a towel gently and assess. Touch-up needs are usually at the outer corner only, where the goggle edge sat. For daily lap swimmers, consider that even the best waterproof liner needs nightly thorough removal, and the removal toll on the lash line adds up; alternating swim days with no-liner days gives the skin recovery time. Our waterproof eye pencil guide ranks the pencil formats by real submersion hold. And always remove swim-day liner with an oil-based remover and a proper soak; chlorine plus waterproof film needs the full dissolving routine, not a quick wipe. Your lash line will thank you for the patience.
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