Beauty Rimmel Eye Pencil Guide: Types, Application and Removal
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
The Three Rimmel Pencil Families
Scandaleyes kohl kajal is the soft blending pencil for smokey looks and waterlines. Scandaleyes gel pencil is the precision instrument for wings and defined lines with gel-like intensity. Exaggerate definers are the slim everyday pencils for quick, clean definition with twist-up convenience. Each family serves a different technique, which is why liner enthusiasts often own all three.
Choosing Your Shade Strategy
Start with black for maximum versatility, then add rich brown for softer daytime looks. Bold shades like Cobalt Craze come third, for weekends and making eye color pop. Match intensity to occasion: brown for day, black for night, color for fun. One pencil covers needs; three cover moods.
Application Basics for Beginners
Rest your elbow on a table for steadiness. Look down into a mirror to see the lash line clearly. Draw in short strokes rather than one long line. Start thin; you can always thicken. Keep cotton swabs and remover nearby for cleanup. Practice ten minutes and the technique clicks.
Setting Liner for All-Day Wear
Prime lids before liner to control oil. Press matching eyeshadow over pencil lines to lock them in. Waterproof formulas resist humidity best. Avoid touching your eyes during the day. Carry cotton swabs for quick fixes rather than reapplying over smudges.
Hygiene and Replacement
Sharpen kohl pencils before each use to expose clean product. Never share eye pencils. Replace every six to twelve months, sooner if the texture changes. Stop use if eyes get irritated. Store capped and away from heat. Clean sharpeners regularly.
Recommended Products
The best Rimmel eye pencils for every technique, from smokey kohl to sharp gel wings.
Best for: Bold eye looks and anyone who loves colored liner.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner, Cobalt Craze
- Intense cobalt blue kohl pigment
- Waterproof wear for up to 24 hours
- Soft kajal texture glides without tugging
- High-impact color for bold eye looks
Pros
- Bold blue makes eye color pop
- Truly waterproof through long days
- Smooth glide even on the waterline
Cons
- Bright blue is not an everyday shade
- Kajal tip dulls fast with use
- Waterproof needs oil remover
Best for: Classic black liner lovers and smokey eye fans.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner, 001 Black
- Classic 001 Black with intense pigment
- Waterproof kohl for all-day wear
- Soft texture for smokey blending
- Safe for the waterline
Pros
- Deep black in a single stroke
- Blends easily for smokey eyes
- Drugstore price, premium performance
Cons
- Smudges if not set on oily lids
- Needs sharpening regularly
- Black can look harsh for daytime
Best for: Sharp winged liner with gel-level intensity.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Eye Pencil, 001 Black
- Gel formula in a pencil format
- Intense black with a smooth finish
- Waterproof and smudge-proof wear
- Retractable style tip, no sharpener needed
Pros
- Gel intensity with pencil convenience
- No sharpener to carry or lose
- Stays sharp-looking for hours
Cons
- Gel can drag if the tip dries out
- Less blendable than kohl versions
- Retractable tips can break
Best for: Precise everyday liner with a backup always handy.
Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer, 2 Count
- Two waterproof definers in one pack
- Automatic twist-up pencil design
- Smudge-proof formula for clean lines
- Fine tip for precise application
Pros
- Two-pack keeps a spare in your bag
- Twist-up means no sharpener waste
- Fine tip draws precise lines
Cons
- Shades in multipacks may vary
- Twist mechanism can jam
- Thin tip breaks with pressure
Best for: Soft daytime definition without harsh black lines.
Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer, Rich Brown 212
- Rich brown shade softer than black
- Automatic pencil with fine point
- Long-lasting definer formula
- Natural definition for daytime wear
Pros
- Brown looks softer and more natural
- Great for fair skin and blondes
- Easy daytime alternative to black
Cons
- Brown fades faster than black shades
- Less dramatic for evening looks
- Single shade, no variety
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for rimmel eye pencil, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Wearing Colored Liner Like Cobalt Craze
Colored liner works when the shade flatters the eye color instead of fighting it. Cobalt blue makes brown and hazel eyes look brighter by contrast, while green eyes pop hardest against plum and bronze. Blue eyes can wear navy for definition, but bright cobalt competes with the iris instead of complementing it. For daytime, keep colored liner to the upper lash line only and skip the waterline, which reads as costume past noon. The Rich Brown 212 definer is the office-safe fallback on days the cobalt feels like too much. Our waterproof eye pencil guide ranks long-wear colored options beyond the Rimmel range.
Sharpening Soft Kohl vs Hard Pencils
The Scandaleyes kohl and the Exaggerate definer need completely different sharpening. Soft kohl like the 001 Black smears in a dull sharpener, so chill the pencil for ten minutes first and use a sharp, clean blade, turning gently. Hard pencils tolerate a standard sharpener without drama. Retractable formats like the Scandaleyes gel pencil and the Exaggerate twist-up skip sharpening entirely, but their tips go blunt faster and cannot be restored to a point. A blunt tip draws a thicker, softer line, which is fine for smoky looks and terrible for wings. Replace sharpeners when they start chewing the wood instead of cutting it.
The Cost Per Use of Drugstore Pencils
Drugstore pencils win on cost per use by a wide margin. A Rimmel Exaggerate pencil used daily lasts six to eight weeks, putting the monthly cost under two dollars. The two-count pack drops it further and keeps a spare in the bag. Compare that with a prestige pencil at five times the price lasting the same six weeks: the formula would need to be dramatically better to justify it, and for most eyes it is not. Where prestige earns its money is shade range and specialty finishes, not longevity. For the iconic prestige pencil benchmark, our Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on guide covers the formula drugstore pencils get compared against.