Beauty Rimmel Kohl Kajal Vs Gel Pencil: Which Liner Lasts Longer?
Rimmel Scandaleyes offers kajal as a kohl pencil and a gel pencil. Both are waterproof. The kohl is softer and bolder. The gel is sharper and more precise. Here is the head-to-head.
| Factor | Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer | Rimmel Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil, Spar |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner | Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Pencil Eyeliner |
| Intensity | Very high, kohl-rich | High, clean black |
| Blendability | Excellent for smoky looks | Moderate, sets faster |
| Precision | Good | Excellent |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Waterline drama, smoky eyes | Wings, tightlining |
| Typical price | Check price | Check price |
Our Verdict
Choose the Waterproof Kohl Kajal if you want maximum intensity. Its creamy texture suits waterlines and smoky blending. It gives that classic kajal drama. Choose the Waterproof Gel Pencil if you want sharp precision. It draws cleaner wings and tighter lines. It is also cheaper at around four dollars. Both survive water and sweat. Both suit sensitive eyes. Pick kohl for bold softness and gel for clean definition.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Budget gel pencil in black
Rimmel Wonder Ombre Gel Eye Pencil, Black
- Gel pencil format
- Intense black pigment
- Blendable before setting
- Low drugstore price
Pros
- Gel intensity at pencil price
- Blends into smoky looks
- Great backup pencil
Cons
- Sets fast, blend quickly
- May tug if not warmed
- Cap must stay tight
Best for: Blue kajal for brows or liner
Rimmel Brow and Liner Kajal Pencil, Cobalt
- Dual brow and liner use
- Bold cobalt blue shade
- Kajal creamy texture
- Precise pencil format
Pros
- Cobalt makes eyes pop
- Two uses in one pencil
- Creamy easy application
Cons
- Bold color is not everyday
- Needs regular sharpening
- Blue can stain lids slightly
Cobalt and Color: Wearing Blue Liner Well
Colored eyeliner beyond "try blue" deserves real guidance, and the cobalt kajal here is the test case. Which eye colors it flatters, blue liner makes brown eyes pop through contrast, deepens blue eyes when the shades differ enough, and can overwhelm very light blue eyes, where navy works better than cobalt. Brown versus black for daytime gets a parallel answer, brown kajal is softer for daylight and fair coloring, black is the evening and definition choice, and cobalt is the deliberate statement for when you want color. The wearable way to do blue, tightline with black first for definition, then apply the cobalt along the upper lash line, which grounds the color, or use blue only on the lower lash line for a flash of color without commitment. White or nude on the waterline is the companion trick, it makes eyes look bigger and balances bold upper color. The common failure, blue liner with no other definition, which can look unfinished, anchor it with mascara always. Our Rimmel kajal guide covers bold eye technique.
Sharpening Kohl Pencils: The Skill Nobody Teaches
Soft kohl pencils like the Scandaleyes kohl demand different sharpening than hard pencils, and doing it wrong wastes product and ruins the tip. The sharpener matters, use a sharp, clean cosmetic sharpener, not a dull one that chews, and for very soft kohls, chill the pencil in the fridge for ten minutes before sharpening, which firms the core and prevents crumbling. The technique, insert gently and turn the sharpener around the pencil, not the pencil inside the sharpener, with light pressure, letting the blade do the work. How a dull tip changes the line, a blunt kohl deposits too much product in a thick uneven stroke, while a fresh point gives the controlled line the gel pencil achieves naturally. Why retractables go blunt faster, the exposed tip takes all the pressure with no wood support, so they need more frequent refreshing. Clean the sharpener regularly, pigment buildup dulls the blade and drags. The gel pencil here sidesteps all of this, which is part of its appeal, no sharpening, consistent tip, though you lose the kohl's soft blendability.
Removing Waterproof Kohl and Gel: What Each Needs
Waterproof kohl and waterproof gel pencil remove differently, and the ranking by difficulty is useful. The soft kohl, despite being waterproof, breaks down relatively easily with an oil-based remover, its creamy texture dissolves with a 30-second press. The gel pencil sets more firmly and needs the full press-and-dissolve routine, sometimes two passes. Ranked by remover needed, oil cleanser or balm handles both, micellar water manages the kohl but struggles with the gel, and regular face wash fails both while irritating the eyes. The lash-loss risk from scrubbing is real with stubborn liner, rubbing the lash line back and forth breaks lashes at the root, so the press-and-wait method is protective, not just convenient. Never use the same aggressive removal on the waterline as on the lid, the waterline is mucous membrane and deserves the gentlest touch. For daily waterproof wearers, alternating with a non-waterproof pencil some days reduces the cumulative removal stress. Match the remover to the formula's stubbornness and your lashes survive the routine.
Kajal on Oily Lids: The Full System
Oily lids defeat kajal through a specific mechanism, lid oils migrate and dissolve the pigment, causing the smudging and transfer waterproof alone cannot always prevent. The system that works, tested as a combination rather than single tips. Step one, prime, an eyeshadow primer or a light dusting of translucent powder on the lid absorbs oil at the source, and this step matters most, it does more than any formula switch. Step two, formula choice, the gel pencil outlasts the soft kohl on oily lids, since its set film resists oil better, so oily-lidded buyers should lean gel. Step three, set the line, press a matching eyeshadow over the kajal with a small brush, which locks it dramatically. Step four, blot midday, a quick press of blotting paper on the lids removes oil before it reaches the liner. The kohl's softness is its weakness here, beautiful on dry lids, migratory on oily ones. Know your lids and choose the pencil accordingly, the system beats any single product. For the best picks, see our best Rimmel kajal eyeliners.