Stila Stay All Day vs NYX Epic Ink
The 30-second answer
Buy the Stila if you wear liner most days and value a predictable, dense line above everything else. The firm felt tip does the same thing every morning, which is the property people actually pay for.
Buy the NYX if you are still finding your line, if you like varying thickness within one stroke, or if you would rather own three liners than one. It is a genuinely good liner that happens to be cheap, not a compromise.
Both are felt or brush-tip pens in the same colour family, and both are sold as long-wear. The difference is in the tip behaviour and the consistency, not in whether the line survives your day.
How we compare: side by side on published specifications, full ingredient lists and the pattern of complaints across aggregated customer reviews at major retailers. We do not run lab tests and we do not claim to. Retailer links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Side by side
| Stila Stay All Day Waterproof | NYX Epic Ink | |
|---|---|---|
| Tip | Firm, fine felt marker tip | Flexible brush-style tip |
| Line character | Consistent width, crisp edge, very dense black | Variable width under pressure, slightly softer edge |
| Best at | Repeatable wings and a clean graphic line | Tapering from hair-thin to thick in one stroke |
| Learning curve | Low. The tip resists your mistakes | Medium. The tip transmits them |
| Price band | Prestige. Typically several times the NYX | Drugstore. One of the cheapest liners with a serious reputation |
| Recurring complaint | Tip softens or frays with heavy use; some report the pen drying before it empties | Batch variability: most are excellent, some arrive patchy or dry |
| Formula notes | Waterproof, long-standing formula with a very large review base | Vegan formula, waterproof claim, enormous review base |
Prices in this category move constantly and both products are frequently discounted, which is why we describe price bands rather than quoting figures that go stale. Check two retailers before buying.
Where the Stila wins
Consistency. A firm felt tip has one width and delivers it every time, so once you know what a stroke looks like, you can repeat it half asleep. That is worth real money if liner is part of your daily routine rather than an occasional flourish. The colour density also matters: it goes down opaque in one pass, and one pass is always neater than two.
It is also the safer choice if you have hooded lids, because a single opaque pass that dries fast is exactly what avoids printing onto the fold.
Where the NYX wins
Range within one product. A flexible brush tip lets you lay a hair-thin line along the inner lashes and press for weight at the outer corner without switching tools, which is the technique that suits monolid eyes and anyone who wants a graduated band rather than a uniform line.
And the price does something a spec sheet will not show: it makes practice free. Most people's liner improves faster with a cheap pen and a hundred attempts than with an expensive one and a fear of wasting it.
Which one for you
Choose the Stila if
- You wear liner four or more days a week
- You want the same wing every time
- You have hooded lids and need a fast, dry set
- You would rather buy once than twice
Choose the NYX if
- You are learning, or your technique is still changing
- You want thickness variation in a single stroke
- You have monolids and want a graduated band
- You would rather own several colours
Where to buy
Stila sells direct, and both liners turn up regularly at the large international beauty retailers. Compare across two before you commit, particularly on the Stila, where the discount cycle is meaningful.
Questions people actually ask
Is the Stila worth the extra money?
If you wear liner most days, yes, for the consistency rather than the finish. If you wear it occasionally, the NYX gets you most of the result for a small fraction of the price.
Which is more waterproof?
Both hold up well against tears and humidity in aggregated customer reports. Neither claim covers skin oil or friction, which is what moves liner on most people. See why your eyeliner smudges.
Which is better for a first liquid liner?
The NYX, because cheap practice beats expensive caution. Move to the Stila when you know exactly what line you want.
Do either work on the lower lash line?
Both can, but a liquid line under the eye smudges more readily than one above it, and neither is the right tool for the inner rim. A pencil is the better choice below the eye.