2016-09-09

Hello sweeties,

If I ask you to pick one makeup item that you cannot live without what is it going to be? A kajal, right? Once we start applying a kajal, we do not like our eyes without it. It makes the eyes look more attractive, sexy and lively. But finding a good one that stays throughout the day is always a question! So here is a list of 25 best kajals you can get under INR 1000. So, start scrolling.



Note: The descriptions are from writer’s POV and the kajals are arranged in ascending order of their prices!

Patanjali Herbal Kajal

Price: Rs 90

The color is deep black. The texture is smooth. While applying on the waterline, it feels really very smooth and about 3 strokes give a nice subtle look to the eyes. It is very easy to apply – no tugging and pulling required! It settles down to a semi-matte finish. Coming to the staying power of this kajal on the waterline, it stays on for about 3 hours (decent saying power for a kajal and a product that costs 90 bucks!) and does not budge at all!

Streetwear Color Rich Kajal

Price: Rs 99

The black is not supreme, but the effect that it gives on multiple swipes is amazing. It really gives you that kohled and smoldering sexy look just in a few swipes. Just a mascara after that, and you are done. The black and the bullet shape of the kajal does an amazing job on the eyes. Obviously, it is not waterproof, but I noticed something. It is water-resistant to some extent, because when I sprayed water on it, it smudged a bit, but came off only when I rubbed it vigorously.

FabIndia Kajal with Almond Oil

Price: Rs 125

This kajal glides smoothly and hence you would have an easy application. I wear the kajal at 6:30 in the morning and till 12 or 1 in the noon, I see no smudging. But, after that, it smudges a little. I use contact lenses and found this kajal very safe with contact lenses as I had no irritation. The kajal does not fade away.

Maybelline Colossal Kajal

Price: Rs 150

The kajal has an intense black colour and smudges a little but it takes minutes to set and then it does not smudge. It gets applied very easily, stays put and comes at a great price so thumbs up!

Faces Magneteyes Kajal



Price: Rs 175

The pigmentation is superb and is definitely darker than Maybelline Colossal one. On the waterline, only one swipe would give the desired results. If you want, you can go on and build on the intensity. The staying power is average, maximum of 4-5 hours, but if you smudge it a bit and reapply at a certain interval, the blackness remains intact and does not smudge like crazy.

Jovees New Signature Kajal in Deepest Black

Price: Rs 185

It justifies the name given to it, but partially. I’ll tell you why. It’s a deep black, I agree, but it’s not the ‘deepest black’, duh! Two to three swipes are needed for an intense black shade. I still like the pigmentation of this kajal. t stays for about 5-6 hours but with smudging. Good thing is that it gets washed off easily. It doesn’t give you panda eyes nor does it get collected in the corners of your eyes. If it smudges, it does evenly.

Lakme Eyeconic Kajal

Price: Rs 199

It wears for 8 to 10 hours, is smudge proof, very smooth and black.  Just to compare, the Maybelline Colossal kajal is blacker, but this one stays on my oily lids for longer than the Maybelline one.  This kajal is softer yet firm, and waterproof as well. Definitely worth every “paisa” for its non-smudge wear and the cute packaging.  I won’t try this on the waterline, only the lash line. All kajal lovers, get it now!

Lotus Herbals Colorkick Kajal

Price: Rs 199

Blackest of black! It stays on forever! No smudging and it is waterproof. I had to use coconut oil (my makeup remover) to remove it completely. It does stay for 7-8 hours easily. It also stays well as an eyeliner on my oily lids. Stays 6+ hours in smokey eyes as well.

VLCC Enchanting Eyes Kajal



Price: Rs 199

The shade is a very dark and a bold black one. I was amazed the first time I swiped it on my waterline. Just one swipe and I could see the boldest black on my eyes. Compare it to any other kajal: L’Oreal Paris Kajal Magique,Maybelline Colossal Kajal or Lakme Eyeconic Kajal, the VLCC one will turn out to be the darkest. It works absolutely well on the eyelids, under my eyes and on the waterline. The kajal stays over and under my eyes for more than 8-9 hours and some 3-4 hours on my waterline.

L’Oreal Paris Kajal Magique

Price: Rs 245

It is completely fragrance free and has a decent pigmentation, not the darkest black and not very soft either. I have tried all three now – Colossal, Eyeconic and this one, and I personally think this one is better than those, and I am going to break my loyalty towards Colossal.  I would surely recommend to try this out and decide which one works for you better.

Maybelline Colossal Super Black Kajal

Price: Rs 300

New thing about this kajal is the intensity of the shade. It is a super black with a matte texture. It gives a very deep jet black shade with 1 stroke. It is extremely pigmented and one stroke is good to build up nice color intensity. It says that it is a ’16H Kajal’, which sounds so amazing, and it actually stays for long on my eyes.

Catrice Kohl Kajal – 010 Ultra Black

Price: Rs 300

The pigmentation of this kajal is great! It is insanely pigmented and it gives a deep black colour in a single swipe. It is so perfect to create the smokey eye-look. It truly signifies its shade name. It is definitely an ultra black kajal with a slight glossy sheen. The kajal lasts for 4-5 hours only with little fading and smudging.

Lotus Herbals Ecostay Kajal

Price: Rs 325

It glides smoothly and can be used on the waterline too. The colour pay-off truly is too good! One swipe is so amazingly dark that you need not waste time in swiping it again and again to get the right colour! The staying power is amazing and it stays smudge-proof for at least 5 hours (which is good enough for me). I just hate the fact that it’s not a retractable pencil and the price is too much. Overall, I’m happy with my purchase.

L’Oreal Paris Kajal Magique Bold

Price: Rs 350

The kajal is a beautiful jet black colour with minimal silver glitter for shine, exactly like the Maybelline Colossal Super Black Kajal. I don’t find any difference between the two when it comes to pigmentation and nature. I love the longevity of this kajal as it’s amazing and stays put for a really long time. It stays for 4 hours without concealer on my waterline and for 5-6 hours with concealer/compact powder. On my upper lid, it stays for 6-7 hours easily.

Coloressence Black H.D. Eye Definer Pencil

Price: Rs 350

One swipe gives a rich black payoff, and two swipes can help add drama to your look. Bonus points for the pigmentation! The texture is smooth and the tip is soft, and excess pressure might result in crumbling. Nonetheless, it glides effortlessly both on the lids and on the waterline, without any tugging or pulling. without a powder. It stayed put for around 5 hours and with powder it lasted a couple of hours more.

Diana of London SSL01 Super Black Super Star Liner

Price: Rs 399

As the name says, it is jet black in color or you can also say blackest black in color. One stroke of this gives me blackest black color on my waterline as well as on my eyelids as an eyeliner. I have used lot of kajals from several brands and those kajals need to be swiped at least thrice to show up, but this particular kajal provides me with desired opaqueness just in single swipe on my waterline. It stays on my eyes forever; the staying power is too amazing.

Diana of London Intense Black Drama Kajal Eyeliner

Price: Rs 450

The shade is an intense black colour and the colour pay-off is really good. I get the ‘intense black’ in 2 swipes. This is one kajal that shows the colour on its own and does not have to be rubbed under my eyes or over the eyelids. The kajal stays for a very average time of 2-3 hours on my waterline and for 5-6 hours on my lash line and over the eyelids.

Sugar Cosmetics 01 Back to Black Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl

Price: Rs 499

On a single swipe, it leaves a highly pigmented black colour. The formula is so smooth and creamy; it’s almost dreamy. It is not exactly waterproof and smudge-proof. If you touch your eyes with your fingers, it’ll smudge. If you don’t touch, it does not smudge at all. It stays on for a good 7-8 hours and I have watery eyes and kajals do not stay on for very long. It starts to fade a little after 3 hours but then it stays intact.

Colorbar Ultra Dramatic Kajal

Price: Rs 650

The texture of the kajal is super smooth. Not the crumbly type, it is like home-made kajal. This is so smooth and satiny that sometimes it feels unnatural. Superbly pigmented and one swipe gives enough color. BUT….this one smudges like crazy. I could not finish drawing the full line and it started smudging…it smudges immediately! So no matter how much you powder your under eye or use mattifying base, this one will smudge and create the quickest possible smudged kohl look.

Makeup Revolution London Black Kajal Eyeliner

Price: Rs 650

The shade looks true black as an eyeliner and feels creamy. It is smudge proof and doesn’t budge at all until you rub your eyes. As an eyeliner on the eyelids, one single swipe gives a perfect line without any hassle. The shape of the product facilitates thoroughly. With creamy and soft texture, the best you can do with it is tight line without any tug or pull. Now, coming to waterline, it stays pretty good for 6-7 hours on average (and that too without budging). Two swipes show color on the water line and one more builds the intensity. Without giving any trouble to eyes, it stays put without smudging or budging.

Deborah Milano 2 In 1 Waterproof Gel Kajal and Eyeliner 01 Black

Price: Rs 675

The shade I picked up is intense black and it shows up the colour in the first swipe itself. However, swiping it 2-3 times creates a super dramatic and a catchy look. It creates an instant pop on my eyes. The texture is creamy and the finish is perfect like a gel liner. Under my eyes, it lasts for 7-8 hours with the colour losing its intensity after 5 hours which is great.

Colorbar Just Smoky Kajal – Just Black

Price: Rs 675

It glides on your water line, your lash lines, perfectly. No tugging and pulling, just creamy softness. It sets pretty quickly so you have to smudge as soon as you apply it, i.e. if you want to go for a smudged look. This is really waterproof and smudge-proof. Okay, I am going to confess. I have cried my heart out wearing this on my waterline and, at the end of it, the fading was minimal and there was no smudging and certainly there were no dark lines of water cascading down my cheeks.

Lakme Absolute Kohl Ultimate Kajal

Price: Rs 785

The part I love the most is that apart from the creamy texture the pigmentation is superb. This one is a jet black kohl – black, very black. It delivers around 90% pigmentation in one swipe, and 100% in two swipes. It stays for 8-10 hours as it is.

The Body Shop Matte Kajal

Price: Rs 895

The kohl is extremely dark, pigmented black and there is absolutely no compromise on the richness of the kajal. This is where the kajal scores highest marks and in no way you can find fault with it. It stayed on my waterline for more than 5 hours at a stretch without much smudging or budging.  Now, that is huge when it comes to the staying power of a kajal.

MAC Squid Modern Twist Kajal Liner

Price: Rs 990

It does not irritate my sensitive eyes and glides smoothly on the lids and waterline without tugging or pulling. It is super pigmented and one stroke gives enough color; there is no need to swipe multiple times. Without any base or powder to top off, this stayed on my waterline for more than 6 hours; no fading, no smudging.

Hope you liked this and can finalise a few good ones for yourself! If I have missed out a good one, then please do list it done below in the comments section!

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