The 11 Best Eyeliners for Your Waterline in 2026

Editor’s Note: Using eyeliner on your waterline is one of my favorite tricks for making your eyes look brighter and more awake, or for adding a unique touch to your makeup. White and black are the most popular waterline eyeliner colors, and it’s important to select a product that is going to work with your skin and be easy to apply, as your waterline is a sensitive area.

Make sure you double-check our guide to using a waterline eyeliner to be fully prepared before you attempt this fresh and unique style.

There are many makeup looks that are taken to the next level by adding liner to the waterline. Using black eyeliner on your waterline (the line of skin between your eyelashes and your eye) can be the finishing touch to a sexy, sultry look.

White and nude shades are great for brightening the eyes and making them look more open and awake. If you want to add color to your look but aren’t comfortable rocking it on your actual lid, the waterline is the perfect place to experiment.

However, due to the waterline’s watery nature, it’s tough to find a liner that really sticks to it and won’t budge throughout the day. We’ve rounded up the best eyeliners for your waterline and have also provided some tips on hygiene, application, and removal.

But first, let’s talk about which types of eyeliners work best for the waterline.

What to Consider When Choosing Eyeliner for Your Waterline

Searching for your next holy grail eyeliner may not be easy, but you’ll save some time if you know what to look for and what to pass up.

Which Types of Eyeliner Work Best for Your Waterline?

You probably know that eyeliner is available in a few different formats: pencil, gel, marker, and liquid. Let’s discuss which types are worth trying and which ones you should leave on the shelf.

Pencil

When it comes to lining the waterline, pencils are fantastic. They are easy to control, which reduces the likelihood of poking yourself in the eye or getting product where you don’t want it.

Makeup companies have also come a long way with their formulas. Pencils are not stiff and waxy, but soft and creamy. This makes them easy to apply.

The pencil’s real shortcoming is its versatility. If you want a product that works great on your waterline but can also be used to create, say, winged liner, a pencil isn’t going to be the best option.

Even when you keep them sharpened, pencils never seem to be as precise as other types of liners. You just can’t create incredibly thin lines with a pencil.

If you just want something for your waterline, then a pencil is a fantastic option, but if you’re looking for something more versatile, then you might prefer a gel liner instead.

Gel

Gel liners come in pots and require a brush for application. Some brands will supply a brush, but you may still need to purchase one separately depending on what kind of look you’re going for.

If you have hooded eyes, for example, the brushes that come with products are usually too thick to make lines thin enough to show up beneath a hood.

The appeal of gel liner is that it is smooth and creamy, making it easy to apply to the eye without any skipping or tugging. The formula is easy to work with, but once it sets, it becomes completely budge-proof.

These qualities also make it a great option for the waterline. Because you need to use a brush, it might not be quite so easy to apply to the waterline as a pencil liner, but most people can get the hang of it with a bit of practice.

Best of all, you won’t have to limit your use of gel liner solely to the waterline. Gel liner is great for lining the lash line or creating a wing. All you need to do is pick the right brush!

Markers

Markers usually aren’t the best choice for lining the waterline. Though many of them have awesome, long-lasting formulas, application can be pretty tricky.

You’d think using a marker wouldn’t be so hard since the shape is very similar to a pencil, but for some reason, markers just don’t offer a lot of control. It’s common to get liner in places you don’t want it, including inside your eye, when using a marker on the waterline.

Of course, there are always unicorns out there with incredible control who are somehow able to line their waterlines with markers. If you are one of these magical people, more power to you, but the rest of us will be sticking with pencils and gel.

Liquid

There may be a few magical beings who can steadily line their waterlines with marker eyeliners, but using a liquid liner to do so is pretty much impossible across the board.

Most liquid liners come with a brush tip or a pointed-sponge tip, and both are sure to paint your eyeball with black (or whatever color you choose) if you try to line your waterline with them.

It’s best to steer clear of liquid liner completely.

The Woes of Watery Eyes

Though we’ve handpicked the best of the best eyeliners for our list, unfortunately, there is no such thing as a universally perfect product.

Everyone is different, and thus their skin takes products differently. While we hope that you could choose any liner from our list and it will be a smash hit, there is always a chance that it just won’t work out.

This is especially possible for those who are cursed with watery eyes, whether they are that way all the time naturally, you’re prone to sensitivity, or you suffer from allergies.

If you have corrosive tears, you’re going to need to help your eyeliner out a bit. There are a few ways to do this, like drying your waterline before application or using powder, which we’ve detailed in a guide for you.

That said, let’s get into our recommendations.