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
- Top 11 Best Eyeliners for Your Waterline 2026
- 1. Best Overall Eyeliner: Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77
- 2. Most Versatile Eyeliner: NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil
- 3. Best Premium Eyeliner: Wunder2 Super-Stay Liner
- 4. Best Budget Eyeliner: Rimmel Scandal’eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner
- 5. Most Long-Lasting Eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner
- 6. Best for Traditional Styles: Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer
- 7. Most Intensely Pigmented: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Lacquer Eyeliner
- 8. Best Professional Eyeliner: NYX Professional Makeup Mechanical Eyeliner
- 9. Best Built-In Sharpener: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
- 10. Best for Contact Lens Wearers: LORAC Front of the Line Pro Eye Pencil
- 11. Best for Avoiding Raccoon Eyes: Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner Pencil
- Guide to Buying the Best Eyeliner for Your Waterline
- Final Thoughts
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.
Top 11 Best Eyeliners for Your Waterline 2026
1. Best Overall Eyeliner: Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77
Editor’s Rating:
When it comes to lining your waterline, the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77 is a fan favorite. The silky formula glides on easily and sets quickly.
If you like to smudge your liner for a smokey look, you have to be fast. Once this liner sets, it won’t budge all day. It won’t transfer from your tightline to your waterline (or vice versa), and it can stand up to sweat, tears, and naturally watery eyes.
You don’t need a heavy hand, either. A little bit of this gel liner goes a long way. Not only is it long-lasting on your eyes, but you won’t be re-purchasing frequently (unless you love it so much you have to buy all the colors).
The color selection for this product includes some unique and vibrant colors such as yellow, red, and cyan. Of course, everyday shades such as black, brown, and white are also available. Regardless of which color you choose, the pigmentation won’t disappoint.
Despite costing double that of some of the drugstore liners on this list, the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77 does not come with a brush. Still, the quality of this product is arguably worth the price tag.
Pros
- Sets quickly so you don’t have to worry about smudging or transfer
- Vibrant color selection with impressive pigmentation
- Easy, even application
- Long-lasting and smudge-proof
Cons
- Sets quickly leaving little time to smoke out liner or fix mistakes
- Doesn’t come with a brush
2. Most Versatile Eyeliner: NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil
Editor’s Rating:
The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil comes in a number of shades that go beyond just the basics (though they have those, too), including pink, silver, gold, rose gold, champagne, and rust to name a few. The colors look beautiful as both liner and eyeshadow.
The white shade, called “Milk,” is a cult favorite. People love using it on the waterline to make the eyes appear bright and open. It is lauded as the perfect eyeshadow base that makes any color put on top pop.
For those with fair skin, it can even be used when highlighting and contouring the face. Many of the other colors make great highlighters as well due to the small flecks of shimmer within them.
The NYX jumbo eye pencil can even be used as a lip liner to keep your lipsticks from bleeding, and Milk can be used as a base to make bright lip colors stand out more. However, for hygiene reasons, we wouldn’t recommend using the same product on both your lips and eyes.
As you can see, the versatility of this product gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
When it comes to the waterline, the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil is long-lasting despite not being waterproof. The formula is smooth, soft, and creamy, so it glides onto the waterline effortlessly.
These eyeliners are also highly pigmented, so you won’t need more than a couple of swipes to get your desired intensity.
Though this product sounds like a dream, it isn’t without faults. Because of the large tip, it lacks precision, and some users may struggle to apply it to an area as slim as the waterline.
A standard eyeliner sharpener will not work with this Jumbo Eye Pencil; as the name suggests, you’ll need something bigger. Furthermore, sharpening can be tricky due to the product’s plastic packaging.
Pros
- Versatile
- Creamy formula makes for easy application
- Intriguing color selection
- Pigmented
Cons
- Large size means less precision
- Difficult to sharpen
Editor’s Rating:
You may recognize the name “Wunder” and wonder if this eyeliner is made by the same brand as Wunderbrow. It is!
The Wunder2 Super-Stay Liner has the best color selection with 21 highly-pigmented shades in three different finishes: matte, glitter, and metallic.
The formula is soft and creamy, making for an easy, gentle application to the waterline. Once it sets in place, it won’t budge. In fact, it will last all day and all night should you forget to take it off.
Contact wearers have to be extra careful with application as the formula is so malleable that it will fog up lenses if it touches them. Luckily, it isn’t likely to cause any irritation to the eyes.
Because it is waterproof, it can be difficult to remove and you will definitely need a makeup remover that is up to the task.
Though this pencil performs well on the eye, sharpening it can be a trial. The soft formula has a tendency to break during sharpening, causing you to waste more and more product in your quest for a sharpened tip.
Freezing the pencil before sharpening can help prevent broken tips and wasted product.
Pros
- Impressive color selection
- Soft formula is easy to apply and gentle on the waterline
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May not be suitable for contact wearers
- Tip tends to break during sharpening
4. Best Budget Eyeliner: Rimmel Scandal’eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner
Editor’s Rating:
It’s hard to believe Rimmel is able to offer a liner of this quality for such an affordable price. The Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner stays put for hours and doesn’t smudge or bleed.
Unlike other eyeliners, you won’t see this one building up in the corners of your eyes. Application is easy due to the creamy formula and impressive color payoff — no tugging here!
This liner won’t irritate sensitive eyes, nor will it smudge all over contact lenses.
The stay-put formula does make it a bit difficult to remove, however, and you’ll need an oil-based or waterproof makeup remover. Though the Rimmel Scandal’eyes Kajal Liner lasts great on your eyes, it isn’t so long-lasting in the tube.
Because it’s a pencil, it needs to be sharpened. Sadly, there are some flaws in the pencil’s design in this regard. Sharpening the tip back into a point is difficult and tends to waste a lot of product.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Long-lasting
- Good for sensitive eyes
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Hard to remove
- Sharpening is difficult and wastes product
5. Most Long-Lasting Eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner
Editor’s Rating:
The Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner takes long-lasting to the next level: you could wear it all day, sleep in it overnight, and wake up to it on your waterline the next day (but you shouldn’t).
This liner can resist naps, sweat, and even tear-jerkers. It glides on smoothly, and the black shade is a dark, true black.
Unfortunately, the color selection for this product is limited to darker shades and won’t be a good choice for someone looking to brighten up their eyes with a white or nude color in the waterline.
While this product is creamy enough not to tug at the eye, beginners may struggle using a brush to apply liner directly to the waterline without getting any in the eyes. Practice makes perfect, as they say.
Luckily, the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner is ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes.
Due to its waterproof formula, this liner can be tough to remove, and an oil-based makeup remover is a must.
Pros
- Comes with a brush
- Impressive staying power — waterproof, sweatproof, and nap-proof
- Black shade is very dark and pigmented
Cons
- Limited color selection
- Difficult to remove
6. Best for Traditional Styles: Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer
Editor’s Rating:
The Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer comes in nine different colors, but aside from Aqua Sparkle and In The Nude, the shades are rather dark. This makes them great for more traditional eye looks, but if you want to play with color, your options are limited.
The creamy, pigmented formula makes application a breeze; this stuff glides right onto the waterline without tugging at your eye, and the rich pigment means you don’t have to apply any pressure.
This eyeliner is waterproof, sweatproof, cry-proof, and transfer-proof. It doesn’t smudge, run, or bleed, so it’s unlikely to irritate the eyes or get on contact lenses. These qualities also mean that it’s going to stay put all day.
Despite being waterproof, the Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer comes off easily with makeup removers like micellar water.
This eyeliner is truly a stellar product considering how inexpensive it is.
Of course, everyone’s eyes are different. While the product performs swimmingly on the majority of users, some people may still experience smudging or fading and may have to reapply throughout the day.
Pros
- Safe for contact wearers
- No need to sharpen
- Rich pigment makes for an easy application
- Long-lasting due to waterproof formula
- Easy to remove with makeup remover
Cons
- May collect in tear ducts or smudge at outer corners
7. Most Intensely Pigmented: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Lacquer Eyeliner
Editor’s Rating:
L’Oreal claims that their Infallible Lacquer Eyeliner can last up to 24 hours, but it’s more likely to last about 8-12 in the waterline. Still, that’s pretty solid considering this eyeliner is not waterproof.
In fact, as long as you do not touch your liner, it is unlikely to smear even if it gets wet. However, this does mean you will need more than just good old soap and water to remove this liner. Makeup remover is your friend.
The formula of this gel liner is smooth and deeply pigmented; it glides on easily and evenly so you won’t need to keep layering it up. If you enjoy tightlining, you’ll find that this product won’t transfer from your upper to lower waterline. It stays right where you want it.
Because it is a gel, it can also be used to create winged eyeliner sharp enough to cut all of your enemies. The L’Oreal Infallible Lacquer Eyeliner comes with a brush that can certainly get the job done, but you may still prefer to use one of your own.
You should be aware that this liner is not matte; in fact, it was purposefully named “lacquer” to describe its shiny quality. If you don’t like a glossy black liner, this product isn’t for you.
Though the Lacquer Eyeliner is a great product for most, if you have oily or watery eyes, you may find its lasting power to be less than superb.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Rich pigment
- Smooth formula for easy application
- Brush included
Cons
- May smudge on oily or watery eyes
- Cannot be washed off with soap and water despite being non-waterproof
8. Best Professional Eyeliner: NYX Professional Makeup Mechanical Eyeliner
Editor’s Rating:
This eyeliner comes in a range of colors to match any look. The formula is creamy, so it applies smoothly without any tugging or pulling.
Many of the shades are highly pigmented, meaning you won’t have to spend an hour trying to build up your color. Should you desire a color to be more intense, you can apply as many coats as you need and the product won’t get cakey.
Because the formula is waterproof, it stays put all day and won’t leave you with raccoon eyes.
NYX created this eyeliner to be safe for the waterline, so it is unlikely to irritate the eyes even if you’re a contact wearer.
The twist-up design of this pen means you won’t have to sharpen it and waste product, giving you even more bang for your buck on top of the already affordable drugstore price.
If you have watery eyes, you may have some difficulties with this product. Some colors may not stick well to the moist waterline and require you to spend more time on application. You may also find that this product fades throughout the day or smudges onto the lower lashline.
Pros
- Smooth application
- Colors are pigmented and build without becoming cakey
- Does not irritate the eyes
- Decent color selection
Cons
- May need to go over the waterline a number of times to build up color
- Watery eyes may cause fading or smudging
9. Best Built-In Sharpener: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner