White eyeliner is every makeup artist’s secret for making the eyes look massive. If your love of makeup runs deep then you’ve probably already tried adding that thin line of white and achieved glorious effects! If not, we’ll help show you the ropes and add this secret weapon to your makeup arsenal.
What even hardcore beauty enthusiasts may not know is that white eyeliner can have other uses. It’s great for sparking creativity. There are different types of white eyeliner, and each one is better for a different makeup style. Sadly, not all options are suitable for the delicate waterline. Keep reading to find out about all of the best white eyeliners for every makeup look!
- Things to Know About White Eyeliner
- Top 10 Best White Eyeliners 2026
- 1. Best Overall NYX Cosmetics Retractable Eyeliner
- 2. Best Premium Pick Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
- 3. Best Budget Pick NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil Milk
- 4. Best Gel Eyeliner INGLOT AMC EYELINER GEL 76
- 5. Best Liquid Eyeliner NYX Cosmetics Epic Wear Liquid Liner
- 6. WUNDER2 SUPER-STAY LINER
- 7. L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
- 8. Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Light Eyeliner
- 9. Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Witness
- 10. Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in White Out
- How to Choose the Best White Eyeliner for You
- White Eyeliner FAQ
- Final Thoughts
Things to Know About White Eyeliner
Before getting into the reviews, there’s some important information you might like to know about white eyeliner. We cover it all in this section and will get into even more detail later on.
Where Do You Use White Eyeliner?
The most signature use for white eyeliner is in the waterline, which is the rim of skin between the lower lash line and the eye. When applied there, white eyeliner makes the eyes look bigger by matching the whites of the eyes and reflecting light. Not only does it widen the eyes, but it also hides redness from sleepless nights. You can learn how to do this yourself with our easy guide.
However, white eyeliner has other purposes too, from doubling as a great highlighter or eyeshadow primer to boosting your most creative eye makeup looks! If you’d like to get inspired, check out all of the other ways you can use white eyeliner!
Types of White Eyeliners
White eyeliners come in a few different types, and each one is better for a different kind of application. We’ll let you know what category each eyeliner falls into in the reviews.
- Pencils are perfect for lining the waterline because they’re semi-soft and easy to apply. They come in either sharpenable or retractable formats.
- Liquid eyeliners are ideal for graphic liner looks because they’re pigmented and long-lasting, but they don’t work in the waterline.
- Gels come in a little jar so they have to be applied with a separate brush. They’re great if you like to get very creative or to cover a lot of space, although they don’t always work in the waterline.
We get into even more details about subtypes, how each type performs, and what kind of look it’s best for you further on.
Features to Look for in White Eyeliner
When looking for a great white eyeliner, these are the features we always keep in mind.
Creaminess
If you’re going to use eyeliner on the waterline it must be creamy and soft. This way, the formula glides over the sensitive skin and manages to impart an adequate amount of product. With a hard liner, you risk scratching or irritating your eye area.
At the same time, super creamy eyeliners, especially in pencil form, can break very easily, and sometimes they don’t have enough of a drag to impart color anywhere but the waterline. It’s a fine balance, and is something to consider depending on where you plan to apply your liner. We’ll let you know exactly what kind of texture you can expect from each liner on our list, and how it performs best.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation refers to how much pigment or color is in a particular makeup product vs. the amount of filler. With white eyeliners, we want good pigmentation so that they can cover the skin and leave behind an opaque white line. Otherwise, they can look patchy or uneven, which totally defeats the purpose!
Longevity
It’s very hard to get makeup to stay on the waterline because of how close it is to the eye and tear duct, so longevity is a key feature for every white eyeliner. When applied to the waterline, we expect a white eyeliner to last for at least 4-5 hours. Even if you don’t use it on the waterline, you still don’t want your hard work to fade or smudge during the day. When applied to the lash line or lid, we expect a minimum of 8 hours of wear.
With all of this in mind, let’s find out which white eyeliners measured up to our standards!
@cassielrodgers It took me lots of time to try to find the perfect eyeliner for the waterline! @nyxcosmetics retractable eyeliner in white! Only $5 🔗 on LTK #makeupmonday #nyxcosmetics #whiteeyeliner #waterlineeyeliner #whiteliner #nyxeyeliner #drugstoremakeup #trendingmakeup #affordablemakeup
Top 10 Best White Eyeliners 2026
1. Best Overall NYX Cosmetics Retractable Eyeliner
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Retractable pencil
- Shade & finish: Matte white
- Cruelty-free
NYX rules the white eyeliner game, with this one being our top favorite. It truly is the ideal white eyeliner for a waterline application.
It comes in the form of a thin, retractable pencil, so it takes up nearly no space in your makeup bag and it doesn’t require a sharpener. This is convenient when you’re on the go!
This product is waterproof which also means that it has fantastic longevity. If you apply it to your waterline first thing in the morning, you can expect it to look vibrant well until the afternoon. It also fades away nicely, without clumping together or pooling near the tear duct, so you’ll still look fine without touching it up.
The formula is very creamy so it glides on the waterline without any issues, and the pigmentation is high so one swipe is all it takes to brighten up your eyes. The only drawback to this amazing level of creaminess is that the pencil can break easily. We have a tip for avoiding that: don’t roll it up too high when you use it and always roll it back down once you’re done. If you prefer a more solid formula, even if it means the eyeliner will be less gentle, consider L’Oreal Infallible Eyeliner instead.
Finally, the value is hard to beat since, like all NYX products, it comes in at the low end of typical drugstore prices.
Pros
- Creamy and gentle on the waterline
- Amazing color pay-off
- Very long-lasting
- Affordable
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- The tip can break if you’re not careful
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Liquid pen
- Shade & finish: Matte white
- Vegan and cruelty-free
The white winged eyeliner look has been having a moment, and we can’t think of a better product for creating it than this Stila liner (perhaps in combination with the black liner from the same range).
If you’re not familiar with liquid eyeliner pens, let us rave about them for a second: they have a built-in barrel of eyeliner liquid that connects to a felt tip. The liquid feeds into the tip, so you get a very controlled amount of eyeliner. They’re super easy to apply and they always give a crisp, sharp line that’s perfect for a winged look.
This particular liquid liner pen stands out for having fantastic pigmentation. Some white liquid eyeliners can come out a little patchy, but that’s not the case here. You get an opaque line of white with just one swipe.
It’s even more impressive for its longevity. The formula is famously waterproof and long-wearing, so it looks amazing for well over 10 hours, even in the face of rain or tears. The only similar product that surpasses it for longevity is NYX Epic Wear Liquid Liner.
Since it’s a liquid, it’s not intended for use in the waterline and we don’t recommend trying it. The liner would probably run into your eyes and cloud your vision.
Pros
- Very easy to apply
- Highly pigmented
- Gives a clean and pristine line
- Waterproof and extremely long-wearing
Cons
- Can’t be used on the waterline
3. Best Budget Pick NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil Milk
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Jumbo sharpenable pencil
- Shade & finish: Matte white
- Cruelty-free
This is the best budget option on our list, not only because it’s so affordable but also because it’s multi-purpose. We’ve identified three awesome ways to use it, although we’re sure you could come up with more.
The first is, of course, as a liner for the waterline. It is extremely soft and very pigmented, so it goes on the lash line beautifully! Just make sure that the tip is nice and pointed (you can run it sideways over a tissue to make sure of that), and it’ll apply a clean line in seconds.
The second way to apply it is to use it as an eyelid primer before using powder eyeshadows. Because it’s jumbo-sized, it’s easy to apply it all over the lid, and any eyeshadows you apply on top will last longer and appear much more vibrant.
The third is one of our favorite discoveries! Since this formula is so creamy and the tip is so large, you can use it as though it were a gel liner. Run your favorite eyeliner brush over the tip and you’ll pick up enough product to create a white liner wing or a graphic look.
In other words, it’s one product that does the job of three, which definitely helps a budget-conscious lifestyle. If you do get it, make sure you also have a jumbo-sized sharpener on hand.
However, if you only want white eyeliner for the waterline, NYX Retractable Eyeliner is going to be the better choice. It’s slimmer and doesn’t require a sharpener, and since it’s waterproof it lasts a little longer in the waterline.
If you like the idea of a white jumbo pencil with a highlighter-esque shimmer, we’d suggest also trying the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick.
Pros
- Very affordable
- 3-in-1 waterline liner, gel liner, and eye primer
- Creamy and pigmented for gorgeous results
Cons
- Requires a jumbo-sized sharpener
- Not waterproof
4. Best Gel Eyeliner INGLOT AMC EYELINER GEL 76
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Gel liner
- Shade & finish: Matte white
- Vegan and cruelty-free
There aren’t many white gel eyeliners available to makeup enthusiasts, which is unfortunate because they offer so much versatility. This is one of the few white eyeliner gels we were able to find, and boy is it impressive!
Inglot’s AMC eyeliner gels, in general, are pretty iconic, especially with professionals. They come in an incredible range of colors, and they have exceptional longevity even when exposed to water.
This formula can be used in many different ways, which reminds us of NYX Milk but in a gel format. It can be applied on the waterline with a slim concealer brush, and it’ll stay looking stark and pristine for up to 6 hours, beating pretty much all of the other waterline-appropriate liners on our list for longevity. In fact, removing it might be a little tough, so make sure to use an oil-based makeup remover to get it off.
Because it’s a gel in a jar you can totally change up the effect you get from it depending on your brush. You can apply it on the lid with a firm, flat-topped brush and it’ll actually self-set as a nice cream eyeshadow. You can also use it as an eyeshadow primer, although you’ll have to work quickly to apply your powders over it before it has a chance to set.
When applied with a thin liner brush it’s as fantastic for winged eyeliner looks as Stila Stay All Day, though it would require a touch more expertise. You can even use it with a bigger brush for face painting.
It’s priced somewhere between the mid-end and premium level, but a single jar lasts a long time and it offers so many application options so we think that it still offers good value. Keep in mind that this versatility also depends on the size of your makeup brush collection.
Pros
- Awesome for waterline
- Perfect for getting creative
- Doubles as an eyeshadow or eye primer
- Holds up for ages
Cons
- Tough to remove
- Requires separate brushes to apply
5. Best Liquid Eyeliner NYX Cosmetics Epic Wear Liquid Liner
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Liquid
- Shade & finish: Matte white
- Cruelty-free
If you like to get very creative with your makeup then we highly recommend this white liquid eyeliner, also from NYX. It has an impressive formula with some very specific benefits.
What differentiates the Epic Wear liners from other NYX eyeliners is their longevity. They are designed to go above and beyond, so not only are they waterproof, but NYX even claims that they can stay in place for 3 days. We wouldn’t recommend wearing your eye makeup for that long, but if you’re looking for a liner for festival season or for cosplay, it will surely come in handy.
This is the type of liquid eyeliner that comes in a simple tube, with an extra slim brush attached to the handle. The formula is as pigmented as other NYX formulas and because of the brush, it goes on the skin in an itty-bitty, precise line. This makes it a great choice for makeup lovers with a little more experience.
Manipulating the brush takes more skill than Stila Stay All Day, but the line it creates is much more delicate. Like Stila, it can’t be used on the waterline, and we find it’s especially useful for creating graphic eye makeup looks with interesting linework. It also costs around half the price of Stila, which might make it the better pick if you’re budget-conscious.
Pros
- Outstanding longevity
- Great pigmentation
- Thin wand perfect for creative graphic makeup looks
Cons
- Requires more skill and expertise to use
- Very difficult to remove
6. WUNDER2 SUPER-STAY LINER
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Gel pencil
- Shade & finish: Metallic white-gold
- Vegan and cruelty-free
This metallic white eyeliner is a lovely choice for special occasions or when you just want to spice things up. It’s a gel pencil, which means that while it does require some sharpening, the actual formula inside is very soft and pliant, similar to a gel.
As you might be able to guess from the name, its color is a metallic white-gold hybrid. Depending on how it catches the light it can appear more gold or more white, which is a beautiful effect.
It works well in the waterline, but it’s also very pretty when diffused over the eyelid as an eyeshadow or used in the inner corner of the eye as a highlighter. Because this pencil is so soft we don’t recommend it for attempting graphic looks or a sharp wing.
Though it is supposed to be waterproof, we find that its wear time is underwhelming, especially in the waterline. It looks good for up to 4 hours, but after that, it’s almost guaranteed to fade. It can last longer on the lid, though it may smudge on oily skin. If you’re oily and want all-day wear we’d suggest setting it with powder.
Pros
- Beautiful white-gold shade
- Can be applied as eyeshadow or highlighter
- Very soft and gentle
Cons
- Mediocre longevity
- Requires a sharpener
7. L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Retractable pencil
- Shade: Matte white
This is another fantastically simple retractable white eyeliner for wide-awake eyes. It has a bold, opaque color that brightens the eyes beautifully, so it’s a great option for the waterline.
The end of the liner is fitted with a smudger, which we don’t find particularly useful. What’s cool is that the smudger is removable, and there’s a small “tip sharpener” on its end. This is perfect if you like your eyeliner to have a very small, sharp point at all times, and it allows for a very precise application.
The tip is the least breakable of the ones we’ve tried, but it’s also because the formula is a little harder. It can be difficult to get it to deposit color on the waterline without a bit of tugging, but you can run it over the back of your hand to get it to heat up, which fixes the issue. Once it softens the color is opaque.
If you prefer something softer, opt for NYX Retractable Eyeliner.
Once applied, this product stays put and looks great for a very long time. We’d say its longevity is comparable to NYX Retractable Eyeliner, so taking it off definitely requires a good makeup remover.
The only real drawback is that L’Oreal is not considered cruelty-free, so if that’s important to you stick to NYX.
Pros
- Convenient retractable design
- Includes sharpener for the tip
- Very sturdy tip that doesn’t break
Cons
- Not cruelty-free
- Slightly hard texture
8. Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Light Eyeliner
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Type: Retractable pencil
- Shade: Pearlescent white
We’re spicing up our list with something fun and pretty! This is a frosted white eyeliner with a beautiful shimmer that would be a great addition to any extravagant makeup look.
The pigmentation of this product is interesting. The base of the cream is a sheer white with a lot of pearlescent flecks embedded in it. The result is that it lets a bit of skin peek through, but still brightens impressively.
The color is actually very similar to Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick, but because this is a retractable pencil it gives a thinner line. As a result, it works very well in the waterline or as a highlight in the inner corner of the eye, but doesn’t give as many additional uses.
All-in-all, it has