14 Best Waterline Eyeliners That Won’t Let You Down

Create a variety of eye-popping looks with these creamy eye pencils that promise to stay put on the wettest part of your lash line.

Coloring in your waterline isn’t essential, but it makes a major impact. It’s just what you need to look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when you’re a tad tired.

The secret to making your eyes look bigger and lashes look thicker and fuller is to swipe liner across the thin upper and lower inner rims.

A beauty tip to look more energized is to use a flesh-toned liner, or you can bring out your eye color by using a complementary color. For instance, rich purple eyeliner makes brown eyes shine brighter.

For more depth and richness to the lash line, try tight-lining with a dark brown or black liner, or for special events, smoke out the waterline liner for a sultry look.

It’s important to note that this eye area is notoriously fussy and sensitive. Not to mention wet. Meaning it must be treated differently than the rest of your lids. It’s vital to use liners specially made for this area. There are a few factors to remember when shopping for the perfect one. 

The Best Waterline Eyeliners

Stay tuned for some lusciously creamy and lustrously long-lasting waterline eyeliners built for sculpting and defining your eyes.

All of these will be a piece of cake to apply to your waterline. 

Wet n Wild Mega Last Breakup-Proof Retractable Eyeliner

You can buy the long-lasting Wet n Wild Mega Last Breakup-Proof Retractable Eyeliner for only three bucks. A waterproof formula that blends seamlessly and stays in place for 16 hours straight.

Look no further than this remarkable eyeliner for a rich, creamy formula that promises to stay put from dusk until dawn.

This hyper-pigmented eyeliner is designed to create sultry and sensuous looks so you can captivate by morning and night.

Cruelty Free.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil 

This sculpting pencil provides an impressive hold that lasts all day.

Tight-line your eyes for an intense and dramatic finish with the cult-favorite Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

It has an impeccable reputation as a long-wear eyeliner, which creates distinct, lasting lines for a bold statement and everyday wear. 

Jillian Dempsey Khôl Eyeliner

This waterproof kohl eyeliner puts the power of sultry eyes at your fingertips.

Offering intense pigmentation and a built-in smudging tool, the eye-opening Jillian Dempsey Khol Eyeliner puts the power of sultry eyes at your fingertips.

Enriched with organic jojoba oil, shea butter, and marula oil for an effortlessly smooth application, the waterproof formula promises to stay put.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner

A sleek, waterproof eye pencil that traces intense eyes. It’s very long-lasting line resists water, humidity, and sebum. Its retractable tip and integrated pencil sharpener facilitate application.

For natural eyes, trace a thin line along the contour of the upper eyelashes, from the inner corner of the eye outwards.

For sophisticated eyes, intensify the line along the upper lashes by thickening it from the middle to the outer corner of the eye.

It comes in 17 shades, from neutral browns to iridescent jewel tones. The creamy, buildable formula makes it easy to transform your makeup look, giving you enticing eyes from day to night, anytime, anywhere. 

Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner

All make-up looks require a bold swipe of eyeliner. When it comes to showstopping definition and eye-popping color, leave it to Rihanna to deliver a flawless foundation to a smoky eye look.

Fenty Beauty’s Flypencil features a hyper-pigmented formula available in various shades in matte, glimmery, and metallic finishes that are sure to exceed all your expectations.

It’s long-wearing and water-resistant, giving you the luxury to create many head-turning looks. Despite it not being made for your waterline, we’ll make an exception in this case. 

Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eyeliner Pencil

The ultimate rock chick eyeliner, this pigment-rich formula melts into skin for day-to-night chic.

It’s inspired by the ultimate rock chick “bedroom eyes” Charlotte Tilbury has created a revolutionary, no-nonsense liquid-eyeliner pencil.

Combining the silky-smooth glide of a liquid liner with the soft, sooty, pigment-rich result of kohl, Rock ‘N’ Kohl melts onto your skin for an easy, one-slick line that blends and then sets for rock chick chic that will stay put all day and all night.

Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Eye Pencil

Ensuring your make-up stays in place is crucial – especially after you spent time creating your look – and with Pat McGrath Labs’ PermaGel Eye Pencil, your liner will not move, come rain, or shine.

The waterproof formula has a smooth consistency that allows you to create a wing, apply it to the water line or smudge it out with one effortless glide – make sure to blend or perfect the look as soon as you apply because once it sets, it’s not going anywhere.

Haus Labs Eye-Dentify Gel Eye Pencil

Define your eye makeup with this contemporary waterproof gel eye pencil from Haus Labs.

Haus Labs Eye-Dentify Gel Eye Pencil is an essential addition to make-up bags and easily sweeps across the top of the eyelid for a sultry smoky eye that lasts all evening.

Boasting a long-lasting, non-transferring formula, the highly pigmented product is available in 20 matte, metallic, and shimmery shades. 

Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eyeliner 

Cook up something deliciously creamy with Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eyeliner. 

Achieve flawless lash line application that delivers an intense hue.

An easy-to-use decadent eyeliner that seamlessly glides on the lash line, delivering long-lasting color for flawlessly defined eyes. You can have your cake and eat it with this divine eyeliner. 

KVD Tattoo Pencil Liner Waterproof Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Take your makeup routine to the next level with one swipe of the cult-favorite KVD Tattoo Pencil Liner Waterproof Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. 

The deep hues and precise brush deliver extreme definition. The waterproof, transfer-resistant formula will stay radiant and vibrant as it was you did when you first applied it.

This bold eyeliner offers ten intense, long-lasting shades, such as Cherry Red or Madder Red – all inspired by Kat Von D’s favorite things. Whether you’re simply looking for a touch of added definition or prefer a full-glam smoldering smoky eye, the gel formula promises to make mastering flawless liner feel effortless – even for beginners. A graphic cat eye will be a breeze

Vegan and Cruelty Free.

Essence Makeup Extreme Lasting Eye Pencil 

Creamy and textured, this magic wand will transform your look and give you alluring eyes.

A silky, waterproof eye pencil with a luminous color payoff and lasting wear for under five bucks, making it a steal. Anything’s possible if you just believe, even with makeup, thanks to Essence Makeup Extreme Lasting Eye Pencil.

The smudge-proof, velvety eye pencil easily glides on your waterline. It comes in four universally flattering, eye-enhancing shades: nude, dark gray, brown, and black. 

Vegan and cruelty free.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Slim Eye Pencil

Slim and slinky, this little tool will outline your eyes with precision.

Give eyes the edge. Design the eye look you want without putting a dent in your wallet with NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Slim Eye Pencil. This slim pencil is perfect for reaching those thin, tight spaces like your waterline, and its long-wearing formula won’t budge or bleed throughout the day.

It comes in 31 creamy shades that range from neutrals to brights in both matte and shimmery finishes so that you can take your look from subtle daytime elegance to amped-up evening glamour, all with one must-have liner.

Cruelty Free. 

Neutrogena Intense Gel Eyeliner

The drugstore-staple Neutrogena Intense Gel Eyeliner packs a punch, as its rich pigment and budge-proof once it dries down.

This gel eyeliner glides on easily and stays in place all day. A wave of this magic wand along the upper or lower lash line transforms your look, giving you bewitching eyes.

It is available in three wearable shades: dark brown, gray, and black. 

Shiseido Kajal InkArtist Shadow, Liner, Brow

This multi-tasker liner, eyeshadow, and brow color all rolled into one is smudge-proof and highly pigmented for easy definition.

Shiseido’s Kajal InkArtist is an innovative 4-in-1 eye pencil that doubles as a liner, eyeshadow, and brow color.

The smudge-proof, water-resistant formula provides a high-impact pigment with an even glide and featherweight feel.

Its soft, graduated point is precise enough to create a thin, smooth band along the lash line, and it’s also wide enough to be effortlessly applied across the entire lid. 

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Overall, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil takes the cake as the very best. It glides on seamlessly thanks to its creamy and smooth formula and its demi-matte, waterproof pigment that won’t budge once it sets. Plus, it’s formulated specifically for the waterline.

We’re also pretty big fans of NYX’s Slim Eye Pencil for its velvety, creamy formula and bold, vibrant color options, especially when we’re not looking to break the bank.

Looking to treat yourself to something more high-end? You can’t go wrong with the luxuriant Pat McGrath Lab’s Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil, a powerful if not potent pigment-packed waterproof pencil that’s perfect for lining the inner rims and creating a smoldering smoky eye.