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The 7 Best Eyeliners For Your Waterline And How To Use Them
Beyond brightening tired eyes, a slick of kohl on the lower eyes promises to intensify your gaze
Finding the best eyeliners for your waterline can be tricky, especially if you're prone to sensitive eyes or oily skin. The waterline - which refers to the inner rim of your lower and upper eyelid - is arguably the most delicate area of the eyes; eyeliners that are too pointy, liquid, shimmery or soft in texture run the risk of smudging or irritating the eyes.
Best Eyeliners For Your Waterline
Thankfully, there are plenty of options now available that cater to every eyeliner look, including for usage on the waterline. For make-up artist Ash K Holm (she's worked with stars known for their stunning make-up looks such as the Kardashians, Lindsay Lohan, Iris Law and Penelope Cruz), tightlining (a.k.a using eyeliner in the waterline) is great to 'instantly intensify the eyes and create more depth'.
Adds Holm: 'I often use it for red carpet glam or editorial looks when I want that sultry, defined eye.'
How to find the best eyeliner for your waterline
It's worth being extra careful when shopping for eyeliners for your waterline. 'The waterline is such a delicate area, so I avoid formulas with fragrance or harsh additives that can cause irritation or inflammation,' says Holm. This is especially important for those who wear contacts or have sensitivities.
How to use an eyeliner for your waterline
The key is to use a light hand. 'Opt for a waterproof, long-wearing formula and apply it gently, using short strokes so it glides on without tugging,' says Holm, who's a fan of rich black tones for 'drama and definition' while a nude or peach pencil is ideal for 'a more open, wide-eyed look'. According to Holm, this flesh-tone brightens the eyes without looking stark like a white eyeliner can.
For deeper skin tones, Holm often reaches for warm brown, deep espresso, or even a rich aubergine in the waterline. 'These tones enhance the eye without looking too harsh, and they complement the richness of the skin beautifully. If I’m going for brightness, I’ll opt for a golden beige or warm nude rather than a light ivory,' she tells ELLE UK.
The Very Best Eyeliners For Your Waterline
How We Test
When trialling the best eyeliners for the waterline, we look at the ingredients list to make sure it contains only skin-kind ingredients. We then observe the way it glides, how it feels on the waterline, the colour pigment and finish. To find out who makes the cut, we consider its longevity, how it wears through long days in rain and humidity and who each eyeliner would suit best.
Hildun's kajal formula is perfectly balanced. It's soft enough to glide smoothly onto dry and more mature skin types, yet the colour pigments stay intact throughout the day which means no smudging once it sets. If you prefer a softly smoked out effect, this eyeliner provides enough time for you to blend it out before it fully locks into place. There's a classic black shade, along with flattering alternatives such as navy and emerald. The slight iridescence creates a brightening finish, too.
Product specifications
| Benefits: | Best for mature skin, dry eyelids, long-wear, colour pigments |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 5 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil
This smooth formula glides on easily on the waterline with no tugging, and comes in an off-white, almost flesh-tone that looks much more natural across all complexions. Use it to cheat eight hours of restful sleep, instantly.
Product specifications
| Benefits: | Brightening, for all skin tones |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 1 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Sculpted by Aimee Brighten & Define Eyeliner Duo
This dual-ended eyeliner makes light work of enhancing, lifting and refreshing the eyes. Use the neutral end on your waterline to create a wide-awake effect, and use the other end for your upper lids for extra definition.
Product specifications
| Benefits: | Brightening, upper lids and waterline, versatile, travel-friendly |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 3 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Charlotte Tilbury The Super Nudes Duo Liner
Charlotte Tilbury understands exactly what it takes to create eye make-up that delivers drama and stays put through long hours. This dual-ended pencil features a soft kohl at one end to create the perfect feline flick on both the eyelids and waterline. The accompanying brightener ensures that tired eyes appear extra fresh.
Product specifications
| Benefit: | Brightening, long-wear, smokey eye, cat eye |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 1 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil
The clue is in the name. This modern classic is budge-proof and promises to stay in tact through rain or shine (or teary waterlines). It comes in an extensive shade range that features useful neutrals such as black, dark cocoa and smokey grey alongside festival-ready hues such as electric blue and lime green. The soft pencil makes for a comfortable experience on the under-eyes, too.
Product specifications
| Benefits: | Shade range, long-lasting, versatile |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 27 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
Fenty's colour pigments set a high standard, so if you're looking for punchy tones in arresting finishes of metallic, shimmer, glitter or matte for your waterline - this is it. The smudge- and water-resistant formula is especially ideal for sweaty, hot weather and oily eyelids.
Product specifications
| Best for: | Pigmented colour, oily eyelids, long-wear |
|---|---|
| Shade range: | 20 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Ever reliable and steadfast, this retractable matte eyeliner delivers a perfect, opaque stroke of eyeliner without tugging at the eyelids and feels comfortable on the waterline. The waterproof formula resists any transfer or smudging and even better, it requires no sharpening. Just twist and go.
Product specifications
| Benefits: | For all skin types, long-wear, everyday, waterproof |
|---|---|
| Shades: | 6 |
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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