Use on the waterline - A pencil eyeliner is the best option for lining the waterline. It's hard not to get the liner in your eye when applying liquid to the waterline and that's a recipe for disaster. Convenient - Choose a pencil eyeliner that's retractable and doesn't need sharpening.
As an incredibly sensitive area, the waterline requires a special type of eyeliner. (Just imagine the red and watery eyes brought on by irritation from a generic black eyeliner or worse, a liquid liner!) “I look for silicone-based liners that are longwearing and waterproof,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman.
Waterproof eyeliner is the best eyeliner because it's long-wearing and long-lasting, and the waterproof formula is smudge-proof and will keep the eyeliner from smearing around your waterline. 5. Avoid liquid liner. Liquid eyeliner can smear easily and the pigment can sting your eyes.
As it turns out, it's probably not the safest idea. Applying eyeliner on the waterline increases your risk of contaminating your eye. Any bacteria or contaminants on the tip of your eyeliner have the potential to travel into your eye and cause discomfort, irritation or redness to those with sensitive or dry eyes.
Pencil eyeliners can be used on the upper and bottom lashline, in the waterline, as an eyeshadow, and as an eyeshadow base. Liquid eyeliner is used mainly for drawing lines and often looks harsh on the bottom lashline.
"When makeup is applied to the area known as the waterline, it can potentially block the glands known as meibomian glands that release an oily substance that contributes to the tear film, which can subsequently lead to dry eye or irritation," Garshick said.
White eyeliner is a makeup artist trick for brightening up the face and making your eyes look bigger and more awake, particularly when used on the bottom waterline. When using a dark color on the bottom lash line, it can make eyes look smaller and drawn-down, but white has the reverse effect.
Dr. Carver-Schemper does not recommend doing it at all — and no type of eyeliner is "safe" to put in your waterline either. "It doesn't matter what kind of eyeliner it is, all of them can obstruct the oils glands and cause irreversible gland damage," she said.
Final Verdict. Overall, Urban Decay's 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil takes the cake as the very best. It glides on creamy and smooth, and its demi-matte, waterproof pigment won't budge once it sets. Plus, it's formulated specifically for the waterline.
But while liner can help to open up your eyes and brighten your appearance, tightlining your waterline, or the inner rim of your lashes, will only stand to make you look older. “First of all, makeup inside the waterline instantly creates the illusion of smaller eyes.
To keep your eyeliner on your waterline for longer, try curling your lashes, drying out your waterline with a cotton swab, and putting eyeshadow over your eyeliner once you've applied it.
"Any debris from the air or makeup may cause irritation and burning of the eyes," Movsisyan says. "Eyeliner and mascara are the main culprits when it comes to makeup," Movsisyan says, as these sit right next to your eyes and often contain irritating preservatives.
Professionally, white eyeliner is a makeup artist trick for brightening up the face and making your eyes look bigger and more awake—particularly when used on the bottom waterline. When using a dark color on the bottom lash line, it can make eyes look smaller and drawn-down, but white has the reverse effect.
Take a freshly sharpened pencil eyeliner and look straight ahead into a mirror, gliding the pointed tip of the pencil along the upper waterline, from the inner to the outer corner of the eye. Repeat for the lower lash line, again using your fingertip to gently lift the line away from the eye. You're a pro already.
While most women choose either brown or black pencil eyeliners, Marilyn's make-up artist, Snyder, used a combination of both on the actress. Using Elizabeth Arden's classic eye pencils in both hues, he would apply liner to her upper eye lids and waterlines, extending the lash lines with wings to elongate.
If you're a newbie to the world of eyeliner or just want a fuss free application, pencil eyeliner is a winner. Way less intimidating to handle than swiping a thick, inky line along your eyelids. Perfectly.
Eyeliner pencil
Fans of the pencil liner love the fast, easy application. It's also super versatile, allowing you to apply defined or blended lines. Plus, it's super user-friendly to apply to your waterline. Pencil is perfect if you're not confident with the less predictable consistency of liquid liner or gel.
Liquid is best
“I recommend using a liquid eyeliner with a felt tip as it's easier to control and apply with less tugging and pulling of the skin. As we age, the thin skin on our upper eyelids tend to crinkle and many work around this problem by stretching the eyelid during application, which isn't a good idea.