They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but they’re often the first place to reveal how well we’ve slept, too. After a restless night, it’s usually our eyes that give the game away. From puffiness and dehydration lines to dark circles, there’s often no hiding the signs of too little shut-eye. And even with the best eye creams to hand, the delicate skin around our eyes can still become irritated, leaving behind noticeable redness. Which is why I like to keep a brightening eyeliner pencil in my makeup bag on those mornings when I want to look wide-awake and fake a good night’s sleep.
Brightening waterline eyeliner pencils are a quick and easy way to fake a well-rested look. Unlike traditional liquid eyeliner or eyeliner pencils that have dark pigments, these neutral-toned liners are designed to glide along the waterline (the strip of skin between your lashes and your eyeball), where they help neutralise redness and disguise the tell-tale signs of a bad night’s sleep. They can also make your eyes appear bigger and brighter (as someone with hooded eyes, it’s my go-to for making my eyes look bigger), or give any eye look a little extra impact.
Here, I’ve rounded up the best options to keep in your makeup bag for the mornings when coffee alone just won’t cut it. These are the best waterline eyeliners for bright and perkly eyes in an instant.
Best Brightening Eyeliners1. Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil
Best Overall
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil
ProsSoft ivory tone suits all complexions and neutralises rednessGlides on easilyIdeal for sensitive eyes
(Image credit: @eleanorvousden for Who What Wear UK)
You might be familiar with the iconic Satin Kajal Eyeliners from the brand, but this creamy, ivory-toned formula from Victoria Beckham Beauty glides effortlessly along the lower lash line. Infused with soothing aloe vera and ginseng, it also helps nourish the lashes. Victoria herself often pairs it with her signature smoky eye, and so I’m following her lead.
2. Trish McEvoy Eye Brightener Pencil in Shell
Best Luxury Eyeliner
Trish McEvoy
Eye Brightener Pencil in Shell
Makeup artists almost universally rave about Trish McEvoy products, and this liner is a perfect example of why. The pink-toned pencil brightens the waterline instantly, but it can also be applied beneath the brow bone to highlight and enhance the natural arch of the eyebrows, as well as the inner corners of the eyes to make them look brighter and wide-awake.
ProsPink-toned pencil brightens the waterlineCan also be used on the brow bone and inner corners of the eyesConsNib is larger than most, so requires sharpening more often
3. Clinique High Impact Eyeliner in Beaming Beige
Best for Sensitive Eyes
Clinique
High Impact Eyeliner in Beaming Beige
I always point those with sensitive eyes in the direction of Clinique’s formulas, which are ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested and suitable for contact lens-wearers too. This water-resistant and transfer-proof formula can last up to 24 hours (and whilst I wouldn’t recommend wearing it for that long, you can guarantee it will last throughout the day into the evening). The beaming beige shade counteracts redness, helping to make your eyes look brighter.
ProsIdeal for sensitive eyesOphthalmologist and dermatologist-testedConsNot the best pigment payoff on the waterline
4. Sculpted By Aimee Brighten & Define Kohl Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Rust/Nude
Best Value Eyeliner
SCULPTED by Aimee
Brighten & Define Kohl Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Rust/Nude
This dual-ended eyeliner comes with both a neutral eyeliner shade and a statement eyeliner shade on the other, making it not just great value for money, but also a hard-working product for your makeup bag. You can choose between a bronze, black and brown eyeliner, all of which have a waterline pencil to help brighten the eyes and conceal redness. They’re ideal for creating an everyday natural eyeliner look, all the way through to a smoky eye.
ProsDual-ended linersChoice of three shades, which all include a waterline brightening shadeSilky formulasConsRequires top-ups throughout the day
5. Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Liner Duo in Black
Best Dual-Ended Eyeliner
Charlotte Tilbury
Exagger-Eyes Liner Duo in Black
Charlotte Tilbury’s eyeliners are some of the most long-wearing formulas I’ve tried. Seriously, these liners don’t budge, smudge or transfer once they’re on your waterline. This is another great dual-ended eyeliner, which includes a classic black kohl pencil on one end and a brightening waterline eyeliner on the other. It’s worth noting that the brightening pencil has a champagne shimmer to it to help brighten the eyes, so if you prefer a matte finish, you might prefer to pass on this one.
ProsDual-endedShimmering neutral pencil helps to brighten and open the eyesGreat for creating lots of eye makeup looksConsEye brightening pencil has a shimmer finish, so not for those who prefer a matte pencil
6. E.l.f Smoky Kohl Eyeliner in Beige Flag
Best Affordable Eyeliner
E.l.f.
Smoky Kohl Eyeliner in Beige Flag
You can always count on E.l.f for a great formula that won’t make your bank account cry, and this eyeliner doesn’t just have a great shade name, but it’s the perfect beige tone to neutralise redness on the waterline. It has a silky formula that glides on and doesn’t drag. It’s of great quality for the price.
ConsRequires a sharpenerNot the most long-lasting
7. Fenty Beauty Fine Linez Eyeliner Pencil in Naked Beach
Best Retractable Eyeliner
Fenty Beauty
Fine Linez Eyeliner Pencil in Naked Beach
ProsRetractable formula means no sharpener is neededBeige tone complements warm undertonesConsHas a warmer undertone, so isn’t as well suited to cooler skin tones
(Image credit: @eleanorvousden for Who What Wear UK)
Prefer a retractable eyeliner that you don’t have to sharpen? Then this is a great option to go for, and it even includes a smudging sponge on the other end in case you want to create a diffused line on the upper lash line. But it does a great job as a waterline eyeliner too. It leans slightly warmer and peachier in comparison to the other liners in this article, so it is better suited to warmer complexions. However, it’s very long-wearing and doesn’t transfer.
8. Rimmel Scandal’eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Nude
Best Waterproof Eyeliner
Rimmel
Scandal’eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Nude
Rimmel is a brilliant, affordable beauty brand to try if you’re on a budget, and this eyeliner rivals even its more expensive counterparts. The neutral tone suits all complexions and glides on without dragging, effortlessly neutralising redness on the waterline. It’s impressively long-lasting for such an affordable formula.
ProsWaterproof and smudge-proofAffordableConsNot all sharpeners work with this eyeliner, so you may need to find another sharpener that fits
9. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Multi-Use Pencil in Boundless Bisque
Best Multi-Purpose Eyeliner
Make Up For Ever
Artist Color Pencil Multi-Use Pencil in Boundless Bisque
Make Up For Ever pencils are a staple in many makeup artists’ kits for a reason. They can be used in so many ways (including on the eyes and the lips) but I’ve found that the Boundless Bisque shade happens to be a perfect waterline eyeliner to brighten the eyes. It has a soft matte finish that glides onto the waterline and lasts without smudging or transfering.
