9 Best Waterline Eyeliners of All Damn Time, According to Experts

Lady Gaga created our top waterline eyeliner, and we promise LG's star power isn't why her creation earned our best overall title.

For starters, Eye-Dentify is waterproof! Once it sets after a few seconds, it's gonna withstand rain, sweat dripping down your face at festivals, and your buzzy TikTok hot girl walks. It also promises up to 18 hours of wear, making Eye-Dentify the longest-lasting waterline eyeliner on our list.

Waterline eyeliners aren't refillable beauty products by design, but this is the only product in our guide that's plastic-free, and it boasts a sharpenable cellulose barrel. We'd also be remiss if we didn't highlight its impressive clean formula. It combines kajal with argan oil and vitamin E to help nourish delicate skin.

Need further proof? "I cried and teared up 5+ times today thinking of [my dog] and cannot believe that this eyeliner is still going so strong on my waterlines," says one 5-star Amazon review.

Best of all, these eyeliners are available in 20 vibrant colors, so you can easily switch up your makeup to your outfit or mood.

More: Derm-Favorite Face Washes for Every Type of Skin

Saunders recently reviewed the NYX Retractable Long-Lasting Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil and argued it gives higher-end options a run for their money. Notably, she highlights the slim design as a major win for tightlining and creating fine feline flicks and detailed graphic eye designs.

"It's creamy and has a smooth consistency that applies like a dream. Given its cheap price point, I was impressed it performed as well as it did, and I feel confident recommending it to anyone who looking for an affordable eyeliner," she wrote in her review.

Given its budget-friendly price, consider ordering a few colors as stocking stuffers for your bestie and yourself.

Maybelline is one of our go-to drugstore brands because they consistently put out amazing makeup for budget-conscious shoppers, and this kajal liner is no exception.

Thanks to a blend of waxes and oils, Eyestudio has a soft and creamy feel with a semi-matte finish. It sports a chubby base for added comfort, while the fine tip enables you to draw precise lines.

Online reviewers can't get enough of this product because it lasts for hours and is easy to apply. "I love to use this on my upper and lower waterlines and sometimes on the eyelid to smudge out for a smoky eye," says one 5-star Amazon review.

A bonus: It earned the second highest number of reviews out of all our waterline eyeliner picks.

We love a dramatic smoky eye moment, but some days you just want soft and natural makeup, and that's where nude waterline eyeliner comes in handy. They brighten tired eyes and even help your peepers look larger and wide awake. Think of them (and a creamy concealer) as your no-fail way to help camouflage a night of bingeing Netflix or drinking (we don't judge!).

These liners are formulated with vegan-friendly ingredients, and they're the only option on our list available in five beautiful nude shades, such as Apricot Cream and Caramel.

Sephora reviewers are obsessed with these waterline eyeliners because they legit last for 10 hours. One reviewer gave these pencils a 5-star review because they won't budge, and Caramel looks similar to their complexion. "This is a very smooth and creamy pencil. Glides on so soft that you really don't need to apply pressure at all. I've been using it on my waterline, and it's amazing and stays in place for hours," says their review.

If you're not already familiar with iconic makeup artist Pat McGrath, you need to step your beauty game up. She's responsible for the success of several major beauty brands, and McGrath even built her namesake business into a billion-dollar empire, so you know these gel eyeliners are the truth.

There are five shades available at Sephora, but we especially love that they come in both matte and pearlescent finishes, allowing us to customize our final look. They're made with pro makeup artists in mind — rich, bold color payoff — but are easy for beginners to use.

Sephora reviewers agree PermaGel is a top-tier waterline eyeliner. "This liner lasts for ages on the waterline, smudges out easily, and will not budge until it is time to take it off with an oil-based cleanser," says one 5-star review.

Make your eyes look wider and defined with this dual-ended Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner. On one end is a champagne pencil that creates a brighter, more wide-awake look. The flipside features a black pencil for a more dramatic effect.

"These Charlotte Tilbury eyeliners are fantastic because they're made with emollients that create a gel-like application without any mess. I love their creaminess, and they are fabulous for tightlining my lashline without causing any irritation," says Saunders.

Can't decide between a smoldering brown smoky eye or a classic black eyeliner moment? No worries: You can order this duo from one of our favorite BIPOC- and woman-owned beauty brands and get both shades.

Thanks to their super creamy and long-wearing AF formula, Espinoza loves the multipack and called them one of his favorite waterline eyeliners.

Plus, they're made with one of our favorite skincare ingredients: aloe vera. "With aloe vera and vitamin E, these eyeliners are super moisturizing, which helps avoid irritation around the delicate eye area," he says.

Saunders has the Jungle Gems and Sky Blue pencils noting they're fantastic for adding a pop of color to an otherwise neutral look. "These waterline eyeliners blend easily, but once they're dry they stay put. They require a little elbow grease to remove, but it's totally worth it because they don't smudge or run, so they're perfect for summer festival glam. They're perfect for beginners because of their smooth application," says Saunders.

Makeup artist Gucci Westman created a simplistic waterline eyeliner that defines the eyes without pulling or tugging. Its velvety kohl formula makes it equally fantastic for creating a soft, smoky effect. Simply grab a small brush to smudge your eyeliner.

It provides a beautiful matte pigment made with non-irritating ingredients, such as jojoba and shea butter, that are incredibly safe for extra-sensitive eyes and provide a smooth application.

"Clean, non-irritating ingredients work well with my sensitive skin/eyes. The Eye Love You Eyeliner didn't disappoint. The pencil glides with ease over the eyelids, providing a smooth and creamy application," says a 5-star Nordstrom review.

These Victoria Beckham Beauty eyeliners are incredibly gentle on the waterline. Their secret for providing a creamy feel is a blend of hydrating ingredients, such as vitamin E, panthenol, and chamomile extract.

And don't worry if you read the words "creamy eyeliner" and assume you'll look like a raccoon after a few hours. These kajal pencils are long lasting and provide a rich, defined look to the waterline.

Online reviewers consider this waterline eyeliner the best of the best and especially love their beautiful shade range. One reviewer even called them "pure perfection" because they last all day on the waterline and don't tug across the delicate eyelids. "If you apply to your lower waterline and close your eyes for 10 seconds, your upper will be lined too. Repeat for more intense color," says their 5-star review.