For a waterline eyeliner with the clearest editorial support, start with the Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Waterline Eyeliner Pencil: Allure named it best overall in its 2026 waterline guide, while Marie Claire separately selected a related but differently named Urban Decay pencil. The evidence available here supports seven candidates—not 13—and comes from separate publications with different methods, not one head-to-head test. The picks below are attributed accordingly.
How these waterline eyeliner picks were evaluated
These recommendations combine three distinct editorial sources, not a single 13-product trial. Allure’s April 2, 2026 waterline guide says it considered ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity, and names four category winners. Marie Claire’s September 9, 2026 guide describes a two-week test of 11 products by independent testers and an editor, considering staying power, application, removal, and pigmentation. Good Housekeeping’s waterproof-eyeliner test is adjacent evidence rather than a waterline-specific ranking.
Those methods and categories are not directly interchangeable. “Best” below means the publication’s selection or reported tester observation, not a universal ranking or a result from our own comparative test. The available source material names seven relevant products; it does not substantiate 13 winners.
The best eyeliners for the waterline
1. Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Waterline Eyeliner Pencil — best overall
Waterline fit: The product is specifically named as a waterline pencil. What’s reported: Allure selected it as its best overall waterline eyeliner for 2026, describing strong pigment in one swipe; its editor reported that it stayed without smudging or touch-ups. These are editorial observations, not a controlled comparison against every product on the market. Allure’s 2026 waterline guide links to the product.
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- WATERLINE SAFE: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencils are award-winning, waterproof eyeliners delivering intense, long-wearing color that will not budge. Available in versatile shades including white, brown, nude, gray, and black to deepen or brighten your eyes.
- 6 NEW NEUTRAL SHADES: Waterproof, waterline eyeliners now come in six new matte and shimmer neutral shades. Waterproof, sweat-resistant, transfer-resistant, and smudge-resistant, offering up to 24 hours of wear with no touch-ups needed.
- SMOOTH, NO TUG FORMULA: This formula is hydrating, ultra-creamy glides on smoothly for effortless blending, with no dragging or pulling on delicate eye skin. Made with ultra-hydrating Vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil to keep skin smooth and nourished.
- BRIGHTEN + DEFINE: Shades like matte white (Hemp Milk) and shimmery beige (Faux Doe) brighten the eyes for a more awake look, while matte black (Legend), charcoal (Cool Coyote), and medium brown (Tootsie) offer subtle to dramatic definition for versatile makeup styles.
- COMPLETE YOUR EYE MAKEUP LOOK: Multi-use eye pencil works as eyeliner, eyeshadow, eyeshadow base, or gel eyeliner. Use with Eyeshadow Primer Potion and set with All Nighter Setting Spray for long-lasting makeup.
Marie Claire separately chose the 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil as its best overall. Its editor Brooke Knappenberger reported nearly 12 hours of waterline wear during a three-week product test. That is a different product name and should not be treated as a test result for the waterline-specific pencil. Marie Claire’s waterline roundup gives its method and selection.
2. Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner — best waterproof pick
Waterline fit: Allure selected it in its waterproof waterline category. What’s reported: Allure describes a twist-up format, strong pigment, and a smooth, stay-put formula. Its guide says there is about 20 seconds to blend the liner before it sets. Marie Claire also recommends it, noting its range of skin tones. These are source descriptions, not independent durability measurements. See Allure and Marie Claire.
Rank #2
- ULTIMATE EYE PENCIL: The e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner is a waterproof, retractable eyeliner that checks all your pencil liner requirements
- ALL-DAY WEAR: This product is creamy, ultra-pigmented, and has ultimate waterproof staying power
- INTENSE LOOK: We recommend you use this retractable eyeliner pencil on your lash line, waterline, or all over the lid for intense eyes that last all day
- BEAUTY TIP: Apply all over the eyelid as a base for eyeshadow for an intense, dramatic, runway-inspired look
- VEGAN & CRUELTY-FREE: 100% vegan, e.l.f. is double-certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny & PETA.
3. Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner — best for glide
Waterline fit: Both Allure and Marie Claire include it in waterline recommendations. Allure calls it its most glidable selection; Marie Claire names it a luxury pick and reports 18 shades. Marie Claire says the product was ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested for use around the eyes, including the waterline, and notes that some reviewers found it difficult to remove. Testing does not guarantee that an individual will not experience irritation. Allure and Marie Claire.
4. Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil — most versatile
Waterline fit: Allure includes it in its 2026 waterline guide and names it most versatile. The available description does not establish a comparative wear duration or provide enough detail to make a specific claim about removal or comfort. Treat “most versatile” as Allure’s category judgment rather than a measured performance lead. Allure’s guide.
Rank #3
- LASTING EYELINER: Rich color looks freshly applied all day long; transfer-proof, waterproof, smudge-proof and fade-proof
- UP TO 24HR WEAR: Creates the look you want and stays on strong
- EASY APPLICATION: Pencil eyeliner glides on, creating intensely defined lines that can go from subtle to dramatic. Includes built-in sharpener for the perfect pointed tip and a smudger to blend.
- TWO FINISHES: Available in 12 totally wearable matte and shimmer shades
- OPHTHALMOLOGIST TESTED: Suitable for use on waterline and comfortable to wear
5. Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil Eyeliner — affordable pick
Waterline fit: Marie Claire names it its affordable waterline pick. The article describes it as blendable and sebum-resistant, and notes that it dries quickly. Those are editorial descriptions, not independent laboratory validation of wear or a guarantee that it will suit sensitive eyes. Marie Claire’s review.
6. Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Gel Eyeliner — gel option
Waterline fit: Marie Claire includes it as a gel option for the waterline. The reported material supports its inclusion in the shortlist but does not provide enough product-specific detail here to compare its staying power, glide, or ease of removal with the other picks. Marie Claire’s roundup.
Rank #4
- Award-Winning Color in 30+ Shades: Create endless eye looks with Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, featuring rich, pigment-packed color in over 30 bold and wearable shades. Choose from 5 different eyeliner finishes—matte, shimmer, glitter, satin, and metallic—to define, line, wing, tightline, or smoke out your eyes. From classic black and neutral eyeliner shades to electrifying pops of color, find a 24/7 eyeliner for every look.
- Creamy, Skip-Free Formula: Our ultra-creamy 24/7 eyeliner glides on smoothly without tugging or skipping, delivering rich, high-pigment color with a buttery feel. The blendable formula stays soft enough to smudge for a smokier look, then quickly sets to a long-lasting, waterproof, smudge-proof finish for up to 16 hours of wear. Build intensity with the pigment-packed formula, from precise, defined lines to bold, dramatic eye looks that stay put all day.
- 50% Hydrating Ingredients: Our 24/7 eyeliner is infused with 50% hydrating ingredients, including vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil, to help condition and nourish the skin while delivering high-performance color. Vitamin E helps support skin conditioning, while jojoba and cottonseed oils help provide a smooth, comfortable feel. The vegan, cruelty-free formula delivers rich, vibrant color for effortless, all-day eye definition.
- Versatile Eye Definition: Draw precise lines, create a dramatic wing, tightline the upper lash line, or smudge 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil for a softer, smoky effect. For more depth and dimension, use the eyeliner as a base and layer eyeshadow on top. For a bolder look, blend the creamy formula all over the lid to use as a base eyeshadow, then layer shadow on top. Blend quickly while the formula is still workable before it sets.
- Sharpenable, Vegan & Cruelty-Free: Keep your eyeliner precise with this sharpenable pencil designed for easy, controlled application. Pair with Urban Decay Grindhouse or a pencil sharpener designed for gel or soft pencil formulas; sharpener sold separately. The formula is vegan in select shades and cruelty-free. Non-vegan shades include Psychedelic Sister, Love Drug, Woodstock, Rockstar, Viper, Roxy, Alkaline, Bourbon, Corrupt, Demolition, Sabbath, Vice & Empire.
7. COVERGIRL Exhibitionist 24-Hour Kohl Eyeliner — smooth, pigmented pencil
Waterline fit: Good Housekeeping says consumer testers found it suitable for waterline application. In its broader waterproof-eyeliner test, testers described the pencil as smooth and richly pigmented, with some reporting staying power; removal was harder than average. The article is not a waterline-only ranking, so its findings should not be read as a direct comparison with the waterline-specific picks above. Good Housekeeping’s waterproof-eyeliner test reports that 352 at-home testers used products at least three times and that the team evaluated more than 3,708 questions across 309 surveys. Those figures describe the test process, not waterline efficacy statistics.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose a waterline eyeliner
Check waterline suitability, not just “waterproof” on the label
Waterproofness alone does not establish that an eyeliner is intended for the inner rim. Look for product directions or a specific waterline recommendation. The picks above are included because the cited publication describes them as waterline products or reports tester use there; that evidence is not a blanket safety endorsement for all eyeliners.
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Best Value
- Retractable Eye Liner: A line and defined eye is just a twist away with this eyeliner pen; Intense pigment covers like a liquid eyeliner while its creamy formula holds for hours; No need to sharpen just twist up and apply for a winged out eyeliner look
- Smudge Proof and Smooth: This smudge proof eyeliner glides on effortlessly and lasts all day through heat and humidity no sad bleeding eyeliner here; Available in natural to bright shades, any eyeliner look is possible with our Retractable Eye Pencil
- All Eyes On Eye Makeup: Complete your look with our full range of eye makeup products ranging from eyeshadow palettes to false eyelashes, eyeliners, concealers, setting sprays, eyebrow makeup, eyeshadow primer and more
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: Try all of our professional makeup products today from eyeshadow, eyeliner, and false lashes to liquid lipstick, lip gloss, primer, concealer, setting sprays and eyebrow makeup
Balance wear with application and removal
A liner that sets quickly may be harder to adjust, while one that stays put can take more effort to remove. Kulfi’s reported blending window is about 20 seconds; Marie Claire notes quick drying for Maybelline. Victoria Beckham Beauty and COVERGIRL both come with reports of removal difficulty. Consider the full routine, not staying power alone.
Choose a shade for the effect you want
Dark liner can add definition; neutral or white can brighten the look of the waterline, while color can draw attention to the eyes. Makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran, quoted by Marie Claire, says: “Using a neutral or white liner in the waterline can make you look more awake and take away any look of redness in the eyes,” she says. The effect is cosmetic and does not treat eye redness.
Waterline eyeliner and sensitive eyes: comfort and caution
There is no basis here to promise irritation-free wear or identify a universally safe pick for sensitive eyes. Marie Claire quotes board-certified ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, explaining that waterline application may cause dryness for some people because “It occludes the openings of the meibomian glands”. Marie Claire suggests matte formulas as a place to start and cautions that sparkle formulas can contain ingredients that may harm the delicate eye area. That is expert guidance reported by the publication, not an absolute ban on shimmer or a diagnosis for every wearer. Read Marie Claire’s discussion.
An older Allure safety article quotes cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller discussing one inner-rim product’s iron oxides, mica, and titanium dioxide colorants. He said, “A product for inside the eye couldn’t use colorants that aren’t approved for use around the eye, and it appears that this product is good in this respect because it just uses the iron oxides, mica and TiO2 as colorants,” he says. He immediately added: “Having said that, I’m always skeptical of products like this that might end up in the eye, especially since the mica and TiO2 are particulates that could pose a risk of scratching your eye.” This was a product-specific discussion published in 2016, not current regulatory guidance or proof that every waterline product is safe. Allure’s 2016 article.
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If waterline makeup causes discomfort or dryness, stop using it; persistent or concerning symptoms merit advice from an eye-care professional. A product being labeled ophthalmologist-tested, waterproof, or suitable for the waterline does not guarantee that it will work comfortably for every person.
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