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Do you line your waterline?


Do you line your waterline? What do you like to use on your waterline?

Sometimes, but it’s more inadvertently than intentionally–I tend to line my waterline the same as my lower lash line.

Thanks to Leah for today’s question! Got a question idea? Submit yours here.

103 Comments

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Hilana Avatar

Yes. With a beige or very pale lilac pencil. Never a dark colour. If I line my eyes with a dark colour I have piggy eyes in an instant, while the lighter pencil just opens up my eye and gives me that “clean” eye look.

Tricia Avatar

Always! When I started wearing makeup (age 12-13), I thought that was how you were supposed to do it lol. I feel naked when I don’t.

Nothing really stays put though. The best thing I’ve found so far is UD 24/7 Zero pencils.

Natalia Bortoli Avatar

Always!!!
most of the time just with a nude color, to open my eyes…
but I like to put the Revlon color stay in black and in brown 🙂

Sari Avatar

Almost never , my eyes are deep set so I find putting anything on my waterline / lower lashline just makes them look really small so I always try to avoid it .

shusheshe Avatar

I pretty much ONLY line my upper waterline. It’s more subtle, and I think more suitable in an office environment. If I’m going out for the weekend, then I do a normal line, then line the upper waterline as well.

J Avatar

Nope. I don’t do my waterline or my lower lash line because I find it makes my eyes look smaller and also emphasized my under eye circles. I can sometimes get away with a little smudgy brown shadow along the outer third or so in a neutral smokey eye, but that’s about it. 🙁

The only way I can make eyeliner look good on me is if it’s on my upper lash line and doing the cat-eye thing with liquid liner. Anything else just doesn’t seem to work!

Tara S Avatar

Yep! I feel like my eye makeup is not complete without it!! It feels like somethings missing and when you do the waterline your look is complete!! 🙂

Gisele Avatar

I do, especially on the bottom, but since I’ve got allergies, it is always a temporary thing. I laugh when I read about gals wanting their waterlines to stay lined! I just re-apply. I have thick lashes so the upper lashline really doesn’t need it. I’ve tried it, but there’s only a small improvement for the weird kind of effort.

Still the look is nice for as long as it lasts.

Olgie Avatar

Yes, but it’s only a recent thing. I don’t have a waterproof eyeliner yet, so I’ve been using the Milani Liquif’eye metallica eyeliner in black, since it ‘sets’ after a while. It will last like that for a good 3-4 hours before requiring a touch-up.

kurisu Avatar

That milani liquif-eye smudges like a #&@$ on my waterline! It migrates on my lower lash line too ;”[ Glad to hear that it stays put for a few hours for you! It smudges in like 5 minutes after application for me ;/

Charlotte Avatar

I only do it every now and then, but not everyday. When I do, I use use one of the MAC Fluidlines or an eyepencil topped of with an eyeshadow in the same color. When I do that, the line lasts all day!

Allison Avatar

I never line my waterline. I like the look on other people, but i think on me it weighs down my eyes and and makes my eye area look harsh rather than the fresh and bright look I want. I think that my round face shape also doesn’t do well with waterlining. It makes me look like I have too much makeup on,

CJ Avatar

I usually line my upper eye rather than lower eye for day-time, but sometimes I do under-eye make up for going out and then it’s usually water line.

Nepenthe Avatar

Sometimes, but it really depends on the look.

I think it looks amazing, but it often migrates into my inner corners.. which is never a cute look. That’s why I always have cotton buds in my makeup bag. :\

Miss Silver Avatar

Yes! It was the first thing about make up that my mum showed me. 😀 I only line my waterline when I put on eyeshadow, though; when wearing bright lipstick, I leave it bare.

Nic Avatar

Lately, I’ve been using MAC chromagraphic pencil NC15/NW20 on my waterline just about every day. If I want something shimmery, I use UD 24/7 liner in Yeyo. For black, I like Feline kohl power. If I need it to stay in place for a long time, I use fluidline.

amelia Avatar

hardly ever. i have black pencil liner and i only waterline about 1/3 of the way in, and thats only ever once in a blue moon. i line my lashline with felt tip liner, apply mascara and browbone highlihgt and thats it for eye makeup

Jennifer Avatar

Never. It makes my eyes look weird and smaller. I like to line “under” my lower lash line. I’m actually jealous of people who can line their waterline and add extra drama to a look. It just happens to look bad on me. 🙁

Evelyn Avatar

Sometimes, depending on the look I’m going for. I use Mac’s Smolder kohl or Stila’s onyx kajal. They work really well on me. Everyone raves about Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner, would you believe I cannot get it to work at all on the waterline? On the skin is fine, waterline…nothing!

hababkuktwofour Avatar

I used to when my allegies weren’t haywire. Now I dare not go anywhere near my lashes or lash line with any product except shadow.

Lani Avatar

I line my waterline everyday. I really like using Guerlain Terracotta eye Ohio in black cause I can tightline my upper lash line as well. I leaves me with a nice smokey kind of effect that I love.

Julie Avatar

Since the beginning of this year I’ve actually ditched eyeliner completely! I think my eyes look better without it and it irritates my eyes and I’m always inadvertently rubbing them lol. So the answer is no, I do not =D

Hend Avatar

I always line my waterline!! Im middle eastern !!
I use Guerlains Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner if I want to go dark
Or I use Dolce & Gabbana Eye Pencil in Nude if I want to brighten up my eyes.
But I never line my eyes when Im wearing a bright lipstick I just use a mascara

Chanel Avatar

I’ve always lined my lower lash line. I ususally use a pencil to do this. Never used liquid eyeliner. Gell eyeliners work well too. I’ve lined my upper waterline once but didn’t really see the point.

VeroJo Avatar

I used to do it everday in my early 20’s! But styles and I have changed so not so much anymore. Only when going out and want a dramatic eye or like you when I do it inadvertently….

Ru Avatar

Yes, I love to line my waterline. I feel like it really completes my eye look, brings out the brown in my eyes, and is sexy without being overwhelming. Unfortunalty, most gel liners I’ve used recently (tarte, bobby brown, maybelline, smashbox) don’t stick around on the waterline.

Neela Avatar

Stila’s black Smudge Pot and Carbon eyeshadow patted on top to make it stay. This is the ONLY combination that will stay on my waterline (Sorry, UD’s 24/7 liners, you claim you can but you just don’t. can’t even get you to show up)

Don’t do it every day or with every look, just if I feel like it I guess.

Kelli Avatar

I want to, but I have really sensitive eyes and usually can only get half done before I start tearing up. Anyone know of a good liner to the waterline?

Chicca Avatar

I always do, I use a flesh toned pencil when I do a natural look and a classic kohl or black pencil when i do a dramatic look.
I think on me it’s essential to complete the look 🙂

Sarah M Avatar

Yes. I love lining my waterline, both upper and lower. Upper waterline is always black but I use different colours on my lower waterline. Mostly flesh-toned, black or brown but if i’m doing a neutral look i’ll sometimes wear something a bit more vibrant, just to add a pop of colour. 🙂

Megan Avatar

YES! I usually only line my waterline on the bottom, otherwise I feel like my eyeliner smudegs and it looks unnatural. I love using smashbox’s cream eyeliner.

Tiffany Dhein Avatar

i cannot leave home with out my liner on my waterline AND lash line. i LOVE black liner and now i love COLOR liner even more! esp. Blues & Purples 😉

Katie Avatar

Generally no, because I have small eyes and I find that lining my waterline just makes them look even smaller. I like to line the outer third of my lower lash line. Though, when playing with dark, smoky, looks (like with the Naked palette), I occasionally line my waterline and do a cat eye.

Sarah Avatar

Yes. But not everyday, it depends on the look I am doing. With a smokey eye, I will use either Black Black chromagraphic pencil or engraved power point pencils. If I want to make my eyes look larger, I will use a chromagraphic pencil in one of the NC/NW combos. All products are Mac, of course!

nicci Avatar

Never own my own. If I get a little make-over at the Chanel counter, I will let them do it just for fun but most of the time I think it looks too harsh – especially, if you have tons of dark eye shadow, too much mascara, and the upper and lower waterline is lined w/a dark liner…

Eileen Avatar

I have deep set eyes with long, black lashes so I’ve never felt the need for a dark waterline. I do like to use a soft white on the lower line for evening and when my allergies are acting up, a light beige like Chanel’s Clair eliminates the red look.

vickie Avatar

I can’t go without lining my waterline. It just makes my eye shape stand out more and makes me look more awake. I love using MAC Blacktrack fluidline. The line lasts all day!

Thincspot Avatar

Almost always! I’ve just started trying looks without using liner on the waterline and it took a little getting used to. Probably because lining my waterline was the very first makeup “look” that I ever did.

muffingrl Avatar

almost never, black on the waterline makes my eyes look so small, and white looks strange. i would try a flesh colored one, but liners never last on my waterline anyway, i feel like it would be a waste.

Lilac Avatar

No, because I do believe that make-up should not be applied on that part of skin, it will permeate much easier since it´s tissue, not regular skin, and also I fear it could get into my eyes. It feels just too dangerous.

kurisu Avatar

Nah. I don’t line my waterline, nor do I tight-line my eyes. I usually just line my upper lashline (with pencil or gel) and my lower lashline. Everything smudges on my waterline, and there’s too much migration. I can’t even tight-line because it’s so small, and gets easily irritated (similar to your upper lashline, Christine!). jkajfldslkjf liner migration!!!

I realized that but only lining my upper and lower lash lines, it really opens up my eyes, and frames them really well. :]

Samantha Avatar

ALWAYS!! I feel completely naked without lining my waterline in black.. I know other people say it makes their eyes look small but I really love how it looks. And I don’t have particularly big eyes lol

Iqra Avatar

I used to and Mac’s Smoulder dipped in Bobbi Brown’s Gel eyeliner works fabulously ! But lately my eyes have been acting really sensitive so lower lash line only !

maya pastori Avatar

yes always!most of the times with black or dark brown pencils because i love the effect that gives, but sometimes when i’m more in the mood of colors I opt for a peach, white or turquoise pencil!!!!

Lena Avatar

Yes. Every day with black. I find it really doesn’t close my eyes up much with my personal eye shape and just helps to define them. I do love my MAC Technakohl liners, but they still only last a few hours if I swab my waterline beforehand, apply several layers of product (allowing them to dry in between, of course), set the liner, and apply extra powder under my eyes. I really wish there was a cruelty free, waterline safe eyeliner that would last all day on my sensitive, watery eyes.

WithIt Avatar

I’m surprised more people haven’t commented about the safety concerns about this. I wear contacts and once had a real bad eye infection, so I’m hyper-careful about what I put IN my eyes. I feel as though the waterline is IN my eye, so no-I don’t line my waterline.

I do love to play with colors outside the lash line. Both top and bottom lids. UD 24/7 are my faves.

Leah Avatar

Every single day..

I dip a regular pencil in Bobbi Brown Gel Liner and line it very very black!
It lasts the whole day..

I’m addicted!!

Never had any irritation issues!!

Amy Cham Avatar

Never. A) I am terrible at eyeliner, B) my eyes get irritated really easy and I need to wear contacts when I’m shooting.

I’ll usually just smudge a little dark or shimmery eyeshadow on the bottom if I want bottom “liner.”

barefootboheme Avatar

only when I’m going out with a fun smokey look. but it always ends up with black gook in my inner tear duct. is that only me? even with UD 24/7, MAC smolder, milani liquify. I’ll tight line most days though.

ppeach Avatar

Only with light shades. It would be a waste of time to cover my dark under eye circle if I put any dark colours on my waterline as it makes my under eye look dark just like before I concealed it.

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