5 Easy Hacks to Work Waterline Eyeliner

You’ve perfected the ultimate smokey eye, mastered liquid eyeliner and even tried your hand at tightlining. The next beauty technique to tick off your list? Waterline eyeliner, created by gliding glossy black liner along the rim of your upper and lower lids. The next beauty technique to tick off your list? Waterline eyeliner, created by gliding glossy black liner along the rim of your upper and lower lids.

Waterline Eyeliner Hack 1: Curl Lashes First

Before gliding on eyeliner, create more space to see the waterline by lifting lashes up and away with an eyelash curler. Place the curler as close to the lash root as possible, then clamp down and gently curve upwards. Repeat through the mid-lengths and the tips for an eye-opening effect that – bonus – makes waterliner application even easier.

Waterline Eyeliner Hack 2: Prep the Lash Line

To create the most long-lasting liner look, ideally (and ironically...) the waterline can’t be too wet, as this can cause the liner to slide off faster. To get the most out of your liner application, gently glide a tapered cotton bud along the upper and lower waterlines to lightly dry the area. This should help the eyeliner grip easier to the waterline, meaning your liner look will go the distance.

Waterline Eyeliner Hack 3: Work a New Shade

Think black eyeliner is your only option? Think again. Switch up your waterline eyeliner shade to work for you, choosing colours that help your eyes look bigger and brighter. Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal comes in 10 highly pigmented hues that are – most importantly – waterproof, so they will. not. budge once applied. Opt for Nude to make eyes appear larger, add a slick of Blue to the lower waterline to illuminate, or glide classic black along the upper and lower lash line to dial up any eyeshadow look.

Waterline Eyeliner Hack 4: Hone Your Technique

The trick to applying your perfect waterline eyeliner look is practice, practice, practice. But here’s our go-to routine: start by using the tip of your ring finger to gently lift the eyelid, revealing the upper waterline. 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.

Waterline Eyeliner Hack 5: Clean It All Up

Made a mistake? No drama. If, like us, your eyeliner has gone slightly outside the lines, use a liquid makeup remover to glide over any smudges. Take a tapered cotton bud and dip into a little Just Let It Go... Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Then, lightly rub over any eyeliner mistakes that have gone outside the waterline. No one will ever know...

Want to switch up your makeup style with more liner looks? Find the best eyeliner for every new season look.