Much to our dismay, it’s quite difficult to mask tired eyes—whether you’re sleep deprived, allergy stricken, or simply want your gaze to appear more luminous. Thankfully, brightening waterline eyeliner can awaken tired eyes in an instant. So when you’ve already tried a dab of concealer on your under eyes to mask dark circles, this makeup trick can take matters a step further.
“[Waterline eyeliner] brightens the eyes and by default makes your eyes look more awake!” says celebrity make-up artist Lisa Aharon. “It can also create the illusion of bigger eyes—I love using an eye brightening pencil in the inner corners as well to elongate and cheat the shape.” Aharon explains that the idea is to neutralise or cover the natural pink, red, or dark tone of your waterline. In a way, it’s like colour-correcting for the eyes (or a highlighter, depending on what shade you pick).
Speaking of shade selection, Aharon notes that “it really depends on your skin tone, the natural colour of your waterline, and the effect you’re attempting.” For every day, she’s partial to an off-white or nude eyeliner that’s a bit more versatile and subtle than a stark white. “Bright white can give you a more editorial or theatrical feel,” she says, “Though on fair skin [it] will be less noticeable.”
The technique is a celebrity favourite too. Victoria Beckham muses that she “cannot go a day without” using her brand’s Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil in her makeup routine. “It is very rare for me to get a full night’s rest, but, thanks to this, nobody has to know,” Beckham remarks. “The neutral shade balances any redness along my waterline and brightens the whites of my eyes. I almost consider it part of my skin-care routine. If I am skipping makeup, you can trust that I am not skipping my Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil. I like to call this the magic moment of my routine.”
For daily or for statement-making glam, a stroke of a brightening pencil creates the illusion of illuminated eyes with minimal effort—and it’s flattering on every eye shape. Ahead, our favourite formulas—beloved by makeup artists and editors alike.
1 / 10
Best subtle: Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil in 69 Clair
- Why we love it: Chanel luminous shade Clair is an understated approach to eye brightening, so subtle it’s almost undetectable. This soft, peach-kissed nude, finished with a whisper of semi-matte sheen, delivers that elusive wash of radiance—the kind that looks less like makeup and more like a well-kept secret. Pro makeup artist Lynsey Alexander swears by a beige pencil for reviving tired eyes, previously telling Vogue that she finds “white too stark.” Clair, with its understated warmth, is precisely the kind of shade that brings instant brightness without ever announcing itself.
- Key ingredients: Hydrogenated jojoba oil, shea butter, canola oil, candelilla wax, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil
- Shades: 4
- Waterproof: No
- Type: Kohl
Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil in 69 Clair, $35USD, available at Chanel
2 / 10
Best soft white: Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil
- Why we love it: While Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Satin Kajal Liners are lauded as cult favorites (and deservedly so), we think this pick deserves much more hype. A top pick of Beckham herself and Aharon, this pencil won’t steer you wrong. Formulated with aloe and ginseng, this not only neutralises redness but soothes and conditions the lash line simultaneously. What’s more, Aharon says this universal pencil “comes in a beautiful cream shade that’s flattering on even the darkest skin tone.”
- Key ingredients: Ethylhexyl palmitate, synthetic wax, mica, aloe leaf juice, ginseng
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
- Type: Standard
Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil, $32USD, available at Victoria Beckham Beauty
3 / 10
Best grey-white: Dior Diorshow Khôl pencil in 009 White Khôl
- Why we love it: Throwback to when makeup artist Peter Philips etched dramatic flicks of white eyeliner on models at Dior’s spring 2022 couture show to complement the collection’s color palette of metallics and white hues. “The collection is a bit more fluid, less graphic,” Philips previously told Vogue. “Black eye makeup would have made it more classic, and the white made it more luminous.” He applied shade 009 White Khôl for what he called a “white-gray veil” to the waterline and root of the lashes. The creamy pencil even features a blending tip to further customize your look. Just one feathery strokes create an almost ethereal brightness, softening the gaze without tipping into theatrics.
- Key ingredients: Synthetic wax, mica, dimethicone, synthetic beeswax, carnauba) wax, centaurea cyanus flower water
- Shades: 5
- Waterproof: Yes
- Type: Khol
Dior Diorshow Khôl pencil in 009 White Khôl, $45, available at Sephora
4 / 10
Best drugstore: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Sharpenable Gel Pencil in 970 Polished White
- Why we love it: If you’re in the market for a high-performance eyeliner at a budget-friendly price, it’s hard to beat Maybelline’s Tattoo Studio pencil—the same as the fine tipped retractible version’s formula, this pick suits those who prefer a pencil that sharpens instead. This drugstore staple offers a supersmooth glide thanks to its gel-infused formula, making application effortless whether you’re drawing thin, precise lines or a more smoky, smudged effect. Beyond its ease of use, the pencil boasts up to 36 hours of wear, and two shades that suite eye brightening— 970 Polished White, and 980 Rose Quartz. meaning your eye look stays flawless from morning meetings to late-night plans without fading. It’s the kind of reliable, wallet-friendly eyeliner that proves you don’t have to compromise on quality to achieve your eye look.
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone, microcrystalline wax
- Shades: 16
- Waterproof: Yes
- Type: Gel
Maybelline Tattoo Studio Sharpenable Gel Pencil in 970 Polished White, $10.99USD, available at Maybelline
5 / 10
Best eggshell: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 500 Boundless Bisque
- Why we love it: Waterline, lip line, brow fill, and beyond—this single pencil truly does it all (and yes, you can even smudge it onto your lids for an effortless eyeshadow moment). The formula glides on with a matte, structured finish rather than a creamy slip, giving you precision and control no matter where you apply it. You can’t go wrong with its nude-ish shade, Boundless Bisque, to offset any eye redness.
- Key ingredients: Mica, dimethicone, microcrystalline wax
- Shades: 12
- Waterproof: No
- Type: Matte color pencil
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 500 Boundless Bisque, $33.50, available at Nordstrom
6 / 10
Best for sensitive eyes: Chantecaille Eye-Brightening Kajal in Nude
- Why we love it: “It’s soft, glides on easily, and has a soft pink shade that’s really flattering and works well for the inner corners,” Aharon says. The featured aloe in the formula means it shouldn’t irritate the lash line, while illuminating the whites of your eyes. The featured aloe in the formula means it shouldn’t irritate the lash line, while illuminating the whites of your eyes. The velvety texture also makes it easy to build intensity, whether you want a whisper of brightness or a more defined highlight.
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone, isododecane, synthetic wax, silica, hydrogenated jojoba oil, safflower seed oil, aloe barbadensis leaf extract
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
- Type: Kajal
Chantecaille Eye-Brightening Kajal in Nude, $34USD , available at Chantecaille
7 / 10
Best clean: Jillian Dempsey Khôl Eyeliner in FTA White
- Why we love it: When we asked celebrity makeup artists for the best eyeliner, Jillian Dempsey’s formula came at the recommendation of Romy Soleimani. Infused with a cocktail of shea butter and both jojoba and marula oil, the pigment goes on with smooth precision. Apply its shade, FTA White, for eye-opening, waterproof wear. Dempsey’s natural formula is filled with organic oils and shea butter, which hydrate the skin and make for a silky-smooth glide that won’t tug or pull. The smudger on the opposite end is an added bonus.
- Editor’s experience: “I like Jillian Dempsey’s eyeliner for its simplicity. I feel like I really don’t know how to use liner ‘correctly,’ but this one makes it an easy feat, especially when sweeping it along my waterline for subtle definition. The formula is just the right smoothness.”—Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key ingredients: Organic jojoba oil, shea butter, marula oil
- Shades: 4
- Waterproof: Yes
- Type: Kohl
Jillian Dempsey Khôl Eyeliner in FTA White, $20USD, available at Jillian Dempsey
8 / 10
Best pale pink: Trish McEvoy Eye Brightener Pencil
- Why we love it: Described as a bright, pale pink, Trish McEvoy’s pencil is that faint brightener you’ve been looking for. Surely a multitasker, this can be used to accentuate the inner corners and brow bones too. It also includes tocopherol (vitamin E) and ascorbyl palmitate, antioxidants that help protect and soothe the eye area, making it more than just a brightener.
- Key ingredients: Castor seed oil, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, talc, beeswax
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: Water-resistant
- Type: Standard
Trish McEvoy Eye Brightener Pencil, $30USD, available at Trish McEvoy
9 / 10
Best metallic white: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Yeyo
- Why we love it: Not for the no-makeup-makeup enthusiasts, Urban Decay’s liner takes a more playful approach to eye brightener. The shade Yeyo, which imparts a subtle metallic finish perfect for a night out or head-turning glam. Infused with vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil, this boasts conditioning benefits, blends seamlessly, and glides on with ease.
- Editor’s experience: “During my angsty teen years, this was the only liner I had eyes for. It’s creamy, long-wearing, and super pigmented—perfect if you’re channeling Jenny from Gossip Girl. The white shade offers extreme eye brightening, in a playful, non-garish way. ”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key ingredients: Vitamin E, jojoba oil, cottonseed oil
- Shades: 30
- Waterproof: Yes
- Type: Gel
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Yeyo, $23USD, available at Urban Decay
10 / 10
Best true white: Glossier No. 1 Pencil in Pure White
- Why we love it: On the hunt for a crisp, true-white liner? Consider this Glossier pencil your new secret weapon. Its plush, long-wear formula lays down saturated color with ease, delivering a striking pop whether you’re tracing the waterline or sharpening the edges of a graphic wing. The texture melts on contact yet stays put, making it ideal for everything from bold editorial moments to subtle brightening tricks. Perfect for anyone craving definition with a clean, modern edge.
- Key ingredients: Synthetic wax, silica, rice bran wax, hydrogenated castor oil, synthetic beeswax
- Shades: 11
- Waterproof: Water and transfer-resistant
- Type: Standard
Glossier No. 1 Pencil in Pure White, $32, available at Glossier
This story originally appeared on Vogue.com
