The 12 Best Eyeliner Pencils for Your Next Great Makeup Look

While it’s safe, Michalska says it might not be the most comfortable for every single person. “Oftentimes, I see people choosing waterproof formulations to use in their waterline, which can be uncomfortable over time,” she says. This is largely because these formulas not only repel water, they can break down the presence of oils from your lids. And while you may think that this means you should opt for a waterproof option for your waterline, Michalska says these formulas aren’t intended to be used in spaces that are constantly wet, and this can cause them to eventually break down, resulting in a messy look. She explains that while it may be counterintuitive, it’s actually better to opt for non-waterproof formulas for your waterline.

To help your eyeliner stay in place, you should make sure to powder your under eye over your concealer, as well as your lid, before you apply the liner in order to keep it from running. 

“Try dusting a bit of finishing powder on your eyelids before applying your eyeliner,” says Michalska. “Be sure to powder your concealer, as this will prevent the creaminess of your concealer from grabbing your eyeliner and mascara, stopping them from transferring under your eyes. Finally, if you struggle with smudging, keep eyeliner out of your waterline.”

While you can’t go wrong with classic black eyeliner, you can really accentuate your eye color by lining them with the right shade. It’s all about contrast, and those with blue eyes can make their eyes pop with warm, metallic tones like bronze and copper. Similarly, those with green eyes also look stunning in earthy tones like gold and brown as well as red and purple shades, like mauve and burgundy. Those with hazel eyes often have a mix of green and brown in their iris. Wearing green or purple eyeliner can highlight those green tones in your eyes, while brown eyeliner will play up the brown and gold flecks. And because brown eyes are a mix of all the colors, you can experiment with all kinds of shades when you’re bored of black.