What does white eyeliner do?

When applied to your waterline, white eyeliner can create a more wide-awake appearance and make your eyes look bigger. If you're using the liner to impart this effect, make sure you're working with a soft formula to prevent any pulling, tugging, or scratching at the sensitive area. White eyeliner can also be used along your upper lashes to create a graphic effect that makes your lashes pop or as a base for your eyeshadow to give brights and neons a truer color payoff.

How should I use white eyeliner?

To create a more wide-eyed appearance, run your white eyeliner along your lower lash line, then apply mascara onto areas of your bottom lashes that may have gotten covered in the liner. You can also run the white eyeliner along your upper lash line to give your cat-eye a graphic spin or as an eyeshadow base. Simply fill in your lid with the white liner, press the shadow over the top, then blend out the edges with an eyeshadow brush.

The 10 Best White Eyeliners of 2024

White eyeliner isn't anything new, but the do-it-all makeup product is currently having a moment. You can use it on your upper or lower waterline to make your eyes look bigger or create a variety of white eyeliner looks, like a winged effect with a liquid formula. "I love using white eyeliner in a line through the eye socket for a mod-inspired look," celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman tells Byrdie. And no matter the technique, she says, "It always helps to brighten the eye and make you look more awake."

To find the best white eyeliners, we conducted hours of research, evaluating each on formula, pigmentation, ease of application, and wear. We also considered makeup artist recommendations to come up with the best in show.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner at Ulta (See Price)

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Best Budget:

Essence Kajal Eye Pencil at Ulta ($2)

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Best Waterproof:

Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Waterproof Eyeliner at Amazon ($9)

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Best Liquid:

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner at Amazon ($24)

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Best for Waterline:

Tarte Fake Awake Eyeliner at Sephora ($24)

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Best Pearlescent:

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil at Amazon ($23)

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Best Glittery:

Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner at Sephora ($23)

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Best Fine-Tipped:

ColourPop Ultra Fine Liquid Liner at Ulta ($9)

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Best Long-Wear:

NYX Retractable Eyeliner at Amazon ($7)

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Best Shadow Stick:

About-Face Shadowstick at Ulta (See Price)

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Best Overall

MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner

View on Ulta $21 at Walmart $24 at Nordstrom

What We Like

Rich pigmentation
Smooth gel formula
Long-wearing liner

What to Consider

Nothing

Type: Pencil | Shade: White | Waterproof: Yes | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Our favorite white eyeliner is this gel pencil from MAC. It offers a smooth formula that doesn't tug at the skin or drag against the waterline, and delivers full opacity in one swipe. Once it's on, it promises to stay put for 12-24 hours without running or fading. It's also been ophthalmologist-tested and is safe for contact lens wearers. And if you fall in love with the performance of the white shade, we love that it comes in tons of other options, like classic black, pale lavender, and more.

Best Budget

Essence Kajal Eye Pencil

$2 at Ulta

What We Like

Affordable
User-friendly
Long-lasting formulas

What to Consider

May smudge on oily skin

Type: Pencil | Shade: White | Waterproof: No | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

On a budget? This super-affordable eye pencil won't let you down. The white shade goes on easily and is surprisingly pigmented—just bear in mind it's more prone to smudging on oilier skin types.

Best Waterproof

Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Waterproof Eyeliner

PHOTO:

Amazon

$9 at Amazon $10 at Ulta View on Instacart.com

What We Like

Waterproof
Affordable
Long-lasting formula
Rich pigmentation

What to Consider

A bit hard to remove

Type: Pencil | Shade: Polished White | Waterproof: Yes | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Waterproof eyeliner is great for longevity, especially when you're applying it on your waterline. We love this one from Maybelline because as its name suggests, it offers seemingly permanent results for up to 36 hours without fading or smudging. Just note that because it's waterproof, it's a bit thicker to remove than your traditional pencil formula.

Best Liquid

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

$24 at Amazon $12 at Sephora $24 at Ulta

What We Like

Award-winning product
Precision tip
Dries quickly

What to Consider

Hard to remove

Type: Liquid | Shade: Snow | Waterproof: Yes | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Prefer liquid liners? Stila is your best bet. While some liquid formulas (especially those in light colors) lack pigmentation, this one offers a bright white shade. The award-winning product is easier to use than most in its category, thanks to the ultra-fine, marker-like tip and smooth-gliding formula that dries quickly without smudging.

Best for Waterline

Tarte Fake Awake Eyeliner

$24 at Sephora $24 at Sephora $24 at Ulta

What We Like

Dual-ended design
Makes eyes look bigger
Neutralizes redness

What to Consider

Could be more long-lasting

Type: Twist-up pencil | Shade: White, Universal Nude | Waterproof: No | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"You can put white eyeliner on the waterline to help make your eyes appear bigger," says makeup artist Delina Medhin. “Apply your white eyeliner at the waterline and stop right where the whites of the eyes are for a more natural-looking application. If you bring it all the way to the corner of the eye, it tends to look more dramatic!”

The Tarte Fake Awake liner is our favorite option for the waterline. It comes in a classic white as well as a matte nude that simultaneously neutralizes redness and makes the whites of your eyes look brighter. If you find that white looks too stark on you, try the nude shade. The formula glides on and offers an opaque color payoff in just a swipe or two.

Best Pearlescent

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

PHOTO:

Sephora

$23 at Amazon $23 at Sephora $23 at Ulta

What We Like

Award-winning product
Waterproof
Long-lasting formula

What to Consider

Not ideal for sensitive eyes

Type: Gel pencil | Shade: Yeyo | Waterproof: Yes | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The shimmery metallic Yeyo shade of this award-winning eyeliner offers a stunning pearlescent effect. We appreciate that that waterproof gel formula glides on super smooth and lasts all day (or night). We also love using this one as an inner-corner highlight.

Best Glittery

Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner

PHOTO:

Sephora

$23 at Sephora $23 at Ulta $47 at Walmart

What We Like

Goes on smooth
Long-lasting liner
Water-resistant

What to Consider

Not waterproof

Type: Twist-up pencil | Shade: Bad Bride | Waterproof: No | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When you're feeling fancy and looking for a glitter eyeliner, reach for Fenty's Flypencil. The Bad Bride shade is a highly pigmented white shade with a hint of silver glitter. Not only that, but the twist-up design is easy to use, and the gel-like formula glides effortlessly without pulling or dragging on your lids.

Best Fine-Tipped

ColourPop Ultra Fine Liquid Liner

PHOTO:

Colourpop

$9 at Ulta $8 at Target View on Colourpop.com

What We Like

Affordable
Highly pigmented
Transfer-resistant liner

What to Consider

Hard to remove

Type: Liquid | Shade: Graceland | Waterproof: No | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"White eyeliner can be used as a backdrop for jewels à la Euphoria-style eye makeup," says Dorman. If you like this look, ColourPop BFF is, well, your new best friend. It's got an ultra-fine felt tip for easy lines, dots, and wings, and you can expect intense pigmentation in a single swipe.

Best Long-Wear

NYX Retractable Eyeliner

NYX Professional Makeup Retractable Eye Liner

PHOTO:

Walmart

$6 at Amazon $7 at Ulta $9 at Walmart

What We Like

Affordable
Smudge-proof
Humidity-resistant

What to Consider

Doesn't sharpen

Type: Twist-up pencil | Shade: White | Waterproof: Yes | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This retractable eyeliner promises to last for hours and hours without smudging or transferring, holding up in hot, humid environments. Basically, it lasts as long as you want it to, and may even resist when you finally try to take it off.

Best Shadow Stick

About-Face Shadowstick

PHOTO:

Cult beauty

View on Ulta View on Aboutface.com

What We Like

Highly pigmented
Blendable
Versatile

What to Consider

Not ideal for precision

Type: Shadow stick | Shade: Oxide | Waterproof: No | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Eyeshadow sticks are versatile and ideal when want rich color payoff on your lids. This liner-shadow hybrid from Halsey's makeup brand About-Face is the multi-use eye product you didn't know you needed. It offers impressive color payoff in a single stroke, blends effortlessly, and lasts for 10 or more hours.

What to Look for in White Eyeliner

Color Payoff: If you're looking for an eyeliner to brighten your waterline, Medhin recommends using a shade that matches the natural color of your waterline or is just slightly brighter. For fair skin tones, this might mean staying true to snow-white liners, while darker skin tones may prefer a nude or neutral shade. Nudes can also look great on fair skin for a more natural look. If you're using it to create a double-winged or graphic look on your upper eyelid, you'll want a true white that offers full opacity.
Staying Power: Are you looking for a white eyeliner that can withstand water and tears? Or are you more comfortable with a creamier formula that will last just long enough to get through the day? Whatever you prefer, most products clearly detail the level of water resistance and staying power, so you can make the best decision for your needs. If you're looking for serious longevity, be sure to pick an eyeliner that claims to be waterproof or lasts for 12+ hours.
Formula: Gel eyeliners, kohl pencils, liquids, and cream formulas all serve different purposes. Liquids can be great for precise lines but can often be too tricky for the waterline, while cream and kohl formulas blend softly for a natural look. Gel eyeliners tend to work better for smudging and creating smoky eyes. It takes a bit of experimentation to understand the difference between the types, but for newbies, we recommend gel for easy and seamless application.

FAQ

What does white eyeliner do?

When applied to your waterline, white eyeliner can create a more wide-awake appearance and make your eyes look bigger. If you're using the liner to impart this effect, make sure you're working with a soft formula to prevent any pulling, tugging, or scratching at the sensitive area. White eyeliner can also be used along your upper lashes to create a graphic effect that makes your lashes pop or as a base for your eyeshadow to give brights and neons a truer color payoff.
How should I use white eyeliner?

To create a more wide-eyed appearance, run your white eyeliner along your lower lash line, then apply mascara onto areas of your bottom lashes that may have gotten covered in the liner. You can also run the white eyeliner along your upper lash line to give your cat-eye a graphic spin or as an eyeshadow base. Simply fill in your lid with the white liner, press the shadow over the top, then blend out the edges with an eyeshadow brush.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a commerce beauty writer and freelance content creator. She considered dozens of white eyeliners for this roundup, evaluating each on formula, texture, and ease of application. She also consulted our testing insights and makeup artist recommendations to compile this list. Theresa has been contributing to Byrdie regularly since 2020, where she covers makeup, skincare, haircare, and lifestyle products.

Theresa also consulted with experts to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for white eyeliner. Those experts included:

Jamie Dorman is an NYC-based celebrity makeup artist. She also works as a creative director at The Only Agency and a beauty editor at Lucire.
Delina Medhin is an NYC-based makeup artist, content creator, and educator.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough white eyeliners from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.