Is It Safe to Put Makeup on Your Waterline?

Quick Answer

• The waterline sits right next to the eye’s surface and contains openings of oil-producing glands.
• A 2015 study found 15 to 30 percent more eyeliner particles reached the tear film when applied to the waterline.
• Waterline makeup can irritate eyes, cloud contact lenses, and block oil glands.
• People with dry eye, contact lenses, blepharitis, or recent eye surgery should usually avoid it.
• Use a freshly sharpened pencil and never share eye makeup.
• Remove waterline makeup completely before bed.
• Pain, persistent redness, discharge, or vision changes need an eye doctor.

What the Waterline Is and Why It Matters

The waterline is the narrow strip of moist skin on the inner edge of the upper and lower eyelids, between the lashes and the eye itself. Along this edge are the openings of the meibomian glands, which release oils that form part of your tear film and help stop tears from evaporating.

Because the waterline is so close to the eye, anything applied there can easily mix with tears and spread across the eye’s surface. That includes pigments, waxes, preservatives, and any bacteria on the pencil.

Blocked meibomian glands are a common cause of dry, gritty, or irritated eyes. Eye doctors often point to waterline makeup as one possible contributor, especially when it is not removed thoroughly.

The lower waterline also sits close to the tear duct opening at the inner corner of the eye, the small point where tears drain. Product applied to the inner corner can travel into this area more easily, which is one reason to keep liner to the outer part of the lid if you use it at all.

What the Research Found

In the 2015 study by Ng and colleagues, published in Eye and Contact Lens: Science and Clinical Practice, participants applied glitter eyeliner either outside the lash line or on the waterline. Researchers then filmed the eyes to track how many particles moved into the tear film.

Within five minutes, 15 to 30 percent more particles entered the tear film when eyeliner was applied on the waterline. Particles also moved faster from the waterline. By two hours, little eyeliner remained in the tear film, but the researchers noted that repeated exposure could still matter for people with sensitive eyes or contact lenses.

The study was small, but it confirms what many eye doctors see in practice: the closer makeup is to the eye, the more likely it is to end up in it.

Waterline vs Lash Line: The Differences

You can often get a similar look with less risk by tightlining, pressing liner into the roots of the upper lashes from underneath, or by smudging a pencil just below the lower lashes.

Who Should Skip Waterline Makeup

Some people are more likely to have problems and should usually avoid lining the waterline:

• People with dry eye disease or meibomian gland dysfunction.
• Contact lens wearers.
• Anyone with blepharitis, styes, or chalazia.
• People recovering from eye surgery, including cataract or LASIK surgery.
• Anyone with a current or recent eye infection.
• People who notice redness, itching, or watering after lining the waterline.

If you have recently had eye surgery, see our guide on makeup after cataract surgery for general timelines.

How to Line Your Waterline More Safely

If you choose to line your waterline, these steps lower the risk.

1. Start with clean hands and a clean face

   Wash your hands and remove old makeup so you are not pushing leftover product or bacteria toward the eye.

2. Sharpen the pencil

   Sharpen a pencil liner before each use to remove the outer layer, which may carry bacteria. Clean the sharpener regularly.

3. Use a soft pencil, not liquid

   Choose a soft, creamy pencil designed for eyes. Avoid liquid liner, glitter, and loose pigments on the waterline.

4. Apply gently to the outer part

   Pull the lower lid down slightly and apply lightly to the outer two-thirds, avoiding the inner corner where tears drain.

5. Remove it thoroughly at night

   Use a gentle eye makeup remover on a cotton swab, then rinse. Do not sleep with waterline makeup on.

Alternatives That Give a Similar Look

You can get much of the effect of waterline liner while keeping product further from the eye.

• Tightlining: press a pencil gently into the roots of the upper lashes from underneath. This makes lashes look thicker without a visible line and keeps product on the lash roots rather than the waterline itself.
• Smudged lower lash line: apply a soft pencil or dark eyeshadow just below the lower lashes and smudge it with a brush for a smoky effect.
• Brightening the eyes: instead of white liner on the lower waterline, dab a little light, matte eyeshadow or concealer on the inner corner of the eye and under the brow bone.
• Defined lashes: well-curled lashes and mascara focused at the roots can make eyes look more open without liner inside the lid.

These options also tend to last longer, since they are not constantly washed by tears.

Choosing Products for Sensitive Eyes

If you have sensitive eyes, what you use matters as much as where you put it.

Choose pencils labeled for use around the eyes and ophthalmologist-tested if possible, although no label guarantees you will not react. Avoid glitter, chunky shimmer, and loose pigments near the eyes, since particles can scratch or irritate. Fragrance-free formulas are usually a better choice.

Mechanical or retractable pencils avoid the need for sharpening, but the tip still touches your eye area, so wipe it with a clean tissue before and after use and replace it regularly.

Removing Eye Makeup Properly

Thorough removal is one of the most important steps for eye comfort. Soak a cotton pad or swab with a gentle eye makeup remover, hold it on closed lids for a few seconds to loosen product, then wipe gently outward. Use a pointed swab for the lash line, and rinse your eyes area afterward.

If you are prone to blocked glands or dry eyes, your eye doctor may suggest a gentle lid cleanser or warm compresses as part of your nightly routine.

Never sleep in waterline makeup. Overnight, product can sit against the eye and lid margin for hours, which increases the chance of irritation and blocked glands.

Eye Makeup Hygiene Basics

Counterfeit eye makeup is another risk, since it may contain contaminants. Our guide on how to tell if makeup is fake covers the warning signs. If you have had pink eye, our guide on makeup after pink eye explains what to throw away.

What We Know and What We Do Not

The evidence shows that makeup applied to the waterline reaches the tear film more easily, but there is little research on long-term outcomes, such as how often it leads to infection or chronic dry eye in healthy people.

If you choose to line your waterline, do it occasionally rather than every day, and pay attention to how your eyes feel.

When to See an Eye Doctor

Stop using waterline makeup and see an eye doctor if you notice:

• Eye pain, not just mild irritation.
• Redness that lasts more than a day or two.
• Discharge, crusting, or sticky eyelids.
• A painful bump on the eyelid, such as a stye.
• Blurred vision or light sensitivity.
• Ongoing dry, gritty, or burning eyes.

Common Questions

The Bottom Line

Makeup on the waterline sits right next to the eye’s surface, so it reaches the tear film more easily and can block the oil glands along the lid margin. A 2015 study found 15 to 30 percent more eyeliner particles entered the tear film when applied to the waterline compared with outside the lashes.

If you have dry eyes, wear contact lenses, or are recovering from eye surgery or infection, it is best to skip it. Otherwise, use a freshly sharpened pencil, keep it to the outer part of the lid, remove it every night, and see an eye doctor about pain, persistent redness, or vision changes.