01 / Eyes & brows
A blendable line
A pencil gives a brief window to soften the edge before it sets.
ILIA — Thru Line Waterproof Eyeliner ↗Make one mark count.
Choose the feature first: lashes, a liner shape or brow definition. Mascara changes the lash outline, a pencil can create a softer line, and liquid liner gives a crisper edge. Brow products belong to a separate application area.
Start with the job
Which one fits?
02 / Eyes & brows
Lash volume
Keep the rest of the eye simple when lashes are the main feature.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty — Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara ↗03 / Eyes & brows
Brow shape
Choose a holding product for shape rather than drawing every hair.
REFY — Brow Sculpt ↗Where it fits in your routine
Start with a small, deliberate mark. Follow the exact product’s eye-area directions and allow it to set. Plan gentle removal before choosing a long-wear formula.
Before you buy
Water-resistant and waterproof are different label claims. A range may include standard and waterproof versions. Do not share eye products or assume a brow formula is suitable for the waterline.
Shortlists
The best eyes & brows picks.
Best-of guide · 5 picks
Best mascaras
YSL Lash Clash is the best volumising mascara, with black, brown, blue and green shades, at £33. Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes is the luxury volume-and-curl pick, Too Faced Better Than Sex the hourglass-brush option, Maybelline Sky High the lengthening pick with nine shades, and L’Oréal Telescopic Lift the budget lengthener at £12.99.
Read the guide ↗The eyes & brows edit
Explore the options.
Compare the role, finish and limitations. Each guide links to its original source and review date. Selection is editorial; no hands-on testing is implied. Product images are brand or retailer packshots, credited on each guide.
July 2026 launch
ILIA · Eyes & brows
Thru Line Waterproof Eyeliner
A pencil alternative to liquid liner when you want a softer edge or a quick smoky shape.
Brand bestseller edit
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty · Eyes & brows
Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
A volume-focused alternative to the existing lengthening mascara edit, with brown and colour options for different levels of definition.
Charlotte Tilbury · Eyes & brows
Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
The brand’s first dedicated volume mascara, a decade in development — worth knowing for a lash-first look.
Anastasia Beverly Hills · Eyes & brows
MicroStroke Brow Pen
The precision option when a brow needs individual hair-like strokes rather than a filled-in block of colour.
REFY · Eyes & brows
Brow Sculpt
UK graphic-punctuation brow tool — holds shape without a drawn-on block.
Maybelline · Eyes & brows
Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
One lash mark for Graphic punctuation — length that reads as punctuation against an otherwise clean New York face.
NYX Professional Makeup · Eyes & brows
Epic Ink Liner
Single liner stroke for Graphic punctuation — hard edge, then back to clean skin.
L’Oréal Paris · Eyes & brows
Telescopic Lift Mascara
A lengthening lash mark at a high-street price — length and lift rather than heavy volume.
Too Faced · Eyes & brows
Better Than Sex Mascara
A volume-and-curl lash with an hourglass brush — lashes as the feature, the rest of the eye kept quiet.
Useful answers
Eyes & brows, explained.
Should I buy pencil or liquid eyeliner?
A pencil suits a softer or blended line, while a liquid brush tip suits a crisp wing. Consider how much time you want to spend applying and removing it.
Are all long-wear mascaras waterproof?
No. Check the exact formula. Wear-time language alone does not mean a product is waterproof, and brands may sell separate versions under similar names.