Thanks for your tip Angie! It tried it yesterday and it worked! The result with a brush is different than pencil liner: more subtle, but deeper. I used a small Aveda flat slanted brush and a regular compact eye shadow.
I also wear contact lenses, but it didn't bother me. I applied to the inside of the waterline but also at the base of my upper lashes and between the lashes. That is what makes a big difference I think. The product I had applied directly onto the top waterline tended to migrate to the bottom waterline a little (but since I had used a lighter brown, the result wasn't too dramatic).
Here is another trick: line your bottom waterline with white, nude or shiny silver pencil. But just the waterline. You may then apply some eye shadow right underneath the lash line, with a smaller brush, and using the medium-light shades from your palette (but nothing shiny!). It will open up your eyes.
Another trick is to apply a soft layer of eye shadow lower under the eye. Here is how: if you laugh, see how the bottom of your eyes bulge a little. Right under that bulge, apply light (but not metallic, not shiny) eye shadow and connect to the top at the eye corner. Eye shadow must be one or two tones darker than the brightest, lightest shade of your palette. It will create the illusion of a faint shadow there and make your eyes seem bigger.
I like the tips from this lady: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3-rYlkdXzA