White liquid Eyeliner use and Hack
Ashley Gray, a certified cosmetics artist and the proprietor of Ashthetics Skincare, asserts that white liquid eyeliner enlarges and brightens the eyes. “You can really make the eyes pop by applying it to your lower waterline or creating a cat eye with white eyeliner. Additionally, it gives makeup looks a 1960s vibe.
If you’re anything like us, you use eyeliner almost every day. But if you often use a liquid black or brown ink, take this as your formal invitation to experiment with other colors, including our current favorite, white. You’ve probably heard the sage advice that light colors appear to expand areas while dark hues tend to reduce them. The same applies to your makeup, which is why we’re using white eyeliner more often than ever to give eyes the appearance of being bigger, brighter, and more alert (and to modernize classic eyeliner looks). Below, we explain how to use white eyeliner precisely and provide our best formulas to recreate each look.
1 Winged Waterline
Under the lash line, a brash application of white eyeliner? Clever move The fact that so many people mistakenly believe that eyeliner should only be used on the top of the eye gives you more room to experiment with your cosmetic look. The line should be as bold as possible because the white should really stand out in this design.
All of the models walked down the runway for the Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 Show sporting white winged waterlines. Dior’s creative and image director Peter Phillips explains, “I applied a strong, graphic line of brilliant, white eyeliner with the Diorshow On Stage Liner ($31) in 001 Matte White under the eye and extended it towards the inner and outer corners of the eye.” To emphasise this pristine white eye look, I next added a line of Diorshow Khôl ($30) in 009 White Kohl to the waterline.
2 All Over Your Lids
Using a white liquid eyeliner, gel pencil, or eyeliner crayon, you can easily get a cream shadow appearance (with excellent lasting power). Simply cover your lid with a large amount of the white eyeliner formula of your choice — we recommend this Sephora Collection Eye Pencil in Pure White ($11) — to get Margot Robbie’s look. As an alternative, you can draw a thick, wingless line down your top lash line to make it appear as though you’ve covered your entire lid when your eyes are open, but when you close them, you’ll get a startling eyeliner effect.
3 Above the Crease
Application of eyeliner away from your lash lines is a key component of some of our favorite looks (top or bottom). If you want your eyes to feel more three-dimensional, experiment with various shapes and lines. Thinking outside of the box may still appear classy, as evidenced by the sharpness of the white line that was drawn over Gigi Hadid’s eyelid crease. Make sure the liner stays thin in shape as you carefully draw the line above the crease in a single motion. For a thin line, Colourpop’s True Liquid Liner in Graceland ($8) works well.
4 Awaken Your Waterline
You’ve probably heard the sage advice that bright colors open up space and dark hues make things smaller. The same general principle applies to your makeup. By appearing to extend the whites and concealing any redness, white eye makeup applied to the waterline instantly gives the appearance of wider, brighter, and more alert eyes. Think of this white eyeliner trick as your go-to companion following a strenuous week at work or a prolonged night out. To brighten the appearance of the eye, use a white liner in the waterline, such as Surrat’s Inner Light Baton ($45).
5 Subtle Cross
Who said eyeliner has to be straightforward? Makeup artist Kirin Bhatty cleverly referenced the catholicism theme for Tessa Thompson’s 2018 Met Gala look by inserting a small cross into the actress’ lower liner. This style produces a distinct aesthetic and is guaranteed to spark inspiration for the various ways you may wear white eyeliner, whether or not you have a particular theme in mind.
6 All Around
We adore how this design, worn by Ariana Grande in the “Rain On Me” music video, is deceptively straightforward while still having a significant visual effect thanks to the color, angles, and use of negative space. To create your own crisp design, try using a felt-tip pen like UZ’s Eye Opening Liner in White ($16).
7 Oversized Cat-Eye
While we’ve already discussed the classic winged eyeliner look, it’s a good idea to emphasize the wing’s curve when trying to add drama. If you want to make a statement, use white eyeliner to make the wing as thick as you like. Alternately, start with a large outline and fill it in with a shimmering shadow, as seen here on Janelle Monáe, or start with a normal-sized wing and continue drawing the lines from there. To create your shape, use an angled eyeliner brush, like this one from Morphe ($3).
8 Just the Corners
When you need white eyeliner to be discreet, a small wing on each outer corner of the eye works nicely. If you want definition, line the remaining portion of the eye with black or your preferred color after adding a flick to each corner to create just the right amount of drama without looking overdone. Practice applying the wing form with an angled brush dipped in a cream pot eyeliner, like this white one from MAC ($22).
9 Inner Corners
The inner corners of your eyes are one of the best places to utilise white eyeliner to brighten the appearance of your eyes. White liner is fantastic because you can use it with any eyeshadow combination you like; it’s quite flexible and looks amazing with everything. After applying eyeshadow, line the inner corners of each eye with liner, and then add a few coats of your favorite mascara to complete the look. For more brightness, try using this Wet n Wild liner ($1) on the inside corners.
10 Touch of Pearl
Add luxurious accents, like the pearls seen here along Kristen Stewart’s lash line, to liven up a simple white winged liner look for an occasion. People will suddenly get interested in you because they will get a closer look and see the subtle complexity. With a white eyeliner, such as this one from Milk Makeup ($22), draw a smooth line across your upper lid. Then, add your extras of choice and take in your unforgettable makeup moment.
