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For a daytime-friendly look that helps you appear bright-eyed and awake, use a creamy pencil liner to highlight the inner corners and/or water line of your eyes with white. If you’d like a bolder look, you can apply white liner thickly to your upper lids, alone or with other colors. Any of the bolder options can be done in a cat eye style, if desired.
Steps
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Apply eyeshadow primer with your finger or a small brush. This will help the look last longer, as well as deter smudging. If the primer is wet, such as a liquid or gel, allow it to dry. [1] X Research source
- The main purpose of eye primer is to help keep your eye makeup locked in place all day. [2] X Research source Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
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Apply your eyeshadow of choice with an eyeshadow brush or applicator. Apply your base shade across the eyelid and two-thirds of the way up to your eyebrow. Apply a second, darker shade along your lash line and in the crease at the outer corner of your eye to create a sideways “V.” [3] X Research source
- For example, try applying a sparkly nude shade as your base color, and a shimmery chocolate for the accent color.
- Apply the darkest color at the outside corner of your eye and fade it as you get closer to your nose.
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Highlight your eyes’ inner corners with white eyeliner, if desired. Color about a centimeter out from the inner corner of your eyes towards your top and bottom lids, creating an inner “V” for each eye. This will help your eyes appear larger and brighter. [4] X Research source
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Line your upper lids near the lash line, if desired. You can line your upper lids with a darker shade of liner by itself, or line them with white followed by a darker color.
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Line your lower waterline. Use a matte white eyeshadow pencil or thin crayon to carefully line your lower waterline. Brush the line with an eyeshadow brush to soften its appearance. [5] X Research source
- Before you line your eyes, take a cotton swab and swipe it lightly 1-2 times across your waterline to dry it. That will keep your eyeliner from smudging. [6] X Research source Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
- To apply white to your waterline, gently hold down the skin under your eyes with one hand. Use the other hand to color back and forth on the waterline with your liner, taking care not to slip and poke your eye. [7] X Research source
EXPERT TIPLicensed CosmetologistLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.Stick to pencil when lining your waterline. Laura Martin, a licensed cosmetologist, explains, “It is safe to use a pencil liner on your waterline. However, you should not use liquid or gel liner on the waterline, since they could easily get into your eye and cause irritation.”
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Create an all-white cat eye . Draw white liner at your upper lash line. Use an eyeshadow brush or applicator to smudge the liner across your whole upper lid. Line your upper lash line with white again. Flick the corners out into cat eyes, or use tape as a guide to draw the outer edges, tapering off towards the tips. Finish the look with dark mascara to your upper lashes. [10] X Research source
- Try touching the sticky side of clear tape with your finger first, so that it isn’t too sticky. [11] X Research source
- For an even more striking look, line your upper lash line the second time with liquid white eyeliner or create a whitened water line.
- If you have pale skin, use a gloss white liner or finish with a shimmery white eyeshadow to make the white liner pop even more.
- You can also use white eyeshadow just at the last line, or blend it with a nude shadow.
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Apply a thick smear of white liner to your top lids. Instead of black or brown liner, draw white liner thickly on your upper lids, beginning as close to the lash line as possible. Top off this dramatic style with mascara to your upper and/or lower lids, if desired. [12] X Research source
- You can also pair this with a whitened water line.
- Set your eyeliner by using a very small brush to tap on a similar-colored eyeshadow on top of your eyeliner. [13] X Research source Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
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Layer white eyeliner with another eyeliner color. Line your upper lids with white, twice as thick as you typically would apply your liner. Draw another shade of eyeliner, such as black or brown, over half the thickness of the white. [14] X Research source
- For stark contrast, you can also try the opposite: line your upper and lower waterline with black liner, then trace your lash lines with a shimmery white liner. [15] X Research source
- If you want a costumey look, try drawing white eye liner in between two other shades, such as black (near the lash line) and blue (above the white).
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Try a frosted white look by using metallic cream shadow. Apply the shadow to your top lids, and your bottom lids below the lash line. Blend the edges with a makeup brush or sponge. Then draw in your lower waterline with white eyeliner. Use clear mascara, if desired. [16] X Research source
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5Pair black and white eyeliner for a mod look. Line your lower lid with white eyeliner and your upper lid with a darker color, like black. This simple trick will give you a unique, large-eyed retro look.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I keep eyeliner from smudging or smearing?Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
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QuestionWhat does white eyeliner do to your eyes?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.White eyeliner makes your eyes look wider and enhances the color. It is especially effective when applied along the waterline.
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QuestionIs it safe to put eyeliner on your waterline?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.It is safe to use a pencil liner on the waterline. However, you should not use liquid or gel liner on the waterline.
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Warnings
- Be careful not to get any products in your eyes.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.makeup.com/how-to-wear-white-eyeliner
- ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.makeup.com/how-to-wear-white-eyeliner
- ↑ https://www.newbeauty.com/blog/dailybeauty/7672-five-reasons-why-you-need-to-try-white-eyeliner/
- ↑ https://www.makeup.com/how-to-wear-white-eyeliner
- ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ http://thestir.cafemom.com/beauty_style/199201/how_to_wear_white_eyeliner
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/beauty/how-to-do-white-eyeliner
- ↑ https://www.makeup.com/how-to-wear-white-eyeliner
- ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/how-to/a4804/20-ways-to-wear-white-eye-liner/
- ↑ http://www.theloop.ca/how-to-wear-white-eyeliner-without-poking-your-eye-out/
- ↑ https://www.newbeauty.com/blog/dailybeauty/7672-five-reasons-why-you-need-to-try-white-eyeliner/
- ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup artist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.newbeauty.com/blog/dailybeauty/7672-five-reasons-why-you-need-to-try-white-eyeliner/
- ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/how-to/a4804/20-ways-to-wear-white-eye-liner/
- ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/how-to/a4804/20-ways-to-wear-white-eye-liner/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To use white eyeliner to brighten your eyes, start by applying eyeshadow primer to help the look last longer and to avoid smudging. Next, put on your eyeshadow before making a “V” shape on the inner corners of your eyes with your white eyeliner. Then, line your upper lids near the lash line with a darker shade of liner, and line your lower lid with your white eyeliner. Finally, apply mascara to finish the look. To learn how to apply bold white liner, keep reading!
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