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How to Wear White Eyeliner

When it comes to eyeliner looks, smokey blacks and sultry neutrals tend to dominate the spotlight because they go with everything and are a surefire way to elevate any outfit. There’s the occasional pop of bright blue eyeliner, purple shadow, or some other bold color for a special event, but there’s one color eyeliner that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves and that’s white eyeliner. As you probably already know, there are certain makeup shades that will complement your coloring, including your eye color, so it makes sense to stick to the colors that you know will bring out your eyes. For example, use purple eyeliner and shadow if you have brown eyes or try copper to contrast blue eyes. No matter your eye color, white eyeliner makeup always makes a good choice– in fact, it pops on every skin tone! See below for five different ways to wear white eyeliner to try out on your next date night or to add to your everyday natural makeup look. 

WHAT IS WHITE EYELINER FOR?

In terms of eyeliner colors, black and other dark eyeliner shades are great for defining your eyes, drawing attention to your eye shape, and/or adding some drama. You also may have heard that wearing heavy black eyeliner or shadow can make your eyes appear smaller because black absorbs light rather than reflect it. White, on the other hand, is all about freshness, keeping things light and bright, and experimenting with the unexpected. Plus, white eyeliner actually has the opposite effect and harnesses the power to make your eyes look bigger by reflecting light. White eyeliner can be extremely useful if you’re going for a wide awake, doe-eyed or doll look.

HOW DO YOU USE WHITE EYELINER?

There are many ways that you can apply white eyeliner or shadow in order to achieve a fresh or different makeup look. For instance, applying white eyeliner on your waterline can make eyes appear bigger, while applying it to the inner corners of your eyes can make them look brighter and more wide awake. 


1. MAKE YOUR EYES LOOK BIGGER
Using white eyeliner to make your eyes look bigger is a Hollywood makeup artist secret that dates back decades. The idea is that when you apply white eyeliner to your waterline, it blends with the whites of your eyes (aka the sclera), creating the optical illusion that your eyes are actually larger and make them more captivating. Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil in Polished White is perfect for achieving this look, as its 36-hour formula is waterproof, smudge-, and fade-resistant. 


2. CREATE A MOD MAKEUP LOOK
Another way that you can use white eyeliner (and shadow) is to create a “mod” or retro vibe. The style of 1960s beauty was often characterized by graphic eyeliner that included pops of stark white, both on the lash line and the lid, sometimes accompanied by a bold black cat eye. Go for Color Tattoo® Up to 24HR Wear Eye Stix in I am Unmatched if you’re trying to achieve an allover lid look. The larger crayon tip will help you to completely cover your lid with the crisp white hue, plus its crease-resistant, creamy texture is a dream for applying to the delicate eye area without tugging.


3. LOOK BRIGHT AND FRESH
One of the easiest ways to fake a well-rested look is to incorporate some white eyeliner. But, unlike in the previous white eyeliner makeup looks, you’re not going to be applying your Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil in Polished White or Color Tattoo® Up to 24HR Wear Eye Stix in I am Unmatched on your lash line or your lid, but rather on the inner corner of your eyes. By applying a pop of white in this area– that will often be darker depending on how much sleep you’ve gotten– the light will reflect, and neutralize any shadows, making you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, no matter how late you may have been out the night before. 


4. EXPERIMENT WITH PLACEMENT
If you’re looking to try something a little different with your eyeliner, it can be fun to apply it in areas other than the lash line and lid. Think out of the box like using it on the crease, only on half of your lower lash line from the inner corner, or only on the outer corner. You could also try extending the liner on your top las line downwards on your inner corners for a siren eye effect– the options are endless!


5. DOUBLE YOUR LINER FOR DOUBLE THE FUN
Are you already a loyal eyeliner wearer that wouldn’t recognize yourself without a full-on cat eye? Rather than changing up your whole look, we recommend adding to it. So, if you’re rocking your go-to black wing (we recommend using our Master Precise® All Day Liquid Eyeliner), you can draw above it with Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil in Polished White for a two-dimensional line look. You can also have some fun with floating liner. Keep your usual eyeliner or shadow look as is, and just apply some graphic white lines or squiggles on your brow bone or in the crease to spice things up!

SHOP WHITE EYELINER PRODUCTS

  • Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil Longwear Eyeliner Makeup
    Polished White
    Buy now
  • Color Tattoo® Eye Stix Multi-Use Eyeshadow Stick, Liner, & Primer
    I am Unmatched
    Buy now