Here’s something white that you can wear beyond Labor Day: white eyeliner. This doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your basic black liner (thank goodness)–instead, think of white eyeliner as an addition to your makeup routine to create different, bold looks.
Makeup artists agree that white eyeliner can instantly liven up your eyes–and your whole face for that matter–with just a few simple swipes. White eyeliner can play up the rest of your eye makeup, accentuate your eye shape, cancel out any redness from allergies or illness, and make you look wide awake (even when you’re not).
Ready to hop on the white liner bandwagon? Read on for everything you've ever wanted to know about using white eyeliner, and all of the ways this makeup product can take your eye looks to the next level.
How to Wear White Eyeliner to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger
Whether you have smaller eyes, didn’t get enough sleep, or just want to make your eyes pop, white eyeliner will do the trick. Opt for a blendable, creamy white eyeliner pencil, like ESSENCE COSMETICS Kajal Pencil in White, for smooth application and zero tugging.
To apply, simply gently pull your lower lash line down with your ring finger. You don't want to pull too hard–just enough so you can clearly see your lower waterline, or the pink area in between your eyeball and lower eyelid. Then, drag the white eyeliner across your lower waterline in one swift swoop.
For an extra-bright eye look, apply the pencil to your upper waterline, too. Using your ring finger again, gently pull your upper lid upward, and swipe the pencil eyeliner from the outer edge to the inner corner of your upper waterline.
Now for the key part: highlight the inner corners of your eyes with the white liner by drawing a tiny “v” on the skin just outside your tear duct. Make the "v" as big as you like to emphasize your eye shape: for a rounder eye look, keep the "v" short, but for a more elongated, cat-eye look, extend the point further towards the bridge of your nose.
Set the liner on the inner corner of your eyes by patting a matte eyeshadow or shimmery highlighter on top, like one of the shades from the SPACE CASE Seen From Space Highlighter Duo. The combination of your white waterline(s) and highlighted inner corners will instantly brighten your face and make your eyes look bigger and bolder.
How to Wear Winged White Eyeliner for a Bold Look
Now for the fun part: how to really rock white eyeliner in modern, cool ways. We know you’ve probably mastered the cat-eye with your black eyeliner. But why not try it with white? It’s edgy and fun without being over the top.
For a glam negative space cat-eye look, you can choose between a creamy gel eyeliner–like OFRA COSMETICS Fixline Eyeliner Gel in White Rabbit–or a gel pencil like ABSOLUTE NEW YORK Waterproof Gel Eye Liner in White. Liquid liner more your scene? Try a liquid liner pen like TOO FACED COSMETICS Sketch Marker Eyeliner in Pure White instead.
Once you've chosen your white liner, follow the same steps you'd normally use to create a winged look. Swipe the liner along your upper lash line, from the inner corner to outer corner of your eye, flicking the line up at a 45 degree angle towards your brow bone when you reach the end of your lash line.
Once you’ve mastered the basic wing, you're ready to move on to more adventurous white eyeliner looks. After all, there are tons of different ways to use white eyeliner, and it can be a fun, less-graphic way to play with more dramatic eye looks because it's less harsh than traditional black.
For example, you can play with the shape and placement of your wing by doing a double cat eye (in which you line your lower lash line so it wings up at the same angle as your upper lash line) or by creating a white smoky eye instead of the usual black or grey. You can also play with different eyeshadow colors to enhance your look and change things up. White is universally flattering and works with all skin tones and skin colors, so your options are endless.
Looking for more white liner eye makeup inspiration? Check out more awesome liner looks in our guide to our fave white eyeliner looks.