“White eyeliner not only makes your eyes look larger, but also makes you look more awake,” says makeup artist Geo Brian Hennings. And, major plus, it'll cancel out any signs of a hangover, allergies, quarter-life crisis, etc., regardless of your skin tone.
Professionally, white eyeliner is a makeup artist trick for brightening up the face and making your eyes look bigger and more awake—particularly when used on the bottom waterline. When using a dark color on the bottom lash line, it can make eyes look smaller and drawn-down, but white has the reverse effect.
Using a neutral-colored eyeliner like a brown or taupe is super flattering for big eyes, says Eckels. The softer shade still highlights the eyes without being too bold, so you can line both the upper and lower lash lines.
What does white eyeliner do for your eyes? “White eyeliner makes the eyes look bigger and brighter,” says Ashley Gray, a professional makeup artist and the owner of Ashthetics Skincare. “Applying it to your lower waterline or doing a cat eye with a white eyeliner can really make the eyes pop.
There's a half-baked theory behind the white-dot makeup trick: By placing four dots around your eye in a diamond configuration — one on either side, as well as above and below your pupils — you're psychologically manipulating the person looking you in the eye.
You can also use white for more whimsical eyeliner looks—the white dot trend was even one of Google's top trending searches for 2022. White liner is especially good for making the eyes pop. "It instantly brightens the eyes and makes your eyeballs look whiter," the pro adds.
White liner on the lower lash line will create the illusion of being more awake as it emphasizes the whites of your eyes, consequently allowing you to look younger and more vibrant.
If you have brown eyes, blue, green, and purple liners will make them pop, though jet black can also be flattering. For hazel eyes, purple, green, gray, and taupe are all excellent choices. People with green eyes should look for burgundy, rust, and other warm, reddish tones, though black and brown can also work well.
If you want to make your eyes look bigger then use white or nude liner, especially if the rest of your eye look is very dark. Using black in the water line closes the eye and makes it look smaller.
As mentioned previously, dark colors can make the eyes look smaller, so it's best to avoid a heavy line on the upper lid. The way to apply eyeliner to make the eyes look bigger is by drawing a very thin line, black or brown, just above your lashes.
The whites of your eyes are called whites for a reason — they're supposed to be white. However, the color of this part of your eyes, known as the sclera, is an indicator of health. One common sign of a health problem is yellow eyes. Often this yellowing is referred to as jaundice.
Tip #1: Use A Brown Or Colored Eyeliner
Black might be your go-to color when it comes to eyeliner, but using a brown or colored eyeliner can also help make your eyes appear bigger and brighter. For enlarging the appearance of your eyes, choose a colored liner that mimics the natural color of your eyes.
For an eye-opening effect, try swapping dark liner for white eyeliner or nude eyeliner like the TARTE Fake Awake Eye Highlight. Billy says she loves to use a nude eye pencil along the upper and lower waterline for bigger, wider-looking eyes.
To make your brown eyes appear brighter, go for colored eyeliner in contrasting shades. For instance, think shades of midnight blue and teal, shades of olive and emerald green, shades of vivid purple and soft purple for a regal look, and even grey and charcoal to bring out any gold flecks in your brown peepers.
Brown eyeliner acts as a contour for your eyelids and adds more depth. It is the best eyeliner for natural look.
Eyeliner used here may wash into the eye and clog the glands that secrete oil to keep tears on the eyeball, without evaporating. If these glands aren't functioning properly, eyes become dry and are more likely to water.
Women of any age can wear eyeliner. There is no age limit to apply eyeliner.
Applying a thick, black eyeliner makes your eyes appear really small and beady — making you look older than you are. An easy solution to this problem is to switch your back eyeliner with a brown one for a softer and more youthful appearance.
Opt for a lighter eyeshadow rather than a dark, smoky shade on your eyelids and around the eyes, like Jenna Dewan Tatum. "Highlighting the corners makes eyes look brighter and fresh," says Ahnert. "Use a light color shadow in matte or shimmer to inner corner, lower lash line in outer corner, and the inner lid."
To achieve a younger look, Hughes recommends using champagne eyeliner rather than the go-to white pencil. “You may have heard the trick to apply white pencil eyeliner to your waterline to brighten your eyes and make them look younger.
Simply locate your natural eye color on the wheel and look for the color on the opposite side. That color will be the eyeliner shade to enhance the natural beauty of your eyes!