How to wear white eyeliner: 3 Beauty Panel tips for bringing back this ’90s trend
Ah, white eyeliner! If you came of age in the mid-’90s, white eyeliner was basically the only makeup necessary. While we may have layered it on in a thick, not-quite-cat-eye swipe with little interest in technique or precision, white eyeliner was popular because it’s really so forgiving. No matter how you use it, white liner or shadow is guaranteed to make your eyes pop. Which is precisely why it appeared on so many runways at the Spring 2014 shows. From a soft wash of all-over white at Altuzarra to graphic lines at Kate Spade to BCBG’s romantic white cat-eye, it’s clear this makeup trend is back and better than ever. And our Beauty Panel certainly agrees!
Challenge 60: How do you wear white eyeliner? See the answers now! »
Emily Chan of THISWASFOREVER shares how white eyeliner has never gone out of style for those who follow Japanses Gyaru makeup trends. She shares a modified take on the popular doll makeup look, using white liner to highlight the inner corners of her eyes and lower lash line. Maggie Ng loves white eyeliner for its eye-brightening effects, and just like Paint Me Pretty’s Laurelle Alexandra, she uses it both on its own or as a colour-building base underneath a different bright shadow shade. Ready to bring back white eyeliner? Read on for all our Beauty Panel tips.
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Jump to: EMILY CHAN | LAURELLE ALEXANDRA | MAGGIE NG
Emily Chan
Toronto | THISWASFOREVER
“Gyaru” is a Japanese transliteration of the English word “gal”. The Gyaru subculture in Japan not only has a huge influence on fashion but also on the makeup trends as well. Aside from false lashes, nude lips and winged liner, Gyaru makeup is known for using white liners to create brighter and more doll-like eyes. Not being a huge fan of pencil liners, I prefer to use an eyeshadow pencil to create the same look. Eyeshadow pencils are a lot smoother and creamier than normal pencil liners and thus, you’ll avoid tugging and pull on your eyes during the application process. In order to achieve this Gyaru makeup style, simply follow these steps:
1) Use your favorite foundation all over your face to cover any blemishes. Since the focus of this look is on the eyes, be sure to conceal the lips to get the absence of colour.
2) Only 3 neutral eyeshadows are needed for this look. Apply the lightest eye shadow you’re using all over the eyelid and the second lightest colour on the lid only. Then use the darkest colour just right above the lash line and outer corner to create more depth.
3) Using a white eyeshadow pencil, highlight the inner corner of your eyes and line the lower lash line. Blend with your ring finger as it is key for a gradient effect. At this point, you can apply the false lashes.
4) Apply nude lip colour and blush and you’re done your Gyaru makeup!
Products used: Cover Girl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in “Crystal Flame,” CoverGirl LipPerfection Lip Colour in “Creme,” Avon Anew Transforming 2 in 1 Compact, Mark Avon Colour Swing Mix It Up Eye Compact, Mark Avon Blooming Pretty Highlighting Face Powder
Maggie Ng
Toronto | Beauty PhD
Using the colour white for makeup tends to make my eyes look brighter and more awake. For this look, I used a white matte eyeshadow on my entire eyelid all the way up to my brow bone, as well as the inner corner as a highlight. I also lined the bottom inner rim with the same white eyeshadow to make them look less red and tired. I then used some light pink-toned hues to contrast my fair skin on my eyes, lips and cheeks, which gives a fresh look for spring! The white/pink combo was also inspired by cherry blossoms, which should be blooming soon, I hope!
Products used: Annabelle Colour Control Instant Perfecting Base in “Natural Finish,” Face Atelier Camouflage Duet in “Light,” Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder Foundation in “#125 Pink Beige,” Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Rimmel London Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in “#002 Radiant Rose,” Nars Eyeshadow Base, Annabelle Eyeshadow in “Snowflake” and “Pinky,” L’Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara in “Black,” M.A.C Cremesheen Glass in “Just Superb,” Deca Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil in “Dark Brown”
Laurelle Alexandra
Toronto | Paint Me Pretty
I absolutely love the way white eyeliner and white eyeshadow look, especially in spring and summer. White eyeliner really makes your eyes pop—they instantly look bright-eyed and beautiful. I actually use white eyeshadow under a lot of my regular shadows. The white acts as a base and makes any other shadow colour look more vibrant and vivid—while also giving you better colour overall. I also love white eyeshadow on its own, it looks so beautiful and elegant. Or, add some neutral tones and you have a beautiful neutral shadow.
White eyeliner is another one of my favorites. My favorite placement for white eyeliner is along the water line. I know a lot of people prefer not to put any makeup on the water line but I wear black liner on the water line on a regular basis. And white liner really makes the eyes stand out. In pictures it looks fantastic. It’s one of my favorite summer looks. Grab some mascara and white eyeliner and you are good to go. And it may be a ’90s trend but I’m all over it!
Products used: One Love Organics Skin Savior, Make Up For Ever Face and Body Foundation, Benefit The POREfessional, Cover FX Cream Foundation, Make Up For Ever HD Translucent Powder, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Smashbox Brow Tech Dark Brown, Make Up For Ever Khol Pencil Liner in “White,” Nars Guy Bourdin Palette, Bourjois White Eyeshadow, Bobbi Brown Nectar and Nude Palette, Bobbi Brown Buff Lip Gloss, Kat Von D Liquid Liner, Smashbox Mascara
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/beauty-panel-white-eyeliner/&title=How to wear white eyeliner: 3 Beauty Panel tips for bringing back this ’90s trend&picture=https://fashionmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/white-eyeliner-how-to.jpg&description=Ah, white eyeliner! If you came of age in the mid-'90s, white eyeliner was basically the only makeup necessary. While we may have layered it on in a thick, not-quite-cat-eye swipe with little interest in technique or precision, white eyeliner was popular because it's really so forgiving. No matter how you use it, white liner or shadow is guaranteed to make your eyes pop. Which is precisely why it appeared on so many runways at the Spring 2014 shows. From a soft wash of all-over white at Altuzarra to graphic lines at Kate Spade to BCBG's romantic white cat-eye, it's clear this makeup trend is back and better than ever. And our Beauty Panel certainly agrees!
Challenge 60: How do you wear white eyeliner? See the answers now! »
Emily Chan of THISWASFOREVER shares how white eyeliner has never gone out of style for those who follow Japanses Gyaru makeup trends. She shares a modified take on the popular doll makeup look, using white liner to highlight the inner corners of her eyes and lower lash line. Maggie Ng loves white eyeliner for its eye-brightening effects, and just like Paint Me Pretty’s Laurelle Alexandra, she uses it both on its own or as a colour-building base underneath a different bright shadow shade. Ready to bring back white eyeliner? Read on for all our Beauty Panel tips.
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at beautypanel@fashionmagazine.com. Read on for the answers to this week's challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Jump to: EMILY CHAN | LAURELLE ALEXANDRA | MAGGIE NG
Emily Chan
Toronto | THISWASFOREVER
“Gyaru” is a Japanese transliteration of the English word "gal". The Gyaru subculture in Japan not only has a huge influence on fashion but also on the makeup trends as well. Aside from false lashes, nude lips and winged liner, Gyaru makeup is known for using white liners to create brighter and more doll-like eyes. Not being a huge fan of pencil liners, I prefer to use an eyeshadow pencil to create the same look. Eyeshadow pencils are a lot smoother and creamier than normal pencil liners and thus, you’ll avoid tugging and pull on your eyes during the application process. In order to achieve this Gyaru makeup style, simply follow these steps:
1) Use your favorite foundation all over your face to cover any blemishes. Since the focus of this look is on the eyes, be sure to conceal the lips to get the absence of colour.
2) Only 3 neutral eyeshadows are needed for this look. Apply the lightest eye shadow you’re using all over the eyelid and the second lightest colour on the lid only. Then use the darkest colour just right above the lash line and outer corner to create more depth.
3) Using a white eyeshadow pencil, highlight the inner corner of your eyes and line the lower lash line. Blend with your ring finger as it is key for a gradient effect. At this point, you can apply the false lashes.
4) Apply nude lip colour and blush and you’re done your Gyaru makeup!
Products used: Cover Girl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in “Crystal Flame,” CoverGirl LipPerfection Lip Colour in “Creme,” Avon Anew Transforming 2 in 1 Compact, Mark Avon Colour Swing Mix It Up Eye Compact, Mark Avon Blooming Pretty Highlighting Face Powder
Maggie Ng
Toronto | Beauty PhD
Using the colour white for makeup tends to make my eyes look brighter and more awake. For this look, I used a white matte eyeshadow on my entire eyelid all the way up to my brow bone, as well as the inner corner as a highlight. I also lined the bottom inner rim with the same white eyeshadow to make them look less red and tired. I then used some light pink-toned hues to contrast my fair skin on my eyes, lips and cheeks, which gives a fresh look for spring! The white/pink combo was also inspired by cherry blossoms, which should be blooming soon, I hope!
Products used: Annabelle Colour Control Instant Perfecting Base in “Natural Finish,” Face Atelier Camouflage Duet in “Light,” Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder Foundation in “#125 Pink Beige,” Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Rimmel London Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in “#002 Radiant Rose,” Nars Eyeshadow Base, Annabelle Eyeshadow in “Snowflake” and “Pinky,” L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara in “Black,” M.A.C Cremesheen Glass in “Just Superb,” Deca Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil in “Dark Brown”
Laurelle Alexandra
Toronto | Paint Me Pretty
I absolutely love the way white eyeliner and white eyeshadow look, especially in spring and summer. White eyeliner really makes your eyes pop—they instantly look bright-eyed and beautiful. I actually use white eyeshadow under a lot of my regular shadows. The white acts as a base and makes any other shadow colour look more vibrant and vivid—while also giving you better colour overall. I also love white eyeshadow on its own, it looks so beautiful and elegant. Or, add some neutral tones and you have a beautiful neutral shadow.
White eyeliner is another one of my favorites. My favorite placement for white eyeliner is along the water line. I know a lot of people prefer not to put any makeup on the water line but I wear black liner on the water line on a regular basis. And white liner really makes the eyes stand out. In pictures it looks fantastic. It's one of my favorite summer looks. Grab some mascara and white eyeliner and you are good to go. And it may be a '90s trend but I'm all over it!
Products used: One Love Organics Skin Savior, Make Up For Ever Face and Body Foundation, Benefit The POREfessional, Cover FX Cream Foundation, Make Up For Ever HD Translucent Powder, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Smashbox Brow Tech Dark Brown, Make Up For Ever Khol Pencil Liner in “White,” Nars Guy Bourdin Palette, Bourjois White Eyeshadow, Bobbi Brown Nectar and Nude Palette, Bobbi Brown Buff Lip Gloss, Kat Von D Liquid Liner, Smashbox Mascara ){kind=link}