Peter White
Black and brown eyeliners will always be classics, but if you want to switch up your vibe and majorly enhance your already pretty peepers, white eyeliner is the way to go. Unlike darker alternatives, “white eyeliner brightens the appearance of your eyes and emphasizes the whites, giving a fresh boost to any look,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg.
In fact, this colored eyeliner trend is hotter than ever right now. Follow red carpet moments and rock a traditional cat eye or apply white eyeliner to your waterline for a vivid, wide-awake effect, Greenberg says. (FYI, this is a genius hack for when the best eye creams still aren’t enough to mask your dark circles from a late-night Netflix binge session.) Or, take a page from Euphoria’s playbook and draw on playful shapes. Even TikTok has created its viral take, which involves strategically placing four white dots around the eyes to apparently make anyone fall in love with you.
Remember that not all white eyeliners are made the same, and choosing the best one for you comes down to a few key factors. “You always want your white eyeliners to be rich in pigment, so the color ‘pops’ in your makeup,” says Greenberg. “Pencil eyeliners offer a more natural aesthetic and are easy to apply to the waterline. Gel eyeliners are great for beginners, too; however, they go on super smooth and are typically used to create bolder looks,” she adds. “Similarly, a liquid liner will give an intense line and deep color for graphic styles or the waterline. Meanwhile, cream eyeliners are smooth, soft, and long-lasting, making them great for subtle shaping.”
No matter which option speaks to you, ahead, find the ten best white eyeliners that both Greenberg and customers love—from affordable drugstore finds to glitzy, glittery liners.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
1
Best NYX White Eyeliner
NYX
Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil 2
Best Waterproof White Eyeliner Pencil
Maybelline New York
TattooStudio Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil 3
Best White Eyeliner On Amazon
L’Oréal Paris
Infallible Paints Eyeliner 4
Best For Waterlines
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Norvina Chroma Stix 5
Best Gel White Eyeliner
MAC
Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner 6
Best Multipurpose White Eyeliner
Shiseido
Kajal InkArtist Pencil 7
Best White Eyeliner For Under Eye Area
Lime Crime
Venus Pigmented Liquid Eyeliner 8
Best Shimmery White Eyeliner
Urban Decay
24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil 9
Best Dual-Ended White Eyeliner
Stila
Stila Stay All Day Dual-Ended Liquid Eyeliner 10
Best Liquid White Eyeliner
Dior
The Diorshow On Stage Liquid Eyeliner
Jamie Greenberg is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup. Her clients have included Kaley Cuoco, Rashida Jones, Kristen Stewart, and Tracee Ellis Ross, among other stars. For more of Greenberg’s makeup tips and tricks, you can check out her TikTok account here.
Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. For this roundup, she spoke with a celebrity makeup artist about her favorite white eyeliners and how to apply them. The author also considered dozens of top-rated white eyeliners from popular brands, evaluating each on their features offered and customer feedback.
Sam Peters Commerce Editor Sam Peters is a Commerce Editor at Hearst covering fashion, beauty and more.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below