How to Highlight Eyeliner

Apply white eyeliner during the day or night for a brighter appearance.

Sometimes waking up is hard to do, but with a highlighting eyeliner, it is easier than you think. Create the illusion of bright and awake eyes by faking it with a white highlighting eyeliner. The highlighter can go on solo or in conjunction with your standard eyeliner in a few simple steps. You will notice the effects of the highlighter immediately, because your eyes will appear brighter, the whites will be whiter and you will look more awake. Find the pencils in the cosmetic department and play around with the highlighter until you find the look that works best for you.

Things You'll Need

• Eye makeup remover
• Eye primer
• Cotton swab
• Eye shadow
• White highlight pencil
• Eyeliner

Instructions

1. Remove any eye makeup with an eye makeup remover. Always apply new makeup on fresh skin. Applying new makeup over old makeup may cause the new makeup to flake off. Pat the area dry.

2. Prepare the skin with an eye primer. This will give the eyeliner something to adhere to once it goes onto your eyes. Prime the upper lid by applying a thin coat from your lash line to the center crease. Line the lower lash line by dipping a cotton swab into the primer and tracing along the bottom lash line. Apply eye shadow as you normally would.

3. Line the upper eyelash with the highlighter as if you were applying standard eyeliner. This will create the illusion of a larger eye. Follow the lash line carefully, as you do not want to see a space between the highlighter and the lashes. Repeat the process on the lower lash line. Follow both lash lines from the inner corner to the outer corner. For a less dramatic look, skip lining the lower lash line.

4. Create the illusion of whiter eyes by only highlighting the inner corner of the eye. Apply a small amount of highlighter along the corner of the eye. Highlighting this small crescent-shaped area will give the eye a brighter appearance. Add additional highlight by continuing the line from the inner corner to the middle of your upper lash line and lower lash line.

5. Layer the highlighter with your traditional eyeliner if you want a darker, yet highlighted appearance. Apply your regular eyeliner first by starting at the inner corner and working to the outer corner. Smudge the eyeliner slightly with a cotton swab or your fingertip. Apply the highlighter at the corner of the inner eye and trace just above the original eyeliner line until you reach the center of the lash line. Smudge the highlighter slightly.

Tips & Warnings

• White eyeliner will tint when another color is added on top of it. Always apply the white eyeliner after you apply eye shadow.

• Keep the highlighter pencil sharpened for a perfect application.

• Fix any mistakes by dipping a cotton swab in eye makeup remover.

• Always wash your hands prior to applying eye makeup. This will keep bacteria out of your eyes.

References

• Become Gorgeous: White Eye Makeup Trend 2010
• Real Simple; Dig Out That White Eyeliner - It Has A Legitimate Use; February 2009
• EyesTune.com: How to Make Small Eyes Appear Bigger

Resources

• Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences: Safe Use of Cosmetics