eye makeup 7 Unconventional Ways to Use a Nude Eyeliner

If you’re a makeup lover like we are, then you likely have plenty of eyeliners already stashed in your makeup bag. Chances are, you definitely have a basic black eyeliner, and maybe even a few brighter shades, too. But what about nude eyeliner? 

You may not have given it a passing glance before, but it turns out that nude eyeliner can be one of the most useful and versatile products in your entire makeup collection. How, you ask? Keep reading to learn about seven nude eyeliner uses that will change how you feel about this multitasking (yet often overlooked) eye makeup product.  

1. Brighten the Appearance of Your Eyes

In the same way that you highlight your upper cheekbones to create a brighter appearance, you can also highlight your eyes to help make them appear brighter. To do so, grab a nude eyeliner pencil and apply a thin line along your lower waterline. We like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Nude because it’s formulated to glide on easily and evenly without smudging. If you need a darker shade to better match your skin tone, try the L'Oréal Paris Le Liner Easy-Glide Mechanical Eyeliner, Waterproof in Brown Denim. Go slowly — this technique takes practice because the waterline is such a delicate area.

2. Widen The Look of Your Eyes

Nude eyeliner can also help make your eyes look bigger. To get the slightly stretched look, apply a dab of nude eyeliner to the inner corners of both eyes. For a seamless finish, blend the nude eyeliner out ever so gently using a cotton swab.

3. Make Your Eyes Pop

If your gaze seems sunken or your lids simply aren’t popping as much as you’d like, grab your nude eyeliner. Simply color in the center of your eyelids to create a bit of dimension. When the center of your lids are lighter than the sides, this gives the illusion of rounder-looking eyes.

4. Shape Your Brows

Bold, groomed eyebrows are trendier than ever, and they’re not going anywhere. One way to help fake the appearance of perfectly shaped brows or accentuate the shape you’ve already got is to use a nude eyeliner. 

simply trace along the outside of your brows to carve and sculpt them into your ideal shape. The key to this hack is to fully surround your arches with the nude eyeliner and then blend it out with your fingers or a cotton swab to get rid of any obvious lines.

5. Highlight Your Face

By now, you’re probably a pro at highlighting and contouring your face. If not, all you have to do is trace a swipe of bronzer in the shape of the number “3” stretching down from your forehead to your cheekbones and finally your jawbone. Then, follow up your contouring with highlighting above your cheekbones, between your brows, down your nose, and on the center of your chin. 

While highlighter definitely has a place in your makeup bag, on those days when your clutch is simply too small to fit another compact inside, nude eyeliner can be used in its place. For real, give it a try! 

6. Fake Fuller-Looking Lips

The best way to fake the appearance of a plumper pout is by highlighting your cupid’s bow, which is the small dip above your upper lip. Thankfully, if you're without highlighter, you don't have to give up on your dream of having full lips — nude eyeliner can come to your rescue. Draw a little bit of nude eyeliner onto the top of your cupid’s bow, then blend out with your finger.

7. Hide Imperfections

No color-correcting concealer in sight? No problem! All you have to do is reach for your nude eyeliner when you spot a pesky blemish. Quickly dot on nude eyeliner and blend with your finger to expertly mask the look of any imperfections.

Next: This Is How To Apply Eyeliner To Your Waterline Like a Pro

Edited by: Shannon Stubbs, Photo Design: Crystal Miller