8 Ways to Use Nude Eyeliner, According to Makeup Artists

By
Rebecca Norris
A selfie of Rebecca Norris, her hair parted to the side. She is wearing red lipstick.
Rebecca Norris
Rebecca is a contributing writer for Byrdie where she specializes in all things nails. She has worked in beauty editorial for seven years.
Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines
Published on August 13, 2024 10:59AM
Model with short brown hair, bright red lipstick, and nude eyeliner

@aniamilczarczyk/Instagram

Some makeup products are self-explanatory. Red lipstick will make your lips pop, concealer covers up perceived imperfections, mascara accentuates lashes, and foundation creates an even canvas for everything else to go on top of. But what about nude eyeliner?

While it’s obviously designed for your lash line, nude eyeliner is one of those products that can be used in many ways. That’s why it’s a mainstay in many professional makeup artists’ kits and deserves to be in yours, too. If you’re still unsure if it’s necessary, we tapped two experts to explain 8 ways you can use it in your beauty routine. Trust us, you’ll be running to your local beauty aisle in no time.

Meet the Experts

  • Jenny Patinkin is a makeup artist and the founder of Jenny Patinkin Eco-Luxe Beauty Tools.
  • Carmindy is a celebrity makeup artist and the founder of Carmindy Beauty Cosmetics.
01 of 08

Use on Lower Lash Line to Make Eyes Look Bigger

Woman with blonde hair, brown smokey eye, and bright bottom eyeliner

@sophiav_makeup/Instagram

The most popular use for nude eyeliner is (shocker) on the eyes. However, it all boils down to how you apply it. “The trick I really like with nude eyeliner is to use it underneath your eyes to make them look bigger,” says Jenny Patinkin, makeup artist and founder of Jenny Patinkin Eco-Luxe Beauty Tools. “Apply it like any eyeliner, across your lower lash line. Then use [a smudging brush] to apply a smokey wash of soft taupe eyeshadow underneath it. It's a riff on drag makeup, where you are creating the illusion that your lash line is lower than it actually is, making your eyes look much bigger.” To complete the look, Patinkin says to apply mascara to your lower lashes to camouflage the nude liner and enhance the natural look.

02 of 08

Glide on Your Waterline for a Brightening Effect

Woman with dark curly hair and natural glowy makeup

@soblushing/Instagram

Nude eyeliner can also be used to brighten the appearance of your eyes. “My favorite way [to use nude eyeliner] is to help brighten tired-looking eyes by applying it in the waterline, as white pencils can look too harsh and severe for daytime,” says celebrity makeup artist and founder of Carmindy Beauty Cosmetics, Carmindy.

03 of 08

Use on the Inner Corners to Look More Awake

Woman with long blonde hair and natural glowy makeup

@sophiav_makeup/Instagram

If you feel like your eyes look pretty bright all on their own but still want to illuminate the appearance of your eye makeup, skip the waterline application and opt for your inner corners. This will create a brighter, more wide-eye appearance.

04 of 08

Use It as a Border for Brow Grooming

Model with very sharp and precise eyebrows, glowy makeup, and wearing dark lipstick.

@cherishbrookehill/Instagram

Worried about accidentally over-plucking your brows? Carmindy recommends using nude eyeliner to create your ideal arch shape. “[This will] make sure that you don’t overdo it or pluck the wrong brow area,” she explains. “Then any hairs above or below, pluck away. This stencil-like technique will help ensure you don’t accidentally botch your brows.”

05 of 08

Use It to Blur Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Bianca Jagger in dark red lipstick and purple eyeshadow

@lisaeldridgemakeup/Instagram

Nude eyeliner can also be used to camouflage signs of aging. “Sketch it into your smile lines or any other areas where you have little wrinkles or indentations,” Patinkin says. “It helps to create the visual impression that your skin is all even. After you sketch it into any little lines, use a stiff brush to feather the edges so it fades into the rest of your makeup. Then set it with a tiny bit of powder.”

06 of 08

Highlight Your Cupid's Bow

Elsa Hosk with glossy nude lipgloss, a messy bun, and gold earrings

@hoskelsa/Instagram

By now you know that nude eyeliner can be used to brighten, enlarge, and blur. With that in mind, consider applying it to your cupid’s bow. Doing so will brighten the overall appearance of your pout, enhance the fullness of your upper lip, and blur any fine lines around the edges.

07 of 08

Swipe Under Your Brow Arches for More Definition

Ming Lee Simons in an all black beauty look

@cherishbrookehill/Instgram

Nude eyeliner also comes in handy when sketching your daily brow shape. After applying your go-to brow powder, pencil, or pen, use nude eyeliner to brighten and define the underside of your brow and the top of the tail. This technique makes brows look perfectly sculpted with little effort.

08 of 08

Spot Conceal Spots and Blemishes

Model with natural nude makeup look and a slicked back ponytail

@pennyantuar/Instagram

Just as nude eyeliner can be used to blur fine lines and wrinkles, it can work wonders for small blemishes, too. “A nude eyeliner pencil is also a great base to apply on a vein, red spot, pimple, or bruise before applying your foundation,” Carmindy reveals. “It acts as a more concentrated mini concealer.”

Related Stories