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5 of My Go-To Brightening Eyeliners
Here are some of the eyeliners I’ve been reaching for to brighten my lower lash line these days! I tend to use them on my lower water line, beneath the inner corner of my eye, or paired with a richer eyeliner. What are your favorites?
- Sephora Strawberry Macaroon — a pop of pearly pink is an easy way to wear pink without adding redness to the eye
- L’Oreal Highlighter (230) — a pearly pink-peach is great for brightening and lifting, especially below a darker eyeliner
- Tarina Tarantino Broken Doll — a pink-tinted white always seems to bring out the whites of my eyes
- Sephora Blonde Ambition — a light beige with a pearly sheen, which is nice for brightening the waterline or inner corner
- Sephora Girl Talk — a softened gold with a metallic sheen (funny enough, I didn’t love it initially, but I often reach for it to pair with brown eyeliner to add brightness)
Strawberry Macaroon is so pretty. I need to remember to pick it up next time I am at Sephora!
It’s surprisingly versatile!
I think I have the one from Tarte but its too creamy ( for once thats a problem! ) but I usually go for something like MAC’s Powersurge eyeliner in the waterline to brighten it up. It comes off more dull gold on me which I really like!
Pretty!! 🙂
I don’t even have ONE eyeliner in a brightening color, woops… I should really get one.
You should try one!
Typically the only type of eyeliner I use is on my lower lash line, so I’ve tried quite a few. I have three favorites from different price-points:
1. Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Or Blanc (987)
2. MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating
3. Rimmel Exaggerate Auto Waterproof Eye Definer in In The Nude
I’ve tried Sephora Blonde Ambition and actually loved it, I just have no earthly idea what I’ve done with it. I’ve got a really bad habit of taking things in my car with me and then losing them forever. Somewhere there’s a troll with an epic makeup stash courtesy of yours truly :-P!
LOL! A car troll. Hiding somewhere in the recesses of your car, all dolled up 😉
have you ever tried Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in #NUDE?
I use that to brigtening my eye (put on the waterline). It’s matte & really don’t
budge, and it’s also cheap as chips 🙂
I haven’t!
That’s my favorite, so far! Not many liners stay on my waterline, including MAC Chromaline & one by MUFE, but the Rimmel one works brilliantly! I picked it up on a whim, and I’m so glad I did.
Blonde Ambition is gorgeous! I wish Sephora would come to Ireland.
Me too 🙁
Christine, are the Sephora ones considered safe for use on the waterline? I know the liners I have (the glitter ones, anyway) make it very clear that they are not for use on the waterline. Don’t know if they’re just being very careful to avoid litigation or if there is a real risk of eye damage….but I wonder if there’s a printed warning on the pencils.
I’ve only see the glitter ones say not for waterline! Girl Talk isn’t (glitter), so that one I use on the inner tearduct area (almost around it) or I’ll wear something like MJB Brown(out) on the lash line and use Girl Talk underneath it to lift the brown a bit!
Blonde Ambition and Strawberry Macaroon are shimmers and don’t seem to have any warnings.
From what I have heard, most cosmetic glitters are eye safe in other countries but not in the U.S. (so it’s interesting the warning is printed in Canada, too, but for Sephora, it might make more sense not to bother with different packaging if they are erring on the side caution).
Looking at the photo above for Girl Talk, it sure looks like it says “do not put inside the eye” (which I take to mean “the waterline”) – it’s in small print on the pencil itself. Some GOSH pencils used to carry this warning on the (old) GOSH site but it was never on the pencils themselves. I have, from time to time, used them on the lower lash-line but I always feel better using a product that doesn’t carry that sort of warning. So for waterline brightening, I always rely on that MAC Chromographic (I think) pencil that’s NC15/NW20 or something like that. It was LE when I got it; if they’ve not made it permanent yet, they really ought to.
Sorry – to clarify, I meant that Girl Talk isn’t waterline safe because it is listed as a glitter so that’s why I used it outside of the waterline, but Blonde Ambition/Strawberry Macaroon are shimmers and don’t have the warning.
Sephora Blonde Ambition WILL be mine! I really love the Tarina Tarantino one as well, because neither one of them have any red undertones. Due to an autoimmune disease that I have, my eyes can sometimes appear red, I think that these would brighten up and de-red the appearance of them. I have been using Nyx’s Wonder Pencil in the lightest shade they make, and it is pretty decent, but LOVE the luminous pearly finish on these that you’ve shown here!
I’m glad you’ve found a way to help counteract the redness! 🙂
Blonde Ambition is one of my favorites to wear when my eyes look tired. I ought to try the Tarina Tarintino pencil. I’ve used a black eyeliner from the brand, and I loved it.
TT’s eyeliner formula is amazing!
I use Blonde Ambition all the time to brighten up my lower waterline! Love it.
Me too!!
I was eyeing the swatches for Blonde Ambition and Girl Talk, went to check my stash for dupes, and realized I already have Girl Talk (squeal), so I’ll be playing with it again…
NICE!
The day after Christmas, a lot of Sephora’s holiday sets were on sale so I picked up the 10 eyeliner Sephora Contour liner set because you had such good things to say about that line and at $35, I just really couldn’t say no. And I am LOVING using Girl Talk as a nice brightening liner. It’s become a daily go to to just add a little bit of lightness to my eyes.
Happy you got it on sale!! 😀 Even better!
I think I might need something a smidge lighter for the waterline!
Hope you can find one!
I love the colors! I just have to have them!
They’re nice!
My go to is Mac’s Powersurge. I use the Rimmel scandaleyes in Nude less often. I like the formulation, but it is somewhat cool toned against my brown skin. The L’oreal Highlighter looks pretty. I’ll try to find it on my next drugstore visit.
Always great to get insight as to what works on deeper skin tones! Thank you, Erica 🙂
I don’t use them a whole lot. When I do, I like UD 24/7 Shadow pencil in Sin or the L’oreal Silkissime in Highlighter. I have some non-shimmer beige pencils, because so many rave about beige on the waterline, but I don’t think they do anything for me.
I bet Sin works really well for sure!
Ever since I got the Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Eyeliner shadow-liners, I’ve put Mink and Dirt Bag on my lower lashline (outer half only) almost constantly: Dirt Bag first in the usual way, thicker at corner, getting thinner to the middle of the eye, then Mink, which is the lighter shimmery one, run along on top. It takes half a minute (lower lashline used to be a whole production with a series of colors), and I love the way it comes out. Easiest lower lashine ever, and it works with all colors, all eye looks. It might not be dark enough for some, but for those with paler skin just looking for a little definition, it works great.
I’ll have to look into those! Thank you, Emily!
Emily, I totally agree-I love Dirt Bag & Mink on lower lashline and waterline to brighten . I have a Teflon waterline, almost nothing stays on it, but the Too Faced ones will stay for 3-4 hours and they give me a bronzey- brown smokey eye. The liner is very thick though, and I’ve heard people had trouble sharpening it, but mine is still pointy, so I cross my fingers. If doesn’t sharpen well, I can still use it like a Laura Mercier Caviar stick, as the formula is pretty tenacious, will stick to oily lids.
Put the pencils in the freezer for a few hours before sharpening.
Thanks for the tip! Will definitely give that a try
Christine, what happened to Estée Lauder Rose Gold & Pearl? Chanel Le Blanc, & MJB (luna)tic & Mr n(ice) and Obey-ge? You wear the Estée Lauder often, so I’m surprised! I think the list is somewhat good but a bit lacking. I enjoyed it all the same! 😀
I’m still testing Estee Lauder – haven’t reviewed them yet! 🙂 I don’t like Chanel eyeliners, though, personally!
I bought Strawberry Macaroon after you reviewed it Christine, and I’m so glad I did! I’m big on colorful or dark eyeliners (copper, teal, blue, black) but this one is useful for more understated looks or for the inner eye corner.
So happy to hear you’re loving it, too, Cat 😀
The Loreal one and Sephora Girl Talk look very pretty!
They are!
Sephora products – sigh – cannot wait to be able to get them. They look lovely.
They’re SO good!
Hi, Christine, I’m feeling a little dumb today. Can you explain what you mean by “especially below a darker eyeliner”? Do you mean you layer them one on top of another so they overlap or that you put them side by side with one closer to the eye?
I’ll apply a darker one on my lower lash line (like you would any eyeliner), and then below that, I’ll apply a lighter eyeliner under it – so two lines of color. It’s an alternative to applying eyeliner to the lower lash line and then smudging an eyeshadow underneath it!
Thanks for explaining! I’ll have to try that. I have the Strawberry Macaroon and I wasn’t quite sure how to wear it, other than as a shadow/base.
I have Charlotte Tilbury “eye cheat’ and the Tarte one. I don’t really care much for either. They feel a little stark looking to me. So, i usually just go with a lighter color that coordinates with what is on my lower lash line. I have hazel eye and prefer ones that have a hint of gold. i like Marc jacobs Cocoa(not sure if that is exactly right on spelling.) I also like the Sephora “girls night out” . Thanks for these suggestions. I will have to try some of these out as my “brighteners” are really gold,brown,light greens..whatever works. I never though of a pink hue.:)
I tend to prefer the ones with a little pearl or shimmer in them, since they don’t look stark at all (more brightening). Flesh-toned can really depend on your skin tone/undertone and even what you’re wearing.
Have you tried Tarte’s lights, camera, lashes
inner rim brightener? If you have, what are your thoughts?
I don’t think I have (not that I can recall, at least).
I want to try Tarina Tarantino Broken Doll. It looks beautiful. I’ve been relying on MAC Fascinating for years because it can easily become sheer with a brush.
Oooh, very nice!
I use Girl Talk EVERY day. I use it on my inner corners, along my lower lashline, and on the inner third of my upper lashline. It’s like instant brightening without being noticeable! As a plus it somehow makes my eyes look larger.
Such a pretty shade, right? 😀
I picked up the new one by Bare Minerals the other day – will see how it goes! 🙂
Yay!!
No shimmer there. Must be matte and beige.
I personally like more shimmery highlights, but I can totally see others preferring mattes!
A brightening and/or flesh toned eyeliner is on my list of ‘things to get’ this year. The ambitious, MacGyver side of me wants to try and somehow blend Nyx Milk and UD Sin or something, although I’m nost sure if the result will be terribly waterline-fast…
You could probably just use Sin!
I use Sin on my waterline without any problems. It lasts about 4-6 hours, but my eyes water a lot due to pollen allergies (all year round), so your mileage may vary. I usually end up touching it up at midday.
Avon’s SuperShock gel eyeliner in Flash is really good too. It’s a pale shimmery pink and its a really nice formula. Plus you can usually get it for around £3. I have all of the SuperShock eyeliners and I love all of them. 🙂
I have heard great things about that eyeliner formula!
I dont have a single brightening liner ion my stash.. shall checkout Sephora to grab one soon! 🙂
I really like Girl Talk by Sephora!