Nude & Champagne Eyeliners: Swatches, Dupes, and Comparisons
Nude & Champagne Eyeliners
Nude & Champagne Eyeliners: Your Guide
Two years ago, I went through and swatched every eyeliner I owned by color, so that they could easily be compared. It’s time for a re-do, because we have so many more shades to add to our comparisons! Our first part of this on-going series is a comparison of the various nude and champagne eyeliners I have on hand. This shade is typically used on the lower lash line or water line to help brighten and open up eyes.
- BAREMINERALS 5AM is a pewter–it’s a dirty, cool-toned gold with a silvered sheen. I didn’t expect it to be similar to anything here, but it didn’t fit well with golds either.
- MAC GILDED WHITE is a warm white gold with a metallic sheen. (LE)
- MAC NC15/NW20 is a light beige/fleshy shade. It is a hair darker than NARS Rue Bonaparte.
- MAC NW25/NC30 is a darker version of NW15/NC20. Almost looks like a darkened peach. It is very similar to Givenchy #2.
- MAC NC42/NW35 is darker version of NW25/NC30. It looks a bit peachy/orange on me.
- GIVENCHY #2 is a warm, peachy beige with yellow-beige undertones and a mostly matte finish. It is comparable to MAC NW25/NC30.
- NARS RUE BONAPARTE is a soft beige with a matte finish. It is just barely lighter than MAC NC15/NW20.
- MAC I GET NO KICK is a soft champagne nude with a metallic sheen. (LE) It is ever-so-slightly warmer than MUFE #23L but very comparable to UD Midnight Cowboy.
- MAKE UP FOR EVER #23L is a shimmering golden champagne with a nearly metallic finish. This shade is slightly less warm compared to MAC I Get No Kick and UD Midnight Cowboy.
- URBAN DECAY MIDNIGHT COWBOY is a shimmering champagne peach with a subtle metallic sheen. (LE) This is most comparable to MAC I Get No Kick. An alternative to this shade would be Urban Decay’s Shadow Pencil of the same name.
TEMPTALIA PICKS: #1 (high quality), #3-6 (good formula), #9 (versatile, readily available)
Behind-the-Series: These swatches should not be used to judge the quality of an eyeliner. Some eyeliners required one pass, some required five, and a few even more. It was my intention to provide heavy, opaque swatches to provide an accurate color comparison. When possible, the shade name (above) is linked to the original review. If we’ve never done a review, there will be no link. Shades that were limited edition will be marked with “(LE)” and shades that were discontinued will be marked with “(DC)” after the color description. You can also find all comparisons on The Dupe List.
What’s your favorite champagne/nude eyeliner?
See more swatches!
Nude Eyeliners: bareMinerals 5AM, MAC Gilded White, MAC NC15/NW20, MAC NW25/NC30, MAC NC42/NW35, Givenchy #2, NARS Rue Bonaparte, MAC I Get No Kick, MUFE #23L, UD Midnight Cowboy
Nude Eyeliners: bareMinerals 5AM, MAC Gilded White, MAC NC15/NW20, MAC NW25/NC30, MAC NC42/NW35, Givenchy #2, NARS Rue Bonaparte, MAC I Get No Kick, MUFE #23L, UD Midnight Cowboy
Nude Eyeliners: bareMinerals 5AM, MAC Gilded White, MAC NC15/NW20, MAC NW25/NC30, MAC NC42/NW35, Givenchy #2, NARS Rue Bonaparte
Nude Eyeliners: NARS Rue Bonaparte, MAC I Get No Kick, MUFE #23L, UD Midnight Cowboy
I just recently bought MUFE’s 23L during the VIB sale. I’ve used it once or twice and am still not sure about it. I was looking for a liner to use on my lower waterline to brighten and open up my eyes a bit. This one is SO, SO subtle after one pass, it’s not even noticeable–but if I layer it on, it takes on a metallic finish and looks a little bizarre…maybe I’ll try one of those nude ones instead
I agree… I did the same thing and it’s hardly noticeable.
I also have Stila Kajal in Topaz, but stopped using it when someone asked me why I had orange eyeliner on! lol
Try it on the inner corner of your eye – on the skin, and not on the waterline. When applied here it brightens your eyes and makes you look more fresh and awake. It is better to use the pencil rather than a shimmery eyeshadow in this area because it will stay put, and won’t irritate the eyes.
That Bare Minerals one is incredible. I thought it was a liquid at first.
It’s crazyyyyy beautiful on the eye, but I am obsessed with all things pewter, so… 😉
If you like the shimmer, PF has a wonderful one in their nude liner set, Milani shadoweyez in Champagne toast is also very good and fine for WL, wears like nothing else I’ve ever tried. The PF is $10 for a set of three (champagne, pewter, and shimmer black) and the Milani is $6.
I 2nd the PF set, I love them and stock up at CVS whenever there is a good Extra Bucks sale. They are great and stay very well. Also 2nd Champagne Toast – great for the inner corner.
I can’t recall if I’ve tried any champagne liners other than the MUFE 23L, which is alright. I’m more of a non-shimmery, brightening or nude liner girl when it comes to the lower waterline. For brightening, I use Illamasqua Vow, which I love. If I want a nude then I use NARS’ Rue Bonaparte or MAC’s Chromagraphic in NC15/NW20. I also think Illamasqua Hex is a good nude; it’s more of a biscuit nude…a sort of light beige/brown.
LOVE the first one 😀 And the MUFE looks really nice.
That pewter is pretty kick-ass.
For me, it’s MAC NW15/NC20 (or whatever the number combo is – it’s the lightest one, I think). When I’m really tired and it shows or if I have a cold, that pencil will do so much to make me look better and more “in the land of the living”.
Oh Christine!! the eyeliner I really want after seeing your swatches is UD Midnight cowboy but is LE! Sadly, the UD shadow pencil is not an option for me cuz the formula stings my eyes =(
Any suggestions of another dupe would be highly appreciated. Is Mac’s I get no kick permanent?
Many thanks!
MAC I Get No Kick is LE. These are all the eyeliners I have, so these are, unfortunately, all the dupes I could think of.
I will check out the MUFE one, seems nice too
Thanks and have a lovely weekend!
That pewter liner is calling me
I know Tarina Tarentino’s Broken Doll is technically pink; but it is the perfect waterline eye brightener on me!!! Plus it looks rather champagne…….
5AM is stunning! I love Midnight Cowboy. It’s the first product bearing that name from UD that I liked. lol.
I am SO SO SO in love with 5AM! But it’s nowhere to be found on the BM website. 🙁 Any idea where else I can purchase this?
It’s sold in a set – Nordstrom has it! http://bit.ly/12ouKLh
hey christine! i have a doubt here.. iv never purchased/used a nude liner! want to know if im a medium fair/wheatish colour can i use the macNC15/NW20? does it have to match my skin colour or i can use a lighter shade as it is basically to brigthen my eyes? thanks a lot! love your website! keep it up! im ur biggggg fan and follower frm Pakistan! 😀
Usually you want one that’s a little lighter, so I think it should work for you!
Hi Christine,
Is the bareminerals 5am limited edition? I can’t seem to find it online anywhere =(
It’s part of bareMinerals Night Vision set!
I actually prefer UD Shadow Pencil in Sin than UD Midnight Cowboy Glide On Eye Pencil, the Shadow Pencil somehow stays like forever while the eyeliner stays for only 3-5 hours. I definitely disappointed with MUFE #23L, unlike its other colors, tis one is quite sheer & fade pretty quick, IMHO, it doesn’t meet their “Aqua” series standard.
Anyway… KUDOS to you for making this comparisons, Christine!
I love to brighten my eye with nude/champagne eyeliner on my waterline, this post and the previous nude & champagne eyeliners comparisons post helps me a lot!
Right now I have M·A·C Chromagraphic Pencil NC15/NW20, can you tell me if it’s compared to Nars Rue Bonaparte, which one that has the better staying power? (especially on watery eyes)
Thanks! 😉
Chromagraphics last better on me, personally!
Phewww, that’s a relief. Thanks Christine… 😉
Thank you so much for doing this! It gonna help me a lot!
NARS Rue Bonaparte looks great. Nude liner can be used in watterline to make eyes look bigger 🙂
Dior Elegant Taupe is a good one. I’m not 100% positive they make it anymore. It’s my go-to for subtle makeup looks.
L’Oreal makes a double ended pencil that is a brownish black on one end and a light nude on the other. It stays great in the water line and you get two pencils for $10 (or so). Since I don’t use nude every day in my waterline I think this is a great pencil to mention.
I’ve ‘discovered’ how well nude liners/brighteners work on me recently. Why didn’t I try this sooner?! My “Hella Asian” (as a friend calls it) eyes appear more awake and wider when I put them on my lower lash line.
I grabbed two pencils of MUFE 23L during Sephora’s VIB F&F sale. But they’re in the stash bag until I finish my current liner. It’s NYX Cosmetics Slim Eye Pencil in Taupe. It looks nude with hints of shimmer on my eyes.
NYX also carries a nude liquid liner. The official product name is Nyx Glam Aqua Luxe Eye Liner in Glam Nude. The color is more dramatic
good idee i’was looking for eyeliners like these 🙂
Yess!!! I looved your eyeliner comparison posts 🙂 So excited to see the rest, liner is definitely my FAVE!…and now I’m very tempted to pick up either that Bare Minerals liner or the MUFE one…I don’t really have any good neutral liners. I heard the Sephora + Pantone set has a Rose Gold in it that works as a great nude-ish liner on us darker skinned girls…I really need to go pick that up as well.
OMG howww have I never come across the bare minerals 5am!? I’m in love, and will be purchasing the next time I’m at a Sephora!
wow, 5am is gorgeous!!!
Are there any dupes for 5am? I don’t know if I wanna buy the whole set just for one eyeliner.
These are all the shades like this that I have, so no, I don’t!
I miss the comparison blog posts, thank you for bringing them back!! that saves us a lot of money !! awesome job !!
After struggling to find a good drugstore nude eyeliner. My search is over!
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in NUDE is amazing! Comparable to the MAC NC15/NW20 (the Rimmel one is slightly lighter by an incy wincy bit). It’s not available in Australia but I buy mine on ASOS.com (free shipping to anywhere in the world) for less than $7! I’m not sure if that’s budget enough for anyone looking to buy from the drugstore but here in Aussieland, it’s considered to be a bargain!
nice to see the comparison posts back in action!
one shade i recently picked up which might be good for someone looking for a nude with less pink/peach tones is 015 pure natural by gosh!
They are all so pretty. My fav is Stila in Topaz. Some say it’s too creamy but a short time in the freezer firms it right up.