Best Alternatives to Black Eyeliner

ByCordelia

Best Alternatives to Black Eyeliner

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! This time we’re bringing you the top ten best alternatives to black eyeliner. I’m guilty of sticking to black eyeliner more than anything. I do this because I have hooded eyes and I’ve been told that the most flattering way for someone with hooded eyes to wear eyeliner is to put black eyeliner on the upper waterline and at the lash line to open up the eyes. I tend to wear my black eyeliner on the upper and lower waterline.

PR + purchased by me.

Best Alternatives to Black Eyeliner

Below are my alternatives to black or brown.

Wearing Solomon Islands on the lower waterline
Wearing Solomon Islands on the lower waterline

1. NARS Solomon Islands
turquoise blue

Wearing Intergalactic on the lower waterline
Wearing Intergalactic on the lower waterline

2. NARS Interstellar
silver

Wearing Iskandar on the lower waterline
Wearing Iskandar on the lower waterline

3. NARS Iskandar
gold

Wearing Transvaal at the outer lid
Wearing Transvaal at the outer lid

4. NARS Transvaal
grey

Wearing Ether at the outer lower lash line
Wearing Ether at the outer lower lash line

5. Urban Decay Ether
pale smoky gray shimmer with violet and fuchsia micro-sparkle

Urban Decay Junkie Swatch

6. Urban Decay Junkie
metallic teal shimmer with gold micro-sparkle

7. Urban Decay Vice
Red-based purple eggplant with red and blue micro-shimmer.

Urban Decay Black Magic Perversion, LSD, Black Market, Tornado Swatches

8. Urban Decay LSD
navy shimmer with bright turquoise micro-sparkle

Wearing Spandex along the lower lash line
Wearing Spandex along the lower lash line

9. Urban Decay Spandex (vegan)
deep blue-black with iridescent glitter

Wearing glo Minerals Peach on the lower lash line
Wearing glo Minerals Peach on the lower lash line

10. glo Minerals Peach
skintone matte

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners

See swatches of the Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners. See swatches of NARS Eye Paints. See swatches of Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners.

My current top three blacks are NARS Black Valley, Smashbox Deep Black and Urban Decay Perversion.

I had to leave out some of my favorite liners because I think they’re being discontinued. Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof liquid eyeliner in Siren (metallic teal) and El Dorado (gold).

I’m still looking for the perfect purple gel eyeliner. Maybe Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel in 83 or 82 will be that perfect purple shade.

What are your favorite alternatives to black and brown?

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Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

23 Comments

  1. I actually only use black to tightline these. I love Mars by UD, it’s such a beautiful green. I also use a greenish teal and a rich purple by inglot. I am also quite into rave by makeupgeek, it’s a sort of dark taupe. So pretty.

  3. The Inglot gel liners dry out really fast. I bought several at IMATS one year and I was so upset how short their life was. Your picks are fabulous. I knew you’d have the best UD and you do.

  7. I absolutely love Tarte SmolderEyes Violet and Navy (sadly it looks like they aren’t made anymore) and Urban Decay Rock Star!

    1. Glad you like them! btw, when I try to respond to your comments on youtube, it won’t let me respond directly to you, but I can tag you. Very strange!

  10. These all look so fabulous on you! I rarely ever reach for anything besides black & brown, but if I do it’s usually purple.. looks fab against my blue eyes :).

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