The Best Neon Eyeshadows and Eyeliners to Try
One quick note of warning: There’s recently been some question over the safety of neon eye makeup, because many fluorescent color additives are not FDA-approved to be used on your eye area (despite the fact they’re approved for use in the E.U., where cosmetic restrictions are more strict). As always, be sure to read the labels on your products carefully to confirm their intended use, and stop using any products immediately if you’re experiencing any irritation.
Monday: Slime Liner
I started by dipping my toes into neon with this perfect slime green liner by Dior. All I did was my classic wing, just in a bolder color, made super easy by the liner’s slanted tip. The look was actually surprisingly subtle, I don’t think anyone even noticed unless they got right up in my face. For a Monday morning it was perfect, but I would actually amp it up with a thicker line for an after-hours event. Next time I would tightline my eyes with black for a little definition, but all and all I was off to a good start.
Tuesday: Lilac Corners
I’m not super confident in my shadow skills, so I wanted to do something that built off a liner look. I was actually inspired by this look on Rowan Blanchard, but the day-glo yellow seemed a bit much, so I opted for a vivd lilac. I wasn’t sure if it qualifies as neon, but it’s in my Huda Beauty Neon Obsessions palette, so I think I’m in the clear. I started by drawing on my wing, and then shaping my eye with a touch of warm brown shadow in the crease, then I packed the lilac on top of a primer with a pointed brush. I found it crucial to apply mascara before going in with the purple, as I always get mascara specs all over my lid, and this way made it way less muddy.
I actually loved this look, concentrating the color in the inner corners made it feel more approachable, and I love the way it gave my eyes a sleepy bedroom eye look. I felt like a sexy alien, and like that it added an avant garde touch to my outfit while still feeling totally wearable and office appropriate.
Wednesday: Pretty in Pink
This was by far the easiest look to do. I simply prepped my lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion (a ride or die for this entire experiment) and dusted the brightest pink from the same Huda palette all over my lids, stopping at my crease so it’s didn’t look clownish.
Again, I applied mascara before my shadow, but I used a ton of coats to make sure I didn’t look like I had pink eye. I coordinated the shadow with a pink dress, and I actually think the matching looked really cool—to be honest, this was the only day my clothes and makeup made sense together. Since the shadow was so simple, it came off interesting without looking like I was trying too hard. This one also got me the most compliments.
Thursday: Pink Wings
This is the only look I wanted to wipe off right away. I had hoped to do a floating liner, but after an attempt on one eye, I realized I was not skilled enough to pull it off. During this whole week I had started with my eyes instead of my base for moments like this, so I could quickly remove mistakes without dismantling my whole face. I was running late—one downside of neon eyeshadow is that it’s so much more time consuming—so I went with what I know and did a quick wing using my Huda palette and a setting spray to make a liner.