• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To MakeupMakeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

What Do You Think of White Eyeshadow?

September 11th, 2009 by Karen 47 Comments

shiseido fall WT 907 eyeshadow
Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT 907

Happy Friday, home skillets! 🙂

I’ll be away from my computer for a bit, but I wanted to say a quick hello and share a few nibbles from Shiseido before I roll.

I’ve been messing around with a few things from their permanent collection: eyeshadows from the Luminizing Satin Eye Color Shadows ($25) line, their Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil in Brown ($20) and Distinguish Mascara in Black ($22).

WT 907, the shimmery pearl-white pictured up top, has me seriously contemplating white shadow, but I’m not exactly sure how to wear it.

I’ll probably try some in the inner corners of my eyes… I’m assuming/betting that’ll brighten ’em up.

What do you think? Any ideas for potential color combinations?

What does one do with white eyeshadow?

shiseido fall 2009

shiseido fall 2009 swatches
Swatches from left to right without flash: Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT 907, Luminizing Satin Eye Color in BR 618, Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil in Brown, Distinguish Mascara in Black

shesiedo fall 2009 swatches with flash
Swatches with flash

Do you ever wear white eyeshadow? If you do, how do you wear it? Help me brainstorm ideas in the comments.

Back in two shakes! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Do You Think of White Eyeshadow? / Originally published September 11th, 2009

There are 47 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

Previous Post: Bloggerati Spotlight
Next Post: Do You Wear Different Fragrances in Fall?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sarahc says

    September 11th, 2009 at 10:41 am

    I haven’t done it before but I found this on google, but the link to skindeco.net doesn’t work anymore.

    Reply
  2. sarahc says

    September 11th, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Oops! Here it is again.

    Reply
  3. Amanda says

    September 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am

    yeah, I do (wear white e/s that is) but I’m pretty fair skinned. 🙂 I’ve worn a pearly white (one of shu’s….) in the inner corner, and a cream white (Bobbi brown cream shadow in glacier, I think) on the lid. With the BB I’ll do glacier just on the lid and line with a mac royal blue fluidliner (waveline maybe? or something else, royal wink? can’t remember). top off with black mascara and a little lorac persuasion (mac shroom is a dupe) on my brow bone. But I tend to only do this in the spring, LOL. it just seems “light” to me.

    Reply
  4. Sylvie says

    September 11th, 2009 at 10:56 am

    I’d think you could use white shadow in the inner corner of your eyes, on the waterline, as a highlight, smoke it out dark colours, as a liner top or bottom or both. At least those are what I’d do. And it’ll be fun to have a vivid line on the lower lid like bright blue and do only half way from the outside in and start with white from the inner corner and go out, they’ll meet and blend somewhere in the middle. I think that’s a nice transition of eyeliner colour and it’s always unique.

    Reply
  5. YadiQ says

    September 11th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    i cant do white eyeshadow

    it just looks stark on me no matter what i do

    no matter how much i blend it just doesnt work for me

    let me knwo if you come up with any bright ideas on this

    i feel white shadows particualrly look good on super fair girls and i feel very porcelain skinned asians also can rock white eyeshadows beautifully and it makes them look so luminous but me i look chalky

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:00 am

    hey Karen, I remember using white eyeshadow awhile back (being that I am 19 I guess it was not a long time ago :)). I applied it (not heavily, though) on the entire eyelid and brow bone. In the crease, I applied a chocolate brown, completely contouring the eyeball. It gave a quite nice sculpted effect, but I am not sure it will work for darker skin (I am very light-skinned). Let us know what you come up with!

    Reply
  7. Carolina says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:08 am

    I just watched snapshots from Elie Saab’s Fall 2009 Couture Collection – with plenty of white eyeshadow. It doesn’t look that bad at all on the models. It’s a look that might be a challenge to pull of (at least for me!) unless you’re actually on a catwalk but perhaps it can be a source for some inspiration.

    http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/F2009CTR-ESAAB

    Reply
  8. Shannon says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am

    lol, that reminds me of the white eyeliner my friends and I used to wear in middle school. That was an exceptionally unflattering idea. I agree though, I bet it would really brighten up the eye if you use it in the inner corners. I sometimes like to stick bright eyeshadows on the bottom inner corner, sort of between the innermost-corner of the eye to the point where my eyelashes start to pick up… I guess about to where the iris starts. ish. I like to do that with bright shadows instead of lining all the way under my eyes with a darker liner, since the latter usually makes my eyes look reeeeally small.

    Reply
  9. amy says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am

    I have worn pearly whites as an all over colour and matte whites for brow bone highlight. Any whites can pretty much be a “highlight’ colour as all the above posts suggested.

    But I would love to try to do a really graphic black and white look by achieving a gradient of light to dark by using: white on all over lid, charcoal on outer corners, then black extending out to the V to elongate eyes and pushed up 3/4 ways into the crease, then use a lighter gray above crease to blend out the colors, use the white again lightly on the brown bone and inner eye corners to highlight. Finish off with a very black eyeliner top and bottom and with mascara and faux lashes. I don’t know if this would work in real life, but it is just a thought.
    .-= amy’s last blog post… FOTD MAC Photo Realism Quad with Fashion Groupie Eyeshadow & Push the Edge Pigment =-.

    Reply
  10. Jenna says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:19 am

    I’ve tried putting matte white it on my inner corners but didn’t like it. Just looked off.

    Reply
  11. Lindsay says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:27 am

    I like wearing white all over, with dramatic black liquid liner on the upper lash line and red lips. I’m fair skinned, so I thought maybe that’s why I could get away with it, but a friend of mine who’s of Indian descent wears the same look and it looks amazing on her! (I’m jealous of brown girls.) I think the trick is using a sheer layer of white, so it’s not an obvious opaque mess.

    Reply
  12. Lina says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Great question – I feel about white eyeshadow the same way I do about white nail polish. Love the idea but not really sure I can pull it off.

    Therefore, I never wear white eyeshadow alone. Or even as a base for that matter. I tend to use it over medium or darker colors to lighten, soften, or blend.
    .-= Lina’s last blog post… Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Palettes: 1, 2 & 3 =-.

    Reply
  13. Marina says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    The Eyeliner looks great! I wear white eyeshadows only under the brow.
    .-= Marina’s last blog post… Look Stylish With Sex and The City 2. Fashion: 80’s are back! =-.

    Reply
  14. Kristina says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am

    If only I had remembered my penchant for white e/s yesterday when you asked about high school makeup … back then it was pretty much my staple along with the black liner (eek, I know right?), but these days I like to use it in my inner corner/first third of my eye as a gradient into another cooler colour (blues, purples, greens, etc). And it also looks great as a brow highlight, but I’m fair skinned so it works!

    Reply
  15. pouneh says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    I do use white eyeshadow as others have mentioned it works GREAT as a highlight color in the inner corners or the brow bone. I am also very fair skinned with neutral yellow undertones (I am middle eastern after all). i use it alone for a natural look at times to brighten things up, or as the lid color. I also use it to lighten up other colors (a champagne color works too). I have this loose shadow (called the effect powder) from GOSH…IT is very sparkly white color that is buildable that is my fav white shadows to use 🙂 here is the link (the color sky)..
    http://www.goshamericas.com/effects.asp

    I know GOSH just came to shoppers drug marts in Canada have never find them in USA when i lived there…but they were in Middle East over 7 yrs ago 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jian says

    September 11th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    WOAAAAAAAAH. That is bright WHITE shadow! I don’t really like it on the lids because it reminds me of the Japanese Ganguro girls (google image it. It’s enough to put you off!)

    I only really use shimmery white shadow on my inner corner of the eye and to halfway across my bottom lashline.
    .-= Jian’s last blog post… Back in the UK… =-.

    Reply
  17. sunmom says

    September 11th, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    i usually just use white eyeshadow to accent other colors, other wise, I dip my angled liner brush in some mixing medium, then to the white eyeshadow, and use it as an eyeliner…i’m asian and have brown skin…
    .-= sunmom’s last blog post… Spent Two Days Off at La Luz Batangas =-.

    Reply
  18. nikki says

    September 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    for white eyeshadow i use it as a base, on my skin and the shade of white i use, i’ve noticed it’s very helpful in making the other colors i layer on top of it pop.

    i also use white in the inner corner of my eye, it makes the color of my eyes brighter

    Reply
  19. charlene says

    September 11th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Karen, I’m so glad you posted this…that Shiseido white e/s is soooo gorgeous!!! I can tell you, that I’m prob a shade or two darker than you, i dunno, i wear NC42-44. AND I LOVE white eyeshadow/beige eyeshadow….neutrals…etc. Ever since this day, i’ve been in love and obsessed with finding the perfect white/beige.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/25077065@N03/3599960980/

    Reply
  20. Rovie says

    September 11th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    Years ago one of the makeup artists at Sephora showed me how to create a smoky eye look with white, grey, and gold eyeshadows and I’ve been using white eyeshadow for that ever since. I also use the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk as an eyeshadow base.

    Reply
  21. Patty says

    September 11th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    You could try using white to soften up a darker, more intense color. Or mix it with a beige/neutral color as a brow highlight.

    Reply
  22. Heather says

    September 11th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    Check out Temptalia Gallery!

    Reply
  23. Tavia says

    September 11th, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    The swatches are lovely, I usually don’t wear so much of white eyeshadow and when I do I use it only as I highlighter
    .-= Tavia’s last blog post… Declare war to acne with Avon, Clinique, Vichy, Garnier, Boots and Maybelline products =-.

    Reply
  24. Sarah says

    September 11th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    I have medium-dark skin and I use white eyeshadow a lot. It is my favorite for blending with gray and charcoal eyeshadow. Then I’ll add some black eyeliner and try to great a smoky eye. The effect is nice, a gradual light to dark eyelid.
    .-= Sarah’s last blog post… Funny T-Shirt Friday =-.

    Reply
  25. Nora says

    September 11th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    I have always found a matte (or other) white will work wonders *under* MAC Vanilla pigment. It somehow makes both products twice as good as regular! And, as others have said, it rocks as a base shade. At least I can do all these things with it because I’m super fair, but I still would recommend trying it under a pigment or glitter of some type to strengthen the colors within each!

    Reply
  26. Jeri says

    September 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    I use it on my lid into the inner corner and on my brow bone. The colors I combine it with are gray, purple, blue, and black.

    Reply
  27. ezzie says

    September 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    i absolutely love white shadow 🙂
    i wear it on the ineer corners of my eye and sometimes i put a sheer, shimmery white shade on the ball of my eyes to hightlight.brighten it a little.
    some days when my eyes are looking extra tired, i put white eyeliner on my lower lashes and with a liner brush, i pick up some frosty white color and seal my liner with it 🙂
    yes indeedy, i♥white shadow!

    Reply
  28. ezzie says

    September 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    whoops, i meant inner, not ineer! hahaaa.

    Reply
  29. Kate & Zena says

    September 11th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    It depends on the shade of white you use. I don’t have any truly wite-out white matte shadows but I have white-shimmers and cream colors. I’m super fair, obviously, so I use a very light wash all over my eye area and put on mascara and a teeny bit of eyeliner when I want to be simple. White doesn’t usually show up on my skin as I’m so fair so I use it a lot for natural looks.

    Most times I use it as a blending shade. If I find a color a little too bold for a certain look, I’ll blend white and the color into my brush to make a lighter color (because I’m just that resourceful). I also use it with a big fluffy blush brush to sweep on the tops of my cheekbones for a highlight.

    You’d never see me with white nails (frankly, I’m really to scour off the lime green I’m wearing) but I need a little white every now and then!

    Reply
  30. JillyB says

    September 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    I wear white quite often. A wash of white over my lid, with a little extra in the corner. A grayish-brown in the crease. Brown or gray liner under my eyes and in the outer corner, so as not to cover the white over my eye. And tons of black mascara, which really shows up against the white. As I’m getting older my upper lids are drooping and the white helps make my eyes show up more. I usually use MAC White Frost.

    Reply
  31. Kypris says

    September 11th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    As some people have said… mascara, liner, and a white wash over the lids (or some people just put some in the middle of the eyelid) can really perk up your eyes. I don’t usually wear it but I have a friend who wears that combo pretty much every day, and it’s easy and looks great!

    Reply
  32. Janelle says

    September 11th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    I wear it as an inner corner highlight on the tear duct, I cant say Ive ever come up with a way to wear it all over XD

    Reply
  33. Marce says

    September 11th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    I love shimmery white shadows! I find they look best as a highlight on the inner tear duct or applied heavily just under the brow, then blended out like there’s no tomorrow. If you worked with a light hand, I think you could pull off using it as a cheek highlight, too! 😀
    .-= Marce’s last blog post… Photoshoot – Marlene Dietrich Inspired =-.

    Reply
  34. Meghan says

    September 11th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    Hey Karen!

    I’m a pasty chica, so my advice is based somewhat on having very fair skin (smashbox fair f1).

    I can wear it on my lid with some liquid liner for a fierce 50’s inspired look, in the inner corners/browbone as a highlight and I like to use lighter shadows as a base sometimes for layering darker shadows over to make them less intense. I suppose you can also blend it into darker shadow to lighten them up as well.
    .-= Meghan’s last blog post… An Ode to Liquid Liner Pens =-.

    Reply
  35. Doreen says

    September 11th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    I used to have this Maybelline Dream Mousse shadow that was basically snow-white. It brightened my eyes as any illuminating brow-highlighter would, but it was something more interesting than the usual beige-y shimmer. I could use it as an all-over shadow since it didn’t appear to be as heavily pigmented as the Shiseido one. I think you can definitely rock this if you apply it with a very light hand.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 12th, 2009 at 10:30 am

      Hi Doreen,

      Thanks for the tip. I’ll try it with a fluffy brush and a very light hand…

      Reply
  36. Solé says

    September 11th, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    I use white a lot in the spring and summer. I like to use it as a highlight with purples, blues, greens or aquas on the lid, since I feel like it gives a much cleaner look than using a cream or beige highlight with these colors. I also use a frosty white in the inner corner and it really makes the lid color pop.

    In the colder months I like to use it as a highlight for evening because I feel like it gives a higher contrast look that gives the whole eye a more dramatic look, especially if I’m using black liquid eyeliner.

    My fave is MAC Crystal Avalanche.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 12th, 2009 at 10:24 am

      Hi Sole,

      I don’t have that MAC shade. Will see if I can find it if a love affair ensues with this white shadow.

      Reply
  37. Catherine says

    September 12th, 2009 at 1:33 am

    I’ve never been able to figure this out either! Like… other than for an inner tearduct highlight, I have no use for white shadows… =/
    .-= Catherine’s last blog post… Swap with Stella! =-.

    Reply
  38. Jenny says

    September 12th, 2009 at 8:06 am

    Finally, someone made a post about white eyeshadow!

    I’m a high school junior juggling 8 classes, varsity cheerleading, competitive cheerleading, and a job, and as you can guess, i’ve barely got time to do my makeup. Unless i’m doing a really dark look for a party or something, i ALWAYS like to put a little bit of shimmery white shadow (Maybelline Vanilla – i’ve been through a few of them!) on the inner corners of my eyes and as a highlite under my brows. Just like liquid or powder highliter on your face makes your skin glow, white eyeshadow instantly makes your eyes look brighter and more awake! Most of the time before school, i’ll just put a little in the inner corners and under my brows, throw on some mascara and head out. Holy grail status!

    Reply
  39. heyhey says

    September 12th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    White Shadow. Lols, wasn’t that a TV show?

    To your question, inner eyes, and a light sweep over the brow bone (below the outer brows?). Cosign on the lighthand.

    Reply
  40. Solé says

    September 12th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Hi Karen! I just looked it up on the MAC site to make sure it wasn’t an LE, and it’s there, but it looks like a cream color on my monitor. It’s a bright, shimmery white in the pot though. And the description says, “white with reflects (Veluxe Pearl)” so maybe there’s just something wrong with my monitor.

    Reply
  41. Sakura says

    September 12th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    I use white eyeshadow as in this video. Here white is “D.”
    http://www.shiseido.co.jp/ie/other/technic.htm

    Reply
  42. Rachel says

    September 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    I’m pretty pale, and I can pull it off when I wear a matte white on my brow bone (Applied lightly) I usually use the same one on my inner corner. It even looks fine on my lid. I guess it’s bc it’s not a super opaque white, and it isn’t frosty.
    .-= Rachel’s last blog post… Pics of my Prescriptives palette =-.

    Reply
  43. Kerry says

    September 14th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    I like it on me on my lower water lines. Only with neutral coloured eyeshadows though – otherwise it’s a bit… wow….

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 15th, 2009 at 6:40 am

      Hi Kerry,

      How do you pack it on the lower water lines? Do you prefer a particular brush?

      Reply
  44. Emily says

    February 19th, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    I”m really fair, so I can pull it off and I usually use it as my highlight color.
    More sheer whites, or even matte ones though.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

Recent Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 893

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 892

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 891

/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things – do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 771

Lady Unicorn

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before You Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.