Kayla Young
Have you ever wondered if that gorgeous bright electric blue eyeliner that you’re so in love with would also make a great lipstick color to match your favorite dress? Would it even be possible?
Can you use eyeliner as lip liner? Well, the simple answer to that question is: “Yes, you can use eyeliner as lip liner!”
When it comes to makeup, it’s all about self-expression and doing what makes you feel good about yourself.
But you should be aware that some eyeliners may have disclaimers stating that you shouldn’t use them on your lips. Some eyeliner ingredients are not considered safe by the FDA for use on the lips. If you choose to ignore this, you will do so at your own risk (and should you really be using those on your eyes?)
Beauty addicts love getting creative with color, experimenting with different shades and cosmetics, and rocking their confidence through using makeup — and they don’t follow any rules.
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A Beauty Rebellion!
Maybe you’re an old-school professional makeup artist who rigidly follows industry guidelines and trends. If so, each category of makeup stays where it belongs.
But these days YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest beauty gurus, and other social media makeup sensations rule. They will tell you that being adventurous is what makes makeup fun to play with!
If you were to ask them “Can you use eyeliner as lip liner?”, they would probably agree that you could. Because these enthusiasts see makeup as art for the face.
The potential creativity of using eyeliner for the lips has no limits. So the mixing and matching of products isn’t just a rebellious act to the beauty ideals of the mainstream.
It also celebrates the uniqueness of the personal canvas — your face!
Eyeliner as Lip Liner: Safety Issues
Your eyeliner may contain a disclaimer sticker that clearly says “Not suitable for use on lips.” This is the manufacturer’s disclaimer, and you violate it at your own risk.
It is up to the individual using the eyeliner as to whether they want to take the risk of using it as a lip liner or not.
The major concerns are:
Eyeliner Ingredients
Some of the ingredients contained in the eyeliner could be swallowed if you lick your lips a lot, which is why many manufacturers have added a disclaimer.
These ingredients could be color additives like chromium oxide greens, ultramarines, and ferric ferrocyanides. Such ingredients are only approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics for the eye area like eyeshadows, eyeliners, and mascaras.
If you choose to rock your eyeliner as lip liner containing unapproved ingredients, you do so at your own risk.
And all that said, if an ingredient isn’t considered safe for your lips, should you really be using it on your eyes?
Hygiene and Cross-Contamination
Hygiene is another reason why the disclaimer may scare someone off using eyeliner as a lip liner.
But as long as there’s no cross-contamination, this shouldn’t be a problem.
If you are worried about cross-contamination of germs or bacteria from your eyes to your lips, this can be avoided by simply sharpening the pencil tip or wiping it with rubbing alcohol before using it again.
Can You Use Eyeliner As Lip Liner?
Lip liners generally come in colors that are more suitable for lips, such as rose pinks, nudes, and reds. But these days playing with different color palettes are a fun way of showing off a unique style.
So the fact that eyeliners come in many colors means you can allow your creativity to run wild.
Be aware, though, that because most eyeliners are water-resistant, if they are used as lipliners they will last longer.
So, you should be careful if using black eyeliner. It will probably look a bit silly when mixed with other colors. Except for matte black lipstick, of course!
More vivid and deep colors also have the potential of staining the lip line. So it would be best to be careful during experimentation, just to be on the safe side.
Although saying that, there’s always the option of using a concealer on top or even wiping everything off and starting all over again. If you make any mistakes or don’t like the eyeliner color used, sometimes it’s best to start over.
Remember, makeup isn’t permanent and no one else has to see your mistakes!
So just get creative and have some fun without taking it too seriously.
You are the one wearing the makeup. You shouldn’t allow it to wear you.
Starting Out
If you’re just starting out on your experimentation, try using shades that are closer to the natural skin tone of your lips. Alternately, use a closer match to the share of the lipstick or gloss that you are planning to use as a blend.
Make sure your lips are moisturized well before starting to experiment.
Because eyeliners in general have a creamier consistency, they won’t drag as much as a lipliner when applying them on the lip line.
However, having well-moisturized lips will make blending with the color much easier.
The Power of the Pout
There’s also a little secret weapon in the makeup world that you might not be aware of: using white eyeliner as a lip liner to create a fuller pouty look.
After applying their favorite lipstick or gloss, some like to add white eyeliner to their cupid’s bow, which highlights the upper lip.
After that, they add some more white liner in the center of the bottom lip and then blend it carefully to make their lips look fuller.
Can Pencil Eyeliner Be Used As Lip Liner?
Pencil eyeliners are the easiest liners to use as lip liners. Choose a pencil eyeliner with a nice creamy consistency. Typically you want to use a color that matches your lipstick color, or as an alternate, one that matches your natural lip tone.
What About the Reverse? Can You Use Lip Liner as Eyeliner?
No, you should not use any colored lip liner as eyeliner. Makeup made for your lips may not be safe for use around your eyes, and in the case of lip liner, the pigments used in lip liners may be harmful if used around the eyes.
That said, if you have a nude lip liner, you may be able to use it around your eyes as an eyeshadow base, but we can’t recommend it. Use at your own risk.
Final Thoughts
Makeup is art. And rules are meant to be broken (but don’t harm yourself!).
Like any art, experimentation is what’s needed to find the concepts and applications that work best for each person. And it’s up to you to define your own standards of beauty.
So yes, using eyeliner as lip liner is allowed. But you should understand that you may be ignoring the recommendations of the FDA and other agencies. If you want to do that, you do so at your risk.
You certainly won’t be the only one out there to do so.
Don’t be afraid and do whatever makes you more confident, feel better about yourself and enhance what you were born with. Then go out and rock it! It’s your face and you can do what you want with it without boundaries.
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