Wear Blue Eyeliner, Get Major Compliments: These 4 Are Makeup Artist–Approved

All it takes is a quick scroll through Instagram or TikTok to see that blue eye makeup is having a moment. In fact, according to a Pinterest trend report, searches for blue eye shadow are up 65% this year. It makes sense. After all, people are turning away from minimalist makeup in favor of bolder and brighter looks, and I, for one, am extremely pleased with the shake-up. Don't get me wrong; I love a no-makeup makeup look as much as the next person, but as a beauty editor, I crave color and variety.
Don't think the blue makeup trend stops at eye shadow. Lately, people have been showcasing some seriously stunning blue eyeliner looks. Whether it's a swipe of cerulean or a flick of deep, navy blue, this is a 2024 trend that works for every aesthetic, eye color, and skin tone. Ahead, learn how to apply blue eyeliner straight from celebrity makeup artist, Tobi Henney. Then, shop her top blue eyeliner recommendations (plus a few from your friendly neighborhood beauty editors).
Henney has some advice to share on how to apply blue eyeliner like a pro. Start by choosing your preferred shade. If you don't know your preferred shade, experiment with a mix of blue hues. "I love a mix [of blue shades] depending on the skin tone and the brief," Henney says. "Navy blues are always great as an alternative to black liner." Next, consider the medium. In other words, if you're using a pencil eyeliner, the application process will be slightly different than if you're using a liquid eyeliner.
Pencil Eyeliners: "Start by sharpening the liner if needed," Henney says. "I like to warm it up by running a little on the back of my hand before applying it to the lash line. I keep the liner as close to the lashes as possible and flick it out if I’m going for a more dramatic or stronger liner look. You can also use Trademark Beauty Pencil Brush ($7) to smudge out the liner for a more lived-in look."
Liquid Eyeliners: "I think this looks great if you want a feline liner or a more graphic liner look," Henney says. Apply slight, smooth pressure as you apply liquid liners, so the effect is uniform and precise. "Always look into the mirror and check as you go that the symmetry is the same. Use small cotton tips dipped in micellar water to clean up the edges and make the two liners symmetrical."
Keep scrolling to see Henney's top blue eyeliner recommendations!
Celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney
The Makeup Artist Recommendations
Henney's first recommendation is also one of my personal favorites—Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Surfside. To me, the bright, marine blue basically screams summer. Plus, the creamy formula deposits opaque pigment that's easily blendable. "This is such a vibrant and highly pigmented liner that is so fun to wear to brighten a day look or wear to an event or a festival," Henney says.
If you want to stick to using blue eyeliner on your waterline, Henney recommends reaching for this MAC product. "These are like a crayon and the colbalt blue color is so fun for spring and summer looks," she says. "Great for the waterlines!"
The Beauty Editor Recommendations
Beloved by Who What Wear's Beauty Director, Erin Jahns, this subtly sparkling and shockingly bright eyeliner will bring all the compliments. Here's how it looks IRL.
A true classic, Who What Wear beauty editors have been using Urban Decays' 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliners for years. This one, named Chaos, is an electric blue. Consider it a must for anyone who's looking to bring a pop of color to their daily makeup look.
Hilary Duff basically broke the internet when she wore this aqua blue eyeliner on the cover of Shape Magazine. For only $8 a pop, this eyeliner formula is incredibly smooth, creamy, and pigmented.
If bold, bright shades of blue aren't your thing or you want to have a subtler option, reach for this one from Laura Mercier. The sophisticated navy blue is more muted than others yet feels fresh and elevated compared to traditional black eyeliner.
Excuse me while I drool over this icy blue eyeliner. It's giving Y2K frostiness in the best way.

Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.
-
The Outdoor Edit: I Asked Avid Hikers for Their Beauty Checklist, Here's The Reveal
These nature-proof products are worth it.
-
Bellisima! Kris Jenner's Skims Ad Just Made '80s Nonnacore My New Summer Beauty Blueprint
Re-creating this look ASAP.
-
I'm Replicating the Beauty Aesthetics of My Niche Pinterest Boards With These 4 Trends
Who says you have to pick just one?
-
I Believe in High-Low Shopping—4 Drugstore-Luxury Pairings I Swear Were Made for Each Other
Soulmates in another life.
-
I've Been Inspired By Maximalist MUAs for Years—3 Pros You Should Have Been Following Yesterday
Putting the "art" in makeup artist.
-
Alex Cooper Looked Like a Champagne Angel on the Red Carpet—Here's Every Makeup Product She Wore
An exclusive interview with her makeup artist.
-
I Asked AI How to Look Like a Bronzy Internet It Girl This Summer—Then I Wore Its 6 Recs for a Week
Summer glam, simplified.
-
Say Hello to "Toasty Glam," the Hottest (Had to) Makeup Trend of Summer 2025
It's flooding my FYP.