As far as multi-tasking beauty products go, it’s almost standard issue to have at least two or three uses for some items, like BB creams or eyeshadow (which can double up as shadow, eyeliner or even lip colour). Something I’ve been using a lot more recently however, is the nude pencil. Brightening nude waterline pencils will do in a pinch, but there are limitations in terms of shade range. If you can’t find one in your skintone, it’s better to go for dedicated pencil-type concealers from brands like Nudestix, Mac Cosmetics and Sephora. You’ll also find the formula of a concealer pencil works better for getting the rest of the six jobs done.
Read through to find out six uses for a nude makeup pencil, as well as six product recommendations you can try for yourself.
By using a nude eye pencil to line your lower waterline, your eyes will automatically look more awake. White may be too harsh of a hue, so a nude shade that’s a little lighter than your skin tone gets the job done while looking the most natural. If you’ve got eyes that slant downwards at the outer corners, you can consider smudging in a nude pencil to conceal any darkness around the outer corners of your eyes so that they look a little more lifted.
Try: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil in Walk of Shame, $32, available from 26 May 2016
In a spin-off of the tried-and-tested makeup trick of applying a light shimmery shadow on the inner corner of your eyes to make them look wider apart and brighter, try opting for a nude pencil instead for a more natural look.
Try: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Inner Rim Brightener in Nude, $31
We all know the pain that comes with trying to perfect a winged tip. Instead of bringing makeup wipes or cotton buds with you, a concealer pencil will keep your lines sharp without removing the base eye makeup around your liner.
Try: Mac Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in At the Beach, $41, available from 20 May 2016
You don’t have to carry around an extra product for subtle highlighting when you’ve got one of these in your bag. You can use them to brighten up areas like your nose bridge, chin, forehead, or any facial features you wish to highlight. Simply blend out with your fingertips.
Try: Nudestix Concealer Pencil, $37
Filling in brows can be a tedious affair, whether you’re trying to transform relatively sparse brows or are simply looking to add definition to a sharp angled brow. Simply clean up any messy lines with the nude pencil and blend out with your fingertips. This saves the hassle of using a brush, making it easy to touch up on the go.
Try: Sephora Collection 10hr Fix & Correct Concealer, $24
Instead of the hassle of overlining your lips Kylie Jenner-style, a simpler way to make your lips look fuller is to highlight the edge of your cupid’s bow (the dip on your top lip) with a lighter nude shade. This will hit the light and accentuate the shape and fullness of your lip.
Try: NYX Wonder Pencil, $9