White Haute! How to Rock Makeup and Nails in Summer’s Hottest Shade

Ever since seeing Rag & Bone’s spring 2013 show, in particular,  we’ve had white on our minds. In theory, a monochromatic white on white (on white) ensemble might sound boring and dull, but in practice, it’s striking, modern, and—counterintuitively—bright. Inspired by this lack-of-color scheme, we rounded up some of our favorite white products of the moment for eyes, nails, and even lips.

 

Bright White Product Picks

 

Lids

We prefer highly pigmented white shadows layered in broad, rich strokes. Sugarpill's loose version allows for varied application, while i-mark works wet or dry—try it wet for a extra drama. Try: Sugarpill Cosmetics Loose Eyeshadow in Lumi, Mark. i-mark Eye Shadow in Ice Age

Liner/Inner Corner

A dab of luminescent product on the inner corner of the eyes is the oldest eye-brightening trick in the book, and it works! These two sticks are perfect for an instant pick-me-up, and pair beautifully with white shadows. Try: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Seashell, Rimmel ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Crayon in Witness White

Cheeks

Bright white blush won't flatter all skin tones, but this ivory-toned cream highlighter will. It catches the light for a beautiful glow and lets your natural complexion shine through. Try: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

Lips

The more daring among us will appreciate this shade, which is hard to find in a silky, long-lasting formula. Ka'Oir's version does the trick. Try: Ka'Oir Lipstick in Virgin

 

Nails

The search for the perfect white polish is one of those eternal beauty enigmas. These three are as close as we've ever found, especially when you follow our mani tips below! Try: Zoya Nail Lacquer in Purity, Cult Nails Nail Lacquer in Tempest, Essie Nail Polish in Blanc
How To Get The Perfect Snow-White Mani
For an easy-to-wear way to try the trend, go for an opaque white mani. The secret to perfect, full-coverage white polish, according to celebrity manicurist Sunshine Outing, is to be patient. “Don’t go back in and overwork it!” she says. Follow these steps for flawless, streak-free nails! For ours (left), we used Zoya Nail Lacquer in Purity, Zoya Anchor Basecoat, and Essence Gel-Look Top Coat.
1: Use a ridge-filling base coat. Outing prefers a perfectly smooth surface to start, and always uses a good base coat such as Zoya Anchor. Let it dry completely before starting the color application.
2: Do a thin first coat. Don’t worry about streaks, “just get it on!” says Outing.
3: Follow with a thicker second coat. On the next round, layer it on a little thicker. Be sure you’ve covered the entire nail.
4: Touch up only if necessary. Once the second coat is on, if you see any streaks or imperfections, you can add a very, very thin final layer of polish.
5: Let dry briefly before topcoat. Allow the color to dry for a few minutes, and then follow immediately with a protective topcoat. This will add a glossy finish, but also help to bond the layers of polish together for a pro-looking finish.
6: Maintain it. After the initial application, Outing recommends a lightly applied daily dose of topcoat for continued chip-free, glossy perfection.