We Recreated Princess Diana's Blue Eyeliner Look With A Budget Find & Turned Into An '80s It-Girl

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Blue eyeliner can drive a wedge between beauty fans — some see it as garish, while others adore its association with bold 1970s and '80s looks. Yet, there's one celeb who couldn't get enough of it: Princess Diana. The British icon was a natural trendsetter: Princess Diana's revenge dress is cemented in fashion history, and to this day, her favorite pieces are highly sought after by style hounds, like her iconic black sheep jumper by British fashion brand Warm & Wonderful. So, when I found an '80s-inspired eyeliner similar to the princess' product of choice, I knew had to give it a whirl, especially since we previously tried Princess Diana's favorite red nail polish and loved it.

Typically, blue eyeliner isn't something that many of us weave into our daily makeup routines, but when an A-list royal gives a product their seal of approval, it's worth tracking down. To mimic Princess Diana's go-to look, I picked up NYX Professional Makeup's Epic Wear Liner Stick in Turquoise Storm, a shocking teal pencil liner. It's often said that blue is one of the best eyeliner colors to wear if you have blue eyes — maybe that's why Princess Di had a penchant for the shade despite her makeup artist's preference for neutral shades. But whatever your position is on the blue-eyeliner divide, I think you'll love this pick.

Finding a blue eyeliner fit for a princess is no easy task, but NYX came through with Turquoise Storm. Initially, I was drawn to the product for its bright, '80s-inspired hue, though that's just one reason to love this lapis liner. It's also an economical option at $9, especially when you consider the rising prices of beauty products these days. NYX has amassed a reputation as the thrifty makeup artist's brand of choice, offering department store-quality cosmetics like long-wear liners and loose pigments at affordable prices. I'm pleased to report that the Epic Wear Liner is yet another stellar product in the brand's lineup, providing top-tier pigmentation and all-day wear.

This eyeliner impressed me from the first swipe, its iridescent turquoise shimmer flashing in the sunlight as I swatched it. Since it shifts in color from deep blue to bright aquamarine, the striking shade can flatter a wide range of skin tones and eye colors. Would Princess Diana have loved Turquoise Storm as much as I did? It's hard to say for sure, but it certainly checks many boxes for a 1980s it-girl like the former Princess of Wales. This waterproof eyeliner is a richly pigmented ultramarine shade that shows up prominently in photos — very attractive qualities to any eyeliner enthusiast. For a product with such a modest price tag, NYX's colorful liner delivers truly regal results.

This beautiful blue liner managed to last throughout the night despite applying it on a very humid day. By the end of the test run, the pros outweighed the cons. NYX's Turquoise Storm boasts a creamy texture for a waterproof liner, and it more than lives up to its "Epic Wear" moniker. For reference, my oily lids can transform the sharpest tightline to raccoon eyes in minutes. However, NYX's liner stayed intact under sweltering conditions, even without using eyelid primer or setting powder. As a part-time clown, I can say that this product is on par with circus greasepaint in terms of its durability, which can be good or bad, depending on your preferences. Lastly, I did not love the plastic casing surrounding the pencil's core. Knowing how to sharpen it required the aid of a YouTube tutorial, and I swore I felt plastic particles dancing along my lash line after trying the freshly shorn product.

Now, as long as you have a good makeup remover on hand, I'd say this is the perfect product for those looking to replicate Princess Diana's late-'80s look. Best of all, the NYX Epic Wear liner is also available in dozens of other shades to play with. But given her fondness for crisp blue liner, I could easily see The People's Princess toting a liner like Turquoise Storm in her D Bag (later renamed the Di). To learn more about the late British beauty's go-to products, check out Princess Diana's favorite perfume with a luscious floral scent.