How To Apply Eyeliner Perfectly

Because it is time to learn how to give your eyes definition and a lasting, sparkling glow.

By Shalini Roy

Your makeup look might end up resembling a panda if you do not know how to apply eyeliner. We are not saying pandas aren’t cute, but they do not attend weddings or parties.

Jokes apart, eyeliners can make or break your look with a simple stroke. They are the most important makeup item in every girl’s vanity, even those who prefer keeping it simple.

Drawing the perfect wings or accentuating the beauty of your eyes with eyeliner is a pretty challenging task. Of course, the pros ace the game every time. But if you are a beginner, you might require some practice to ensure precision. That is why we are here to help you with a step-by-step tutorial on applying eyeliner perfectly. So, what are you waiting for? Swipe up for the details!

Image: Giphy

Things You Will Need

Before we talk about how to apply the eyeliner, we must go through the basics of the types of eyeliners out there that you can use.

Types Of Eyeliners

Gel Eyeliner:

Although this may seem intimidating at first, this is probably going to become your best friend if you love those cat eyes. I, for one, swear by it. They usually come in pots, so you’ll need to use a brush for it. I highly recommend the Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner by Maybelline.

Liquid Eyeliner:

A liquid eyeliner is best for precise application. These liners come in two types of packaging, a tiny vial-like bottle with an extremely fine and precise dipping brush, and a marker type pen with a felt tip. If you’re a beginner, then I suggest you go for the latter one. The Sketch Marker Liquid Art Liner by Too Faced is a good choice for the felt tip liner.

Pencil Eyeliner:

This type of eyeliner is usually the first one we all started out with. It’s best used to line the water line and also to create a smokey look. The 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is the no-brainer choice for the pencil eyeliner.

And now, we shall proceed with the tutorial with no further ado!

How To Apply Eyeliner Perfectly – Tutorial

Step 1: Prep Your Eyes

Image: Shutterstock

This is a step that is quite overlooked, but is, in fact, the most important step. After cleansing your face, apply a moisturizer for the face and an eye cream around the eyes. The eye cream helps with premature wrinkles and evens out any redness or discoloration near the area.

Step 2: Start With A Clean Base

Image: Shutterstock

To achieve an even and clean base, apply a small amount of eye primer on the eyelid, under your eyes, and around the general eye region where any kind of eye makeup would go. The primer’s main job is to make the skin smoother so that it becomes easier to apply makeup. This will give you a flawless finish and also keep the makeup in place for a long time. Apply a concealer on top of the eyelid and the under eyes. Blend it well, and make sure to set it with a setting powder.

Step 3: Line Away!

Image: Shutterstock

Now comes the main part – the eyeliner. You can either use the brush that comes with it or buy one. Start with a line above your lashes. Make sure you use small lines and strokes. It’s always better to build it up. If you make it too thick, you might create a mess out of it, so keep the strokes small. Once you are satisfied with one eye, do the same with the other one. Try to keep it as symmetrical as possible.

Now you have your basic eyeliner done!

But if you want to go further and wing it out, read ahead!

Step 4: Wing It Out!

Image: Shutterstock

I can never stop at just the eyeliner on the eyelid. I think I have an involuntary reaction to wing it out or something. I feel like it completes me somehow. Okay, so moving on to how you achieve this look. The trick to finding the right angle is to follow the natural line of the lower lash line. If a line extended from your lower lash line, that is where your liner should wing out to. Map out the line and fill it in slowly. Take your time with this when you’re first starting out, because if you mess it up, you’ll have to start over.

Step 5: Finishing The Look!

After you have successfully winged out your liner (congratulations are in order!), you can proceed to line your lower lash line (only in the outer half) with a pencil liner and smudge it out. Apply some mascara, and you are done!

Also Read – 6 Different Ways To Do Perfect Winged Eyeliner

Here are some tips and tricks to help you achieve that perfect wing.

More Tips And Tricks To Apply Eyeliner

  • While applying, make sure you have a place to rest your elbow. This makes it easier to apply and provides you with a steady hand, which will give you a clean and precise finish. If you have a vanity or a table, it’s best to do your makeup on that.
  • Use a cosmetic mirror. Trust me, this helps a lot! Usually, they come double sided, where one side is a normal mirror and the other side is magnified. I find that the magnified one helps you achieve a cleaner finish as you can get a closer look.
  • Always look down while applying your liner. Looking up can make you get the shape wrong.
  • Do NOT stretch your eyelid while creating the wing. This will mess up the wing. Apply in small strokes without moving the skin too much.
  • If you still find it difficult to create the extension for the wing in a straight line, you can use a credit card and create a line by holding it against your lower lash line to where your wing should be.
  • You can also use tape to create the wing.

Eyeliner is one of the go-to tools for your makeup. Although you may have been using it for a long time, it is always helpful to be up-to-date with the latest styles and options available when applying this eye-defining product. Gone are the days when it was difficult to learn how to apply eyeliner to accentuate your eyes. With just a few basic tools in hand, nothing can stop you from getting the best out of your eyes and making them pop in all their glory. So, follow our tips above, and do not forget to experiment with new styles to keep everyone guessing!

Frequently Asked Questions

What color eyeliner should you use for green eyes?

Red is a complementary color for green, so choose shades that have red undertones, such as purple (lavender or violet) and bronze. Try MAC Technakohl Eyeliner Kajal in Image Concious.

Can you use eyeliner as lipstick?

Yes, you can. You can use eyeliner pencils as lip colors/lip pencils. For eg., Chromographic Pencils from MAC is a two-in-one pencil.

What color eyeliner would you recommend for blue eyes?

The colors that complement blue eyes would be different shades of purple, brown, gray, and silver. Avoid wearing blue and black liners. Try NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Smokey Grey.

What color eyeliner would you suggest for hazel eyes?

Go for rich, autumnal colors like golds, browns, and greens as these colors would enhance the color of your eyes. Any of these colors would look great on its own or with a trace of black eyeliner and mascara. Try Revlon Color One-Stroke Defining Eyeliner in the shade Glazed Green.

What color eyeliner would you recommend for brown eyes?

Brown is the most common eye color and is very easy to work with when it comes to makeup. Use shades of blue/purples and metallic tones of golds, browns, and bronze as these will make the eyes stand out more. Try Maybelline Vivid And Smooth Eye Liner Pencil in shade 6.

Can you use lip liner as eyeliner?

Yes, you can. You can buy pencils that can be worn both as an eyeliner and a lip color/lip pencil. For eg., Chromographic Pencil from MAC is a two-in-one pencil.

 

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Shalini Roy has a Master's degree in English literature. She is an ambivert whose expressions have found their way in... more

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