Are you a beginner at applying eyeliner? Or maybe you just want to get better. No problem. Eyeliner how to apply maybe not be as easy to apply as lipstick, it is quite easy to master once you learn a few makeup tricks and tips!
** I may earn a commission when you purchase through a link on this page. **
How to do eyeliner
Whether you like thick or thin, precise or gel or liquid, we put together an eyeliner guide you’re sure to bookmark! Let’s get started with this makeup tutorial for beginners.
$5.97 – Shop this look
Is eyeliner hard to apply?
If you’re wondering how to be better at makeup, the trick to applying eyeliner, especially when you’re just getting started, is to forget about perfection.
Don’t get discouraged!
Applying eyeliner
Remind yourself to have patience, and yes, plenty of Q-tips on hand!
Beginners should apply eyeliner before mascara and eyeshadow, to allow for smudges and yes, mistakes, which are much harder to fix if you’ve got on other makeup.
Again, don’t worry about creating a perfectly smooth, straight line—uneven lines are easy to fix with a dash of makeup remover on a Q-tip.
Eyeliner tutorial
These are the supplies you’ll need
Start with a good mirror
It is recommended you have a mirror that is both magnifying and non-magnifying. If you u use the magnifying mirror you can often create the wrong shaping so make sure you’re flipping over and back to see what it looks like up close and far away.
This 360-degree mirror – lighted magnifying- is equipped with 2 sides for a clearer and brighter visual color while enabling you to view every necessary detail for perfect eyeliner!
Use an elbow rest to avoid handshake
The next thing is to rest your elbow on something for a little bit of support. This is particularly for people who have unsteady hands and this will make it massive difference.
An ergonomically designed elbow pad to ease the elbow strain and provide soft support, can effectively alleviate elbow pressure, and reduce hand or arm shake. Anti-skid PVC base keeps it in place.
Purchase the best eyeliner you can afford
When it comes to eyeliner, you get what you pay for. Quality is the name of the game.
Ever notice, that without makeup celebrities are pretty normal? Using quality makeup is very important.
Yes, it does cost slightly more than the average drugstore makeup, but it is worth it.
Since the cost of eyeliner is relatively low, why not get the best? Here are a couple of makeup ideas easy with great eyeliner pencil I recommend.
MAYBELLINE Hyper Easy Liquid Pen No-Skip Eyeliner, Satin Finish, Waterproof Formula. The revolutionary flex tip brush and custom hexagonal grip give optimal control and easy, stable application.
HAUS LABORATORIES by Lady Gaga: LIQUID EYE-LIE-NER | Liquid Eyeliner Pen. The jet black formula easily glides onto the eye without any tugging for a smooth application.
Best eyeliner beginners will love
Unleashing the power of eyeliner is the secret to a fantastic makeup look. Not only can attaining the right swoosh of eyeliner make your eyes seem wider and more defined, but it may also bring out the color of your eyes.
Here is a great eyeliner to get started with:
- Liquid Eyeliner: Introducing liquid liner minus the skips, slips, gaps and struggle; With its hyper easy brush tip, this liquid eyeliner delivers the smoothest glide on your eyelid, fitting to the shape of your eye
- Flex-Tip Brush: The revolutionary flex tip brush and custom hexagonal grip gives optimal control and easy, stable application; It lasts up to 24 hours with intense color that doesn’t smudge
- Maybelline Is The Eye Expert: Whatever your signature eye look, natural or dramatic, Maybelline helps create looks that draw eyes; With a broad selection of pencil and liquid eyeliners, highly pigmented eyeshadows, iconic mascara, and eyebrow makeup
Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Pen No-Skip Eyeliner is a liquid eyeliner that is super easy to use. The precision applicator tip glides very smoothly. Create perfect line wings with ease!
What is liquid eyeliner?
Liquid eyeliner is a clear liquid that comes in a compact bottle and is applied using a little brush with a sharp tip. It results in a neat, accurate line.
Sharp, winged eyeliner is best achieved with this sort of eyeliner. Because liquid eyeliner is so much thicker, it’s usually exclusively used on the top lash line.
Liquid eyeliner vs pencil eyeliner
In almost every case, liquid eyeliner is deeper and more pigmented than pencil eyeliner. As a result, a single stroke of eyeliner creates dramatic, attention-getting lines. To create a smoky eye, combine liquid with a pencil eyeliner. Begin by lining your eyes with pencil eyeliner and then layering on your eye shadow.
How to put on liquid eyeliner
Eye line how to use
It’s critical to be aware of your tools. They come in a variety of forms—liquid, gel, pencil, and felt top—so it’s no surprise that picking the proper one may be difficult, especially if you’re just getting started with eyeliner.
The greatest eyeliners can open up, reshape, and truly accentuate the eyes in unique ways that other make-up products can’t. However, like with many excellent things, it is not without its drawbacks.
Whether you’re just getting started learning tips for eyeliner or how to line the eye, or if it smudges throughout the day, or if you can’t get a sharp enough wing, there’s no doubt that getting the perfect eyeliner application takes a lot of patience and practice.
So, if you’re a newbie, I’ve selected the best eyeliners for beginners that we guarantee will meet your specific needs and desires—as well as your skill level.
Let’s get started! Eyeliner how to apply
With the application, I always like to start in the middle. So right in the middle of the lash line and then we’re gonna be working outward so ignore the inner corner. For now, focus on the center and blend outwards and you want to try to keep the liner as horizontal as you can.
Against the skin, using your pinky for support, work your way across. We’re going to continue the line moving it slightly outwards. This time I want to fold my pinkie underneath. This will allow me to get a little closer access to the outer corner of the lid.
Now you can also switch your hand around and pull the liner in the opposite direction from the outer edge to meet in the center. This is a nice way to get that smooth line.
How to line the eye
Now, when you’re working on the inner corner you want to make sure that it’s a really thin line compared to everything else that you’ve done.
A nice little technique for this is just to keep it a little higher so it’s dropping lower across the lash line.
Simple eyeliner style
So we’ll just make sure you don’t get a really thick line and you want to start where the lashes start. Don’t bring it right to the inner corner.
Focus mostly on the lashes and keep this line nice and thin. There you go. This is almost an invisible eyeliner look you can make it as thick or as thin as you want and looks great with so many different eyes.
What is goth eyeliner?
Pencil eyeliners are easiest to master, but liquid or gel eyeliners can create a more intense goth look. Black eyeliner is a great base for any goth look, but you can use purple, blue, or even glitter eyeliner and still rock an amazing goth eye makeup look.
Create some eyeliner art. Many goths like to create elaborate makeup art next to their eyes. Some common designs include spiderwebs, swirls, crosses, flowers, or butterflies. Simply extend your eyeliner out past your eye, and draw your design with eyeliner on the side of your eye.
How to do winged eyeliner look
Stick a one-inch piece of makeup tape (or Scotch tape, in a pinch) underneath your bottom lashes and angle it based on how dramatic you want your flick. Then, with your liquid eyeliner, trace along your lash line, following the edge of the tape to create a crisp wing.
How to put on liquid eyeliner emo style
How to do eyeliner with eyeshadow
This is probably the easiest and most convenient option. Just run your angled brush under a bit of tap water, then pick up your favorite shade of eye shadow with the brush. It’ll chalk up into a paste-like consistency, which you can easily swipe across your upper and lower eyelids just like you would a liquid liner.
What is puppy eyeliner?
Instead of the cat eye, which is flicked upwards, “puppy eyeliner,” creates a line that droops downwards. This technique is used to create an illusion of a bigger, more rounded eye. The look is so simple and gives off a cuter, more innocent-looking vibe (kind of like the looks you receive from your beloved pups).
- Waterproof Matte Liquid Eyeliner: Get the perfect long lasting cat eye look with NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink eyeliner, with a matte black finish
- Precise Tip: Our ultra precise tip is flexible and Easy to Use; Every stroke is unbelievably fluid for a defined finish; Control the thickness of your lines by pressing down just a touch; Fine and natural, broad and bold, the look is always up to you
- All Eyes On Eye Makeup: Complete your look with our full range of eye makeup products ranging from eyeshadow palettes to false eyelashes, eyeliners, concealers, setting sprays, eyebrow makeup, eyeshadow primer and more
- LONGWEARING, WATERPROOF EYELINER: Our cult-classic, longwear pencil eyeliner has an updated, waterproof formula that lasts up to 24 hours and has a smooth, creamy glide
- UP TO 24 HOUR WEAR: This Revlon eyeliner stays put for up to 24 hours for bold, smudge-proof looks that stay with you all day
- BUILT-IN SHARPENER: Includes built-in sharpener to get sharp, precise lines and built-in smudger to blend and soften color for a smoldering, smoky eye look
- waterproof liner: this liner is creamy and ultra-pigmented, and has ultimate staying power. use this retractable pencil on your lash line, waterline, or all over the lid for intense eyes that stay that way all day.
- how to wear: apply along the lash line and waterline for defined eyes. smudge for a smoky look or allow 30 seconds to set for a budge-proof finish. for an enhanced smoky effect, apply a deep shade of powder shadow at lash lines, blending outward.
- 100% cruelty-free & vegan: proud to be 100% vegan and cruelty-free, worldwide. because kindness is chic.
- Liquid Eyeliner: Introducing liquid liner minus the skips, slips, gaps and struggle; With its hyper easy brush tip, this liquid eyeliner delivers the smoothest glide on your eyelid, fitting to the shape of your eye
- Flex-Tip Brush: The revolutionary flex tip brush and custom hexagonal grip gives optimal control and easy, stable application; It lasts up to 24 hours with intense color that doesn’t smudge
- Maybelline Is The Eye Expert: Whatever your signature eye look, natural or dramatic, Maybelline helps create looks that draw eyes; With a broad selection of pencil and liquid eyeliners, highly pigmented eyeshadows, iconic mascara, and eyebrow makeup
How to do eyeliner with a pencil
If you’re new to eyeliner, the sheer number of options might be overwhelming. A pencil, a gel, a liquid, a felt… The list could go on and on. I’ll offer you our best recommendation: Choose a pencil.
Why?
Because it’s the simplest and best place to start for eyeliner newbies. Smooth pencils go on smoothly, do not drag, and are more tolerant of unsteady hands than liquid or gel.
An eyeliner pencil is similar to writing with a pencil in that it is the easiest and most fail-proof eyeliner to apply for beginners.
Simply hold the pencil in your hand like an ordinary pencil and draw along your lash line.
I’d also suggest using an eyeliner pencil that isn’t waterproof and having Q-tips and makeup remover on hand to readily erase any errors.
Different ways to do eyeliner
Create the purrr-fect cat eye, but with some extra edge!
Graphic Arrow Liner
Here’s the perfect product to help you achieve this look.
$7.98 – Shop this look
Pull off this clean-lined look with a skinny gel eyeliner pencil!
Create a liner look from subtle and simple to smoky and intense!
How to apply eyeliner to the lower lid
Get your freshly sharpened liner pencil ready, and with these techniques and advice, you’ll be able to achieve the ideal bottom eyeliner look in no time.
Keep your eyeliner lines thin
Keep the bottom lid eyeliner thin and unobtrusive. Bottom eyeliner’s apparent flaw is that it may give the appearance of dark circles under your eyes, which no one likes.
Avoiding under-eye blackness requires utilizing the side of your liner pencil’s tip rather than pressing down to keep the line thin and delicate.
The Inside Rim Shouldn’t Be Lined
Waterline lining in black to define the eyes has been increasingly trendy in recent years, but we highly advise against it, especially on the lower lash line.
Not only will it make your eyes appear darker and smaller, but the potential eye health consequences.
Avoid the inner corner. Instead line the outer three-quarters of the eye.
Dark liner in the inner corner of the eye makes it appear smaller, which is the opposite of what you want.
Instead, draw a gentle line just below your bottom lashes, leaving a little waterline exposed to keep the region appearing light—it’ll give you the definition you want without affecting the proportions of your eyes.
Support FitFab50 by using the links in my articles to shop. As an Amazon associate and many other brands, I receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables me to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!
If you enjoyed Eyeliner How to Apply, be sure to check out my latest posts below!
Claudia Faucher is a full-time fitness training expert and lifestyle blogger. She is also been a certified Les Mills BodyPump instructor for the past 5 years and a fitness instructor for over 20 years. Claudia is a personal trainer and creates fitness training programs for seniors and people of all ages. She likes to use her skills and experiences to help others on their fitness journeys.
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API