Alright beauties, let’s talk about eyeliner. 🌟 Honestly, eyeliner is a game-changer. It’s one of those makeup steps that can take your look from “I just rolled out of bed” to “I’m ready to conquer the world” in 10 minutes. But—and I get it—if you’re a beginner, it can feel a bit intimidating, right? Like, one wrong move and you’ll be rocking the accidental panda look instead of that fierce cat-eye. 😂 No worries, though! I gotchu! By the end of this post, you’ll be slaying that liner like a pro. Ready? Let’s get into it!
Step 1: Choose Your Weapon (Yep, I Mean Eyeliner Type)
Before we even go into how to apply eyeliner, we kinda need to talk about the different types of liners out there because my girl, not all eyeliners are created equal. Depending on the look you’re going for, or even your mood (going out with the squad or just a chill, casual day), you’ll want to pick the right one. Here are the top 3 basic types:
- Pencil Eyeliner: Bestie, if you’re super new to eyeliner, this will be your BFF. It’s basically like a crayon and super easy to apply without too much mess or drama.
- Gel Eyeliner: This one’s great if you want something more intense but still beginner-friendly. You’ll usually apply this with a small angled brush.
- Liquid Eyeliner: OK, this is the eyeliner that can strike fear into the hearts of beginners. But girl, don’t sweat it because, with practice, you’ll nail it! It gives you that super sharp, dramatic wing.
I would say, if you’re still practicing, start out with a pencil or gel; then after you’ve gained some confidence, you can level up to liquid.
Step 2: Prep Yo’ Lids – Smooth Like Butter
Alright, let’s be real: Any makeup on oily or creased eyelids just doesn’t stay cute for long. Wanna make your eyeliner last all day (or night)? Grab an eyelid primer. It sets up your lids so they’re prepped to hold the liner flawlessly and won’t smudge like crazy.
Also, if you have shaky hands (same girl, same), applying eyeliner after doing your eyeshadow can help make any little oops moments disappear into the blending. Magic, right?
Looking Sharp – The Thin to Thick Ratio You Need
Here’s one thing you need to keep in mind: You want your eyeliner to be thinner on the inside corner of your eye and thicker on the outside. This trick opens up your eyes and makes them look more almond-shaped and cat-like. If it’s the same thickness all the way through, it’ll make your eyes look more, umm… circular? Which, don’t get me wrong—some might go for that. But if you want that sultry eye lift, play with this ratio!
Start thin on the inside corner, and gradually thicken the line as you move to the outer corner.
Also, quick tip: Don’t pull your skin SUPER tight when applying liner; otherwise, when you let go, the eyeliner might just bounce back and look all wonky (not cute).
Step 3: Start Out with a Little Flick
If you’re shaking while trying to draw a full wing in one go, girl, stop torturing yourself! The big secret is to work in steps. Seriously, break it down instead of trying to be a liner ninja all at once.
Let’s start at the outer corner of your eye. Lightly flick the brush or pencil upwards like you’re drawing a tiny diagonal line. Then, go back, and connect it across the lash line (close to your lashes). This easy trick starts shaping the wing without you needing to freehand a whole swoop from end to end.
If you mess up, don’t stress! Makeup wipes or even a damp Q-tip can help erase small mistakes without much hassle.
Step 4: The Fill-The-Blank Trick
Now that you’ve got your flick at the edge, let’s fill it in! Apply the liner in tiny strokes starting from where your flick ends moving back inward along your lash line. Seriously, you don’t have to draw one single smooth line. Start from that outer corner (aka your wing) and keep connecting small dashes along your lash line until the liner looks seamless. Think like playing connect the dots.
The secret to perfect eyeliner isn’t about drawing all at once, but about building it up *step by step*.
And yes, I know this takes a hot minute, but trust me—it looks cleaner and SO much less shaky.
Step 5: Keep It Close (To Your Lash Line)
Here’s a pro tip you might be sleeping on: Keep your eyeliner as close to your lashes as possible. If you end up with a gap between your liner and your lashes, you’ll have this strange floating eyeliner vibe, and trust me, it won’t look polished.
This also helps if you want to make your lashes look fuller without wearing falsies.
Kinda like wearing sneakers with high-waisted jeans, eyeliner *just looks cooler* when it’s tight and close.
So, try your best to press the liner right up against the base of your lashes. If you see tiny gaps, just go back and fill them in!
Step 6: Cleanup on Aisle Panda
Okay, now, if you look in the mirror and go “oh wait, I totally went off-road there,” don’t sweat it. Cleanup time! You can use makeup remover and a thin brush or Q-tip to clean up any mistakes. If you accidentally made your wing too thick, just “cut” it down with a bit of concealer or foundation.
Also, don’t freak out if your wings aren’t 100% perfectly even. Eyeliner is basically the messy bun of makeup looks: if you try too hard for perfection, it’s going to look less natural. Wings are sisters, not twins, babe.
Step 7: Mascara to Seal the Deal
Liner by itself is cool, but adding mascara to the mix? ICONIC. Put a couple of coats of mascara on to finish the look and make your lashes pop alongside your eyeliner. Lashes are like the cherry on top of your eyeliner sundae (except cherries are overrated; so maybe more like that extra caramel drizzle we all love).
Common Eyeliner Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Fix ‘Em)
Okay, we’re going to be real for a second—because even skilled MUAs make mistakes sometimes. Here are a couple that might happen when you’re practicing, but don’t worry; I got hacks to fix ‘em, too.
| Mistake | How to Fix It |
|---|---|
| Applying eyeliner with shaky hands | Rest your elbow on a table while applying for more stability. |
| Eyeliner transferring to your eyelids | Wait for it to dry OR set it with a bit of powder eyeshadow to stop this from happening. |
| Uneven wings | Use tape at the corners of your eyes to create a stencil…then peel away for a clean edge! |
| Overdoing it with the wing size | Start small and build up; it’s easier to add than it is to take away. |
Should I Go Black or Brown?
We gotta take a second to chat about colors. I know black eyeliner is like a forever classic. But, sis, brown eyeliner is MAJORLY slept on. If you want a softer look, or maybe you’re super pale and black looks too harsh during the day, try using brown. It’s kinda the chill, casual version of black!
Final Tips to Keep You Slayin’ That Liner Game
Honestly, makeup is meant to be fun, so don’t stress too much if it takes a few tries before you put eyeliner perfectly on your first go. Every pro had their epic fails in the beginning (me included 🙋🏻♀️).
And remember:
Practice is the secret ingredient to getting THAT perfect wing. Mess up, clean up, and try again!
Soon enough, eyeliner will be like second nature.
Oh, and a quick little bonus tip to leave you with: stop using eyeliner as your LAST step in your makeup routine. Try applying it somewhere in between. Like, do your base first, then eyeliner, and then finish up all the extra details. That way, if you mess up, it’s easier to fix without touching the rest of the makeup. Mind blown, right?
Let me know in the comments if you have any hacks of your own for applying eyeliner! Or even let me know which celebrities you think have the best winged liner game. #TeamAriana over here. 👀 Catch you in the next post, babes! 💖
