Alright, babes, let’s talk EYELINER. Not gonna lie, this is one makeup step that can either get you through the gates of flawless glam… or have you questioning all your life decisions. Whether you’re going for a bold cat eye, a subtle wing, or just trying not to stab your eye-out-in-the-process, eyeliner can be tricky. Don’t worry. We’ve ALL been there. (Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of eyeliner fails — one time, my wing stretched into a full-on raven. Yikes!)
I’m about to spill some serious tea: The DOs and DON’Ts of eyeliner application. We’re talking about checking those common mistakes that keep messing up your vibe. Because honestly? It’s time we took the confusion out of your eyeliner game and made it FUN again! Ready? Let’s go.
DON’T Wing It Without a Plan (Pun Intended)
Listen, I love spontaneous makeup-moments as much as the next girl, but eyeliner? Nah. You gotta plan it or things can go from glam to OMG real fast. One of the most common mistakes I see is just winging it (lol) without knowing what you’re doing. Like, having that perfect wing in your head without considering your eye shape or even your lid space.
Here’s the thing:
Your wing can’t be a one-size-fits-all. Different eye shapes need different types of wings. Trust me, this changes EVERYTHING.
Examples? Ohhh, honey, you came to the right place:
Pro-tip: Figure out your eye shape first:
- Almond Eyes: LUCKIEST OF THE LUCKY. This shape can pull off pretty much ANY eyeliner. Do a classic cat eye, leave it subtle near the center, or GO. FULL. DRAMA.
- Hooded Eyes: Do NOT stress, babe! The key to this shape is keeping your wing upwards and thin — otherwise, it’ll disappear into your folds (which we’ve ALL been victim to).
- Round Eyes: Balance out the natural roundness by exaggerating that wing for a lengthier look.
- Monolid Eyes: You don’t need a super-thick line to make a statement. Keep that liner close to your lash line and flick it out softly for a subtle but fierce wing.
DON’T Pull Your Skin Too Hard
Oof, guilty as charged. Like, I get it. It’s such a habit to pull the side of your eye so your liner glides on smoother. But, babes, I’ve got news: That’s just setting you up for DRAAAAMMA. As soon as you let go? You end up with wonky eyeliner. Eh, no thanks!
Instead, try resting your pinky finger against your cheek to steady your hand while lining. This way, your skin stays where it’s supposed to, and your eyeliner stays, well, straight. Plus, no tugging on that delicate skin around your eyes means less saggy skin down the road. Pinky promise.
No pullin’ or stretchin’, okay? Your liner won’t stay cute if it’s melting down your cheek later.
DON’T Use Liquid If You’re Not Ready
Look, we love a good sharp liquid liner moment, but if you’re new to the eyeliner game? Maybe start with something more forgiving, like a pencil or gel. Liquid liner is a heartbreaker — one wrong move, and you’re in panda-eye territory.
Pro-tip right here: Use a pencil to sketch out that wing first. THEN go in with liquid. It’s literally like having training wheels on your bike, but for your eyeliner skills!
DON’T Forget to Set Your Eyeliner
NEWSFLASH, professionals set their eyeliners. You probably spent a solid 10 minutes getting that liner on point only to have it smudge 20 minutes later. Ughhh. It’s honestly the worst. But guess what? Powder to the rescue!
After you’ve got your liner on, grab your favorite black eyeshadow and a small angled brush and LIGHTLY tap the shadow over the liner. Not only does it set the liner but it gives you that extra crisp, defined look we all LIVE for.
Liner staying power? Invest in black eyeshadow, and thank me later.
DON’T Wing It TOO High or TOO Low
We’re all aiming for that perfectly lifted wing, but another common mistake? Placing it too freakin’ high or low. YOUR WING DOES NOT NEED TO REACH YOUR TEMPLE, OKAY! (Unless that’s the look you’re going for — in which case, YOU DO YOU).
Your eyeliner’s precision totally depends on where you place the wing. The rule of thumb: Start your wing where your lower lash line would naturally extend if you followed it upwards. Don’t make up some totally unrealistic angle and then try to force your liner into it.
DON’T Use Too Much Eyeliner on Your Lower Lash Line
Okay babes, it’s important to find balance. If you go HAM on your lower lash line with eyeliner, what happens? Your eye looks CRAZY bottom-heavy and say goodbye to that wide-eyed “look at me” moment. Save your under-eye from the hefty liner and give it a touch of softness instead.
Here’s the tea: You wanna start by lining your waterline for that extra depth, then smudge it out with eyeshadow for a sultry, not-scary, look.
DON’T Skip Primer
Ohhh girl. This is major. We all love applying makeup on a fresh, clean face, but your liner needs grip. Skipping an eye primer would be a literal crime. Without priming, your eyelids get oily throughout the day and your eyeliner can start to slip and slide worse than a TikTok dance-trend.
Get yourself a bomb primer (or if you’re chillin’ on budget, even a nude eyeshadow base works). It’ll lock everything in place and honestly just makes your liner go on smoother.
Oily lids = sad eyeliner. PRIME THEM, babe!
YES: Micellar Water for the Fix!
Here’s a life-changing hack: If your eyeliner’s giving you trouble and your wing refuses to cooperate? Don’t wipe your whole makeup off. That’s rookie energy. Grab a Q-tip, soak it with micellar water, and use it to erase justyyyy the parts of the wing you need to fix.
Trust: Less time, less mess.
DON’T Get Stuck in Perfectionism
LISTEN, not all wings are meant to be TWINS, okay? (Shocking, I know…) They are sisters, or they could even be just distant cousins during a bad day, and that’s totally okay! So many people will fall down a rabbit hole of perfecting their wings for HOURS.
Sometimes you just have to stop and say, “You know what? This is good enough.”
Makeup’s supposed to be fun, y’all — don’t ever stress yourself out!
All The DON’Ts We Need to Nix For That Flawless Eyeliner
Okay, quick review because ya girl’s gotta make sure you’re all leaving this post R.E.A.D.Y to SLAY! Here’s a quick summary of all our don’ts so you can screenshot and keep it handy next time you’re wingin’ it — pun 100% intended:
| Mistake | Why It Messes You Up | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling your eyelids | It results in uneven, sloppy lines once you let go | Use a steady hand, rest your pinky on your face |
| Going overboard on lower lashes | Makes eyes look droopy or heavy | Keep it subtle with shadow instead |
| Skipping primer | Leads to eyeliner smudging and fading | Use a primer or even a nude shadow as a base |
| Not setting your eyeliner | Causes your liner to transfer everywhere | Tap black eyeshadow on top to lock it in place |
| Using liquid liner before you’re ready | Hard to fix mistakes, dries quickly | Sketch with pencil first, THEN go in with liquid |
| Ignoring eye shape | Different liner looks work better for different eye shapes | Follow tips we covered for almond, round, hooded, monolid |
| Placing the wing too high/low | Can make eyes look awkwardly slanted | Follow your lower lash line’s natural angle up |
And THAT, my friends, is how you level up your eyeliner game. Are you taking notes? Good, because makeup is supposed to be fun! Seriously! Just keep practicing and don’t let a wonky wing stop you from getting out there.
You’ve got this! Just remember, it’s all about finding what works, vibing it out, and OWNING it. Go conquer that eyeliner like the beauty queen you are.
Now go off and SLAY your liner looks. We wanna see those wings FLY!
