How to Apply Eyeliner

Guide Note

Whether your style is goth, Cover Girl glamor or girl-next-door, eyeliner can be essential to your look. Read on to learn How to Apply Eyeliner properly, every time.

Table of Contents

Eyeliner Application Tips

  1. Choose the right eyeliner.
  2. Test draw a line against your hand.
  3. Hold the eyeliner as you would a pencil.
  4. Rest your dominant elbow on a tabletop.
  5. Rest your dominant pinky finger on your cheek.
  6. Use your non-dominant hand to gently pull your eyelid taut.
  7. On your upper lid, work from the inside corner out.
  8. Get as close to your lash line as possible!
  9. Smudge with your finger or a cotton swab.
  10. On your lower lid, work from the outside corner inward.

Introduction

Eyeliner is eye makeup used on the rim of the upper and lower lid at the base of your eyelashes.1 Eyeliner defines your eyes, making your eyes pop. Lined eyes are the hottest fashion accessory--for boys and girls. Follow these easy steps for perfectly defined eyes.

What You'll Need

Types of Eyeliner

  • There are many different types of eyeliner, and each type offers a new look or texture. Play around with each type until you find the look you love.
  1. (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    Pencil
    • - Pencil eyeliner is the easiest eyeliner to control and use.2
    • - No brush is needed for application.
  2. Liquid
    • - There are two types of liquid eyeliner.
    1. Liquid that comes in a small bottle with a brush for application.1
    2. Felt-tip liquid eyeliner combines the simplicity of pencil application with the precision and drama of liquid liner.3
  3. Gel
  4. Cake Eyeliner
    • - Cake Eyeliner is a powder eyeliner, which uses a brush for application.3 The most common form of cake eyeliner is your eyeshadow, which can be smudged for a subtle or smoky effect.5
  5. Kohl Eyeliner
  • TIP: Always perform an allergy test before putting any eyeliner on your eyes. WebMD provides a few precautionary steps before you apply your eyeliner:
  1. Draw a line on the inside of your elbow or wrist.6
  2. Cover with a band-aid.
  3. Wait 24 hours.6
  4. Take off the band aid. If your skin is red, inflamed or irritated, do not use the eyeliner.6

Step 1: Choose the Right Color

  • Eyeliner offers more color choices than there are colors in the rainbow. This vast sea of colors can give even the most experienced makeup artist a headache. Here are a few ways to choose your eyeliner:
  1. (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    Whenever in doubt, choose black eyeliner for well-defined eyes.
    • - When applied with a heavy hand, black eyeliner creates drama.
    • - When applied lightly, black eyeliner looks simple, elegant and natural.
  2. Complement your eye color.
    1. Blue Eyes: Choose dark brown shades, light brown shades like taupe, light purple shades like lavender or silver and gray.7 8
    2. Brown Eyes: Try brown, green or plum eyeliner.10
    3. Green Eyes: Try dark shades of brown like chocolate, dark purple shades like plum and cool shades like silver and gray.11 8 Gold can also make green eyes sparkle.8
    4. Hazel Eyes: Any shade of purple, from mauve to lilac to eggplant, will make your eyes stand out.7
  3. Complement your eyeshadow.9
    • - While you don't have to match eyeliner to eye color, you should coordinate your eye makeup.9 Clashing or mismatched eyeliner and eyeshadow can leave you looking like a clown.
  4. White Eyeliner

Step 2: Start Clean

  1. (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    Wash face with preferred face wash.3
  2. Dry thoroughly.
  3. If needed, remove old makeup with makeup remover.
  4. When first learning to apply eyeliner, start with a blank canvas.
    1. If you must wear other eye makeup, like eyeshadow, apply now.
    2. For long lasting liner, brush foundation or concealer over your eyelids.14

Step 3: Test Your Eyeliner

  • Using makeup isn't an exact science, but testing your liner out before using it is never a bad idea.

Pencil

  1. (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    Sharpen pencil.
  2. If desired, you can soften the pencil by rubbing the tip between your hands or heating with a hairdryer.8
  3. Test the eyeliner by drawing a line on your hand.3

Liquid or Gel

  • If using a liquid eyeliner, you can choose to apply with a brush or directly with the liquid felt-tip.
  1. If you use a brush, choose an angled eyeliner brush, or use the brush that comes with the liner.2
  2. Check for clumps.8
  3. Dampen brush with water before application.3
  4. Dip into liquid.3
  5. Test the eyeliner by drawing a line on your hand.3
  6. Adjust the line by adding more liquid (shake pen, if using a felt-tip), or blot away excess with a tissue.3

Cake Eyeliner

  1. Choose angled eyeliner brush.2
  2. Dampen brush in water.3
  3. Stroke brush across cake eyeliner.3
  4. Test the eyeliner by drawing a line on your hand.3
  5. To darken the line, add more powder.3
  6. To lighten the line, add more water. 3

Step 4: Stay Steady

  1. Hold the eyeliner like you would a hold a regular pencil, with your dominant hand.3
  2. Look in the mirror.
  3. Rest your elbow on a level surface.16
  4. Rest your pinky finger of your dominant hand on your cheek.3
  5. Open your mouth slightly to relax your eye muscles.17

Step 5: Line the Upper Lid

  1. (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    (Model Hannah B. Photo by Mahalo)
    With your non-dominant hand, gently pull your eyelid.16
  2. Tilt your head back.13
  3. Look up, keeping eyes slightly open.13
  4. Beginning with your upper lid, work from the inside corner outward.14
    1. For pencil liner, use short feathery strokes.13
    2. For liquid liner, draw small dashes along the root of your lashes.18 Go back and connect the dashes.18
  5. You want to get as close to your lashes as possible.17

Step 6: Line the Lower Lid

  1. With your non-dominant hand, gently pull your eyelid.16
  2. Tilt your head back.13
  3. Look up, keeping eyes slightly open.13
  4. Start at the outward corner and draw a line half way along the base of the lashes.14 Work inward.14
  5. Use short smooth strokes.13
  6. Smudge with your finger or a cotton swab.1 This will soften the line and fix any mistakes.
  7. Get as close to the lash line as possible.18
  • TIP: If you just can't seem to get the hang of applying eyeliner, go to the cosmetics counter of your local department store and ask one of the store's salespeople for help.18

References for How to Apply Eyeliner

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wise Geek: Eyeliner for Dummies
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Allure.com: Eyeliner for Dummies
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 Tutorials: Learn2 Apply Eyeliner
  4. ↑ Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Bella Online: Eyeliner Types
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 WebMD: Allergies Triggered by Cosmetics
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 CareFair.com: Brown Eyes
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Wise Geek: Tips for Applying Eyeliner
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 HowToDoThings.com: How To Choose the Right Makeup for Blue Eyes
  10. ↑ LoveToKnow.com: Brown Eyes
  11. ↑ LoveToKnow.com: Green Eyes
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 FabSugar: The Beauty of White Eyeliner
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 iVillage: Wearing White Eyeliner
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 VideoJug: How to Apply Pencil Eyeliner (Time: 1:38)
  15. ↑ About.com: Eyeliner Pencil Safety WARNING: Ad-Heavy
  16. ↑ 17.0 17.1 SACHA Cosmetics: Applying Eyeliner
  17. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Allure: Eyeliner for Dummies

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