7 Tricks for Applying Eyeliner ...

I decided to write this article because I have a serious love for makeup. I have experimented with every different type of eyeliner on the market and found what works best for me and a lot of different great techniques for applying it. So I will share them with you!

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Familarize Yourself with Eyeliner Types

Familarize Yourself with Eyeliner Types Photo Credit: April Blye

There are so many different types of eyeliner available. Kohl, liquid, pencil, crayon, and waterproof are just a few of the top of my head. Learn to recognize each one and figure out what works best for you according to your job, personality type, amount of time to get ready each day and your comfort level.

Don’t Draw One Continuous Line

Don’t Draw One Continuous Line Photo Credit: essoj

Many women make the mistake of drawing one long line around their eyes. Don’t do it! Instead, draw short dashes, overlapping each one so that it looks like one long line, only softer and more natural. It creates a lovely effect if you do it this way!

Related: 7 Fun Eyeliner Styles ...

Frequently asked questions

Pull Your Skin Taut

Pull Your Skin Taut Photo Credit: Tanya Strelnikova

When lining the tops of your eyes, use one of your fingers to pull your skin taut. It helps you to draw a straight line and keep it closer to your lash line. That’s the key for looking natural, keeping it as close to the lash line as possible. That’s what you always want to go for, a natural look!

Line Your Inner Rims

Line Your Inner Rims Photo Credit: Aaron Paul Smith

Some makeup artists will tell you to avoid lining your waterline in order to keep from getting infections, but as long as you sharpen your pencil daily and never lend it to anyone, you should be fine. Lining your inner rims lend a more dramatic look and helps to blend your liner in with the lower lash line. It’s an acceptable look for night or day!

Smudge It

Smudge It Photo Credit: Lady Pandacat von Nopants

After applying your eyeliner, use a q-tip or a makeup swab to smudge it all the way around your eye. Use a gentle hand, the goal isn’t to rub it all off, just to smudge the line and create a gentle effect that takes away the harsh edges. Another way to do this is to apply and eyeshadow in the same color over your eyeliner with a thin, wet brush.

Play with Different Colors

Play with Different Colors Photo Credit: webgrl

Don’t feel like you have to stick with basic black or brown. Play with colors! Gray is subtle, blue is cute and purple or aqua are bright and cheery! Green is casual and flirty while gold or silver will light up your eyes. White (on the inner rims only) will make you look more awake. Just use moderation. And don’t be afraid to do a fun color on the top and a black or brown on the bottom, or vice-versa!

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect Photo Credit: JACQUEL!NE [ h a r d c o r e ™ ]

In order to achieve perfection, you’ve got to practice, practice, and practice! When you’re around your house with nothing to do, experiment with new techniques and colors. No one is there to see you, and if it looks horrible wash it off and try again!

Makeup is a great way to express your individuality. Just don’t try anything like yellow eyeliner if you have fair skin! Have fun, but remember that what you put on your face will definitely be noticed, so don’t be wild!

Top Photo Credit: erregiro

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Thats right pulling the skin around that eye area is not a good idea. So if you want to get close to the lash line, take a cotton bud and press it just about 2mm under your water line, the water line should reveal itself forward and it is easy to draw on your eyeliner. This trick is very good except it takes some getting used to, the first few times your eyes might water or your vision may blur but you will get used to it. I hope this helps!!

eye makeup is my favorite thing and thank you for the tips.

Nice tips, although it's not a good idea to pull your skin taut especially around your eyes. It is best to learn how to apply eyeliner without doing this as it will encourage wrinkles but stretching and tensing your skin. And we all know the skin around the eyes is the most fragile ;)

Nice tip ohmiller! Thanks! :D

A tip for upper lid liner that I learned at IMATS a few years ago: When applying liner on the top start in the middle (above the pupal) and draw outward, then go back and draw in from the corner to the middle, that way when you use liquid liner you avoid ever getting a large clump of liner in the inner corner :D

So thats how you keep eyeliner looking more natural. Why hasn't anyone ever informed me of this?

I don't pull the skin taut either but I do use a soft eyeliner. One of the best, I've found, is from Korres at Sephora - their SOFT Black Eyeliner (they have another that isn't soft) is great for lining eyes without pulling the skin. I like it too because I can line my eyes lightly, i.e. with a color that's more charcoal than black, or I can use heavier pressure or go over it more than once for a darker shade. Actually my eyes go against the rules. I do look better with my eyes lined all around, but then I soften or lighten the line with shadow at the inner corners and along the bottom. Thanks for your tips!

For number 3, I used to do that but it shouldn't be a habit to do. Puling your skin will cause lines :/

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