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!

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.

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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

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

Ditto..other tips are are helpful.

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

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

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

My thing with lining your inner bottom lid is that it never stays. It annoys me so much. It always ends fading after a short time or just part of it (the edges). My eyes dont water a lot but maybe they are too wet or something. It just ticks me off cause I get that great smokey eye look and it only lasts bout an hour before I have to constantly fix it. I have tried a ton of diff eyeliner too. Maybe it's just something my eyes dont like. lol

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