HOW TO APPLY THE PERFECT EYELINER
Eyeliner is one of the most important tools in any makeup kit. It can be used to create dramatic, bold, and beautiful eye looks, helping anyone stand out in a crowd or impress at an event. However, if you want to get the very best results when working with eyeliner, you need to know how to apply it correctly. Below, we’ll cover the key steps for how to do the perfect eyeliner.
The Different Types of Eyeliner
Before we look at how to apply eyeliner correctly, let's first go over the main types of eyeliner that you might like to use. Eyeliner comes in a variety of forms, and some are easier to work with than others. Here are some brief descriptions of the three main varieties of eyeliner, with some pros for each.
Pencil Eyeliner
Arguably the best choice of eyeliner for beginners, pencil eyeliner takes the form of an actual pencil that you can use to draw lines along and around your eyes. It's usually the first type of eyeliner that most people use, and it's great for getting smokey looks, because the creamy and soft formula makes it easy and versatile to work with.
Liquid Eyeliner
Next up, we have liquid eyeliner. As the name suggests, this kind of eyeliner comes in liquid form, typically in a pen with a felt tip. It's famed for its all day wear and high levels of precision, and if you know what you're doing, you can get some great looks with liquid eyeliner. It's super for making thin lines and sharp wings, but you may need to practice in order to fully hone your skills.
Gel Eyeliner
Last but not least, we have gel eyeliner. It comes in a pot and has to be applied with a brush, so it's a little less runny than liquid eyeliner and arguably easier to work with. Great for thin lines and thick lines alike, gel eyeliner is super versatile and precise, and it's easy to clean up if you happen to make any mistakes during the application. A lot of people love this kind of eyeliner for cat eyes. However, it’s important to note that some pencil eyeliners also come in hybrid-gel formulas so you can enjoy the best of both worlds!
How to Apply Eyeliner in a Few Simple Steps
So, we've looked at the various types of eyeliner, and now let's focus on a tutorial for how to use it. Once you find your preferred type of eyeliner, with practice and a little patience, you should be able to master a technique that works for you.
Step 1. Preparing the Area
Before you actually apply any eyeliner, it's best to prepare your skin and eye area. To do this, we recommend cleansing the face, focusing on the delicate skin below the eyes, and applying a moisturizer or eye cream. This helps to hydrate your skin, even out the skin tone and get the area ready for makeup application.
Step 2. Add Some Primer to Start
Once the area has been cleaned and prepped, you can use primer to get it ready for the eyeliner. Primer is a crucial tool in many makeup kits, as it helps to form a foundation that other makeup products can adhere to. Essentially, it helps other makeup products apply evenly, perform better, and last longer throughout the day or in different weather conditions.
Step 3. Apply Your Eyeliner
Next, it's time to apply your eyeliner. Select a type of eyeliner that works best for you and get ready to apply. It's best to begin with an upper line above the lashes, and start off with a thin line, building it up gradually to the desired thickness. Use small and gentle strokes and focus on one eye before moving to the other.
Step 4. Go Further with Wings
If you'd like to take your look even further into a wing style, the key is to get the angle just right. Using your eyeliner, stretch the line you already made further out from the upper lash line. Then, connect that line to your lower lash, trying to meet your lash line as smoothly as possible. This should form a little outline beside your eye, and you can then use the eyeliner to fill it in.
Top Tips for Perfect Eyeliner
Looking for some more tips and tricks to get the best eyeliner looks? Here are some expert-level makeup hacks you should keep in mind when working with eyeliner:
- Use Setting Powder - To avoid your primer or concealer running or smudging when you start to apply eyeliner, apply a little setting powder above and below the eye and give it a moment to dry.
- Sharpen – if using pencil eyeliners be sure to sharpen the eyeliner each time you use it to create a pointed tip and ensure you can create accurate and precise lines.
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Steady Hand - Try to keep a steady
hand as you apply your eyeliner and stroke it onto your eyes with one fluid movement. A shaky or uneven hand can cause jagged lines and smudges.
- Look Down - If you want to get a line of eyeliner as close to your lashes as you can, look downwards as you apply it.
- Tightline – For a seamless winged eyeliner look, you can tightline the upper lid water line to avoid gaps between your lid and lashes, or use a tightlining mascara to achieve the same effect.
- Waterline – use brightening shades like white, beige, or light brown on the waterline instead of applying dark shade like black and brown. This will create an eye-brightening effect to help your eyes look larger and more awake!
- Experiment - Different shapes and styles of eyeliner can accentuate and enhance your look. Play around with cat eyes, wings, and more to find what works best. Swap black eyeliner for different and unique colors like navy, green, brown and more to see which colors complement your features and enhance your natural eye color. Brown can be used to define the eyes in a more natural and subtle way, while color eyeliners may help your eye color stand our more.
- Cotton Swabs - Use Q-tips or cotton swabs to clean away any little mistakes without having to undo all your hard work when applying your eyeliner.
- Make a Stencil - If you have a hard time with wings, make your own stencil using some small pieces of first aid tape cut and placed at the corner of your eye.
- Storage - If you use liquid eyeliner, store the pen with the tip facing down. This will help to prevent it from drying out.
Now that you;ve learned all about how to apply the perfect eyeliner, take a look at the best methods for removing eye makeup. Also be sure to check out the full line of Westmore Beauty products. From foundation to finisher, lipstick to eye makeup and more we have every inch of you covered.