5 Expert Eyeliner Hacks That Will Transform How You Do Your Makeup

“For a fail-safe way to apply a classic black line, start with a kohl pencil. Easy to smudge and take off, it gives you a lot of flexibility and wiggle room – simply sketch your line, figuring out the shape and removing bits if you need to, then use that as your framework. Next, trace over the pencil with a liquid or gel eyeliner to perfect the line and make it last longer.”

“If you want a slim, delicate, barely-there look, begin your line from the inner corner – if you keep the liner thin across the lash line, you’ll have a really petite wing at the outer corner, as that’s what flows. To create a bit more of a statement, avoid going through the lash line from the inner corner all the way to the tail and simply draw a wing at the outer corner instead – if you start your liner here, it generally ends up bigger and bolder.”

“If you apply mascara to give your lashes a lift [with a lifting formula or by using an eyelash curler first], it can do a lot of the hard work. Plus, it gives you a framework to follow, making it easier to create a winged liner. So, always do your mascara first, then follow that lift with your eyeliner, taking it up towards the brow to create your wing. Mascara is really the maker of eyeliner – it brings everything together, so applying it first makes a big difference.”

“Hues that are found in nature – such as warm brown, sage, forest green or deep bronze – work well on the eyes without being overwhelming. I’d keep them along the lash line only, as opposed to pulling them out into a wing – and while warm browns will brighten eyes, a good pop of green or vibrant yellow will play off your eye color, whatever that may be. For a slightly bolder look, line your lids in black and line over the top with a bright blue for immediate impact; the black will darken the blue and ultimately make it more wearable. I love a glittery eyeliner, too, and this black-liner base works perfectly for glitter or shimmer. I often apply a black liner from inner to outer corner of my eyelid, then I take a gold eyeliner and place a little in the center for a pop or a twinkle when I blink.”

“For hooded eyes, or eyes that have a hindering fold at the outer corner, it’s really difficult to line over skin that’s in the way. The best tip? Apply your eyeliner with your eyes open. When your eyes are closed, you can draw the perfect wing, but when you open your eyes, the extra skin will hide the line, so you can see where you need to draw it. It can feel awkward and weird that you’re drawing over your skin at first, but it looks so much better.”