Eyeliner For Beginners -

Learning how to apply eyeliner can feel intimidating at first. Many people are bombarded with products and tutorials, making it feel overwhelming. One liquid eyeliner smudge can spell disaster. However, anyone can learn to apply eyeliner. This article on eyeliner for beginners covers everything you need to know.

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Types Of Eyeliner

You will encounter various types of eyeliner, each with pros and cons. Pencil eyeliner is widely regarded as the best option for beginners. However, you will also discover eyeliner stamps for the perfect wing, eyeliners that require a brush to apply, and many more.

Pencil Eyeliners

Pencil eyeliners are usually recommended for beginners. They are easier to use than liquid products, more straightforward, and give you a chance to get your technique down pat before switching to a more complicated product.

Long ago, pencil eyeliners were just that – pencils. You had to sharpen them. They felt like you were drawing on your eyelid with a pencil you would use in school. You can still find these pencils if you prefer, but they are not the only type on the market.

Now, modern eyeliner pencils function similarly to mechanical pencils. A quick twist will help bring more eyeliner out, similar to how lipstick works. Eyeliner pencils are available in a cream formula that is not rough on the delicate skin surrounding the eye. You can find them in smudge-proof, waterproof formulas and every color you can imagine.

Our Picks

NYX Professional Makeup Mechanical Eye Pencil

NYX Mechanical Pencil glides on creamily smooth, is easy to use like a pencil, and is available in over ten shades. NYX is known for providing high-quality makeup at affordable prices. The twist-up action eliminates the need for sharpening.

Why You’ll Love It

Creamy formula
Cruelty-free
Smudge-resistant
Multiple shades available

Check it out here!

Mineralist Lasting Eyeliner

Bare Minerals Mineralist Eyeliner is an excellent choice for beginners. It glides across the lids without tugging and dries to a smooth finish. It’s water and smudge-proof for long-lasting looks. You’ll discover shimmer, matte, and metallic shades to easily express your style. The retractable design is convenient.

Why You’ll Love It

Vegan and mineral-based
Pigmented
Safe for use on the waterline
Transfer-proof

Check it out here!

Gel Eyeliners

Gel eyeliners are typically sold in a pot with a brush. These eyeliners tend to have a creamy consistency between a pencil eyeliner and a liquid product. They are easy to apply and less likely to smudge when compared to other eyeliners.

You can find gel eyeliner formulas in a pencil version. Gel eyeliner pencils provide you with the same benefits that gel eyeliner does. At the same time, they are easy to apply, like a pencil eyeliner. Gel eyeliner is a great eyeliner for beginners.

Our Picks

Wicked Gel Eyeliner

Wicked Gel Eyeliner by Sigma Beauty is the high-quality you want with the staying power you need. Every pot brings intense pigment to your lids. The formula is carefully formulated to be long-lasting and dry without smudging. It’s lactose-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

Why You’ll Love It

Matte finish
Pigmented
Long-lasting
Water-resistant

Check it out here!

Stay & Play Gel Eyeliner

Essence Beauty’s Stay & Play Gel Eyeliner is pigmented, easy to use, and available in multiple shades. This gel eyeliner pencil glides smoothly across your lids for seamless application. It’s not retractable, so you will need a pencil sharpener. It’s the perfect eyeliner for beginners!

Why You’ll Love It

Waterproof
Vegan and cruelty-free
Oil-free
Easy for beginners to use

Check it out here!

Liquid Eyeliner

Liquid eyeliner is the go-to choice for both staying power and dramatic looks. It’s easy to complete a cat eye with a flick of the wand. However, it does require some practice and steady hands. Make sure you take the time to practice in front of the mirror before you try to apply liquid eyeliner when you’re in a hurry.

It is not the go-to choice for most beginners due to its learning curve. Liquid eyeliner can get messy, and getting the look you want can be more challenging, especially if you don’t have steady hands.

TIP: Clench your toes when applying eyeliner to help steady your hands

Our Picks

Space Glam Liquid Effect Eyeliner

This affordable liquid eyeliner is the perfect way to bring a pop of color to your makeup look. Available in three metallic shades, you’re guaranteed to turn heads. The flexible tip makes it ideal for winged eyeliner, and it’s highly pigmented. The long-lasting formula is designed to be crease-proof.

Why You’ll Love It

Cruelty-free and vegan
Very affordable
Color-shifting shimmer
Long-lasting

Check it out here!

Eternal Liquid Eyeliner

Eternal Liquid Eyeliner features an easy-to-use tip, a creamy formula, and a quick-drying finish, making it ideal for anyone with hooded eyes. The pigment is the deepest black. The formula is waterproof, sweatproof, and transferproof. It’s designed to last until you’re ready to take it off at the end of the day.

Why You’ll Love It

Up to 8 hoursof staying power on the waterline
Cruelty-free
Vegan
Waterproof

Check it out here!

Felt Tip Eyeliner

Felt-tip eyeliner is technically a liquid eyeliner. It has the same formula but includes a felt-tip tip similar to a marker. You can find some with a flexible tip, and others with less flexibility, to give you more control over where you apply the liner. These are useful tips for anyone learning to apply liquid eyeliner.

Flexible tips are ideal for winged eyeliner because you can create the perfect wing with a tiny wrist flick. For beginners, we recommend choosing a less flexible eyeliner to make application easier.

Eyeliner Tips For Beginners

Eyeliner has a fun learning curve. Eyeliner for beginners doesn’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming. Instead, it gives you the chance to experiment with different looks to find your style.

Start With A Pencil

Pencil eyeliner is the easiest to use, so it’s usually the recommended eyeliner for beginners. Pencil eyeliners allow you to learn what colors work well with your eyes, different application techniques, and if you need to work on anything, such as having steady hands during application.

Standard pencil formulas can be soft and forgiving. Gel pencils provide the same ease of use and don’t tug on the delicate skin of your eyelids. You can easily find them in every color of the rainbow.

Once you master pencil eyeliner, move on to liquid formulas. Pair the eyeliner you use with your skill level.

Learn Your Eye Shape

Understanding your eye shape is essential for beginners applying eyeliner. It will help determine where to apply eyeliner and what type to apply. For example, if you have small eyes yet apply a thick line of eyeliner, it can make your eyes look too small. Instead, use a thin line. Learning how to apply eyeliner for your eye shape is essential to ensure you look your best.

Practice

As with all makeup products, take your time to practice. Don’t try to apply liquid eyeliner for the first time before heading off to the office. This can instantly spell disaster. If you mess up, and you more than likely will, you don’t have time to fix it.

Not practicing can make you feel like giving up on makeup. It’ll make you think that you’re bad at makeup. In reality, you need more practice.

Remember, eyeliner is an art, not a science.

Try Out Different Colors

Black is always a great option, but you’re limiting yourself if you stick with black eyeliner. Nude and white eyeliner can help open your eyes. Brown and green eyeliners look gorgeous with hazel eyes. Experiment with different eyeliner colors to find what works well for you. Part of learning about eyeliner for beginners is discovering the wide range of options available.

Application Techniques

Eyeliner can involve a quick swipe across your lids and magically achieve the perfect line, but that doesn’t work for everyone. There are various application techniques people use to get a flawless look.

Pencil Before Liquid

If you want the dramatic look of liquid eyeliner but don’t quite have the knack for it yet, don’t worry. Apply pencil eyeliner first. Then, trace over your pencil eyeliner with your liquid eyeliner.

Connect The Dots

An easy way to apply liquid eyeliner is to connect the dots on the lid. Draw small dots along the lid where the liquid eyeliner goes. Then, simply connect the dots to form a beautiful line.

Try Looking Down Or Up

Looking downward can give you a better view of your eyelids for more precise application. However, some people prefer to look up. Looking directly into the mirror while applying eyeliner makes it harder to achieve a straight line along your lid. Try different techniques to see which one feels best.

Dealing With Mistakes

Eyeliner for beginners involves practicing different techniques and using various products to determine what works best for you. No one accomplishes a perfect eyeliner look the first time, every time. There are a few ways you can combat eyeliner mistakes.

Use Concealer To Cover Mistakes

Using concealer to cover mistakes can instantly save your makeup. You can leave it on rather than wipe it off. Using your concealer applicator or a small brush, touch up your wing for a flawless look. Remember that your concealer must match your skin tone or foundation shade for this to work.

Cotton Swabs (Q Tips) Can Smooth Uneven Lines

If you’re new to applying liquid eyeliner, seeing that you don’t have a perfectly even line can be discouraging. Instead of feeling down, get a cotton swab and run it over your eyeliner before it dries. You can instantly create a flawless line.

TIP: Use a cotton swab instead of your concealer applicator for precise application.

Makeup Remover Wipes

Makeup remover wipes or clothes are a great way to create a clean line and clean up mistakes. These are must-haves for anyone learning to use eyeliner. Apply eye makeup before other makeup, like your foundation, so you can easily use a makeup remover wipe without having to reapply other makeup. Wrap the wipe around your finger for precise removal.

How To Make Eyeliner Stay

You’re not alone if you notice that your eyeliner is fading away by your lunch hour. I have oily eyelids, and it doesn’t take long for the best eyeliner on the market to start to disappear. Here are some tried and true tips to make your eyeliner stay put.

Pick The Right Formula

There are plenty of formulas on the market. You want to ensure that the eyeliner you pick has a smudge-proof formula. Some are explicitly designed for smudging, so it can be easy to accidentally add the wrong one to your cart. Instead, take the time to read the label.

Waterproof eyeliners are best for tight lining. Tightlining is very close to your eye, so you are more likely to wind up with eyeliner that is too wet. You can find every type of eyeliner available in a waterproof formula.

Read Reviews

If you’re more likely to shop online, read product reviews for a few extra minutes. An eyeliner advertised as smudge-proof that still smudges will not have rave reviews. Beauty enthusiasts wouldn’t want to put someone else through that!

Always Use An Eye Primer

Most people wonder whether they need an eye primer. You do. They can make your eye makeup last longer, including your eyeliner. If you’re applying a wing, make sure that you prime the skin where you are applying eyeliner. Use a dot of concealer if you don’t have an eye primer handy.

Translucent Powder

Setting powder is another essential for keeping your eyeliner in place. After applying, apply fine dusting over your eyeliner for maximum staying power.

Setting Spray

You should apply setting spray after you’ve finished your makeup. Make sure that you cover your entire face, including the eye area. To do this, close your eyes and spray the setting spray in an X or T shape as you normally would. It will naturally get on your lids.

What Is Tightlining

Tightlining is a practice that involves lining your lash line with eyeliner. Some people do this on the top lid, but you can do it on the bottom. Use a waterproof pencil eyeliner that does not smudge for the best results. This can help prevent the eyeliner from leaking into your eye.

Using Eyeshadow As Eyeliner

If you don’t want to be limited to the eyeliner you currently own, break out your favorite eyeshadow palette. Using an angled brush, apply it to your lash line. Use the same process as when applying eyeshadow: first, apply your eye primer. Then, apply your eyeshadow. After that, apply the eyeshadow that you’ll be using as eyeliner. Finally, finish your look with a setting spray.