From Thin Line to Bold Wing: Eyeliner Looks for Every Skill Level

The definitive guide on creating the perfect eyeliner look for any skill level and eye shape, with the proper prep and tips to avoid common mistakes.

It can take years to perfect that coveted cat’s eye. The Haya Beauty team has seen every kind of mistake, from applying it to the wrong place, making the line too thick, to creating the wrong angle. 

While it is important to start with a steady and practiced hand, the proper technique can make all the difference. If you also feel intimidated by eyeliner, then this is the blog for you. Read on for easy-to-follow tutorials for every skill level, as well as some extra tips and tricks,  that will make eyeliner application a breeze. 

Where do I Start?

Sometimes eyeliner application mistakes start with the preparation you do before you sit down in front of the mirror. Focus on properly prepping the skin around your eye and choosing the correct type of eyeliner. It is also important to identify your eye shape to avoid the kind of eyeliner that can enhance features you don’t want to draw attention to. 

Prep and Materials:

Here are some prep tips to set you up for eyeliner success:

• Prep your eye area with a light swatch of eye primer[pillar article].
• Brush and set your brows to create a neat canvas and increase space. 
• Sit down to apply your liner, making sure your face is well-lit by bright natural or slightly yellow light. Standing can make your hand unsteady. 
• Rest your elbow on a flat surface to anchor your arm and prevent shaking. Take a deep breath if you must. 
• Try to apply eyeliner while looking straight ahead without pulling or tugging at the skin. 
• If you lack practice, want to try a new or more advanced look, then make sure you have plenty of time to do so. 
• Choose the correct type of eyeliner. A pen eyeliner is a beginner’s best friend, while liquid and gel eyeliners should be left to the pros. 
• Make sure eyeliner is not expired as that may affect the texture and overall comfort level. 

How to Identify Your Eye Shape?

Different eye shapes require a little adjustment to the eyeliner technique for the best, most attractive results. Use the table below to figure out your eye shape:

Remember that it is usual to have multiple features in a single set of eyes. For example, mine are deep set, hooded, and round. Other people may have wide-set, downturned monolids, and so on. 

How to Apply Eyeliner for Beginners?

Let's start with some basic, minimal looks that are perfect for beginners and everyday wear.

1. Lining the Waterline

The simplest and easiest kind of eyeliner is to apply a smudge-proof pencil to the upper and lower waterlines. This adds some definition and highlights the eye shape. For hooded, deep-set, and downturned eyes, keep the eyeliner to the outer corners of the rims and avoid lining the waterline of the bottom lid entirely. 

2. Follow the Lashline 

Take a pen eyeliner and simply follow the lashline from the inner corner to the outer corner. Use thin, short strokes. For monolid eyes, keep the line as thin as possible and fill in the spaces between the eyelashes. For hooded, deep-set, and downturned eyes, try lining the top lashline from the middle of the lid outwards to the outer corner. This will help lift and elongate the eye. 

3. A Classic Bar

Start with a simple thin line of the upper lid and then thicken it towards the outer corner. This gives the illusion of thicker lashes. 

How to Apply Eyeliner for Intermediate Users?

Here are some styles you can try once you’ve grown a bit more confident:

1. A Simple Wraparound 

After lining the top lashline, line the bottom lash line as well, filling in the space between the lashes. Experiment by changing the length of the bottom line, perhaps not extending it to the inner corner. Also, try applying a pencil to the lower waterline and smudging it with a brush. This look may not suit every eye shape, but it is reminiscent of the intense eyeliner styles from South Asia and the MENA region. 

2. An Upwards Flick or Wing 

After lining the upper lash line, extend the eyeliner at an upward angle towards the end of the eyebrow. Try lining up this flick with the lower lash line. Make the flick thicker by drawing a line from the outer edge of the line back to the upper lash line. Fill the resulting triangle with eyeliner. 

You can make the flick longer and thicker to achieve a more dramatic look. 

3. Try the ‘T’ Method

This is a simple hack to create a dramatic wing. Draw a vertical line on the upper lash line near the outer corner. Draw a horizontal line on top of it to create a ‘T’ from the middle of the lid and outwards as far as you like. Connect the outside edge of the bar of the ‘T’ to the outer corner of the eye. Fill in the triangle. This is the perfect way to elongate round or close-set eyes and 

How to Apply Expert-Level Eyeliner?

These fun, graphic looks require a slow and steady hand, but the results are sure to turn heads.

1. The Double Flick

Add a second flick on top of the first flick or to the bottom lash line. The bottom wing may not suit certain eye types. When drawing the double flick on hooded or monolid eyes, draw the flicks on areas of the eye that are not covered by the eyelid when the eye is open

2. The Double Liner

Draw your flick or winged eyeliner first. Then draw a floating line back towards the inner corner, connected to the top of the flick. Use a fast-drying pen liner and take care with the placement over your crease. This is an excellent look to try on monlids. 

3. Get Creative with Graphic Looks

The world is your compact with a precise pen eyeliner. Consider multiple flicks and drawing eyeliner in the inner corner, extending the line of the upper lid. 

FAQs

When should I apply eyeliner in my makeup routine?

Apply eye makeup before starting on the rest of the face. This way, you can correct any mistakes without affecting the rest of your makeup.

How many kinds of eyeliner should I buy as a beginner?

Start your eyeliner collection with a soft pencil and smudgeproof pen eyeliner. These two tools are enough to create several different looks.  

Which color eyeliner should I use?

Black never fails, but you can add variety with brown eyeliner. Green and blue eyeliners suit most wardrobes and add a point of interest to the face. 

How can I use eyeliner to make my eyes look bigger?

Lining only the outer three-fourths of the upper lash line helps make the eye look bigger. 

How can I make my eyeliner wings look sharper?

You don’t always have to reach for the makeup remover. Dip a thin, angled brush in concealer and use it to sharpen your wings. 

Conclusion

You’ve just had a crash course in all things eyeliner! Practicing techniques will help, but the proper prep and tools will also make your job much easier. Choose an eyeliner style that suits your level of expertise, but don’t let that stop you from practicing more difficult and graphic looks that don’t just enhance your eye shape but also express your unique creativity. 

Complete Control and Unmatched Precision

The Haya Beauty Waterproof and Smudgeproof eyeliner comes with a thin brush tip and ergonomic packaging that helps you achieve even the most difficult look. 

Sources

1. Is it Okay to use Expired Makeup? - A dermatologist’s guide on makeup expiration times and when to dispose of it.
2. 10 Common Eye Shapes (+ How to Find Yours) - A list of the different eye shapes and tips on how to identify them.