5 Eyeliner Tips and Tricks

1. Hold your lid for more control

Sometimes, you’ll find your liner gets stuck or “skips” across your lid when you’re trying to apply it. Holding your eyelid taut can help create a smoother canvas for your liner application and minimize the chance of tugging or skipping. Close your eye, then prop your elbow onto a counter for stability and (gently) hold your lid taut as you apply your liner. It should help minimize snagging for a nice, clean application.

2. Choose the right color

There’s nothing wrong with a classic black eyeliner—it’s a staple for a reason—but there are plenty of other hues worth trying. Brown, gray, and even bronze can be great for subtler, more natural makeup looks. Colorful eyeliner, meanwhile, makes a statement. For an ultra-flattering effect, opt for a shade that helps bring out your eye color. Coppers, golds, and oranges flatter blue eyes beautifully, while warmer hues like pink and burgundy can help bring out the earthy tones in green eyes. If you have brown eyes, try a rich, jewel-toned shade like royal blue or eggplant to emphasize the golden flecks in your irises.

3. Line your waterline with a nude shade

Instead of using black eyeliner on your waterline—that thin strip of flesh that sits between your eyelashes and eyeball—opt for a nude shade. Placing lighter eyeliner here can make your eyes appear bigger and more awake without it appearing obvious that you’re wearing makeup. You can also use a shimmery champagne or metallic rose gold hue to brighten up the eyes.

4. Trace your way to a flawless cat eye

If you’re ready to attempt a cat eye but are nervous about getting the perfect feline flick, try this eyeliner makeup tip: Hold a business card diagonally against the corner of your eye and trace alongside it with a pencil. You can also put a piece of tape in the same area and use that as a guide. Once you remove the “stencil,” as it were, you should be left with an ultra-clean, precise line.

5. Give your liquid liner time to dry

After applying liquid liner, keep your eyes closed for 30 seconds. This will help prevent any accidental smudging while the liner is still wet. You can also lock in the product by dipping a small shadow brush into a powder shadow and lightly patting that over your liner, much in the way you’d use a setting powder to set your foundation.