A Beginner’s Guide to Applying Eyeliner

How to Apply Eyeliner for Beginners

Applying eyeliner can seem challenging if you’ve never done it before, but we promise, it’s much more straightforward than it may seem. Ahead, learn how to do eyeliner like a pro in six simple steps.

Step 1: Pick an eyeliner you love

Whether you choose pencil, gel, or liquid, each has its own special application and skill level. An eyeliner pencil is perfect for an everyday look and is arguably the easiest to use. Just make sure to regularly sharpen your pencils (if needed) to achieve a clean, precise line.

Gel eyeliner typically comes in a pot and is applied with a brush. These can be a little trickier because you need to pick up the right amount of product to apply. Gels have a creamy consistency that lets them glide across the eyelid easily. You can also find gel eyeliner pencils, which combine the ease of a pencil with the rich, pigmented color payoff of a gel.

The most advanced liners fall into the liquid category. They can be unforgiving if you make mistakes, but once you master the precision needed for proper application, liquid eyeliners are unparalleled for creating cat eyes and other dramatic eye shapes.

Step 2: Prime your lids

Regardless of the eyeliner formula you choose, an eyeshadow primer will prep your lids and create a smooth, even base for your makeup application. We like the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, which helps keep eye makeup crease-free and pigmented all day.

Step 3: Draw the line thin and close to your lash line

When drawing your eyeliner, focus on applying it right against the lash line. Many find success by gently holding down the lid to create a smooth surface for application. You can always build it up later to create a thicker line, but it helps to have your base down first. To elongate your eyes, try keeping the line thinnest at the inner corners of your eyes and gradually thickening it as you reach the outer corners.

Step 4: Don’t forget to blend

If you’re using an eyeliner pencil, blend it out for a more natural look. A dual-ended pencil with a sponge attachment at the end makes this process a lot easier, but you can also blend your liner with your finger or a smudger brush. The pressure you apply will determine if your line is slightly softened or completely smoked out.

Step 5: Fix any mistakes with a cotton swab

If you messed up, don’t worry—it happens to the best of us. Instead of starting from scratch, dip a cotton swab in makeup remover or micellar water and use it like an eraser to carefully remove any mistakes. To remove waterproof eyeliner, we recommend using the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover.

Step 6: Finish off with a setting spray

Once you take the time out of your morning to apply that cat eye, you don’t want it rubbing off a few short hours later. Make sure it stays put by finishing off your look with a few spritzes of a setting spray. We’ve been loving the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray+ for its soothing hydration and ability to keep your makeup looking fresh all day while helping control oil and shine.

5 More 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.

Our Favorite Eyeliners for Beginners, Intermediates, and Experts

Whether you’re still trying to figure out how to put eyeliner on without having to clean up your lines or you’re a seasoned liner expert, there’s an eyeliner out there to suit your needs. Here are some of our favorite formulas to try.

Lancôme Idôle Tint Liquid Eyeshadow and Liner

This versatile formula is one of our top picks for a one-and-done (and incredibly flattering) makeup look. The smudge-resistant liquid formula comes in a tube and features an angled doe foot applicator so you can apply it as an eyeliner or all over the lid for an easy eyeshadow look. It can even be used on the cheeks in lieu of your go-to highlighter or blush. The lineup includes seven shades in both matte and shimmer finishes, each of which offers up to 16 hours of smudge- and crease-resistant wear. It’s best for intermediates and experts looking to up their liner game.

Valentino Beauty Colorgraph Eyeliner

Blend, smudge, or wing your eyeliner in mere seconds with this one-and-done, dual-ended gel eyeliner. On one side, you’ll find a creamy, pigment-packed gel eyeliner; on the other, a soft blending brush. Pick your favorite shade from the lineup—there are six—and use the versatile formula to show off your eyeliner expertise with a graphic wing or a ‘90s-inspired smokey eye. Once the creamy gel formula sets, you’ll enjoy up to 24 hours of waterproof and smudge-resistant wear.

NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Featuring a slender and flexible brush tip, this intensely-pigmented range of waterproof, liquid eyeliner pens comes in a variety of nude shades for precise, seamless lines. So if you’re looking for a barely-there line or want to try your hand at the siren eye trend, turn to this flake-resistant formula and watch your inspiration come to life.

Maybelline EyeStudio Master Precise All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Even beginners are likely to find this liquid eyeliner easy to use, thanks to its ultra-fine precision tip and ergonomic grip that doesn’t feel awkward in your hands. The drugstore favorite comes in a range of bold, saturated shades—from vibrant blues to classic matte blacks—and offers up to 12 hours of waterproof wear for looks that last.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

Whether you’re a beginner or a more practiced eyeliner enthusiast, these long-lasting eyeliner pencils deserve a spot in your routine. The application is smooth and easy, the wear is long-lasting (up to 16 hours!), and the waterproof formula won’t smudge or budge. But the shade range is what we like most about these classic eyeliner pencils. There are 38 (!) hues to choose from, with options in matte, shimmer, glitter, satin, and metallic finishes.

NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Matte Liquid Liner

We’ve tried a lot of eyeliners, and our editors can’t recommend this liquid liner enough. When we reviewed the formula, we fell in love with the pigmented, matte black finish, the all-day wear time, and the fine-tip brush. This liquid liner gives you total control and precision—which is why it’s among our favorite liquid eyeliners for beginners.

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner Pencil

If you love the look of smudgy, smoked out eyeliner, this is the perfect pencil to add to your collection—regardless of your skill level. It comes with an eyeliner on one end and a silicone smudger on the other. Once you draw on your eyeliner, take the smudger and gently drag it on top of the line to create a sultry (and practically effortless) smokey eye look.

Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil Dramatic Eyeliner

Hybrid gel formulas can be a great option for intermediates looking to experiment with different eyeliner formats. This one boasts a classic gel liner housed within a pencil applicator for an easy application. It delivers vivid, pigmented color in a single stroke, and, once it sets, wears for up to 24 hours without smudging, fading, flaking, or transferring.

Maybelline New York TattooStudio Sharpenable Gel Pencil Longwear Eyeliner

If you’re a beginner, this easy-to-apply eyeliner deserves a spot in your makeup bag ASAP. It boasts a creamy, gel-like consistency that easily glides across the lid, comes in a wide range of colors from classic neutrals to vivid brights, and you can pick it up at your local drugstore. Plus, the formula is smudge-resistant, waterproof, and wears for up to 36 hours (though we always recommend taking your makeup off before hitting the sheets).

MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil

This creamy, matte, and richly pigmented pencil stays on your lids and waterline all day without smudging or fading, according to the brand. If you’re somewhat confident in your application abilities, create a soft, subtle wing by drawing the liner all the way to your outer corners, then softly drag the color out with the pencil’s attached brush.

Next Up: 5 Nude Eyeliners That’ll Make You Look More Awake