5 Time-Saving Eyeliner Tips to Speed Up Your Morning Routine

Mornings can be rough. After hitting that snooze button for the fifth time and rolling yourself out of bed, you go into panic mode. Showers are cut down to minutes and blow drying your hair is a pipe dream. But you don't need to deprive yourself of life’s little pleasures (like graphic eyeliner!) just because you're short on time.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up these makeup artist-approved tips so you can “wing” your eyeliner look, no matter how rushed your morning might be.

TIP 1: Go Smoky
If you’re not exactly dexterous with eyeliner and don’t have time to create a super-straight cat eye, don’t worry. You can still add definition to your eyes, sans the struggle. Swipe a line across your upper and lower lash line using kohl liner — and don’t worry your application being perfect. “Use eyeliner as a base on the lid for shadow by simply applying it and smudging it with your finger like a cream eyeshadow,” says New York-based makeup artist, Ashley Rebecca.

To get the look, try Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil, a fan-favorite pencil that’s long lasting and delivers high performance pigment.

TIP 2: Use a Lining Tool
If you’re determined to get razor-sharp, winged liner in the morning but only have minutes to spare, get a little scrappy with your application. Pick up a tool like a business card or Scotch tape to hold against the outer corner and create a quick, perfect wing.

TIP 3: Try an Eyeliner Marker
Quick and easy eyeliner is all in the tools you’re using. When you’re rushed in the morning, you don’t always have time to fiddle and play with cream eyeliner tubs and their respective brushes. You need a tool that will allow for the easiest application possible. And, what’s easier to use than a marker? The thicker tips make thin wings a little tricky, but make drawing thick, bold wings a breeze. We recommend the NYX Professional Makeup Super Fat Eye Marker for this, a magic-marker-sized pen liner that’s long-lasting, smudge-proof and offers clean, dramatic lines.

TIP 4: Keep it Simple
Sometimes, when you’re short on time, it’s best to go back to the basics. “Use waterproof liner on the top and bottom inner rim of the eye to create a simple, tight definition that lasts all day,” says Rebecca.

TIP 5: Flip the Script
If you’re flying out the door but adamant about rocking a fresh look, there’s a surprisingly simple way to do so: “Line the bottom of the eye under the lashline, and apply mascara on the top for a reverse eyeliner look that's modern and quick,” says Rebecca.