How to Apply Eyeliner for Beginners

Payal Bhattacharya

"Never ask a girl with winged eyeliner why she's late."

In the realm of makeup and beauty, eyeliner alone carries the power to accentuate the entire look with just one right stroke. Oh, wait! Make those two. Two precise, neatly drawn strokes that require the hand-eye coordination of a sniper. One wrong move and you could end up looking like a panda. If you think we're exaggerating, try for yourself. It is hard to differentiate between skill and luck when talking about eyeliners. One of the most basic makeup items, eyeliner has been around since the ancient Egyptians wore it in 400 BC. No wonder it is regarded as the first-ever beauty product and is globally used by people of all cultures.

To define the shape of eyes, here's How to Apply Eyeliner for Beginners the right way.

Most Common Eyeliner Varieties That Can Help You Make The Best Purchase -

First things first! Get the eyeliner that suits you best. If you are unable to decide, try using a sample product in your nearest cosmetic shop. Here are the common varieties that you can choose from.

Gel eyeliner - Extra smooth and highly pigmented, these eyeliners dry out quickly. For a perfect winged eye look, gel eyeliners are your best friends.

Pencil eyeliner - If you are wondering how to apply eyeliner for beginners, pencils should be your go-to option. Easy to use, you can quickly smudge it away if things go awry. Pencil liners are also convenient for the waterline or smoky-eye look.

Liquid eyeliners - Ideal for precise application, liquid liners are comparatively hard to work with. But there's no match for the impactful and defined results it can give. For beginners, choose the one in the form of a marker line pen.

Don't Know Where To Start? These Steps Will Help You Apply Eyeliner

How to apply eyeliner perfectly is a mystery that every make-up lover is looking to solve. If you get the liner right, you're already a semi-pro and probably acclaimed as the go-to makeup girl for your friend group. But here's the secret - nothing is hard. When it comes to makeup all you need is a good eye and a lot of practice. So even if you are just a beginner, worry not and get ready to sharpen your skills. Do read these simple hacks to apply eyeliner!

Prep your eyes - Before you pick up a liner, cleanse and moisturize your face properly. Use eye cream as it will help smooth your skin, fix the discolouration and make you look fresh.

Achieve an even base - Rub a pea-sized amount of primer around your eyes. It will give you a flawless finish and help your makeup last longer. Finish off with a dash of setting powder.

Line your eyes - Take your eyeliner and start applying it above your eyelashes in small, neat strokes. Try to avoid thick strokes as they could smudge your entire look. Once done, repeat the procedure for the second eye.

Draw the wing - If you are not satisfied with the basic line, find the right angle and start from the lower lash line to carefully extend it upwards. Be extra cautious as one wrong line can ruin your entire look.

Smudge it out - For finishing touches, you can smudge out the wing with the help of a pencil liner. Add some mascara and you are done!

Common Tips And Tricks That Will Improve Your Eyeliner Application Skills

There's hardly any girl who hasn't spent at least half an hour in front of the mirror trying to get the eyeliner right. Whether you're a college fresher or a professional woman, bringing your A-game is a top-shelf priority and a neatly applied eyeliner is the first step to achieve it.

Follow the dots -

If you are looking for an easy method for how to apply eyeliner by yourself, try making three marks along your eyelid. Once done, take a liner brush and join the resulting dots.

DIY eyeliner stencil -

If you are unable to get the perfect wing, just use skin-friendly tape or a post-it note as a stencil to help draw the wing properly. Once done, remove it carefully and wipe off the extra product, if any.

Stabilise your hand -

Usually, women either hold a portable mirror or look in the dressing mirror while putting on the liner. But as a beginner, you need to make sure that your hand is stable. Plant down your elbow on a flat surface and place your pinky finger on the cheek.

Angle your mirror correctly -

Instead of looking up into a mirror, try looking down. To achieve this, you can try holding a portable mirror with your free hand instead of standing in front of your vanity.

Use concealer to erase your mistakes -

In case you end up with a crooked line, continue normally till the end step. Take a brush or earbud, dip it in concealer and slowly work it over the crooked part. You can correct your liner again and set it with powder or nude eyeshadow for best results.

Soften the tip -

It can be hard to achieve accurate results when the tip of the pencil liner is hard. Take your hair dryer and blow it on the tip for a few seconds. This will immediately soften the tip up, thus giving you a much smoother tool to work with.

Whether you’re going to attend a work meeting, family get-together or a wedding, eyeliners work wonders regardless of the occasion. From the most basic to a full-fledged makeup look, eyeliners are compatible with most outfits and hairstyles. Many girls still wonder about how to perfectly apply a winged eyeliner, so here are few tips and tricks about how to get a iconic eyeliner look. Purplle has a wide variety of eyeliners available in not only black, but in multiple shades that can be used to impart an aesthetic look to your eyes.