When it comes to makeup we know it can have the incredible power to inspire our mood and allow us to express our creativity with each product. We also know how challenging some of the products can be and eyeliner is top of our minds.

As makeup professionals, there are a lot of expectations on creating the best looks that enhance natural beauty and this guide will get you covered with these top eyeliner tips.

First of all, know that there are multiple types of eyeliner pencils each with a different consistency. Consider the look you are trying to achieve before you decide which type to use.

• Powder based: liner eye pencil which offers less intense colour – a good option if you want to smudge liner for a smoky look.
• Gel / Cream based: simple excellent application, rich in colour – a good choice for winged/cat eye look.
• Liquid Liner Pencils: often resemble a pen or a felt marker, mistakes can be very visible and difficult to correct because of the deep colour so a steady hand is needed – practice is the key to this one! Once you get this one mastered it offers the most dramatic and intense look.
• Pencil Eyeliners: come in a broad range of colours from electric blue to traditional brown and black.

Most of these eyeliner types come in a variety of colors, so a good rule is to apply shades such as black, brown, deep plum, or grey if you want a natural look. You can soften or intensify these colours however you like. Keep in mind that stronger colours will stand out against your eyes & eyelids, so a good idea is to use them for special occasions/nights out. If you want to tone them down for every day, pair them with a darker neutral colour eyeshadow.

Different colours help highlight different eye colours e.g. plum makes green eyes pop, grey looks great with blue eyes, purple tones look great with brown eyes, and brown and black are a good choice for all.

Next, we recommend having these eyeliner essentials in your makeup bag to make life easier and thrive on your eye makeup.

Eyelid primer, Q-tips, a small-tapered brush, eye shadow brush, pencil sharpener, eye make-up remover

• Eye primer, stops the eyeliner from running or fading.
• Q-tips, are handy to smudge or soften liner or dipped in eye make-up remover for corrections.
• Brushes, to apply eyeshadow or soften liner top or bottom.
• Pencil sharpener, for best application and to shave off the surface that may be exposed to bacteria.

Seat tight and get comfortable, here comes the most challenging part and that is the application. These are our tips to win the eyeliner game.

• Rest your elbow on a flat surface to steady your hand.
• Blend your eye primer on leave for 10 seconds.
• Lightly hold the outer corner of your eye – try not to tug the lash line, as this can make the line you are drawing appear smeared.
• Place a pencil as close to the lash line as possible and slowly draw a thin line to start. (a thin line gives a more natural look).
• Start at the outside corner of your eye, you want the least amount of pigment on the inner corner of your eye.
• Thicken the eyeliner line as you like, if you want to do a cat eye/winged style you will need to thicken the eyeliner line.
• Draw a line at a 45-degree angle from the corner of your eye.
• Start at the bottom of the outer edge of your eye and extend upwards. You can make this line as long or short as you want.
• Some makeup artists suggest making dots or dashes along the lash line and then connecting them if you have a shaky hand.
• Remember that good lighting is essential for all makeup applications, direct bright light that shines evenly across the face helps apply makeup for consistent coverage.

Applying pencil to lower lid

• Place the eye pencil as close to the lash line as possible, avoiding the rims of your eyes, and slowly draw a thin line from the outer corner to the inner corner.
• The eyeliner on your lower lid should be softer than on the upper lid.
• A good rule is to keep it to 1/3 the size of the line on your upper lid. Your eyes will look larger if you only line the outer 2/3rds of your lower eyelids instead of going all the way into the inner corners.
• Connect the lines only on the outside corner of the eye, using the tip of your eyeliner to join your upper and lower lines.
• Be careful not to apply too much liner in the corner, it may smudge!

A complete circle of eyeliner provides a dramatic, intense look and suits larger eyes. It may look harsh on small eyes or more mature eyes. To soften the eyeliner on your upper and lower lids, helps make the look more natural and softer, the use of a brush or a Q tip to soften/smudge the line often helps. Another option is to apply brown eyeshadow over the eyeliner on your lower lid, using a small tapered brush works well to soften a black eyeliner.

Highlight your eye for extra pop – apply a white eyeliner or shadow at the inner corners of your lids and you are ready to go!

Achieving eyeliner perfection may seem intimidating at first, but with the right techniques and practice, you can master the art of eyeliner application and create flawless looks anytime.

For more expert guidance on makeup tips and products that can help you and your clients, reach out to [email protected]. We love to hear from you and discover how to partner to elevate your business.