Raise your hand if you’ve ever accidentally poked yourself in the eye with your eyeliner. (So, that’s pretty much everyone.) While eyeliner tends to be pretty straightforward—the basic idea being that you just trace your lash line—there are some surprisingly tricky aspects that can mess you up. The ultimate goal is perfecting liquid liner, which is like the cool clique of the eye makeup world (a.k.a. intimidating and perfect in an Instagram-worthy kind of way). But with the right tips, you can get gel, liquid, and pencil liners down to an art form. Read on for the biggest mistakes you’re probably making.
Mistake #1: Pulling or tugging your eye when you draw on eyeliner
Pulling your eye back so your skin is taut and smooth seems more like common sense than a mistake, but apparently, we’ve all been wrong about this one. “When you pull and then release your eye, it bounces back—and your eyeliner does, too. This can create bumpiness, texture, and that dreaded check-mark shape hanging off the eye,” says Lijha Stewart, makeup artist and director of artistry at Make Up for Ever. It’s tough (since pulling your skin taut probably feels like second nature at this point), but try to use your fingers to anchor your skin instead.
Mistake #2: Using the wrong eyeliner formula
Liquid or gel liners look super-dramatic, but they set so quickly that you have basically zero time for blending. Since blending is your best friend—softening and blurring the lines can make mistakes seem less noticeable—you’re better off using a pencil like Fiona Stiles Beauty Ultra-Smooth Waterproof Eye Defining Pencil, especially if you’re a novice or have shaky hands. “A waterproof or long-wear pencil will give you a little play time for blending, and then stay put without smudging or smearing throughout the day,” says Fiona Stiles, celebrity makeup artist and founder of the eponymous makeup line. Still shaky on the differences among all the formulas? Check out our in-depth guide to every type, plus the pros and cons of each.
Mistake #3: Attempting to paint on liquid liner with a brush applicator (and failing)
Kind of how the wands choose the wizard in the world of Harry Potter, everyone has a liquid liner applicator that works for them. “Some people do better with a brush, others like a felt-tipped applicator,” says Stewart. “Everyone’s hand is slightly different.” She suggests experimenting with a few different kinds of applicators to figure out which you’re most comfortable with—and while that sounds time-consuming (and expensive), it’s worth it if you’re serious about getting a perfect cat eye. Felt-tipped pens like Make Up for Ever Ink Liner are best for beginners, since they offer the most control.
Mistake #4: You only line your lower lash line
open next page to continue reading….
