Liquid eyeliner for beginners

I’m sure by now many of you have seen the meme "never ask a girl with winged eyeliner why she is late." So accurate right? You could even drop the ‘winged’ part and it would still generate a collective “amen” from the sisterhood of beauty. Because let’s face it, eyeliner is HARD. And even though there are so many liquid eyeliner hacks out there, nothing beats advice from the experts. So if you really want the days of trying to fix your liquid eyeliner feline flick (which usually turns into a muddy mix of foundation and liner) to truly be behind you, listen up.

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#1 Use the right tools

Makeup artist Eloise Proust suggests to those using liquid or gel eyeliners, that a good quality eyeliner brush is a must (we love the INIKA Cosmetics Vegan Defining Angle Brush). She also says, “Try not to put too much product onto your brush before you apply.

“Use a tissue or the back of your hand as a pallet to lightly swipe the brush until it has a fine point and just enough product on it.”

And unlike other brushes, which require cleaning every few weeks or so, she says to “make sure you clean your eyeliner brush every time after use - you will not achieve a nice sharp line if your brush has a build-up of product on it.”  

Obviously giving your brush a thorough shampoo after each use is every lazy beauty’s nightmare, so opt for an alcohol-based brush cleaner to make it quick and easy (like Manicare Cosmetic Brush Cleaner).

Or if you’re using a liquid liner that comes with a felt tip applicator (like Benefit Roller Liner Eyeliner), these do not require cleaning. Just make sure you’re always putting the lid back on properly to avoid it drying out.

#2 Consider your eye shape

“Always examine the eye shape before beginning the line,” says international makeup artist Heidi Scarlett King. If your eye has more of a downward shape, your line at the outer corner of your eye should be drawn slightly higher than the natural shape of the lid, to help lift it.

“Or if the eye is very round I tend to [create a] cat eye line by taking the liner [just two-thirds] along the eye, going thicker at the end.”

If you’d like to know more about how to apply eyeliner for your particular eye shape, you can find loads of advice here.

Eloise also shares a tip for those just starting out: “There is nothing wrong with stretching out your eyelid slightly, which will make it much easier to apply a straight even line.”

#3 Prep the eye

If you’d like your eyeliner to stay put, (particularly if you have oily lids), then prep is very important. Makeup artist and beauty therapist Sheri Vegas says, “I like to clean the eye area first (bh recommends using something gentle like Swisspers Cleansing Makeup Remover Pads for Eyes) and then apply a cream eyeshadow as my base, as once it has set it has staying power.”

By applying an eyeshadow, primer (like DB Cosmetics Eye Primer) or even a touch of concealer onto your eyelid first, the eyeliner will have something to grab onto and it won’t slide around as much.

And for those who always find their eyeliner transferring to the top of their eye, Eloise recommends avoiding liquid and pencil eyeliners and opting for a waterproof gel eyeliner instead. “Make sure you then wait 30 seconds until [the] product is dry before you completely open your eyes.”

bh loves: Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, Rimmel London Scandal'Eyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliner

Do you wear eyeliner often? What’s your best application tip?