Eyeliner 101

Eyeliner is a great way to begin wearing makeup. There are many types of eyeliners out there which allow you to achieve a variety of different looks. Depending on what look you wish to achieve, you will want to use different eyeliners to get that desired result. Here are the most common examples of eyeliners used and how to apply them.


Pencil Eyeliner
This is the most commonly used liner since it is very easy to manage and control. Pencil eyeliners come in a variety of colors and just about every brand of makeup carries it. I would suggest purchasing one that is both ophthalmologist tested and waterproof. To apply, you simply “draw” on the line close to your lashline. You can also use it to apply color on your waterline. Maintenance is very simple, just sharpen as needed!

Liquid Eyeliner
If you prefer a more dramatic look, i.e. Arabic/cat eyes, then liquid eyeliner is the product for you! Since it is very slick it provides a more bold, well-defined line which you can control the thickness of. Liquid eyeliner generally comes in a tube with a brush that pulls out with the liquid on it. You apply it directly above the upper lashes with a steady hand by brushing short strokes close to the lash line. Start at the middle of the eye and slowly brush across the lash line. Then, start at the inner part of the eye and continue to brush until you reach the middle of your eye that you began with. This is the most difficult liner to apply, so you need patience and lots of practice!

Gel/Cream Eyeliner
This liner is often used by professional makeup artists. It is creamy and glides pretty easily. Since this liner takes a bit longer to dry, it is great for smudging along the lashline to create a smokey eye. Cream eyeliners generally come in a pot that you can dip an angled brush, fine tip brush, or even a pencil eyeliner in to get the product out. It can even be used as a creamy base underneath eyeshadow.

Eyeshadow as an Eyeliner
If you find yourself in a pinch without any eyeliner, you can simply use eyeshadow. All you need is a stiff, angled brush or a pencil brush to line your eyes quickly and easily. Apply with a wet brush using your eyeshadow of choice and “draw” or smudge along the upper and/or lower lashline. This is great for a more subtle daytime look or use eyeshadow to smudge on top of another type of eyeliner to get rid of any harsh lines. Also, the color possibilities are endless! However, this method does not last as long as other eyeliners do.


Now that you have the basics, go out and start "lining" up your options!

Crime does pay!
The Makeup Bandit