3-Step Easy Eyeliner

This is the face I make when I’m having a bad eyeliner day…

LOL! Yes, having a bad liner day is a real thing (albeit one that doesn’t exactly constitute the definition of “important”), and it’s happened to me on many, many occasions.

It usually happens when I’m rushing (in other words, all the time), or I’ve had too much caffeine and get the shakes, or when I’m just less coordinated than usual for reasons I can’t explain. The resulting uneven lines (referred to as “wonky liner,” as in “My liner is extra wonky today.”), cray-cray bat wings, jagged edges, or combination of the three are extra annoying.

I’m always trying to figure out ways to make lining my eyes easier, and I think I’ve hit upon something that works.

It’s totally easy (important) and fast (also important), too. You just need 1) your favorite long-wearing pencil liner and 2) an angled brush.

Ideally, the pencil liner should be one that gives you enough time to smudge and manipulate before it dries, like the Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners from MAC ($16 each). They’re long-wearing, so they don’t transfer up into my crease as I go about my day, but when I’m working with them, they stay soft for 2-3 minutes, which gives me enough time to tweak, cajole and play.

The shade I’m wearing in these pics is Chanel Stylo Yeux Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ardoise. It’s a dark gunmetal gray with subtle shimmer. Really, though, use any liner that you like.

Here’s what I do…

STEP ONE

First, I sharpen the pencil, because I really want a precise point. Then I draw a thin line along my upper lash lines, really getting in there at the roots of the lashes with the pencil’s tip.

At this point, it doesn’t really matter if the line is neat because we’ll sharpen the edge in a second. The key is just to make it thin.

STEP TWO

Next, I grab my angled brush (usually the NARS #47 Angled Brush), and use it to smooth out the edge of the line, working from the inner corner out, and subtly thickening the line as I go.

The resulting soft liner defines the eyes but doesn’t look too harsh. It’s also very fast and very easy (yay!).

Sometimes, depending on the clock, I’ll stop at this point, then curl my lashes and add mascara, but if I have a few extra minutes, I move on to step three…

STEP THREE

The flick. When I’m in the mood for one (which I usually am), I take my pencil liner and add more on the outer corner of my upper lash line. Then I drag out the liner to create a soft flick with my angled brush.

After that, if I STILL have a little more time, I’ll tight-line my water line with a black eye kohl to make my lashes look thicker.

That’s it! 🙂

Seriously, this is the easiest way I know to do liner. If you end up giving it a whirl, please let me know! And let me know if you have any questions.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen