Applying eyeliner seems like one of those vastly personal things, ya know? Like fragrances, or buying skinny jeans. I have gal pals who always apply from the same direction, some who draw dots they then smudge, buddies who do both eyes at the same time… There are just so many different ways to go about it.
I was drawing my liner this morning with a new crush, Clarins’ splendidly smooth and dark Crayon Khôl Eye Pencil in Intense Black ($25) when I started thinking about all the different ways we line our eyes.
I usually apply pencil liner one eye at a time following this approach…
- Bottom water line, working from the outside (the side closer to me ear) inward toward my nose
- Top water line, working from ear-side to nose
- Roots of my upper lashes (gotta get between the base of those hairs!)
- Upper lash line, again from ear to nose
- Lower lash line, yep, from ear to nose
- Then I’ll smudge when I want/feel I need to
It depends a little on the formula. I have a slightly different routine for liquid, gel and cream liners, but generally the steps are the same, except for how I handle my upper lash lines. I’ll line then from the opposite direction, working from the inside out (from nose side to ear). I don’t know why, but for some reason that’s just easier for me with liquid and gel liners.
How about you? How do you line your eyes? Do you have a time-tested technique, and what products have you been loving lately?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I just want to say..your hair always looks so full and amazing.
I line from the inner corner out, no matter what formula I use for lining. I brought Nars Veneto black eyeliner based on a review and it does a great job of lasting on the waterline. But so far my favorite is Mac Graphblack technakhol liner for the waterline,last all day.I mostly use pen or gel liners for my top lid.Love glitter and shimmer liners but they have a tendency to irritate my eyes so I wear them well below the water line.
I always start with the upper water line, and then I do my lower waterline. I always go in and out, in and out, in and out a couple times so that the color gets really intense and so that the product really gets between all those lashes. And then I smudge the lower line a bit.
I always do lower water line, first and from the inner part to the outer.
I almost always wear a bold flicked liner, starting from the inner corner and running the liner across the lid into the flick. I’ve been wearing my liner like this (more or less) for the last 10 (ish) years so it doesn’t really take a lot of brain power anymore. I’m not loyal to one brand because I’m always in the mood to try what’s new, but I do love the Eyeko Skinny Liquid liner and Geisha Girl liner since they come in pen form and make things super easy.
I like to start with the upper water line and smudge the lower water line a little. When lining, I always start from the inner corner out.
Regardless of the formula, I generally start with the middle of the upper lash line moving outward, I then go back in 2-3 times to do the inner half and work on the shape and thickness. After that I do my waterlines – starting from inner -> outer for lower and midway to outer for upper lash line.
I always pull my eyelashes and eyelid down with one finger when I line the upper lashline – this method has always worked to keep my skin taut and the line nice and even. I start at the inner corner for my right eye and the outer for my left when lining the upper lashline. I always line from the inner corners when lining my lower waterlines. I will go over the line again as needed – depending on the eyeliner, I only need one coat or several to make it defined.
I haven’t been able to find a khol pencil that lasts more than 2 hours on me :C. I have super oily lids and I really want to use this kind of look at the office (blaaack color in my upper and lower lash line pleaseee). Even if I put an eye shadow over, It smudges. Which one would you recommend? I’m desperate. xD
Hi Karina,
Do you use primer? I find a primer really helps keep things in place. My favorite is the one by NARS in the white tube, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base.
Here’s a review:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/nars-unsung-heroes-pro-prime-smudge-proof-eyeshadow-base/
You can then try setting your liner with a black shadow. The sandwich of the primer, liner and powder should last.
Or, you could try switching to a gel liner, like MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/mac-unsung-hero-blacktrack-fluidline/
One last thing you can do is spray a setting spray on your makeup. I like the one by Urban Decay. Only thing is you have to do it before you apply your mascara.
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/unsung-heroes-urban-decay-all-nighter-makeup-setting-spray/
HTH!
Wooow thanks for your answer!!! I’m going to try all of your tips 😀 Wish me luck n.n. Love your blog btw 😀
Good luck! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
I feel your pain on the oily eyelids… I like to apply an eyeshadow primer to my lids, and then dusting some of my setting powder over it. For liners, I find that the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners last the best on me. They’re a little pricy, but they truely do last. A word to the wise, I find that the matte/creamy ones last longer than the shimmery ones. I really like Zero (matte black), Perversion (blackest black, Whiskey (Matte medium brown) and Sabbath (navy blue). I’ve also been experimenting with the Milani Liquidlike Eye Pencil from the drugstore, and it’s the closest thing I have found to the Urban Decay liners. For some reason, the regular pencils (the kind you sharpen) last longer than the retractable pencils on me. After I apply my liner, I always let it sit for a minute or two before applying mascara or anything else, to make sure that it’s really not going anywhere. 🙂
Hiya Karen!
What are you wearing on your eyelids and cheek? Your cheeks look heavenly! hehe …as in a glow from the inside!
Please post.
Hi Sushmita,
Thank you!
I’m wearing a new blush by Clarins called Graphic Expressions. Here’s a link to the review:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/clarins-graphic-expression-face-blush-powder/
On my lids is the new Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture palette in Eye on Neutral shimmer. I’ll have the review up in a few. 🙂
I tightline the upper lid or draw right along the top of the lashes and smudge. I usually try to angle the line upward slightly for a mini-eye lift. I never do the bottom lashes because it looks far too dramatic on me for everyday wear. And lining the bottom lashes doesn’t really flatter my eye shape. Makes them look droopy. So top lids it is! Simple and quick.
This is really weird but I do the same as you both for pencils and gel and liquid! 🙂
But for gel and liquid I start in the middle of my lash top line then to the ear. If I do a wing I do it afterwards.
If I want to go right into the inner corner I do that right at the end . I’ve never managed to get the inner corner like a cat eye but I think that’s because of my eyeshape.
My routine can vary quite a bit! Lately it’s been Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Liner in Taupe along the top lid and a tiny bit dotted along the lower lashline. If I’m doing a darker liner (brown – I never do black, it’s just not right on me), I don’t do the bottom lashline – it just looks bad on me. If I do the inner rim (not very often), it’s always in a beige or ivory color to make me look a bit more wide-eyed. I can’t pull off the dark tightlined eyes.
If I’m dressing up, I like to do a cat eye. I did cat eyes everyday for a long time when I worked at a cosmetics counter.
I think my next eyeliner purchase will be the LE Chanel Khaki Bronze liner that goes with the LE Le Volume.
I usually start on the earside and work toward my nose on the top; I always seem to start with tightlining and then sometimes add more if I want a flick or something else!
Your liptstick looks lovely..what are you wearing?
I always line from nose to ear. First my left, top lash line. Then my right top lash line. Then bottom left, then bottom right. Then a little smudge for all 4. Nothing stays on my water lines so I almost never line them. 🙂
I do my upper lashline from the outside in and then lower lashes from the outside to midway in and then smudge. I don’t bother to do my waterlines although I used to do tightlining, because the liner wants to then migrate onto my contact lenses regardless of what brand or type I use.