Makeup Primer

Eyeliner

A pigmented product used to define the lash line or create graphic shapes like a wing.

A black eyeliner pencil resting near a gold eyelash curler and three makeup brushes on a wood surface

What it is

Eyeliner defines the lash line and, depending on technique, can reshape the perceived shape of the eye entirely - most visibly with a winged liner shape. It's sold as pencil, gel, liquid, and powder (applied with a brush), each offering a different balance of precision and ease.

How it works

Pencil liner is the softest and most forgiving, dragging pigment along the lash line with the least precision but the most room to smudge and correct. Liquid liner uses a fine brush or felt tip to lay down a crisp, high-pigment line in one pass, which is precise but unforgiving of mistakes. Gel liner (applied with a separate brush) sits between the two - more control than pencil, more workability than liquid.

How to choose one

  • Beginners generally have the most success with pencil or gel, both of which allow small corrections before the line sets.
  • Liquid liner rewards a steady hand and practice, and is the standard choice for sharp, graphic winged shapes.
  • Waterproof formulas hold up better through humidity and watery eyes but require an oil-based remover to take off without tugging at the lash line.

How to apply it

  1. Get steady before you start. Rest your elbow on a table and look down into a mirror held slightly below eye level - this shows the whole lash line without pulling the lid.
  2. Work in short strokes close to the lashes, starting at the outer corner and working inward, rather than drawing one long line.
  3. For pencil, soften it straight away. Smudge the line with a small brush or fingertip before it sets for a softer, more diffused look; for subtle definition without a visible line, tightline into the upper lash line instead.
  4. For liquid, dot then connect. Place small dots along the lash line and join them up, which is far easier to keep even than one continuous stroke. For a wing, see Winged Liner.
  5. Clean up with a cotton swab dipped in a little makeup remover, or sharpen the edge with a small flat brush and a touch of concealer.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling the eyelid taut while applying, which distorts the natural shape and often results in a line that looks wrong once the eye relaxes.
  • Applying liquid liner in one long stroke instead of small connected segments, making mistakes harder to correct.
  • Choosing a formula that doesn't suit the eye's oiliness - liner on very oily lids tends to smudge or migrate within a few hours regardless of how well it's applied.