28 Graphic Eyeliner Looks We Love
December 22, 2022
What Is Graphic Eyeliner?
Graphic liner refers to any more stylized, bold way of wearing eyeliner than, say, your traditional cat eye or wing. You can play with shape, color, and placement — so long as it’s a little different, it counts as a graphic liner look.
28 Graphic Eyeliner Looks and Tutorials
Need some help in the inspiration department? Keep scrolling for ideas you can create using a black eyeliner pencil, colorful looks featuring pops of green, blue and hot pink, bold creations and more.
Bold Graphic Eyeliner Looks
1. Go Green
Use a green pencil liner to recreate the simple lines in this look. We love the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil All-In-One in Matcha. For precise but soft lines, use a freshly sharpened eyeliner and warm it up with your fingertips before applying.
2. Negative Space
Line slightly below the bottom lash line to create some contrast to your look. Keep the rest of the wing outlined — but not filled in — to play up the negative space. The key to nailing this look is an uber-precise liquid liner, like the NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Matte Liquid Liner in Black.
3. Cherry Bomb
If you’re ready to level up your liner, consider this bold look. Red on the eyes is certainly a statement, and we love the added embellishments for an extra touch.
4. Cut Crease Liner
Cut creases already take some serious technique, but add in a perfected cut-out cat eye with liner, and we’d say you’re ready to go pro.
5. Glitter Tear
To nail this look, you’ll need a bold, long-staying black pencil to line your waterline. We suggest the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Perversion — no amount of glitter tears will budge that intense color.
6. Wear Your Stripes
We’re in love with the deep purple, metallic stripes in this look. To keep your lines looking smooth and smudge-free, make sure each one dries down completely before moving to the next.
7. Mod Eyes
The NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil All-In-One in Black Bean is perfect for nailing those smudge-y, buffed out lines. Add some white liner in the waterline and under the wing for a shadow effect.
8. Autumnal Tones
For a similar, metallic liner moment, we love the Maybelline New York TattooStudio Gel Pencil Eyeliner in Metallic Nights. Make sure your tip is extra sharp and clean up any mistakes with some makeup remover.
9. White Space
We love this easy-to-follow white liner tutorial from Shuang Bright. Our go-to for those super slim lines? The NYX Professional Makeup Epic Wear Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in White.
10. Floating Liner
Graphic liner can still be minimal. Keep things simple with a neutral-colored halo over your crease. We like the Kulfi Underlined Kajal Clean Waterproof Long-Wear Eyeliner in Cheeky Chiku.
Black Graphic Eyeliner Looks
11. Buffed Out Black
This look requires two tools: a great black pencil eyeliner and a small blending and buffing brush. The Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl Smoky Eyeliner in Black Coffee is made for this kind of sensual, intense eye look.
12. Textured Liner
Get a little edgy with textured liner technique as seen here.
13. Masquerade Eyes
For a seriously unique look, use a thin, black liner pen to create a masquerade mask-like eye. One of our all-time favorites is the Giorgio Armani Beauty Smooth to Silk Eye Pencil. Set with a powder to last all day.
14. Tattoo Liner
The graphic liner and bright pink lashes combo is so good. Add in some tiny black pearls on a few lines for a sophisticated touch.
15. Back to Black
Frame an iridescent, barely-there shadow with a smokey black halo and cat eye. Use a brush to buff out the edges of the liner for a more lived-in look.
16. Liner Lashes
Make lash-like strokes using a felt tip liner for a mod eye look. Add a pop of white in the inner corner to brighten the eye.
17. Lifted Look
For an unexpected take on the cat eye, extend your wing all the way to the tips of your brows. Keep the rest of your makeup minimal to make sure the eyes really pop.
18. Triple Winged
Why have one wing when you could have three? The look is easy enough for a beginner to nail but looks seriously impressive.
Colorful Graphic Eyeliner Looks
19. Outline It
The key to this liner look is the black cat-eye base. By anchoring your blue detailing to it, you really pack a punch.
20. Bubble Gum Liner
This blue-and-pink moment is giving modern day pixie vibes, and we love it. To recreate, the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil in Chaos is perfect for lining the waterline and carving out the wing.
21. Fairy Flicks
With absolutely show-stopping eyes like these, be sure to tone down the rest of your makeup so all the focus is on that epic liner moment.
22. Just Winging it
This double wing is a great take on butterfly wings. Make the look your own by incorporating your favorite pastel hues around the liner.
23. Blue Times Two
We’re here for this alternative take on a double wing. Use a gel liner to flick out two lines in complementary hues within the same color family.
24. Green With Envy
Take note, because the double wing is a bonafide trend. For an edgier take on the look, take your wings all the way out past the edges of the brow and really smoke them out.
25. Red Hot
This look is seriously fire (sorry, we had to).
26. Confetti Eyes
We’re obsessed with this whimsical, fun graphic liner look. For those precise lines, be sure to use an extra-thin eyeliner brush or a resharpenable eyeliner pencil.
27. Pink Haze
To get this sort of an ombre effect, layer a pink shadow on top of the orange liner and buff it in so the colors get slightly muddy.
28. Blue for You
Pro tip: When going with a bold graphic liner like this, use a mascara in the same color as your liner to make the entire look pop even more. For something blue, we love the L’Oréal Paris Makeup Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara in Cobalt Blue.
Read more
