How to Apply Liquid Eyeliner in 4 Easy Steps

October 13, 2020
Alanna Martine Kilkeary
By: Alanna Martine Kilkeary | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
person wearing black liquid eyeliner
We’ll be the first to say it: Liquid eyeliner can be very intimidating. Between the thin, watery formulas, the tiny brushes that are hard to control and trying to make both eyes look even, we totally get it. That’s why we spoke with makeup influencer Hannah Lyne to get her tips and tricks on how to get the job done. Here’s what we learned about the right way to apply liquid eyeliner.

STEP 1: Pick Your Liquid Eyeliner Carefully

Creating the perfect cat eye begins with the liquid eyeliner pen you decide to use. Lyne recommends either the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Super Slim Eyeliner or the Maybelline New York Master Ink Eyeliner if you’re looking for a drugstore option.  
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Super Slim Eyeliner

STEP 2: It’s All About Anchoring

Grab your liquid eyeliner pen, and anchor your elbow onto a hard, flat surface. “The key is to make sure you have a steady hand when applying it, so resting your elbow on a surface helps a lot,” says Lyne. This will help ground your movement and make your line more stable.

STEP 3: Don’t Just Close Your Eye – Open It, Too

“I always open my eyes and map out where I want to put my liner and how I want it to look before I shut my eyes to apply it, so that it doesn’t just look good with my eyes shut,” Lyne notes. As you drag your line across your upper lash line, (start about 3/4 of the way in) open and close your eye throughout, so you can tell how the liquid eyeliner looks as you go along.

STEP 4: Make Sure to Set It

Once your eyeliner is applied, Lyne reveals that the best way to keep it from budging is to make sure you set it. “I keep my eyeliner from smudging throughout the day by making sure I’m well powdered before applying — and then I set the eyeliner with a little black eyeshadow, which can help, too,” she says.
 
Photo: Chaunte Vaughn

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