21 Easy Eyeliner Hacks Everyone Should Try

    They'll be the wind beneath your wings.

    Daniela Cadena
    by Daniela Cadena

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about the best eyeliner hacks they've ever tried. Here are some useful tips that actually work:

    1. Figure out what works best for your eye shape.

    youtube.com

    "Practice for your eye shape. Different shapes look better with different looks (even though everyone looks great no matter what — you do you, boo). Drawing the line from your bottom lash line to the end of your eyebrow and then filling in has always been the best trick. Flawless winged eyeliner every damn day."

    —Kateri O'Hare, Facebook

    2. Start with a challenge.

    letgoat.tumblr.com

    "Do the harder eye first! Then it's easier to match the other eye."

    —Adele Jayde, Facebook

    3. Get the perfect wing by connecting the dots.

    youtube.com

    "I get the angle of the wing right by holding my liner at the corner of my lip and aligned with the edge of my nose and then pressing down lightly with the brush/point to mark the angle. Then I connect the mark to the corners of my eye and it works every single time."

    —Lauren Nayman, Facebook

    4. Stop watching tutorials and start experimenting.

    5. When it comes to the perfect eyeliner, a magnifying mirror can be your best friend.

    kitchenbathroomfixtures.com

    "Two words: magnifying mirror."

    —s484024fc1

    6. Use a piece of paper to achieve a straight line.

    youtube.com

    "I take a piece of thicker paper (thicker than regular paper but thinner than a credit card) and line it up with the corner of my eye and angle it where I want my wing to go. Then I take my eyeliner and draw my line while pressing down on the paper: straight line every time!"

    —sierrav46c928331

    7. Always use two hands.

    youtube.com

    "It’s a two-hand job (particularly the older you get). Stand in front of a mirror and use your non-drawing hand to hold your eyelid taut. Make your wing on the outer corner then taper the line out halfway across the lid. It’ll make life soooo much easier."

    —Kateylou

    8. Avoid oily lids by using shadow primer.

    urbandecay.com

    "Prime your eyelids with a shadow primer and put on a matte shadow shade that matches the color of your skin. This way, the lids won't be so oily, which will prevent your makeup from deteriorating and spreading all over. ALSO: SETTING SPRAY."

    —Amanda Galluzzo, Facebook

    9. Draw the wings first, and the rest will follow.

    fashionsy.com

    "I always use pen eyeliners because I think of it like a marker. Start with the wing! Then, use a cotton swab to make them even. Just fill in the triangle shape after that. Also, I tend to do better when I don't put a lot of pressure on myself for it to be perfect. If you psych yourself out, you'll be too nervous to draw a straight line."

    —Brillian Qi-Bell, Facebook

    10. Smudge your wings, on purpose.

    walmart.com

    "I have downturned, hooded, close-set eyes. Best tip for eyeliner: Only go three-fourths of the way from the outside to the inside on both the upper and lower lids. Make sure to use a very defined pencil tip for the smallest line close to the lashes. Wings and flicks are hard for me, so I usually don't try them. I would rather smudge a darker eyeshadow on my outer eyelid to give the illusion of an upswept wing."

    —Sunshine Then, Facebook

    11. Trade liquid for gel and a stiff brush.

    ulta.com
    bobbibrowncosmetics.com

    "Using gel liner with a stiff brush makes it so much easier. I used to use liquid liner and would never be happy. Then I got a gel liner and a fairly stiff brush and it's so easy now compared to earlier. I think it's because it doesn't move as much compared to a liquid, so you don't mess up as easily."

    —Caroline Hammer, Facebook

    12. Dark eyeshadow will soften your look and erase all your mistakes.

    room27.ru / Via sunkissedlove.tumblr.com

    "Softening the look with a bit of dark eyeshadow can cover a multitude of sins. Save the extreme sharp winged look for special events. Keep it quicker most days by dotting a felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen right along the top of your lash line to get a bit of dark definition. Let that dry, then blend over it with a medium-narrow line of brown or black eyeshadow to get a casual smokey everyday look."

    —Amy Gunkler, Facebook

    13. Never put eyeliner on your eyelash curler!

    youtube.com
    youtube.com

    "Practice, pick a brand that works for you, hold your eye taut, and NEVER put eyeliner on your eyelash curler! It could make the lashes stick to it and pull them out!"

    —Naomi Burger, Facebook

    14. Don't believe the felt-tip hype.

    loraccosmetics.com!prettyPhoto
    sephora.com

    "Most people say that beginners should use a felt tip, but when I first started out I wasn't comfortable with it at all. But when I got a brush tip it was as if I saw a new light! It's all about what makes you feel comfortable and gives you the most dexterity. I use is the Lorac Front of the Line Pro liquid eyeliner or Kat Von D's tattoo liner.

    —Cat Lebosada, Facebook

    15. If you're really committed, tattoo it.

    instagram.com

    "My ultimate hack: Tattoo the damn things on. Sure, it hurt like hell, but I have perfect liner 24/7 and consider it the only good decision that I have ever made (regarding cosmetics)."

    —Angie Smith, Facebook

    Obviously, this is extreme. Talk to a dermatologist and find a reputable tattoo shop for this procedure if you decide to go ahead.

    16. Matte eyeshadow can greatly improve your eyeliner.

    sephora.com

    "Set your eyeliner with matte black eyeshadow. It goes from looking thin, bumpy, and awful, to looking so gorgeous. Changed my life."

    —Cat Ann, Facebook

    17. Concealer > makeup remover when it comes to perfecting your wing.

    youtube.com

    "Don’t erase all that work with water or makeup remover! Concealer and a Q-tip are like a magic eraser when it comes to big black smudges!"

    —kassandraannw

    18. Kandee Johnson's tutorial will up your eyeliner game.

    youtube.com / Via youtube.com

    "Watch Kandee Johnson’s winged eyeliner tutorial. It changed my winged liner game FOREVER!"

    —sophiarohatynsky

    19. Start with pencil and then top it off liquid eyeliner.

    youtube.com

    "If you want to wear liquid liner, but you’re scared to mess it up, try applying liner thinly with a pencil liner first, then go over it with the liquid liner."

    —a45ebf00e3

    20. Never hesitate when it comes to eyeliner.

    benefitcosmetics.com

    "Don’t hesitate! When you hesitate your hand shakes and the line becomes wonky. Draw the line and then fill it in as dark as your soul desires."

    —redianaroberta

    21. And just like everything else in life: Practice makes perfect.

    wantmakeupideas.tumblr.com

    "Best advice for winged liner: Practice, practice, practice! Also, know your eye shape and where the liner will sit when your eye is open. Try different techniques and mediums to best suit your skill/comfortability level. Personally, I like using long-wear pencil liners (UD 24/7 and Marc Jacobs) or felt-tip liners (KVD trooper & Stila Stay All Day)."

    —Katy J. Campbell, Facebook

    Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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