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18 Useful Tips For People Who Suck At Eyeliner

Forget wings: Sometimes you just need help drawing a straight line.

1. First: Know that there are three basic types of liners.

2. Different-color liners can have different effects.

3. The shaky-hand struggle is real — but there's a way to solve it in three easy steps.

4. If you're just starting out with liquid liner, begin with dots. Then slowly connect them.

5. You can also do the same thing with dashes.

6. When applying liner, try not to pull the skin on the side of your face. If things get a little messy, clean up your line with a makeup remover–soaked cotton swab.

7. A dab of primer or concealer can work wonders for fixing smudges.

8. Start by drawing a messy line, then clean it up with a little petroleum jelly.

9. Or if you're really in a jam, use clear lip gloss.

10. A smudge brush can transform a not-so-perfect eyeliner application.

The product featured in this tutorial comes with a brush, but you can also buy your own.

11. You can use a little bit of black eyeshadow to clean up a splotchy eyeliner line.

12. If you think eyeliner looks a little too intense on your face, try tightlining — which is putting the liner *beneath* your lash line.

13. A quick way to set or intensify color on your waterline? Dark eyeshadow.

14. Once you have your eyeliner where you want it, prevent the dreaded crease stamp with the help of a little translucent powder.

15. Not ready to fully commit to liner yet? Use your favorite shadow as a faux-liner so you can get used to a similar look.

16. You can also tailor your eyeliner shape to your eye shape, once you feel confident in your application skills.

17. Put the liner on your eyelash curler to save time and help you get a straight line.

18. And when you're feeling like you might want a little cat eye, use this two-step trick to make it easy.

Get the step-by-step here.

And HEY: Don't feel bad if you don't get it the first time!

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