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5 Eyeliner Techniques for Bigger-Looking Eyes
Our eyes are unlike any other part of our body. It’s often said that they betray our innermost emotions, and a single gaze is worth more than a thousand words.
There’s a reason why a lot of makeup techniques are fixated on the look of the eyes. Our eyes tell stories with one glance. For example, a bright, opened-up eye shape can signify friendliness and innocence, while a dark, smokey eye can indicate sultriness and intrigue.
You’ll also notice almost every makeup artist gets the most creative with eye makeup, crafting new eye shapes and styles. But before you can experiment with out-of-this-world Euphoria-worthy looks, it’s important to lay the foundation. Let’s start with the basics: how to open up your eyes.
Types Of Liquid Eyeliner
There are two main types of liquid eyeliners: felt tip liquid eyeliners and brush tip liners. Liquid eyeliner is much more flexible than pencil liners. They’re ideal for precise styles like the cat-eye or fox eye. This is a good way to create both supernatural looks and super-defined eyeliner looks. But to really maximize its full potential, it’s important to choose the right kind of liquid eyeliner that will open up your eyes.
A brush tip liquid eyeliner is very flexible and allows you to create a thin, sharp cat-eye or trace your lash line with precision. However, the softness of the brush may be a challenge for newbies. That’s why we recommend a felt tip liquid liner, which has a stiffer applicator that is better suited for bold, intense looks.
Another great contender is the gel eyeliner which typically uses a brush and pomade to create bold, striking eye styles. It’s also great for beginners and pros because of the flexibility and pigmentation, and it works great on both almond eyes and hooded ones.
What Are the Different Ways to Apply Eyeliner?
There are an infinite amount of ways one can play with eyeliner. You can experiment with the lash line, eye shape, shadow, and so much more. Great eyeliner technique can open up small eyes or make sharp eyes look soft.
How Do You Do Good Eyeliner Step By Step?
Here are the three most popular eyeliner styles and how you can apply them:
Cat/Winged Eye
For such an iconic look, the winged eye is one of the most difficult liquid eyeliner moves to do. But we’ll share our favorite way to cheat this classic: the dot technique.
Instead of going from your inner corner to your outer corner in one (shaky) swoop, place three-four dots just above your upper lash line. This will provide you with a solid base for your winged eye and allow you to go from one point to the other, perfecting the shape.
As for the wing, the placement can depend on your eye shape. In general, the tip of your wing should extend to the end of your brow bone or eyebrow. If you’re applying liner on almond eyes, simply position the tip of the liner in the shape you want your wing to look and press down. For hooded eyes, it’s super important to draw your wing while looking straight ahead in a mirror. This should cause a gap where your eyelids fold — simply fill it in when you close your eyes.
Fox Eye with Liquid Liner
Get ready to walk out the door feeling like Bella Hadid with this ultra-chic look. Simply do the usual line on your upper lash line: the thinner, the better. (We recommend doing this with a brush tip eyeliner to achieve the desired thin line.)
Next, extend the line from your inner corner a few centimeters out, essentially creating a new inner corner. This widens and sharpens your eye shape.
Puppy Eye
The latest beauty trend in eyeliner is called the puppy eye. Instead of an upturned wing, simply create a downturned shape at the outer corner of your eye. Then, line your lower lash line to meet the downturned line. This is great for those who already have bigger eyes or hooded eyes who may have trouble with winged liners.
You can try this method with liquid liner for precise lines, or an eyeliner pencil to achieve a softer look. Don’t worry if you smudge it — that just adds to the effect.
The Best Eyeliner Techniques to Make Your Eyes Appear Bigger
1. Use Taupe-Colored Eyeliner on Your Lash Line to Open Up Your Eyes
Despite it being a lighter color than your usual liners, taupe adds slight drama to your eyes. It’s both light enough to make your eyes appear bigger while having just enough pigment for impact. It also brings out the rest of your eye makeup, so your mascara and eye shadow can truly shine here.
2. Apply White or Flesh-Toned Eyeliner on Your Waterline for a Bigger Eye Shape
Applying white makeup on your upper waterline or tear duct area is one of the oldest tricks in the book. This instantly opens up your eyes no matter what your eye shape. Simply fill in the line above your lower lash line (called your waterline), gently going from the inner to the outer corner in short strokes.
Since it can be tricky to mark the waterline, you can also try lining your lower lash line instead using soft strokes. The beauty of eyeliner is that you can always experiment with what works for you.
3. Keep Dark Liner on Your Outer Third/Outer Corner
Instead of drawing a line from one corner to the other, keep the dark liner on the outer corners of your eye and away from the inner corners. Emphasizing the outer corners results in a doe-eyed look perfect for daytime and night.
4. Try Tightlining
Whether you’re a beauty guru, celebrity makeup artist, or a newbie to the whole thing, this technique is pretty simple to master! Tightlining simply means filling in the gaps of skin between your eyelashes, going from the inner to the outer corner.
This gives you a made-up appearance, not to mention brighter-looking eyes, without the risk of drawing a too-thick line that can so easily swallow up small or almond eyes. It’s also a time-saving technique for when you can’t do a whole makeup routine.
5. Go From Thin to Thick
Another one of our best tips when trying to achieve a cat-eye is gradually going from thin to thick as you move from the inner to outer lid. Your eye shadow can also follow suit for added emphasis. This gives the illusion of a sharper eye as opposed to a line across your lid with the same thickness all the way through.
How Do You Draw An Easy Eyeliner?
While learning through hard work and practice is noble, it sure takes up a lot of time. We’ll let you in on a secret: sometimes the best way to learn is by making your own rules. Here are some of our favorite eyeliner hacks that’ll save you an hour or two in the bathroom.
Create a Dramatic Cat Eye in Smaller Steps
We’ve already shown you our favorite dotted eyeliner technique: instead of drawing one swoop on your upper lash line, outline it first with dots so you have a visual guide. Once you’ve gotten the hang of this, try applying the same strokes without the dots. It helps to break down the line into smaller strokes so you have more control and cleaner output.
Apply Gel Liner with a Concealer Brush for a Smoother Finish
Are you a fan of gel liners? Pro tip: try applying it with a concealer brush. The brush can help reduce pressure; this is great for those with shaky hands. Try using a brush that is wide enough to make a thick and smooth line across your lid.
Go For Smudge-Proof Liner, But Not Too Smudge-Proof
Beginners, listen up. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes on your first few tries. Because of this, you’re going to want an eyeliner that actually comes off easily (take it from us!). So don’t worry about buying expensive waterproof liner on your first go around. Whatever liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner you already have is good enough for practicing different eye shapes.
Use Mascara as Liner When You’re in a Rush
One thing I’ve learned is that when you’re pressed for time or makeup products, knowing which beauty products can substitute for each other is a necessary skill. In this case, mascara can give off the same look as an eye-opening liner without adding an eyeline.
Use A Post-It as a Guide for Winged Liner
We all know a wonky wing can undo all the hard work we’ve done on perfecting the lash lines. If you’re scared of messing up, try using a sticky note as a guide. Place it between the outer eye rim and the brow then just trace the outline. This will ensure that your outer corner perfectly aligns with the end of your brow, which adds to the “open-eye” effect.
Trace Your Cat Eye With a Pencil First
Want more definition and a precise line but aren’t quite confident with your skills yet? Try it first with a dark brown liner. It’s much easier to clean than a fluid liner and is more forgiving on your lash lines. After you’ve outlined your eye shape, simply trace over it with liquid eyeliner, and voila. No smudging on the lower lid or upper waterline! This is also a great pro tip if you have hooded eyes.
Makeup Primer is Better Than Makeup Remover for Erasers
Messing up your liner is completely okay. To make the process easier, remove the ink with a makeup primer instead of a makeup remover. Often, the oil on makeup removers can smudge the pigment all over your eyelid.
Find a Comfortable Position
If you have shaky hands, make sure to apply your liner in a comfortable position. Rest it on a flat surface for best results.
Final Note
You don’t have to be a professional makeup artist to follow these tips. In fact, with just a little bit of practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Got any questions that we haven’t covered? Maybe you’ve got a pro tip of your own. Queries, hacks, and experiences — share them all below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply eyeliner without any gaps?
A common problem when you’re trying to achieve that super-snatched liner is running into your actual lashes on the lash line. Avoid awkward gaps by lifting your eyelid and lining your eyelashes in between the gaps of skin on your lash line. This gives you access to all areas of the skin next to your lashes that are always in need of liner love.
How do I apply eyeliner with curled lashes?
Have you ever perfected your entire eyeliner process, from the outer corners down to the wing, then realized you’ve yet to curl your eyelashes? Without smudge or waterproof liner, curling your eyelashes can result in messy pigment that transfers all over your eyelid. Always curl lashes before applying the liquid liner to prevent smudging.
