Eyeliner Types and When to Use Them

  • Pencil eyeliner: Easiest for beginners — forgiving, smudgeable, easily correctable. Best for soft, natural or smoky looks. Lasts shorter than liquid but great for the waterline.
  • Liquid liner (felt tip pen style): Precise, bold lines. Best for a cat eye or graphic liner. More skill required but long-lasting. Corrects with a cotton bud dipped in micellar water.
  • Gel liner (pot or retractable): Glides on smoothly, very pigmented, long-lasting. Applied with an angled brush. Good for thick, dramatic lines.
  • Kohl/kajal: Very soft, highly smudgeable. Best for lining the waterline (inner rim) for a defined, intense look.

How to Apply Eyeliner

  1. 1

    Steady your hand

    Rest your elbow on a flat surface (table, vanity). Rest your little finger against your cheekbone for stability. These two points of contact dramatically steady your application and are the biggest technique upgrade for beginners.

  2. 2

    Apply in small dashes, then connect

    Rather than trying to draw one continuous line in a single stroke (which leads to wobbles), apply 3–5 small dashes along the lash line and then connect them into one smooth line. This technique works for all liner types.

  3. 3

    Start at the right position for your liner type

    Pencil: start from the inner corner and work outward. Liquid felt-tip: start from the outer corner and work inward — it is easier to control the tip dragging towards you. Place the liner as close to the lash line as possible to avoid a gap between liner and lashes.

  4. 4

    Cat eye flick (optional)

    For a winged liner: imagine extending the lower lash line upward at the outer corner — this gives the angle for the wing. Draw a small line upward at this angle, then connect it back to the lash line to create the triangle. Fill in the triangle. Scotch tape held at an angle guides a perfect straight wing for beginners.

Long-lasting liner tipsPrime the eyelid with eyeshadow primer or a thin layer of eyeshadow in a neutral colour before applying liner — this gives the liner something to grip. Set pencil liner with matching eyeshadow over the top. Waterproof formulas last longer but are harder to remove — use a dedicated eye makeup remover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Switch to a waterproof or long-wear formula. Prime the area under the eye with a concealer or primer before applying. Set with a translucent powder after application. If liner always smudges on you regardless of product, the issue may be oily skin or oily lids — an oil-absorbing primer applied to the eye area before makeup significantly extends wear time.
Immediately after a mistake: dip a small cotton bud in micellar water and gently wipe away the error before it dries. Once dry: use a flat concealer brush with a small amount of concealer to paint over and clean up the edges. A pointed cotton bud gives the most precision. Liquid liner is unforgiving when dried — working quickly on corrections is key.