What are some tips and tricks for applying eyeliner for the first time?

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1. Watch a few videos, and go slowly with short light strokes.

2. Don’t poke yourself in the eye.

3. The first time is probably going to be a disaster, get used to that.

   Do it right before you wash your face at night to practice- every time you do it you will be better at it.

   But DON’T use it for the first time on an important occasion- practice first in the privacy of your home.

4. Top or bottom?

5. Try starting at the outer corner of your eye and draw a line outwards, making the base for the wing. Then draw the line along your upper lash line, connecting to the start of the wing you just drew. After that just make the liner thicker bit by bit until you get to your desired thickness. Q-tips really help!!

6. Step 1: throw the eyeliner away

   Step 2: apply eyeshadow as liner with a thin slanted brush

   Step 3: waterproof mascara on upper and lower lash line

   I stopped using traditional eyeliner. I can’t stand the feel of it anymore. There’s tons of tutorials on YouTube and if you’re like me, being shown how to do something is better in terms of makeup. I keep pointed q-tips around for any mess-ups. Holding the skin taut helps too.

7. The first few times will probably be big messes, accept that and prepare to practice!

   I like to start with a powder eyeshadow in a light-ish brown and an angled brush and map out my shape. It’s easier to remove than eyeliner. Once you have the shape right, you can go over it with your pencil, gel or liquid liner. When you do your wing, follow your lower lash line up towards your eyebrows, and extend out as far as you wish.

   I used to take a big mirror and my makeup bag in the living room and sit in front of the telly to practice for hours. Learning your eye shape and your lid space makes it easier to know what shape/length wing suits your face and eyes.

8. It’s gonna look awful. For a while. I’d practice with face paint (cheaper and easier to take off repeatedly) for a while. The technique I personally find helpful is to start at the outlier corner and make a short line up at the angle of my eyelashes, then go to the center of the top of my eye and draw a line to meet the end of the first. Then I fill that in and trace the rest of the eye with a thin line. But just play with it

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10. If you have dry skin be prepared for long and exhausting session of washing eyeliner of your face that may end up drying skin around your eyes. I had to start using foundation because of it.

11. Going fast has always worked better for me, the faster and more carefree you are the better it looks

12. They don’t always have to be liquid brushes!

    I was told by several makeup artists that I’m “a pencil girl” (pencil liners suit me better than liquids). Pencils or retractables are great alternatives to liquids, and perhaps more beginner friendly as you get acclimated to the movement.

    Try the 3 point technique. Dot where you want it to start, peak, and end, so you can focus on going point to point without stressing too much about making both sides even while you’re applying it.

    You also don’t always have to go black! If you’re fairer or have lighter eyes, browns and even deep purples and blues and greys will flatter your complexion more than stark blacks.

13. Use a brush instead of a pencil much easier

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