How to apply liquid eyeliner

Easy instructions to guide you through the minefield of liquid eye liner


How to apply liquid eyeliner


Liquid eyeliner can make a real impact on the eyes, and create sultry, sophisticated look, but it is notoriously hard to apply!


Even experts will tell you there is a knack to applying liquid eyeliner, it can be very tricky, but practise makes perfect.


Below is a step-by-step guide to help you apply liquid eyeliner like a professional.


Choose carefully.
Look at the brush on the liquid eyeliner, make sure it is not too big or too small. Too big will be difficult to manoeuvre and a brush that is too small will be too fiddly and difficult to create the look you want.


The brush should have a thick base with a delicately pointed tip.


Rest your arm
Most people that know how to apply liquid eyeliner will tell you the easiest way to apply it is by resting your elbow on a surface as you do.


Set the mirror up in front of you and before you take the lid off the liner, make sure you can manoeuvre comfortably.


Just the tip.
When you are starting out, just use the tip of the liquid eyeliner, this is easier to handle and even though you will only get a thin line, you only need a thin line and you can easily build it up for a more dramatic look.


Where to line
Where you apply the eyeliner (and how much you apply) will depend on the look you are trying to create.


If you are going for a subtle look, start at the inner corner of your eye very close to your lashes and draw a thin line to the outer corner, keep the line as close to your eyelashes as possible.


The flick.
Even the experts will tell you that creating a flicked out cats eye look with liquid liner requires practise, once you get to the outer corner of your eye, draw a small flick diagonally upwards (not straight up, but use your eyelashes as a guide, this will help to make the flick even)


Big eyes
The key to creating a wide-eyed look with liquid liner is to build up the liner in the right places, make the line slightly thicker towards the outer half of your eye.

This means that when you are looking directly into the mirror, you should make the line thicker from the centre of your pupil to the outer corner of your eye.