All About Eyeliner: 4 Types and 4 Tips

Eyeliner is used to outline and define the eyes. It can help create a soft, smudgy look or a bold, dramatic look and it can change the allusion of eye shape.

4 Types of Eyeliner

Pencil

Pencil eyeliners are fast and less expensive so they are great for everyday. The point does have to be sharpened frequently, but pencils create a softer look. To apply, draw little sections at a time and fill in the line. Rather than applying one long stroke, go back and forth to define the line.

Liquid

Liquid eyeliners have high pigmentation and can create a super precise line. Liquid is great for creating the trendy winged/cat’s eye liner look, but it takes a super steady hand and practice. To apply, steady your hand the best you can by resting your elbow against a solid surface or resting your hand against your chin as you draw the line. Starting at the inner corner or midway, drag the brush along your lash line in short strokes, continuing along and going back over the line as needed.

Kohl

Kohl eyeliners are thicker, softer pencil eyeliners and often come with a rubber tip to smudge and soften even more. To create thick, dark lines for that smudgy or smoky look, apply the kohl eyeliner along the lash lines. The great thing is you don’t have to be super precise because the eyeliner will be softened out Next, blend the color out with the blending tool, or even a qtip. I’ve even used my fingers to soften and smudge kohl eyeliner.

Gel

Gel eyeliner usually comes in a little paint pot and is applied with a separate brush. The beauty of gel is that you can really control application, it is soft and often a more waterproof formula. The brush can give you very precise control on application.

4 Tips for Eyeliner

Dried product

Liquid and gel eyeliners, and mascaras, that have dried out can easily be revived by adding a drop or two of eyedrops and mixing well.

Lower line

So many MUAs say not to make the bottom lash line too dark with eyeliner. Personally, I think a dark lower line can be used to make certain looks work. The concern is that eyeliner on the bottom lid smudges more easily, so avoid touching your face or eyes!

Uneven line

Liner sometimes ends up all crooked and uneven, or on the brow, or nose, or… yeah, it can be hard to control. Don’t pull your eyelid to make skin taut, as that actually makes the line askew. Draw from the outside in, so inner to middle and then outer to middle. Use short strokes that combine to make one smooth even line. Finally, rest your elbow and/or your hand against something to steady your hand as you apply the liner.

Prime

Eye primer used to help eyeshadow stick will also help eyeliner stick. Primer can also be a good color tool, so if you are shooting for bold contrast, the primer should help develop that contrast as well.