What is the best eyeliner for beginners?

The felt-tip pen format is the most forgiving for beginners: its rigid felt tip rests steadily on the eyelid, the line comes out even without requiring a steady hand, and it dries quickly. The pencil is an even easier alternative, since it can be corrected and blended effortlessly, although its line is less sharp. Liquid brush formats and brush gel are best left for when you've already mastered the technique.

How do I do a cat eye if I have hooded eyelids?

Draw the flick with your eye open and looking straight ahead, never with your eye closed: this way you place it where it will actually show when you blink. Draw a short flick that extends the lower lash line towards the eyebrow, and keep the rest of the eyeliner fine, thickening only the outer third. Avoid stretching the eyelid and use long-lasting formulas so the crease doesn't erase the line.

Are eyeliner and eye pencil the same thing?

They're related but not identical. Eyeliner is the generic name for any product that draws the line around the eye contour; the eye pencil is one of its formats, alongside liquid, felt-tip pen and gel. The pencil gives a softer, more blendable line, while liquids and gels offer sharper, more intense and longer-lasting lines. The choice depends on the finish you're after.

How do I stop my eyeliner from smudging during the day?

Start with a clean eyelid, free from oil or cream residue: apply an eye primer or some translucent powder before lining. Choose waterproof or long-lasting formulas if your eyelid is oily, and set pencils with a dark shadow in the same shade applied on top with a fine brush. On the waterline, remove excess moisture before applying and touch up halfway through the day if needed.

What eyeliner should I use on the waterline?

Only khol or kajal pencils, specifically formulated for the mucosa: their creamy texture adheres to a damp area and their formula is designed for close contact with the eye. Never apply liquid or felt-tip eyeliner to the waterline. A black khol intensifies and adds depth; a nude or light one, on the other hand, visually enlarges the eye and brightens a tired look.

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Reviderm

Graphic Precision Liner

High-precision liquid black eyeliner

39,50 €

What eyeliner is and what it's for

Eyeliner is the product that draws a line of colour — usually black, though there are as many colours as you dare to wear — close to the lashes to define the eye's contour. Depending on how it's drawn, it completely changes the intention of your look: a thin, discreet line thickens the lashes without being noticeable; a stroke extended towards the temple creates the classic cat eye or feline eyeliner look; a smudged line becomes the base for a smoky eye.

It's probably the makeup product with the biggest reputation for being difficult, and also the one that's most worth mastering: with the right format for your level and a couple of supporting tricks, eyeliner stops being a lottery.

Types of eyeliner: liquid, gel, pencil and felt-tip

Liquid eyeliner

The classic with a fine, flexible brush applicator. It offers the most intense, crisp finish, with that characteristic glossy black. Its brush requires a steady hand, but allows for millimetre-precise strokes and sharp wings. It's usually the favourite for graphic liner and flawless finishes.

Felt-tip eyeliner

A liquid liner with a rigid felt tip, handled like a writing marker. It's the most forgiving format for beginners: the tip provides stable support, the line comes out even and it dries quickly. Ideal for everyday cat eyes.

Gel eyeliner

A creamy texture in a pot, applied with a fine or angled brush. It's the professional studio favourite for its versatility: it allows crisp lines, but can also be smudged before setting for smoky looks. Many gel formulas are long-lasting and waterproof.

Eye pencil, kohl and kajal

The most intuitive format: it draws directly, corrects easily and blends beautifully. Kohl and kajal, being creamier, are also designed for the waterline and lower mucosa. They sacrifice some crispness in exchange for speed and a softer finish.

How to choose your eyeliner

Besides the format, consider the finish —matte, satin or glossy— and the colour. Black is the most intense and graphic; brown softens and flatters light eyes or daytime looks; bold shades, from electric blue to burgundy, refresh any makeup with a single stroke. As a quick guide:

If you're just starting out: felt-tip or pencil; they're forgiving of a shaky hand and correct easily.
If you're after maximum intensity: liquid or gel, with finishes ranging from matte to glossy.
If your eyelid is oily or your liner smudges: waterproof or long-lasting formulas, applied on an eyelid free of oil residue.
If you want to blend: creamy pencil or gel, worked before they set.
For the waterline: always kohl or kajal pencil, never liquid formulas.

How to do a cat eye step by step

Rest your elbow on a stable surface and look straight ahead with your eyelid relaxed, without stretching it.
Start by marking the flick: a short stroke that extends the direction of your lower lash line towards the end of the eyebrow.
Connect the flick to the rest of the eye by drawing the line from the outside in, close to the lashes.
Gradually thicken towards the outer corner and keep the inner corner fine.
Fill in gaps with short strokes; small mistakes can be fixed with a cotton swab barely dampened with makeup remover.

For hooded eyelids, draw the flick with your eye open and looking straight ahead —this way it ends up where it should when you blink— and keep the line fine in the centre of the eyelid.

Common eyeliner mistakes

Pulling the eyelid towards the temple: when you release it, the line becomes uneven and the flick shifts position.
Trying to get the perfect line in a single stroke: short, overlapping strokes give better results.
Making the line thick from the inner corner: this closes the eye and hardens the look.
Applying over an eyelid with traces of oil or cream: the eyeliner migrates within a few hours; a primer or some powder prevents this.
Comparing your two eyes stroke by stroke up close: symmetry should be judged from a medium distance, looking straight ahead.

With the right format for your level and the technique of drawing the flick first with the eyelid unstretched, eyeliner goes from being the dreaded step to becoming the signature of your makeup: few things elevate a look as much with just one product.

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