Style July 5, 2017
Get ready to hear people say, "SLAY" because these tips will have your winged eyeliner totally on fleek.
Photo via Instagram / @nikkifrenchmakeupIt’s no understatement when we say: Makeup can be hard. And it’s even more frustrating when the Instagram models make it look so effortless and easy.
But don’t worry. With this winged eyeliner tutorial, you’ll at least be a pro in one of the staple liner styles in no time. Here’s entity’s list of winged eyeliner tricks that will have your friends begging to find out your secret to making your makeup slay.
Yes, we know this sounds like we’re telling you to start with the last step. But this hack will save you from those dreaded black smudges on your perfectly contoured face.
Going for the natural look? This can mean using a little foundation or concealer on the eyelid instead of an eyeshadow. Primer is key here to give you a nice even base before you apply foundation to your eyelid. Use a beauty blender and a small amount of foundation, just enough to create an even base. Powder is also important to set the area, which will lock that winged eyeliner in place.
PRO TIP: Even if you’re going for a minimal look, use a neutral-colored eyeshadow in your crease. This will emphasize your winged eyeliner and polish off the look.
Another benefit of defining your crease? If you smudge your eyeliner on your eyelid, you can use a small brush with tightly packed bristles to erase your mistake with foundation or concealer. Blend powder over the area you fixed and into your crease so the added bit of darkness is smoothed out seamlessly. Problem solved!
But if it’s more of a full glam kind of night, then start with your eyeshadow. Perfect your crease or glittery lid before moving on to eyeliner.
PRO TIP: With a full glam look, it can be harder to fix the look if your hand slips and suddenly there is eyeliner on your lid in all the wrong places. But don’t worry. Using a damp Q-tip can help you spot treat specific areas that get smudged. This allows you to go back in with eyeshadow to clean up the look without completely having to start over.
Whether you are just learning the art of winged eyeliner or it is your everyday look, everyone makes mistakes. Don’t let your mistake be spending 30 minutes baking, highlighting and contouring your face … just to have all your work ruined.
When you start with your eyes, it is way easier to get the hard part out of the way first. And when you do go back in with foundation and powder on the rest of your face, you emphasize the sharpness of the line you just created.
PRO TIP: Think of foundation like a magic eraser. Any bumps or curves in the line will magically disappear by lightly running foundation under your eyeliner. And doing so will also define the line. It’s a win-win!
When it comes to winged eyeliner, it is all about the sharp line. Using a liquid or felt-tip eyeliner allows you to start with a more defined tip than a traditional eyeliner pencil.
Looking for top quality? Try Kat Von D Ink Liner.
Available at: Sephora
Price: $20
Color: Trooper – Ultra Black
Looking for the cheaper option? Try e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Liner.
Available at: Walgreens
Price: $2
Color: Jet Black
While these eyeliners look great pressed against your lower lash line, they don’t work so well up top. Why? They have rounded tips. When applied, they won’t give you the darkness or sharpness you see in many winged eyeliner looks.
Not all eye shapes are created equal. Sorry to break it to you, but for some eye shapes, creating that winged look is just easier.
The basic gist?
Larger, almond shaped eyes have more space to work with and more room for error. So if you have this eye shape, you can go with the more traditional thick, angled line. (This, by the way, is the popular shape you keep seeing on Instagram.)
Smaller eyes are a little trickier. So putting too much eyeliner here will make your whole eyelid look black. If you have this eye shape, shoot for a thinner line. You will still get the same elongating winged effect without looking like you just got punched in the eye.
Getting that perfect winged eyeliner in one swoop is super tricky even for the eyeliner experts. And trying to do so is what often leads to that super thick line that you totally did not want.
On top of that, even if you get one eye perfect, every woman knows the struggle of trying to get the other eye to match. And no one wants to be caught in the never-ending cycle of “just adding a little bit more.”
But the good news? There is a solution.
Start by drawing dots.
Then connect the top of the dots by drawing a basic outline.
Next, draw the wing by connecting it from your upper lash line to the top of the line you created.
Fill in the line first. Use a light, even hand. It’s easier to add more than to take away.
Use upward strokes to fill in the wing.
Clean up your line work with a Q-tip, foundation or concealer.
The connect-the-dots method may seem like a lot of work to create a line, but we promise that the extra time you spend doing this, the less time you will spend trying to go back and fix it later.
This is a common mistake that often leads to lines that are not straight and that horrible game of trying to even everything out.
We know what you are going for. A flat surface, in theory, will create a straight line. However, no matter how much you pull on that skin, it will not be truly flat. By following the connect the dots method, you have a way better chance of getting the clean, crisp line you are going for. The first time.
Besides, pulling the skin around your eyes leads to more wrinkles in the future. While we’re all about embracing your lines here, you also don’t want to damage your skin by constantly tugging at it when you don’t need to.
Once you have your eyeliner on fleek, it is time to really finish the look off. And a good mascara is your best friend.
Looking for top quality? Try Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara.
Available at: Sephora
Price: $24
Color: Black
Looking for the cheaper option? Try Rimmel Volumeflash Scandaleyes Waterproof Mascara.
Available at: Walmart
Price: $8
Color: Extreme Black
If you reached the end of these winged eyeliner tricks and you are still having difficulty, don’t fret. There’s still hope. With tape.
So whether you are struggling to get that sharp line down or you just want to ensure that it is completely perfect, tape gives you that guarantee.
So how do you do it? Put a small piece of tape at the corner of your lash line and angle it upward. Tracing your eyeliner wing along the edge of the tape will reduce all the messiness and pressure of trying to freehand it perfectly.
Then when you’re done shading it in, just pull off the tape. And voila! You are left with a perfect wing.
So now you know all the winged eyeliner tricks in the book.
So go finish off the makeup on the rest of your beautiful face. And then show off your look to all your soon-to-be jealous friends on Instagram.
