By Sheila
Earlier this week I received a sweet email from a reader named Jae wanting to know how I apply pencil liner, which was the impetus for “Eyeliner Week” in the first place. Ask and you shall receive, Jae!
I figured the best way to show you is to show you actually applying liner. The best way to describe what I’m doing is that I just go for it!
When applying pencil liner, I always make sure to:
a) steady my hand on my cheek to avoid mishaps (which still happen every now and again),
b) use a pencil that is somewhat soft (more on this later) so it glides on the eye, which makes things much easier for you,
c) use small, even strokes (see video),
d) and most importantly, get to know the shape of your eye. Practice makes perfect so make sure you keep on practicing!
1. Here’s a photo breakdown to give you a better idea of what’s going on — I’m using the CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus liner in Charcoal in these photos.
2. I start at the outer corner, going a bit above the lashline to get that winged effect.
3. Using small, even strokes, I gradually bring the line in towards the middle of my eye.
4. I generally stop about a quarter of the way before the tearducts – I find this helps prevent my eyes from looking too closed in. Of course, sometimes I will go all the way in with the liner, especially if I’m doing a majorly smoked out eye.
5. And there ya have it … easy peasy!
My two favorite eyeliner pencils to use are MAC’s Eye Kohls and CoverGirl Perfect Point Liners. The MAC Kohls are fantastic because they are soft and don’t drag on your eye and yet don’t smudge at all! My newest favorite is the CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus, which I love and recommend to all pencil newbies because it literally just glides on your lid. It’s pretty foolproof and you don’t even have to sharpen them!
What are your favorite pencil eyeliners?
Thank you soooooo very much! I’m so flattered that you devoted a whole week to eyeliner because of little old me!
I can’t wait to try this AND some Eye Kohls!
Thank you again.
I have a few of the covergirl eyeliner pencils also and really like them. I bought an avon liner (glimmerstick) a few months ago, and I really love it, it goes on even smoother than the cover girl one if you can believe that.
@Jae – But of course! That’s what we’re here for!
@ Lisa – I really have to get my hands on those liners – sound fantastic!
You make pencil liner look good! I have to avoid using liner on my top lashes (unless Im doing an old Hollywood thick winged liner look) because I have such little lid space that even the thinnest line makes me look like half my lid is consumed by liner D: