Model wearing black eyeliner

How to apply eyeliner

One of the trickier makeup skills to master, getting your eyeliner just right needs a steady hand and a little bit of confidence... Or the help of our handy guide that'll show you how to apply eyeliner, whether you want a smokey look, a feline flick or a pop of color.

Wakeup call liquid eyeliner

What's the best eyeliner for me?

What are the different types of eyeliner?

Great eyeliner starts with great products, and you might find that your skills are more suited to a specific formula. For example, you might be a whizz with a liquid eyeliner but a little unsteady with a crayon. Luckily, at The Body Shop, we stock both, so you're sure to find your perfect partner.

Wake-up call liquid eyeline

Liquid Eyeliner

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Freestyle crayon in black

Pencil Eyeliner

Shop crayon

Liquid eyeliner looks

Model applying eyeliner

How to apply liquid eyeliner

Let's start with the basics, getting a nice tight line close to your lashes. A liquid eyeliner is great for this as it'll glide on smoothly, creating a nice even line.

  1. Starting at the middle of the lash line, in line with your pupil, gently draw a line to the outer corner. Try and stay nice and close to your lashes.
  2. Go back over the line with your eyeliner to neaten it up.
  3. For a bolder look, thicken up the line as you go over it.
Model with cat eye liner

How to create a cat eye

This one takes a little practice but it's worth it, we promise.

  1. Choose a liquid eyeliner that will glide on easily.
  2. Imagine a line that stretches from the end of your eye up to your brow bone - your cat eye should follow this.
  3. Starting with the outer corner of your lid, draw an uptruned flick towards the brow bone.
  4. From there, line all the way into the inner corner of your eye, staying as close to the lash line as possible.
  5. You can thicken and fill out the line until it suits your style.

Pencil eyeliner looks

How to apply pencil eyeliner to your waterline

Lining your upper and lower lashes, or tightlining, adds definition to your eyes and makes your lashes look thicker. 

  1. Make sure your eyeliner pencil is freshly sharpened - this’ll give you a cleaner, more defined line.

  2. Hold down your bottom lid and gently draw a line along the waterline of your eye. 

  3. For the top lid, use your fingers to hold the lid up while you draw beneath the lash waterline.

How to do
smoky eyeliner

This blended, buildable look creates depth, taking your makeup to a whole new level - it’s the perfect choice for a full face of makeup. 

  1. With your pencil, tightline your upper and lower lash lines, winging it out slightly on your top lash line.

  2. Using a brush or pencil, gently smudge the pencil out in a circular motion, making sure to keep it darkest closer to your eyeline.

How to create a more defined look

You may think darkening your undereye sounds counterintuitive but done right it’ll give you natural-looking definition and thicker-looking lashes.

  1. Make sure you’ve finished the rest of your eye makeup - you want this to be your final step.

  2. Gently draw the pencil on the outer part of your lower lid, building up colour and intensity as you like. 

  3. Bring the line into the inner corner of your eye for a super defined look.

Model eye colour

Colorful eyeliner looks

Shop Freestyle

FAQS

Is eyeliner difficult to apply?

Like all makeup, getting your eyeliner just right takes practice but a good place to start is by settling that shaky hand. Try sitting down and planting your elbow firmly on a flat surface, then rest your pinky finger on your cheek to stabilise your hand. Once you’ve got a steady hand, you’re halfway there! 

The difficulty also depends on what formula you’re using. A liquid eyeliner might help you create bolder lines, but it’s also not as easy to remove. If you’re a total beginner, try using a pencil instead. They’re easier to handle and easier to tweak if it’s started to go a little wonky. 

Finally, a sharp pencil is your best friend when it comes to eyeliner. It’ll ensure more precise application, and you can always build it up as you go.

Where should eyeliner start?

Eyeliner should start either in the middle of your eyelid or in your inner corner. If your eyes are smaller or quite close together, you can create an optical illusion to make them seem a little bigger or further apart. The trick is to draw attention away from the inner corners of your eyes. Start at the middle of your upper lash line and then gently draw the line outwards so that you’re only lining the outer half of your eye.

For most other eye shapes, your eyeliner should start at the inner corner of your eye and continue along the lash line or go even further and wing it out. If you’re struggling to perfect your eyeliner, try dotting along the lash line and then join them up to create a seamless line.

Can I apply eyeliner to the top and bottom of my eyes?

It totally depends on what kind of look you’re after. When you apply eyeliner to your top lash line only, it can give the appearance of bigger eyes. If you’re still struggling get a sharp, seamless line on your top lid, applying it to only your bottom lash line is an easy solution. It’ll still draw attention to your eye and it’s much easier to master! Our top tip to stop just before you get to the inner corner of your eye for a more natural look.

For full drama, apply eyeliner to both the upper and lower lash lines – it’ll really make them pop. Or you can get creative and apply a coloured liner on the bottom.

What’s the best eyeliner for beginners?