How to Draw Eyeliner for Liner Eyelids

Eyeliner is a difficult skill if you have lined eyelids characterized by prominent brow bones and drooping eyelids. ^{[1] X Research Source} Don’t worry! Just be patient and practice a little, you will have eyes that are not smudged, but smooth, neat, and sharp, attracting all eyes. We’ll answer any and all frequently asked questions to help you get the most out of your makeup!

Table of Contents

When is the right time to apply eyeliner?

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Apply eye primer first. Unlike regular primers, eye primers are applied directly on the eyelids and create a silky smooth base for makeup. Dab a little primer on each eyelid and dab it on your skin. Apply the cream from the eyelids to the eyebrows for a smooth and even layer. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you prefer to line your eyes with eyeshadow or eyeliner along your lower lash line, you’ll need to apply a little primer there as well.
You can apply primer with your fingertips or with a flat-tipped eyeshadow brush.

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Line your eyes before applying eyeshadow. Liners look a bit smaller than other eye shapes, so it will be difficult to keep balance when applying eyeliner. ^{[3] X Source of Research} Draw a thin line along the upper and lower lash lines – this will help sharpen the eyes without being too revealing. ^{[4] X Research Source} You can then trace the lash line by using a diagonal brush to blend the product. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The “liner first” rule works best when you’re using a pencil or gel eyeliner. If you’re using a fountain pen, line it up after you’ve applied your eyeshadow. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Which eyeliner is the best?

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Choose a quick-drying eyeliner. Unfortunately, the eyelids of the liner are not very wide, so the eyeliner is easy to smudge. You should choose eyeliner labeled “quick-drying” (quick-drying, such as a gel pen, to keep your eyeliner neat and clean. ^{[7] X Research Source}

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Choose an eyeliner color that matches your eye color. According to the makeup artists, bronze, metallic gold, and navy look great with blue eyes, while plum, olive, and gold go well with hazel eyes. Mahogany (sepia), garnet (garnet red) and amethyst (quartz purple) are great for green eyes, while amber and dark blue are great for brown eyes. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Black eyeliner is not a good choice if you have fair skin. It can make your eyes appear smaller than they really are. ^{[9] X Research Source}

How can you make your eyeliner stand out?

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Draw impressive wing-shaped eyes. Dab the diagonal makeup brush into the eyeshadow that matches the eyeliner color and use the brush to outline the wings for the eyes. Complete the winged look by filling in the eyeliner with eyeliner. ^{[10] X Research Source}

With lined eyelids, you should draw the front wings to make it easier.
If the winged eyeliner is not what you want, you can use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover to wipe it off!

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Try the “floating eyeliner” makeup trick. With this style, you will draw the eyeliner about 1.3 cm above the upper lash line. This eyeliner looks misplaced when you close your eyes, but when the eyes are open, it looks very sharp and dynamic. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Always apply floating eyeliner on top of eyeshadow.

What eyeliner can I try for subtlety?

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Tightlining is a great option. This is the term that describes the eyeliner on the inner lash line of the eye instead of the wing-shaped eyeliner. With one hand, gently pull the eyelid up for easy access to the inner lash line, with the other hand contour with your chosen eyeliner, brush, or eyeliner. ^{[12] X Research Source}

The inner lash line is a little tricky at first! You just keep practicing slowly to adjust the technique.
Try to be quick when applying eyeliner – if tears start to come out, the product won’t stick.

Some good tips for applying eyeshadow for lined eyelids?

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Balance the upper eyelid with light and dark tones. Apply a light shade with a neutral tone on the front eyelid to make the eyes look a little bigger. Then, you’ll apply a medium-toned shimmer shimmer in the center of the lid. Finally, apply a darker shade along the outer corner of the eye, gradually blending up and down the middle of the eyelid. ^{[13] X Research Source}

You can apply cream pastels as a base and apply blue shimmer powder on top. You can then apply a darker shade of blue to your eyelids for a subtle gradient effect.
Smokey eye makeup looks great with liner too.

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Apply eyeshadow to the inner corner of the eye and the lower lash line. Choose a bold eyeshadow that matches your main eye makeup color and apply it along your lower lid. Stop halfway and switch to a lighter highlight, working from the center of the eye to the inner corner of the eye. ^{[14] X Research Source}

When choosing a highlight color, you can choose a light skin tone or use a shade lighter than the main color.

How should I apply mascara to my liner?

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Apply mascara to the lower lashes first. You often open your eyes wide while applying mascara to your lower lashes. If you apply mascara to your upper lashes first, the mascara may smudge around your brows. Instead, apply mascara to the bottom lashes first, then move on to the top lashes. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Advice

If the eyeliner is smudged, you can wipe it off with a cotton swab or makeup remover. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Steps