EYELINER 101

HOW TO DO WINGED EYELINER

6 EXPERT TIPS

 

You've got the eyeliner and the drive to succeed. You're on your way to rocking winged liner! Anyone can wear winged liner, even if you have hooded eyes (tip: a bat wing also looks awesome on this eye shape). Similar to a cat eye, winged liner focuses on lining only the upper lid. Easy. And super versatile, winged liner looks just as amazing during the day as it does at night.

The only thing between you and that fabulous winged liner look? That makeup-artist skill set on how to do winged liner. No worries, we've got you. First you need our best eyeliners to do wing eyeliner - keep scrolling to see what they are! Then, you need to master our best winged eyeliner hacks.


  1. WINGED EYELINER TIP #1: USE TAPE

    Apply a piece of household tape right below where you will draw your eyeliner wing. Use the tape as a tracking line and draw on the wing. Remove the tape for a mess-free, perfectly sharp winged eyeliner look.

  2. WINGED EYELINER TIP #2: KEEP ELBOWS SUPPORTED

    It sounds simple, but it makes all the difference: Rest your arm on a table to stabilize it and look down into a tilted mirror when applying winged eyeliner for simplified, stress-free application.

  3. WINGED EYELINER TIP #3: CLEAN UP LINES

    When you've finished drawing on your winged eyeliner line, dip an angled brush or Q-tip in makeup remover and use it to clean up any imperfections.

  4. WINGED EYELINER TIP #4: 1-STEP SMOKEY EYE

    For instant smokey eyes, Makeup Artist Grace Lee suggests using a gel eyeliner pencil to line eyes, not worrying about creating a perfect line, and softly blending the eyeliner for that smokey, winged eyeliner effect. This also provides a great base for eyeshadow, ensuring the shadow will last longer!

  5. WINGED EYELINER TIP #5: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

    If you’re new to eyeliner, especially liquid eyeliner, Grace recommends starting with a pen version, like Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner. To get a feel for the fluidity of the pen, practice on the back of your hand before applying winged eyeliner. Use small strokes along the lash line until you can perfect one fluid line.

  6. WINGED EYELINER TIP #6: WHEN IN DOUBT, GO SUBTLE

    Create a very natural, but defined winged liner look with Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. Grace suggests using an angle brush and applying the gel liner right into the lash line to define the eyes without looking like “makeup”.