When it comes to makeup, few things are more intimidating than winged eyeliner. Whether you’re a gel, pencil or liquid kinda gal, chances are it takes you countless Q-tips dipped in makeup remover and more time than you would care to admit to get that perfect cat eye look. While winged eyeliner is definitely tricky, it doesn’t have to be impossible, especially when you have a step-by-step video guide from a Her Campus beauty blogger to help you out!
As I mentioned in the video, there are three main types of eyeliner you can use to create a wing: pencil, gel and liquid. Pencil, like the Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black ($8.79 at CVS) is great for beginners because it can be smudged out to create a smoother line and it’s easier to remove if you make a mistake. Gel, like the MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16 at MAC Cosmetics) gives the most intense look because it’s so black and highly pigmented.
Finally, liquid eyeliner, like the Milani Eye Tech Extreme Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Blackest Black ($8.49 at CVS) or the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black ($20 at Sephora), is best for creating a sharp and precise graphic line, but it can be a bit intimidating because it’s hard to fix if you make a mistake. I opted for the Milani liquid liner for the tutorial because once you master liquid liner, gel and pencil are a breeze!
I started by priming my eyelids with the Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer ($26 at Sephora) to cancel out any blue or red tones on my eyelid and to make sure my eyeliner stays in place all day without budging. I then placed my elbow on the table to steady my hand and started by drawing a thin line with the felt-tip liner, from my inner tearduct to the outer corner of my eye, as close to my lashline as possible. I only lined my upper lashline, making sure to get in between the lashes to create a solid black line with none of my eyelid peeking through. I held off on making any wing or flick just yet. I then went back and thickened up that line, trying to make the line thickest right over my iris to create a wider, more doll-like effect.
Once that line was smooth, I started on the wing. I began by drawing a thin line from the corner of my eye out towards my brow bone. Once I was happy with the shape, I joined the tip of the wing up with the liner on my lashline, filling in the triangle at the outer corner. I went back over everything one last time to make sure it was opaque and smooth.
Once you’ve finished one eye, the trick to matching up the other is to step back from the mirror and place a tiny dot with your liner where you think the tip of the wing should go on the other eye. This will give you a good guideline on where to place your lines and minimize your touch-ups. And if you make any mistakes, makeup remover wipes, Q-tips dipped in makeup remover or even a good concealer are all easy ways to sharpen up any edges or smooth any lines (and no one has to know!).
With the right products, a few tips from Her Campus and a whole lot of practice, you’ll be rocking your new signature winged eyeliner before you know it!