We'll start with the simplest, can't-screw-it-up way to wear your eyeliner.
How to apply: Apply a kohl eyeliner pencil (like Make Up For Ever Kohl Pencil, $17) from the inner to the outer edges of your upper lashline. Close your eye and pull your lid taut to draw your line. For your first pass, wiggle it in between your lashes (it will make them look thicker), and on your second pass make the line thicker if you want. Then use a small chiseled brush or an angled brush to smudge the line to make it softer.
"Smudging is key when you're afraid you won't create a straight line," says Chang-Babaian. "When applying eyeliner, it's not about creating a straight line with the pencil, but going back and forth with your brush until the line is smooth."
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Beginner Eyeliner Look: Brighten Eyes
When you look like you only slept 20 minutes last night, the oldest trick in the book to appear awake and bright-eyed is to apply a beige-colored eyeliner to your lower inner rim (aka your waterline).
"It helps counteract tired, red eyes," says Chang-Babaian, "and makes your eyes look larger."
How to apply: With your index finger, gently pull down your lower lid to expose your inner rim. Then with your pencil, gently go over your waterline, taking care to not poke yourself in the eye. Try Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener, $18.
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Beginner Eyeliner Look: Colored Bottom Liner
It's easy to wear a statement eyeliner look even if you don't have a steady hand or hours of practice. All you need for this bold eye makeup look is a long-wear pencil eyeliner in a bright color of your choice. Long-wear eyeliners are usually twist-up pencils, so you can't control the sharpness of the tip, which prevents drawing a straight edge. However, unlike kohl pencils, long-wear pencils will give you bold matte color that'll last for hours. (We like Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, $23.)
How to apply: Apply the eyeliner to just your lower lashline from the inner to outer corners, using short strokes. To pull it into a cohesive look, you can apply eyeshadow in the same color family to your upper lids, but make it two shades brighter. Break up the bright color by applying a thin black line to your upper lashline and apply mascara.
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Beginner Eyeliner Look: Natural Definition
The upper inner rim doesn't always get as much attention as its lower counterpart, but it's an equally important area to define. Applying black eyeliner to your upper rim will intensify your lashline, giving you natural looking definition without the hard edge of a liner.
How to apply: All you have to do is lift up your upper lid, while looking down into a mirror, and apply the black eyeliner pencil in short strokes.
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Intermediate Eyeliner Look: Smudged Wraparound
The smoky eye is way easier than it looks. All you need is a black kohl pencil and a flat angled brush.
How to apply: With your pencil, scribble a line along your upper lashline from the inner to outer corners. Line your lower inner rim with the liner as well for instant definition. Then draw a line along your lower lashline until you connect the two lines at the outer edge. With your flat angled brush, smudge the lines out around the entire eye until you've achieved your desired level of smokiness. Chang-Babaian stresses the importance of smudging. Otherwise, you'll end up with a hard line that resembles raccoon eyes a la Kate Middleton. And that's the one royalty trait you don't want to copy.
Want to up your "how to apply eyeliner" game? Whether you're an eyeliner rookie or a winged-tip-wearing-snob, these makeup artist techniques will help you master 10 stunning eyeliner looks on your first try.
Eyeliner is not only a way to play with color and make a statement; it's also the perfect instrument to reshape your eye. You don't have to go under the knife for bigger-looking eyes if you know how to wield an eyeliner brush for your eye shape. Don't believe us? Take it from eye makeup guru, Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of "Style Eyes."
"Wherever you put darkness is where your eye is drawn to," says Chang-Babaian, "which means eyeliner allows you to change the shape of your eye."
Got small eyes? Make them bigger with a smudged, smoky wraparound. Want to elongate your eyes' width? Do an exaggerated winged tip. The possibilities are endless -- we've got 10 eyeliner styles to get you started. Here, how to apply eyeliner with your favorite liquid, gel, pencil or marker eyeliner. (Then, check out these gorgeous new ways to do your eye makeup.)
