The trusted pencil eyeliner is easily one of the most classic forms of eyeliner. This eye makeup product should always be a staple in your makeup bag.
If you are unsure how to apply pencil eyeliner, it can feel a bit overwhelming to bring the pointy tip so close to your eye.
That’s why I’m here to help. Below, you’ll find my top tips and hacks, including how to sharpen your pencil eyeliner, so you can create a seriously stunning eye makeup look.
Keep Your Pencil Eyeliner Sharp
It is very important to make sure you always work with a sharp eyeliner pencil. If the point is dull it is more difficult to create precise, sleek lines.
To sharpen your pencil eyeliner, all you need is to pick up an eyeliner sharpener. Eyeliner sharpeners come in different sizes depending on the eyeliner pencil you’re using. Be sure to find one that’s a match for your pencil, and you should be good to go.
The process is the same as sharpening a school pencil: Place the tip in the hole and twist until it’s sharpened to your liking. Don’t press too hard on the pencil or you could easily break the point while sharpening.
On the topic of your school pencil sharpener, this will not work with your eyeliner as the angle of the blade is different and will almost always break the point of your eyeliner pencil.
There are also mechanical or retractable eyeliner pencils that simply twist up. If you hate sharpening your eyeliner, this might be the move for you.
Keep Upper Eyelid Skin Taut While Using Pencil Eyeliner
When you are lining your upper lid, it is very important to gently hold your skin so that it’s firm while you apply your pencil eyeliner. If not, you will just move your eyelid as you move the pencil and not be able to neatly apply any eyeliner.
To do so, place your pointer finger on the end of your brow so that you can hold your eyelid skin taut without pulling at your face.
Connect The Dots To Create A Straight Line With Pencil Eyeliner
Creating a sleek, straight-line using pencil eyeliner can be intimidating, especially so if you are new to using eyeliner and it feels as if your hand is shaking.
The good news is that you don’t have to do it in one sweep. What I suggest doing instead is creating a few dots along your lash line where you’d like to apply your pencil eyeliner. Then, connect the dots little by little for a flawless line.
You can even use this hack for when you’re trying something a bit more adventurous, like a wing.
Be Prepared For Touch Ups As You Develop Your Pencil Eyeliner Skills
There is no way that you will have perfect eyeliner skills the first time you pick up your pencil eyeliner. It is a skill that requires practice. Practice means making a mistake or two as you go along. Making mistakes is how you learn.
Luckily, all you need is a bit of micellar water and a cotton swab for a quick fix and you’ll be ready to go again. Simply dip the tip of your cotton swab in micellar cleansing water and wipe away any offending smudges as needed.
Learn How To Line Your Waterline
In case you were wondering, pencil eyeliner doesn’t have to be reserved for your upper lash line. In fact, pencil eyeliner is superb for lining your waterline.
Instead of going straight in with a colored or black eyeliner for your waterline, I suggest using a nude shade pencil eyeliner to start with.
Even after you have gotten good at doing your waterline you will notice that using a nude shade of pencil eyeliner will help create the appearance of brighter and wider eyes.
Simple Hack To Set Your Eyeliner
This is a hack that a makeup artist that specializes in wedding makeup taught me. The last thing that a bride wants at her wedding is any part of her makeup to fade before long after the last camera flash has happened.
Do you want to learn the trick to increasing your pencil liner’s staying power? Use a coordinating shade of eyeshadow to set your eyeliner.
In the same way that you set your face with a powder or setting spray, using eyeshadow to set your liner will keep it from fading or smudging.
Use a matte shadow in the same shade as your eyeliner and a thin, flat eyeshadow brush to press the eyeshadow on top of your line.
Practice Playing With Color Eyeliner To Find Your Ideal Match
Yes it is true that black, brown and nude are the most common shades of eyeliner.
But there is no rule that says you have to stick to neutral eyeliner shades. Swap out your traditional shades of eyeliner and try something that is totally different. You might just discover your own personal makeup look.
Smudge Out Your Eyeliner To Hack A Smokey Eye
This is the easiest way to hack a smokey eye look ever. All you need is a pencil eyeliner.
Use your pencil eyeliner to line your lower lash line, then, before it dries, take a cotton swab or your fingertip and gently smudge the line for an instant smoked-out effect.
Practice How To Tight-line Your Upper Lash Line
If you don’t feel like wearing noticeable eyeliner but at the same time you want to give your lashes an added boost then tightlining is your answer.
You can use a pencil eyeliner in Black to tight-line your upper lash line. This will fill in any spaces between your lashes for instantly fuller-looking lashes right from the base.
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