How to Apply Winged Eyeliner

Winged eyeliner has a reputation for humbling even the most seasoned makeup lovers. The trick is knowing how to work with your unique eye shape instead of against it. Once you do that, applying eyeliner—winged or otherwise—gets a whole lot easier.

Eyeliner Types And How To Apply Them

First, let’s talk formulas: liquid and pencil eyeliner. Each behaves differently, has its own strengths, and may demand different techniques. But both can work beautifully once you get the hang of them.

Liquid Formulas

Liquid eyeliner is the type-A student. It’s crisp, precise, and high-performing, designed to deliver sharp, inky lines in a single sweep. Liquid eyeliners are a go-to for:

●      Precise definition

●      High contrast, high pigment

●      Longer wear

●      Wings, cat eyes, and statement eye art 

The challenge? Like your typical type-A, liquid eyeliner has little patience for mistakes. Wobbles, pauses, and second-guesses are immediately called out and brought to the front of the class.

In other words, if you rush the process, your line will show it.

 With practice and a slow, patient hand, you’ll be rewarded in flying colors (or black, if that’s what you’re going for).

 Here’s how to apply liquid eyeliner like a pro:

1. Start with a clean eyelid. Then, apply any other eye makeup as desired. For best results, rest your elbow on a flat surface to help keep your hand stable.
2. Gently sketch a series of small strokes against your lash line. For a doll-eyed look, start the line close to your inner corners; starting the line in the middle of your eyelid will create a more cat-eyed effect.
3. Looking straight ahead into a mirror, gently flick upward from the outer corner of your eye. Use the angle of your bottom lash line as a guide.
4. Next, draw a line from the tip of the wing back toward your lash line to create a tiny triangle. Fill in the triangle with liner.
5. Once you’re satisfied with your edge, carefully draw over your line in the opposite direction to smooth and set the color.

After you’ve finished, stare straight ahead for a few seconds and try not to blink.

Eyeliner Pencils

Eyeliner pencils are the approachable besties of your eye kit—and not just because black pencil liner was likely the first cosmetic you ever borrowed from a friend on the back of the school bus.

 Pencils are softer, more forgiving, and remarkably adaptable. In seconds, you can achieve a smoky eye á la peak Kate Moss; with a little extra effort (and an eyeliner brush), you can hone a wing almost as precise as you can with liquid liner.

Eyeliner pencils are ideal for:

●      Lived-in looks

●      Buildable, blendable color

●      Effortless touch-ups

●      Makeup beginners

The one trade-off with eyeliner pencils is that your lines won’t be quite as razor-sharp.

Here’s how to use an eyeliner pencil to get that wing:

1. Start by making sure your pencil is sharp.
2. Instead of drawing one continuous line, place several small dots between your upper lashes. For a more cat-eyed effect, place dots only at the outer half of your lashline.
3. Using an eyeliner brush, blend the dots to create an even line. To wing your liner, add a few more dots at the outer edge of your eye, and draw your brush slightly upward at the outer corners.
4. Build gradually as you work, adding eyeliner until you’ve reached your desired depth.
5. For more staying power, add a touch of eyeshadow in a matching color to your brush and gently press it over your liner.

How to Do Winged Eyeliner According to Eye Shape

Ever wondered why a TikTok eyeliner hack slays on your FYP but goes rogue the second you try it? Learning how to line and complement your unique eye shape may be the missing piece.

Winged Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes 

Hooded eyelids have a fold of skin that partially or fully covers the lid while the eyes are open. They’re a gorgeous eye shape and increasingly common as we age, but they can make traditional winged liner a little more elusive.

Luckily, all you need are a few expert tricks:

●      Start slim – Begin with a slender line close to the lash line. You can always build thickness later.

●      Avoid closing your eyes – Keeping your eyes open as you apply helps you see where your liner will show up when your eyes are relaxed.

●      Focus on the outer third of your eye – Try drawing a small wing out from the outer corner first and connecting it with the outer third of your lash line.

Winged Eyeliner For Monolids

Monolids don’t have a visible eye crease when the eyes are open. Using a typical wing technique won’t fly here, since it can make wings appear disjointed or smudgy.

To master winged eyeliner on a monolid, you’ll want to:

●      Draw from your lower lash line – Instead of flicking out from your upper lid, extend your wing from the lower lashline upward. This method creates a more delicate, natural-looking wing that enhances your eye shape.

●      …Or, stick with your upper lashline—but go bolder – Monolids can carry a thick liner like no other. The secret is floating eyeliner: a 60’s-style cat eye drawn slightly above the lashline or at your crease. This creates a striking cat eye when your eyes are open.

Winged Eyeliner For Downturned Eyes

If your eyes slope down at the outer corners—giving you that classic, romantic gaze worthy of a silent film starlet—you may have downturned eyes. Though gorgeous on their own, adding an upturned wing can be tricky, as liner can pull the eye down rather than lifting it up.

To create a winged look with this eye shape, it helps to:

●      Stop your line early – Instead of tracing your lash line to the edge, flick your line out and up just before the end of the lash line. This will subtly lift the eye.

●      Focus on your outer lid – Keeping eyeliner and eyeshadow concentrated on the outer half of your eyes will help brighten and open them. Crowding the inner half of the eye with liner can make eyes appear smaller or heavier than they really are.

Benefit Cosmetics: For Eye Makeup That’s Uniquely You

Gone are the days when you’re late to work, school, or dinner with friends because your eyeliner has you down for the count. With the right approach, an understanding of your unique eye shape, and rich, longwearing products from Benefit, your wing will be winging every time.