How to Apply Eyeliner (Pencil)

Pencil eyeliner gives the eyes a softer definition than gel or liquid, is easier to smudge with control, and for newbies is much easier to apply than the other two options. When it comes to the modern Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pencil, we have two choices: automatic or traditional, both of which have their ups and downs.

With automatic eyeliner pencils, the obvious plus is that you never have to sharpen it, eliminating both the need of a sharpener and all of the mess that comes along with it. They come in a plastic pen-style applicator and when you use up the head, you simply twist the base to bring up more product. The downside of not being able to sharpen an eyeliner is that unless you maneuver it in certain ways with each use (or on your hand, which would be wasteful), the head of the tip will become flat after just a few uses, making the liner thicker on your eye and therefore a bit harder to control the outcome. By nature, automatic liners are not as soft or creamy as the traditional pencils, so if you're looking for something a little more tough or if you're experiencing bleeding with your traditional pencil, try an automatic and let us know how you feel about the difference. But keep in mind that a tough liner means it's a little rougher on the eye, which we all know to be a very delicate area, so a good way to loosen up a tough liner is to warm it up with your breath (no joke).

Traditional pencils, on the other hand, have a greater presence on the market which means you have more choices (always a good thing) in color and texture. The downside of this type of eyeliner is that if the eye is not prepped properly, the creamier types can bleed- either on the lower lash line or around the eye. In order to prevent this, use an eyeshadow base (even if you are just wearing liner) set with powder. This will allow the liner to adhere to the base instead of your eyelid, which if has the tendency to get a bit oily around mid-day is not the best option. Because of their less rough nature, traditional pencils glide easier on the inside of the lower eyelid, and if you have sensitive eyes you need to be mindful of tearing when applying liner to this area of the eye.

So, how to apply? The first thing to remember is to be extremely gentle when dealing with the eye area, as it is very sensitive. Pulling the eye taught in order to get a nice, clean line may be the easiest way to go but it certainly is not the best so try to avoid doing this at all costs. Instead, using your opposite hand very gently pull the lid up, instead of out, and make short strokes with your pencil. Start at the center of your eye and move out towards the outer edge then draw in the other direction, from the center to the inner corner.

Since we are using a pencil eyeliner, the line can tend to be slightly thicker than we would see if using liquid or gel liners. If that is the look you are going for, wonderful. And if not, we can still use pencil liners to achieve the look you are going for.

For a thinner line, use the pencil sideways so that it is essentially parallel to your lid. This forces you to use a lighter hand, and therefore you will get a lighter and thinner line. Another trick to get a thinner line is to draw the line halfway between your lid and your lash line. Since only half of the pencil will be hitting your skin, you'll get a much thinner line.

Of course, another option would be to smoke out or smudge the liner. In order to do this, apply the liner as messy as you want to the upper lid (and for a fully smokey look, the lower lash line and lower water line) then take a smudge brush, clean eyeliner brush, or even a cotton swab and blend out the harsh color and line of the liner you just applied. You can move it up on to your lid to wear it as a shadow or keep it close to the lash line.

One of my favorite techniques is tightlining, or invisible eyeliner, which is most easily and effectively done using pencil eyeliner (waterproof, preferably). We will be lining the upper portion of the inner lash line, starting in the center and moving out, then coming back to the center and moving in. To get to the area, use the end of a brush or a clean finger to gently push your lid up, exposing the wet area. If you are trying it for the first time, it may tickle and your eyes may water a bit but both of those things dissipate with time.