Winged eyeliner can elevate any makeup look. It’s a classic technique that can be as subtle or dramatic as you like, and is perfect for eye shapes from almond to hooded eyes. While a winged look may seem intimidating, there are tips, tricks, and methods you can use to get the look down pat. Practice makes perfect and we’re showing you exactly how to apply winged eyeliner in this post.
How to Apply Winged Eyeliner: 7 Tips & Hacks
1. Start with shadow. If you’re a total beginner to a winged look, start off with using a dark shadow before moving onto eyeliner. It’s so much easier to clean up and will help you get the hang of the wing before going in with eyeliner.
2. Figure out your preferred liner. There are a number of different eyeliners available, from liquid liner to gel liners you apply with an angled brush to pencil eyeliners. Try each of them out to see which one works best for you.
3. Don’t pull your eye back. Not only are you tugging at your skin when you do this (which can lead to wrinkles over time), you’re also changing the shape of your eye. When you’re drawing the wing and then you let go, you won’t get the result you’re looking for.
4. You need a handheld mirror. Hold the mirror in front of you so that you’re looking down into it with your chin up. This way you can see the top of your lid and where the liner needs to go without having to pull the lash line.
5. Follow your lower lash line. Start your wing at the outer corner of the eye by following the line of your lower lash line, rather than your upper lash line. This will help elongate your eye.
6. About half way on that line, take your liner of choice and draw a smooth line toward your upper lash line. Connect the tip of the wing to the top line and create a sleek, controlled flick at the end of the wing.
7. Use your fingers as balance points as you’re applying the wing. For example, you may want to rest your pinky into your cheekbone to give you some stability as you draw your wing.
How to Apply Winged Eyeliner: 7 Step-By-Step Tutorials
1. How to Apply Winged Eyeliner Like a Pro | Brianna Fox
In this tutorial, she breaks down all of her tips and techniques for applying liquid winged liner. A winged liner look can be intimidating when you’re just starting out, but after some practice (and these tips!) you’ll be able to nail it! She starts off doing a full face of makeup, and goes into her liner technique about halfway through the video. To replicate her look, you’ll need products like the L’Oréal Infallible Flash Cat Eyeliner, the L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara and the L’Oréal Brow Stylist Definer.
2. 3-Step Winged Liner Tutorial – Beginner Friendly | Shonagh Scott
This simple 3-step tutorial is easy to follow and results in a gorgeous winged liner look. She also includes an optional 4th step that’s great for beginners who are practicing their winged liner. She offers tips on how to lift your eyes with winged eyeliner and make them look as elongated as possible. She uses products including a brown eyeshadow with an angled brush, as well as a liquid eyeliner.
3. How to: Cat Eyeliner | Hindash
This tutorial teaches you how to create a crisp cat eye that elongates and wings the eye. He does a full face of makeup, so if you’re into the whole look, grab products like a good concealer, the Milani Baked Blush, and a liquid eyeliner. Follow his step-by-step tips to create the perfect winged cat eye. He also pulls the liner into the inner corner of the eye for an even more elongated look.
4. Winged Liner for Hooded Eyes | Alexandra Anele
If you have hooded eyes, this tutorial shows you how to do winged eyeliner so that it actually shows up. It’s also called a batwing look. She shows you two different techniques- one with a gel liner and angled brush and another with a liquid liner pen. You can try out both and see which one works best for you, or switch between the two for different occasions.
5. Winged Eyeliner Makeup Look | Haley Kim
If you want a subtle winged liner look, this tutorial is the one for you. It works perfectly for an everyday makeup look as it’s not too extreme and pairs beautifully with light, barely-there makeup. She uses products including the Glossier Pro Tip Liquid Eyeliner, a brow pencil, and the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara.
6. The Only Winged Eyeliner Tutorial You’ll Need If You Have Hooded or Deep Set Eyes | Ali Andreea
This is a super simple technique for creating a winged eyeliner look, specifically for deep set eyes. It’s more of a smudged liner look, which makes it more effortless and overall easier to do. She preps her eyelids with concealer and a nude eyeshadow and then goes into her eyeliner technique. She gives a number of her favourite eyeliners in the description, including the Tarte Tartiest Double Take Eyeliner.
7. Cat Eye for Dummies Makeup Tutorial | Cat Eye for Beginners | How to Do The Perfect Cat Eye | Emily DiDonato
In this tutorial, you’ll learn tips and tricks to achieve the perfect cat eye. She lets you in on the products you should keep close by, such as eye makeup remover, pointy Q tips, and makeup remover wipes. You’ll need it for this technique, plus if you’re a beginner to winged liner, you’ll probably make mistakes, and that’s okay! It’s better to be prepared. She teaches you an easy technique to get a sleek wing, so follow her step-by-step tutorial and you’ll be doing the perfect cat eye in no time.
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