Mastering the Wing: Keeping Your Eyeliner Sharp and Bold

When it comes to modern pinup makeup, winged eyeliner is iconic. Eyeliner, especially the dramatic winged look, can be a powerful tool for enhancing your eyes and adding definition to your face. But smudged, faded eyeliner can quickly ruin your look. To avoid this, I’ve created some helpful tips to keep your eyeliner sharp, bold, and smudge-free throughout the day.

Choosing the Right Eyeliner:

• Formula Matters: Opt for long-lasting, waterproof formulas that are less likely to smudge. Liquid eyeliners, gel eyeliners, and kohl pencils offer good staying power.
• Skin Type: If you have oily skin, choose an oil-free eyeliner to prevent it from melting off during the day.
• Color Choice: Black eyeliner is a classic choice, but brown or dark gray can create a softer look.

Application Techniques:

• Prep Your Lids: Apply an eyeshadow primer to your eyelids to create a smooth base and help your eyeliner grip better. This also creates a boundary between your skin and your makeup which can aid if you do get sweaty or oily eyelids.
• Sharpen Your Pencil: If you are using an eyeliner pencil, make sure it’s as sharp as possible for precise application. Sharpen your pencil regularly to maintain a fine tip.
• Start Thin: Begin by drawing a thin line close to your lash line. You can always build up the thickness later.
• Steady Hand: Use a light touch and rest your elbow on a flat surface for stability. I prefer to get really close to a mirror and sometimes even hold onto the mirror with one hand for extra stability. Always remember that eyeliner takes practice so it might take a while before it becomes second nature.
• Wing It Right: Extend the line outwards at an angle, following the natural curve of your lower lash line.
• Mirror Magic: Tilt your head back slightly to see your lash line clearly and ensure the wing is symmetrical on both eyes.
• Set It: Apply a translucent setting powder over your eyeliner to lock it in place.

Smudge-Proofing Tips:

• Blot, Don’t Rub: If your eyeliner starts to smudge, gently blot it with a tissue instead of rubbing, which can spread the smudging. If you’re using liquid eyeliner and it starts to run, let it fully dry and clean it up with a q-tip and some micellar water (avoid cleansing oils as they can get messy).
• Waterproof Mascara: Use waterproof mascara to prevent smudging from transferring to your eyeliner.
• Blotting Papers: Keep blotting papers handy to absorb excess oil throughout the day.
• Avoid Touching: Avoid touching your eyes throughout the day, as this can transfer oil and smudge your eyeliner.

Maintaining Sharp Wings:

• Sharpen Regularly: Keep your eyeliner pencil or liquid eyeliner brush sharp for precise application. It’s also worth making sure your liquid eyeliner is well shaken before application and isn’t dried out. I like to keep a spare on hand for emergencies.
• Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice applying winged eyeliner, the easier it will become to achieve a sharp and symmetrical look. It took me absolute ages to master my eyeliner and even now I still have days where my wings are distant neighbours, not twins.
• Use Stencils: If you struggle with creating a perfect wing, consider using eyeliner stencils for guidance. Something like the Quick Flick may help you out. You can also get eyeliner stickers if you’re really struggling.
• Sticky Tape Saver: Some pinups use normal sticky tape and create a guide for their eyeliner. By placing the sticky tape where you want the wing to be, you simply mark out your wing, colour it in and remove the tape for a sharp wing.
• Touch-Ups: Carry an eyeliner pencil or liquid eyeliner in your bag for touch-ups throughout the day if needed.

Winged eyeliner can be really tricky and of course, we all have different eye shapes and skin which can make finding what works for you a challenge. I’d recommend figuring out what kind of eyeliner you prefer (I prefer liquid eyeliner with a felt tip), and then finding a wing shape that is flattering for your eyes. This can take some trial and error; when I was first learning I’d practice before I showered because I knew I would wash it away anyway. It used to take me over 15 minutes for one eye to be done and even then, it did not look great so keep at it and you’ll get better over time. My last piece of advice would be to experiment with the shape of your wing; the length, curve and thickness can all change the overall look of your eye makeup so it’s worth finding out what works for you.

If you’re interested in knowing what my favourite liquid eyeliners are, I’ve made a previous post here including a full review of each.

My Top Recommended Eyeliners for the Perfect Cat Eye

With these tips and a little practice, you can master the art of smudge-free, sharp winged eyeliner and achieve a bold, dramatic look that lasts all day.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. There are no affiliate links and I do not benefit from any link clicks or purchases made.