Top Eyeliner Tips for Beginners, Mature Skin, and Beyond

Going deeper into the world of eye makeup beyond basic mascara can seem daunting, especially when it comes to eyeliner. Liquid versions don’t leave much room for error and pencils may smudge easily. After speaking to many top makeup artists over the years, I’ve learned that all eyeliner techniques usually come with a bit of trial and error—even just mastering a straight line. Here, celebrity makeup artists give us their top eyeliner tips for beginners, those with mature skin, and more.

“Mastering eyeliner may seem intimidating, but with a few pointed Q-tips and a little practice, it’s one of the most impactful makeup techniques,” says celebrity makeup artist Robin Black. Perhaps the easiest place to start is with an eyeliner pencil. Black says a pencil (versus liquid) is the better option if you prefer a soft, subtle eyeliner look. “Sweep it along your lash line and quickly smudge it a little with a small dense round brush,” she says. Some eyeliners also come with a build-in smudge tool at one end for this reason. “You can add layers of eyeliner pencil to build up the color.” Black says one of her favorite eyeliner pencils is Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Satin Kajal Liner ($32), which comes in matte, satin and jewel-toned shades.

Celebrity makeup artist Tomy Rivero recommends keeping dry Q-tips handy to make corrections as you go. “Use dry Q-tips because it won’t ruin the rest of your eye makeup and allows you to go right back in and draw your eyeliner.”

If you are a first-timer with liquid liner, Black has a few tricks to make it easier. First, “try holding a business card flat from the edge of your nose to the outer corner of your lashes,” she explains. “It should create a sharp angle with an upward/outward tilt. Draw your liquid liner right across the card, using it as a stencil to create a cat-eye effect. Then, flip the card and repeat on the other side.”

Here’s a tip if you prefer a more subtle look. “Start in the center of your lash line and gradually thicken the line toward the outer corner of your eye,” Black explains. “Use a pointy Q-tip or a dense, pointed brush to ‘flick’ the outer corner and create a kitten eye. I adore the new Sisley Paris Ligne-Noire Eyeliner ($83). Its tip is precise, but not so tiny that it’s hard to work with. The formula is smooth and super black, plus it’s long-lasting. And like all Sisley products, it has a skin-care benefit. After four weeks of use, it improves the appearance of your lashes.” If you’re looking to spice things up a bit, try a colorful liquid eyeliner like MAKE Beauty Liquid Line ($23), which Black also recommends.

Rivero says, “The best eyeliner for women over 50 is a pencil that is smooth—doesn’t drag—glides across and is long-lasting.” He likes the Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil ($25), which conveniently features a built-in sharpener. “Keep the tip sharp and fresh—the wax can harden a bit if the cap is not on,” says Rivero. “Glide it across where you want your eyeliner and use a smudging brush to soften the edges.”

Another option Rivero recommends is Revlon’s ColorStay Micro Hyper Precision Gel Eyeliner ($10). “Take this rounded-tip liner as close as possible to your lash line for an ultra-fine and natural eyeliner look.” And lastly, if you have oily eyelids or hooded eyelids, his pick is ByTerry Crayon Blackstar ($29). “A hybrid between a wax and cream pencil, it’s very soft to apply,” Rivero explains. “Once it dries down, it will not move. It’s amazing for women with oily eyelids or those who have recessed, droopy skin that touches and creases. It has bulletproof stay-on power.”

One of Black’s favorite eyeliner tricks for mature eyelids is to swap out the usual black and brown for a more unexpected color. “Try a subtle purple, golden khaki, deep navy or even a soft gray,” she says. “Rather than create a precise shape, sweep the liner along your lash line and then quickly blend it out. Add a second coat close to your lash line for more impact.”

Black also has a tip to make the eyes look bigger and more youthful. “To avoid ‘closing down’ the eye shape, try using eyeliner just on your top lash line,” she says. “Or, if you want extra definition, draw along your bottom lash line from the outer edge of your iris to the corner, and then lightly smudge toward the center.”

Black is also a big fan of tightlining with eyeliner. “This is a technique that was developed by iconic makeup artist Laura Mercier specifically for Sarah Jessica Parker decades ago,” she explains. “Tightlining works for all ages and is really easy to do. Using a liquid liner or a gel liner in black or deep brown—whichever you are more comfortable with—apply it underneath your lashes and press gently upward. You want to fill in the space between your lashes to create definition and the illusion of thicker lashes.” One of Black’s favorite pencils for this is Haus Labs Optic Intensity Eco Eyeliner ($22), which the brand says is safe to use on the water line.