A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Winged Eyeliner in 2 Minutes!

In preparation for my future tutorials, today I will be showing you a simple, quick and effective way to achieve flicked, winged eyeliner. Scroll down for instructions and photos!

The use of eyeliner dates back to the Ancient Egyptians as early as 10,000 BC, where a black line of kohl was applied all around the eyes of both women and men. The eyeliner was used for not only cosmetic purposes, but to protect the sensitive skin of the eyes from the desert sun. It was also believed that lining the eyes with kohl (which was made from lead sulfide or antimony, among other ingredients) offered protection against the evil eye.

In the 1950s and 1960s the cat-eye, winged eyeliner look became extremely prominent. Glamour icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Andy Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgwick rocked the winged eyeliner. The trend is extremely popular today  with many celebrities favouring the look.

Let’s get started:

You will need two angled brushes, gel/cream/liquid eyeliner and some concealer.

To begin, add foundation, concealer and/or eyeshadow primer to the eyelid and around the eye. This eliminates any redness and creates a nice base for the liner.

Take one of your angled brushes and dip it into your gel/cream eyeliner. Apply an ample amount to the brush, and then use the back of your hand as a canvas to mould the tip of the brush into a sharp point.

Using your brush, make a line from the outer corner of your eye. This line will determine the size of your ‘flick’. Pull your eye taut to achieve a smooth line.

Go from the inner corner of your eyelid and apply the liner close to your lash line. Again, pull your eye taut to get a smooth, straight line.

Join up the eyeliner that goes along the top of your eye, to the line you created from the outer corner of your eye.

Fill in any gaps with some more eyeliner. Use small strokes, as they are easier to control than big, thick strokes. If you feel that you need a sharper flick, or you have made a mistake – use a clean angled brush with some concealer as an eraser.

Apply mascara and kohl eyeliner to the waterline (if you wish!)

Featured image via ShutterStock

Filed Under