The 2 Types of Liquid Eyeliner Every Beauty Lover Should Know
I remember being with friends for a vacation, and while we were putting on makeup, I pulled out my liquid eyeliner. Everyone was looking at me and asking themselves how I draw a cat eye with such ease and precision. I simply said, “It takes practice.” The Cat Eye has always been my signature look, and I will wear it until retirement age. Liquid eyeliner is better suited for oily eyelids since the wearability is stronger and doesn't break down as easily as pencil.
I have a hooded eye shape and found that liquid eyeliner works really well for my eyelids since most eyeliners are transfer-resistant after they dry down and set. Liquid Eyeliner still remains the most intimidating eye look for a lot of women. There are plenty of videos and tutorials about how to use liquid eyeliner and the frustrations of smudging and smearing. But, with the right product like waterproof eyeliners, and enough guidance, it will become one of your favourite products for your eye make-up.
2 Types of Liquid Eyeliner
All eyeliners can define and enhance the eyes, but liquid eyeliner is in a league of its own when it comes to precision and staying power. Richly pigmented and designed to dry down quickly, liquid formulas can create everything from a barely-there line to a sharp, intricate eye look that lasts throughout the day.
Unlike traditional eye pencils, liquid eyeliner offers greater control and definition, making it especially useful for precise wings and detailed looks. And while the formula itself matters, choosing a liquid eyeliner often comes down to the applicator you feel most comfortable using.
There are two main types of liquid eyeliner and each offers a different level of control, making one better suited to certain techniques and preferences than the other.
1. Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliners
A brush-tip liquid eyeliner comes in a tube with a wand applicator, similar to a mascara or lip gloss, with an ultra-fine brush at the end. Because the tip is flexible and precise, it gives you plenty of control over the shape and intensity of your line. This type of applicator makes it easier to create a multitude of looks.
What is good about this product is that you are able to control the intensity of the line you want to create. You can press lightly to get thin lines or press hard to get a thicker, bold look. The benefit of using a brush liner is the ability to create looks similar to calligraphy on your eyes. This is possible because the brush is way more flexible than a felt tip liner. Each time you draw a line, you can dip back into the tube, controlling the amount you use.
Remember to wipe the brush of the liquid liner opening to remove any excess product before applying it on your eyes.
2. Felt tip liquid eyeliners
Felt-tip liquid eyeliner is essentially the beauty equivalent of an ultra-fine marker. The liquid formula is housed inside the pen, and a quick shake is often all it takes to get the product flowing to the tip. Depending on the design, felt tips can range from soft and flexible to firmer, more precise points.
For beginners, a felt tip liquid eyeliner is an easier place to start. The applicator holds its shape as you draw, making it easier to create clean, controlled lines without worrying about individual brush hairs separating or moving around. While brush-tip liners are ideal for fluid, expressive strokes and intricate details, felt-tip pens excel at smooth, graphic lines and crisp wings. They’re particularly useful when you want precision without having to master the technique of a flexible brush.
If you have shaky hands, you can balance your pinky finger on your cheek for a more sturdy application.
How to Nail a Cat-Eye With Liquid Eyeliner in 3 Steps
The cat eye has earned its place as one of beauty’s most timeless makeup looks. While the classic shape never really goes out of style, it gets reinvented season after season, with everything from barely-there flicks to elongated wings and bold, graphic lines. A minimalist cat eye also pairs perfectly with the clean makeup aesthetic, proving that sometimes less really is more.
Before reaching for your liquid liner, decide what kind of cat eye you’re after. Do you want a fine, delicate line or something more dramatic? And how long do you want your wing to be? Having a rough idea of the shape beforehand can make the application much easier.
Getting the angle right can be the trickiest part. For a little extra guidance, use a clean eyeshadow or makeup brush to map out the direction of your wing. Another tried-and-true trick is tape: place a small piece at the outer corner of your eye, angling it toward the end of your eyebrow. This creates a guide for your liner and makes it easier to achieve a sharp, symmetrical wing. Simply adjust the placement and length of the tape depending on how dramatic you want your cat eye to be.
1. Map out your wing.
Start at the outer corner of your eye and draw a thin line toward the end of your eyebrow. This first stroke determines the angle and length of your wing, so keep it light to begin with. You can always build it up later if you want a thicker, more dramatic look.
2. Connect the wing to your lash line.
Once you’re happy with the shape of your wing, connect it back to your upper lash line. For a classic cat eye, continue the line across the lash line toward the inner corner. Prefer something softer? Connect the wing only to the outer corner and leave the rest of the lash line bare. Either way, use small, controlled strokes rather than trying to draw one continuous line.
3. Build, balance, and repeat.
Go back over the liner to gradually build your desired thickness and intensity. Then repeat the same technique on your other eye, using the first wing as your guide for length and angle. If they aren’t perfectly identical, don’t stress, slightly different eyes are completely normal. The goal is to make them look balanced, not mathematically identical.
Remember that your eyes are not sisters but cousins; you don’t need to be a perfectionist and practice, practice, practice!
