Basically I bought a pencil pencil the other day because I thought it would be easier to learn how to do it, but I don’t know how to apply it. Every time I try it drags and it’s pure and I don’t know how to improve myself. Maybe I have a felt liner if it’s better for beginners but still not sure how to apply it. I also don’t know what the shape of my eyes is, but I suspect hooded eyes because when I close the eyelids it hides the eyelid part a little bit and it makes the eyeshadow application and even less very complex liner application. Help?
Felt tip is sort of easier, in that it won’t catch and drag in the same way, but pencil is a lot more forgiving, because if the line isn’t perfect, you can smudge it out with a brush or a cotton tip and call it smokey. If the pencil is sheer as soon as you apply it, it might just not be very good. Is it sheer if you draw on your hand? If no, but it is on your eyes, put some translucent powder over your lids before applying – you may have oily lids, and the oils can sheer out pencil. If it IS sheer on your hand, you may just want to try a different one.
Next, does it catch and drag if you draw on the back of your hand or inside of your wrist? Again, if so, the formula is probably just not great. Try sharpening it. If that doesn’t help, you can try holding the capped end of it in a closed fist for a while to warm it up, which can soften it a little, but it may not work. I have seen recommendations to microwave pencils to warm and soften them, but I’ve never tried it, so I can’t comment there.
I can’t really help you out in terms of eye shape without a picture, but I think regardless of shape, you’ll have a much easier time if the pencil will cooperate 🙂 eyeliner is tricky at first, don’t be discouraged if you don’t nail it immediately. It takes practise 🙂
Edit to add – try and just draw a line as close to your upper lashes as you can. If possible, you want a thinner line on the inner part of the eye, and slightly thicker towards the outer half. BUT that may be getting a little complicated for now. You can try putting a finger at the outer corner of your eye and stretching the skin tight, some people think it helps. Personally, I find that just makes it harder to see what I’m doing. I like to tilt my head back slightly while looking at the mirror so I can see more of my lid.
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Hey! If you have hooded eyes like me then winged eyeliner is a pain to start with. Two suggestions:
1. If you don’t want to use felt yet I’d suggest the marc Jacobs highliner gel eye crayon in blacquer with an angled brush to smooth it out. The color is pigmented and not washed out but you can also build it up to preference and it glides so smoothly.
2. When applying with a felt tip look directly into the mirror with your eyes open. This helps you see where the line will actually go so it’s not hidden when you open your eyes. Also start by holding the felt tip parallel to your skin (so the whole felt tip sideways against your skin) to help get a smooth line rather than just doing the fine point.
Not trying to do a plug but I do have a video for the gel eye crayon on my insta betsy.hackl.beauty if it would help to see a visual. Hope this made sense and it takes practice so don’t give up!! You’ll get that sultry eyeliner look!