Lining your waterline with eyeliner enhances eye brightness and accentuates overall makeup. Due to natural eye moisture, waterline eyeliner may smudge. Follow these steps to maintain waterline eyeliner durability: curl lashes, dry waterline with a cotton swab, and apply eyeshadow over eyeliner.
Step-by-Step Guide
Creating a Strong Foundation
Prevent Eyelash Contact with Waterline Long lashes or downward-facing lashes can rub against your upper waterline, leading to smudged eyeliner. Curl lashes using an eyelash curler to create separation and prevent contact with the waterline.
Pro Tip: Curling your eyelashes not only enhances their appearance but also gives them a fuller and longer look.
Apply Concealer Under Your Eyes Use your usual undereye concealer and apply a small amount under your eyes using your fingers. This helps your makeup stay in place longer and reduces movement on your face.
- Avoid applying concealer directly in your waterline to prevent eye irritation.
Ensure Sharpness for Your Eyeliner Pencil Sharpening your eyeliner pencil not only removes bacteria but also improves pigment and application ease. Always sharpen your eyeliner pencil before using it on your waterline.
- A regular pencil sharpener works fine for sharpening your eyeliner pencil.
- After sharpening, apply your eyeliner with gentle strokes.
Techniques for Eyeliner Application
Dry Your Waterline with a Cotton Swab Gently swipe a cotton swab along your upper and lower waterline to absorb excess moisture. Be cautious to avoid poking your eyes.
- If swiping your upper waterline is challenging, you can skip it.
- This step is not recommended for those with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.
Opt for a waterproof eyeliner pencil for your waterline. Since your waterline comes into contact with eye liquid regularly, use a waterproof eyeliner on both upper and lower waterlines to prevent breakdown throughout the day.
- Be careful when applying eyeliner to your upper waterline to avoid eye injury.
- If your eye waters during application, wait for it to dry before reapplying the liner for better setting.
Layer a gel eyeliner over the waterproof pencil liner. Although not explicitly waterproof, gel eyeliner helps seal the pencil liner and intensify color on your waterline. Use an angled makeup brush to apply gel eyeliner over pencil liner on both upper and lower waterlines.
- Gel liner lasts longer and smudges less than pencil liner.
Apply eyeshadow over your liner using an angled brush. Select an eyeshadow shade close to your eyeliner color. Use an angled brush to dab eyeshadow onto upper and lower waterlines.
- Applying powder helps set the eyeliner for added waterproofing.
Remove any smudges with a cotton swab. Clean up any eyeliner or eyeshadow below your eyes or around your waterline to enhance the appearance of your waterline.
- If needed, dip the cotton swab in a bit of makeup remover.
Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes throughout the day. Touching your eyes increases the risk of smudging or removing eyeliner. Keep your hands away from your eyes and refrain from rubbing them to maintain your liner all day long.
Important Note: If you have allergies or a cold causing excessive tearing, avoid applying eyeliner to your waterline.
Helpful Tips
Essential Supplies
- Eyelash curler
- Concealer
- Cotton swab
- Waterproof eyeliner pencil
- Gel eyeliner
- Eyeshadow
- Angled brush