9 Mistakes You're Making With Eyeliner

If you've ever wondered exactly where eyeliner should be applied, or how to get a steady enough hand to even put the stuff on in the first place, you're not alone. Eyeliner (or eye makeup, for that matter) can be one of the trickiest cosmetics to master. But that doesn't mean you should give up on it. "Eyeliner can work on everybody—one reason I love it is because it can make lashes appear much fuller," says Sonia Kashuk, celebrity makeup artist and founder of the Sonia Kashuk Collection for Target. (Want to pick up some healthier habits? Sign up to get daily healthy living tips delivered straight to your inbox!) Here, pros explain the most common eyeliner errors and how to make application foolproof.

Don't be afraid to deviate a little bit from the natural shape of your eye. "Eyeliner can help adjust and perfect your eye shape," says Kashuk. So instead of simply tracing your lash line, think about what each eye needs. "Not all lids are the same," says Taylor Babaian, a celebrity makeup artist and the author of Beauty Rewind. "To make them appear even, one lid may need a thicker liner application than the other." (Try one of these festive makeup looks.) Most eyes are also slightly down-turned, and following the line can exaggerate aging lids, she explains. Instead, slightly angle the line up 45 degrees at the outside corners to add a little lift.

Smudging will help soften a harsh line, fill in any gaps, and create a more natural look. While smudging with your fingers is tempting, Kashuk recommends using a small angled brush for more control. (Thinking of liquid eyeliner? Check out this how-to video.) "The key is to also have a clean tissue handy," she says. "Every time you smudge with your brush, clean the bristles off so that you're not smudging eyeliner all over the place."

"Eyeliner looks best when applied closest to the lash line, and even in between the lashes themselves," explains makeup artist Brianna Nicole. She recommends using a sharpened pencil or thin angled brush and aiming for the roots of the lashes.

There's only one place raccoon eyes look good—on raccoons. Fortunately, you can prevent this faux pas with two simple products, says celebrity makeup artist Maya Michelle Shapiro: setting powder and waterproof eyeliner. (Check out these 9 makeup tips for women over 40.) Start by setting your undereye concealer with a translucent powder, since creamy products can emulsify eyeliner and make it run. Then, apply a waterproof eyeliner formula. Shapiro recommends Blinc Ultrathin Eyeliner Pen ($26, sephora.com) or Maybelline Unstoppable waterproof eyeliner ($5, drugstore.com).

"This is one of my major pet peeves," says Kashuk. "That solid line under the eye. It looks very dated, hard, and incredibly severe." Liner that is too dark or too heavy on the lower lash line can drag the eyes down, making you look tired and sad. Kashuk's easy fix? Opt for a lighter color or lighter application on the lower lash line. Or if you have a hard time giving up your dark lower liner, then smudge, smudge, smudge. "The difference between a harsh, dated liner and a smoky eye is simple smudging," she says.

First things first: Your waterline is the, well, watery area between your lashes and your actual eyeball. "The waterline can become discolored with age, but a beige liner can help neutralize redness and create a healthier look," says Babaian. For eyes that look a bit sleepy, try a light-colored liner like nude or champagne, but not white, which can look dated. For a more dramatic, defined eye, use a black, brown, or charcoal waterproof eyeliner to line the top and bottom waterlines.

Still rocking the same liner you did in your 20s? Consider this time for an update. "We lose color in our skin as we age. This can make the makeup shades that we used to use appear too dark," says Babaian. (Check out these common concealer mistakes.) To break out of an eyeliner rut, stop by a beauty counter at Sephora or a department store for an eyeliner makeover, or shake it up on your own by swapping out a heavy black liner for a dark gray or espresso.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and a perfectly lined eye isn't created in one fell swoop either. Instead of trying to get the perfect line in one pass, use lots of little strokes to minimize mistakes and avoid creating too dark or too wide of a line.

Pencil or liquid? Waxy crayon or gel? Finding the right eyeliner formula can be half the battle. "The ones that glide on smoothly are usually very creamy but melt and smear easily," explains Alejandro Falcon, artistic director for Osmosis Colour cosmetics. "The longer-lasting ones tend to dry quickly and scrape and scratch your eyes when being applied." Newbies should opt for a waterproof wax or gel pencil for the simplest application and easy smudgability. (Here are the top makeup picks from our experts.) For a more dramatic look, try a liquid liner to create a more defined eye or a kohl pencil for a smoky eye.