How to Keep Eyeliner From Smudging

Eyeliner is an eye makeup product designed to line the eye. You can use eyeliner on your lower or upper lash line, or both. While black and brown eyeliners are among the most common colors, the beauty product is also available in blue, pink, white, and other hues. Eyeliners are available in different forms, including pencil eyeliner, gel eyeliner, and liquid eyeliner.

If you’re a beginner, follow this step-by-step tutorial for how to apply eyeliner:

1. 1. Close your eye. Slightly close the eye to which you are applying the eyeliner so your eyelid is fully visible.
2. 2. Hold the eyeliner in your dominant hand. Using your primary hand, hold the eye pencil or wand flat—nearly perpendicular to your eye.
3. 3. Start in the middle of your lid. Starting from the center of your eye, draw a straight line as close to the upper lash line as possible, following the curve of your eye to the outer corner of your eye.
4. 4. Draw a line from the inner corner of your eye. Then, draw a line from the inner corner to the center of your eye.
5. 5. Apply liner to your lower lid. If you want to apply eyeliner to your lower lid, do it in small strokes. Draw a line from the outer corner to the center of your lower lash line. If you want to fully line your lower lash line, draw a line from the middle of the lower lash line to the inner corner.

Smudging and smearing can happen while applying eyeliner or long after you apply your eyeliner. Uses these techniques to prevent eyeliner from smudging and to ensure that your eye makeup stays in place all day:

1. 1. Wash your skin before applying makeup. Oily skin can cause your eyeliner to smear. Wash your face before you apply your makeup, or dab an oil blotting sheet on your face to remove excess oils.
2. 2. Prep your eyelids. Use an eyeshadow primer for your eyelids to keep your eyeshadow and eyeliner from smearing or fading.
3. 3. Apply eyeshadow first. Put eyeshadow on before you apply eyeliner. The powder in the eyeshadow will absorb the oil in your skin, and it will give your eyeliner a dry canvas.
4. 4. Use a long-wearing or waterproof formula. To keep eyeliner from smearing or running, you can use eyeliner specially formulated to be waterproof or long-lasting. Waterproof eyeliner will not run if your eyes get wet, and a long-wearing formula has a long staying power and can hold up to a day of wear. Both of these formulations should be smudge-proof.
5. 5. Avoid your waterline. Lining the waterline along your lower lash line will cause your eyes to water, smudging your eyeliner and your mascara.
6. 6. Use setting powder. Use a translucent powder or spritz your eye makeup with a setting spray to set your makeup and keep it in place. You can also set your eyeliner by applying some powder eyeshadow to your eyeliner with an angled brush or eyeliner brush. This works best if the eyeshadow is the same color as your eyeliner.

You can fix eyeliner smudges and smears by applying some concealer to your lid using an angled brush or eyeliner brush. You can also fix smudges using a cotton swab with micellar water or makeup remover.

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