How to Sharpen Eyeliner Pencil: 7 Eyeliner Sharpening Tips

An eyeliner pencil sharpener—also known as a cosmetic sharpener, eye makeup pencil sharpener, or a makeup pencil sharpener—is a dual-blade sharpener built specifically for sharpening eyeliner and other makeup sticks to the perfect point. Sharpening your eyeliner pencil will create a sharp point to give you precise, pigmented lines for your eye makeup. Sharpening also refreshes your eyeliner pencil by removing old product and bacteria.

There are multiple ways to sharpen an eyeliner pencil:

1. 1. Eyeliner sharpener: An eyeliner pencil looks like a pencil sharpener, but it is not as sharp, so it will not break the soft, colored tip of the eyeliner. Turn your eyeliner in the eyeliner sharpener one or two times to resharpen an eyeliner pencil. Some eyeliner sharpeners will also have a removable box for collecting the shavings.
2. 2. Small precision knife: If you do not have an eyeliner sharpener, use a small knife such as a pocket knife or pen knife. Hold the knife in your dominant hand and the eyeliner pencil in your non-dominant hand. Point the eyeliner pencil downward, against a flat surface if you need to, and run the knife against the pencil in a downward motion. Turn the pencil so the knife cuts all around the pencil.
3. 3. Scissors: You can also use scissors to sharpen an eyeliner pencil, just be careful not to cut yourself. Open the scissors wide. Place the scissor in your dominant hand, but do not wrap your hand around the blades; instead, grip the scissors between your fingers and run the blade of the scissors down the eyeliner pencil.

When purchasing and sharpening eyeliner pencils, keep the following tips in mind:

1. 1. Use a sharpener with a stainless steel blade. Look for a cosmetic sharpener with a stainless steel blade, which will not dull or rust.
2. 2. Look for a dual pencil sharpener. Many eyeliner sharpeners will have two different-sized holes to accommodate different sizes of eyeliner pencils, such as jumbo pencils. A dual pencil sharpener is a great tool for your makeup bag.
3. 3. Turn the sharpener around the eyeliner. If the tip of your eyeliner pencil breaks off whenever you sharpen your pencils, you might need to change your shaving technique. Instead of turning the eyeliner pencil in the eyeliner sharpener, gently turn the eyeliner sharpener around the eyeliner pencil.
4. 4. Sharpen other makeup pencils. You can use a cosmetic sharpener to sharpen lipstick crayons, lip pencils, lip liners, and even eyebrow pencils.
5. 5. Consider the type of eyeliner pencil. You can sharpen wood and plastic eyeliner pencils with sharpening tools. For automatic or mechanical eyeliner pencils, twist the eyeliner up and gently rub the tip on a paper towel to give the pencil more definition.
6. 6. Avoid using a pencil sharpener. Do not use a regular pencil sharpener to sharpen your makeup. A sharpener for writing utensils will break soft kohl or gel eyeliner pencils. A cosmetic pencil sharpener, on the other hand, is built specifically to sharpen makeup and keep the tip intact.
7. 7. Clean your sharpener. Regularly clean your eyeliner sharpener to remove any makeup buildup. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, then run it inside the compartments and outside along the blade.

Get the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Bobbi Brown, RuPaul, Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, and more.