Puppy Eyeliner: How to Do Puppy Eyeliner in 5 Steps

Puppy eyeliner is a makeup technique that creates a downward curve at the outer edge of the eye. Essentially an inverted cat-eye look, puppy eyeliner compliments all eye shapes, and it works particularly well on downturned, deep-set, and hooded eyes. By outlining and extending the lower lash line, puppy eyeliner gives the eye a round, wide-eye shape.

There are different variations of puppy eyes, including droopy puppy and baby puppy eyes. While droopy puppy eyeliner extends the length of the downward flick, baby puppy eyeliner creates a short and subtle winged eyeliner ideal for daytime looks. You can experiment with the length of your puppy eyeliner, extending the liner past the outer corner of your eye to dramatize the look.

To create a puppy eyeliner look, you’ll need primer, concealer, eyeliner, an angled makeup brush, and setting spray. You can use liquid eyeliner, an eyeliner pencil, or both products to create this look. Here’s a makeup tutorial to help you try this beauty trend:

1. 1. Prep with primer. Apply a small amount of primer to your eye area, gently dabbing the product into your skin. After the primer absorbs into your pores, apply concealer under your eyes to create a smooth surface for your eyeliner. Prepping your eye area with primer and concealer helps your makeup stick to your skin and prevents your eyeliner from smudging throughout the day.
   
2. 2. Start at your upper lash line. Position your eyeliner tip at the outer corner of your top lash line. Using soft motions, trace a thin line past your eye, curving the line slightly downward so it follows your natural eye shape. You can extend the eyeliner as far past your eye as you’d like.
3. 3. Outline your lower lash line. Starting at the inner corner of your eye, trace your lower lash line with the eyeliner to highlight your waterline. When you get to the outer corner of your eye, angle the eyeliner down to meet the end line you drew from your upper lash line.
4. 4. Fill in the gap. Finish the puppy eye look by filling the gap between your upper and lower lines. Makeup artists suggest using an angled makeup brush or eyeliner brush to fill in the top and bottom lash lines if you’re using liquid liner. Dip the makeup brush into the liquid pigments, and gently dab the brush into the space between the liner from your upper and lower lash lines. If using an eyeliner pencil, you can color in the gaps with the end of your liner tip.
5. 5. Finish with mascara and setting spray. To make your eyes appear bigger, apply a layer of mascara to your eyelashes. Finish your eye makeup routine by spritzing a setting spray to prevent your eyeliner from smudging off throughout the day.

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