How to Create Smudged Eyeliner: 8 Tips for Smudging Eyeliner

A smudged eyeliner look is a softer version of a smokey eye. The eyeliner is not a sharp, crisp line for this eye makeup look. Instead, smudged eyeliner is soft, and you can wear it as a daytime or nighttime look. To create a smudged eyeliner look, apply eyeliner, then use a smudging brush or a cotton swab to smear the lines lightly. You can achieve a smudged eyeliner look with any color, though a classic smudged eye look uses black eyeliner or dark brown eyeliner.

To achieve a smudged eyeliner look, the best eyeliner to use is a soft kohl eyeliner pencil or a gel eyeliner. Follow this step-by-step eyeliner tutorial for how to smudge eyeliner.

1. 1. Prep your eyes. Putting makeup primer on your eyelids before applying pencil liner will make a more long-wearing smudged eyeliner look.
2. 2. Apply eyeliner to the upper lid. Pull your upper eyelid taut to the side. Keeping the tip of the eyeliner pencil as close to your lash line as possible, draw a thin line going from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner of your eye. Repeat this process multiple times if you want a thick line.
3. 3. Apply eyeliner to the lower lid. Keeping the tip of the eyeliner pencil as close to the lower lash line as possible, draw a thin line from the outer corner of the eye toward the inner corner of your eye. The straight line should extend just two-thirds of your lower lids to make your eyes look bigger—completely lining your lower lids can make your eyes appear smaller.
4. 4. Connect the lines. Connect the lines of the eyeliner at the outer corner of the eye.
5. 5. Smudge. Using a smudge brush or a cotton swab, smudge the eyeliner so that the line is no longer crisp and clear. You can also use your fingers as a smudger.
6. 6. Seal your eyeliner. To make a more long-lasting eyeliner, use an eyeliner brush or eyeshadow brush to apply an eyeshadow that’s the same color as your eyeliner.

When smudging eyeliner, consider these makeup tips and hacks:

1. 1. Apply eye makeup in the correct order. Apply pencil eyeliner after you apply eyeshadow, and apply mascara to your eyes after eyeliner.
2. 2. Start with a light application. Start with a lighter line and smudge it. If you want a darker line, repeat the process. It’s easier to add color than it is to take it away.
3. 3. Concentrate on the outside. Makeup artists focus on making the outside of the eyes darker than the inner corners to make your eyes look bigger. Avoid lining the inner corner of your lower eyelid—too much dark eyeliner on your bottom eyelid will make your eyes look small.
4. 4. Stay close to your eye. Keep your smudged eyeliner close to your eyes. To avoid a messy raccoon look, do not smudge your eyeliner too far from your eyes. If you want more color on the top of your eyelid, add eyeshadow.
5. 5. Avoid liquid eyeliner. Avoid liquid eyeliner when going for a smudged eyeliner look. Liquid liner formulas create precise lines that will peel instead of smudging. Instead, use a soft pencil or a gel liner.
6. 6. Complete the look with natural makeup. smudged eyeliner evokes a more natural, lived-in look. Balance out your makeup look by going for lighter colors on the lips and cheeks so your face looks naturally sun-kissed.
7. 7. Go for a glam look. Alternatively, you can make a bold smudged eye makeup look that can be worn out at night. Use liquid eyeliner to draw a cat eye or winged tip on top of your smudged liner.
8. 8. Use a cotton swab to fix mistakes. To fix mistakes or smears, wet a cotton swab with makeup remover to remove the liner. You can use concealer to cover any smudges you don’t want.

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