Makeup feels incomplete without the defining touch of eyeliner. Whether you're aiming for a subtle, natural look on your everyday outings or planning to go bold for a special occasion, eyeliner plays a crucial role. It's well-known that eyeliners can enhance and even entirely transform the shape of your eyes, adding depth and intrigue to your overall makeup aesthetic. With a variety of techniques at your disposal, you can experiment with numerous popular eyeliner styles, including puppy, cat, fox, and siren eyeliner, each offering a unique flair.
If you're a beginner, you may find yourself puzzled about which eyeliner style best suits your eyes, while seasoned makeup enthusiasts can effortlessly transition between styles. Fear not—if you've come here to discover the ideal eyeliner look to complement your features, you're in the right place. Below, I’ll outline some of the most popular and trendy eyeliner styles you might want to try.
Types of Eyeliners
1. Natural Eyeliner
A natural eyeliner look is perfect for your everyday makeup routine, providing a subtle, "no-makeup" aesthetic that enhances the natural contours of your eyes, creating a look that is both simple and effortlessly flattering. To achieve this, draw delicate lines along your lash line, gently connecting them to just meet the level of your eyelid. A bit of smudging will help you achieve the perfect finish.
2. Puppy Eyeliner
Inspired by the adorable, innocent gleam in a puppy's eyes, puppy eyeliner aims to create a rounder and softer look. This style focuses on accentuating the outer edges of your eyelids while extending beneath the waterline. You can opt for a thin or thick line on your upper eyelid and finish it off with a wider, more pronounced wing at the outer edge.
3. Fishtail Eyeliner
While not an everyday choice, fishtail eyeliner is sure to turn heads at parties, giving you that fashion-forward vibe. This look features two lines—one on the upper lid and one on the lower—both culminating in either a straight or curved wing, resembling the tail of a fish. This style also pays homage to ancient Egyptian art.
4. Fox Eyeliner
If you're looking to create a deeper, more alluring gaze, fox eyeliner is your best bet. This style elongates and lifts your eyes, giving them a coveted almond shape. To achieve this look, draw a long, straight wing from the outer edge of your eye, which can also extend towards the inner corner.
5. Cat Eyeliner
Cats, particularly tabby ones, naturally sport a winged appearance on their eyelids, and cat eyeliner aims to replicate that feline allure. This style incorporates a thick wing on the upper eyelid that extends towards the temples, while the top wing aligns with the lower lid to create a chic triangular shape at the corners of your eyes.
6. Siren Eyeliner
If you find fox eyeliner too bold for your taste, consider siren eyeliner, which also aims to create an elongated and larger look for your eyes. Siren eyeliner features a delicate wing at the outer corners that lifts upward, coupled with a downward-pointing wing at the inner corners.
7. Thick Winged Eyeliner
While thick winged eyeliner may not be the most universally flattering choice, it definitely appeals to women who want to make a bold statement. This basic winged liner style features a wing thickness of around 0.5 to 1 cm. Gel eyeliners work particularly well for achieving this bold look, especially on those days when your regular wing just doesn't come together as planned.
8. All-Rounder Eyeliner
An all-rounder eyeliner brings depth and emotion to your eyes, making them seem as if they have a captivating story to tell. This style involves applying eyeliner to both the upper and lower lids, with small wings at the outer and inner corners, thereby enhancing your natural eye shape.
9. Reverse Cat Eyeliner
For those looking to experiment with their eyeliner and create an unconventional look, reverse cat eyeliner is a fun choice. Similar to traditional cat eyeliner, it features a pronounced wing at the outer corner of the eye, but here, the eyeliner is applied on the lower lid instead of the upper. Finish off the look by smudging it slightly to create a smoky effect.
10. Smokey Eyeliner
If your goal is to achieve a sophisticated, glamorous, and classy appearance, smokey eyeliner reigns supreme. This style is essentially a smudged rendition of your favorite eyeliner look, and adding a touch of dark or neutral eyeshadow can further intensify its allure.
11. Graphic Eyeliner
Graphic eyeliner is an artistic expression for those who wish to showcase their free spirit and creativity. This style can take various forms, incorporating different shapes, colors, and techniques, making it a perfect match for vibrant summer themes and bold, stylish vibes.
12. Colored Eyeliner
While traditional eyeliners often stick to darker tones like black or brown, colored eyeliners can make a stunning statement. Shades like blue, yellow, or even red can be mixed with classic black and white for those adventurous souls eager to try something daring and rebellious.
Choosing the Right Eyeliner for Different Eye Shapes
It's essential to recognize that not all eyeliner styles suit every eye shape. Therefore, determining your eye shape is key to selecting the most flattering eyeliner looks.
1. Almond Eyes
Although beauty often lies in the gaze rather than the shape itself, almond eyes are undeniably captivating. These elongated eyes feature outer corners that tilt upwards, providing a naturally alluring fox-like appearance. Styles like cat, siren, or simple winged liners are particularly flattering. Start with a thin line at the inner corner and gradually increase the thickness towards the outer lid.
2. Small Eyes
To enhance small eyes, it's best to apply a thin layer of eyeliner to avoid masking their beauty. Incorporating white eyeliner on the lower waterline, paired with a thin winged liner on the upper lid, can help make your eyes appear larger and brighter.
3. Big Eyes
Big eyes generally require minimal effort to look stunning, as they naturally possess all the features needed. A straightforward application of eyeliner along the lid, finishing at the outer corner of the upper lid, is all that’s necessary—no need for elaborate wings or excessive styles.
4. Monolid Eyes
Monolid eyes lack a crease, allowing for a broad range of eyeliner styles. Extended wing styles, such as fox and siren eyeliners, are particularly
