Winged eyeliner is, of course, classic. A winged eyeliner look can help define & lift the eyes and elongate the eye shape. The origins of winged eyeliner can be traced all the way back to ancient Egyptian civilizations. And after the mid-20th century resurgence of wing liner, worn on icons like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor, the look was popularized, which cemented it as a symbol of glamour and sophistication.
In the decades that followed, all the way to today, winged eyeliner remains a timeless classic and continues to evolve and adapt to the mood of the times. Whether it's a subtle flick for busy days, or a dramatic wing for a special occasion, this versatile technique continues to be a beloved staple in the world of makeup. Ahead, learn how to apply winged eyeliner with our beginner-friendly liquid liner, plus makeup artist tips.
Beginner-Friendly Liquid Liner for Easy Winged Eyeliner Application
It happens all the time. You want to do a cute, winged liner look but dread the dance (cue the eyeliner anxiety) to make both eyes look even before you have to run out the door. This can leave you thinking, why is this so hard for me to get right? Turns out, you’re not alone, it doesn’t need to be hard, and Lancôme took note of both. Also, many eyeliners out there can be difficult to hold and apply, or the formula might lack pigment, making it harder to achieve even wings.
Lancôme’s Idôle Ultra-Precise Easy Liquid Eyeliner is a beginner-friendly option for creating perfectly even wings. The ergonomic packaging makes it easy to hold and draw a steady line, which can be helpful for beginners and shaky hands. The felt tip applicator is also super slim, flexible, and ultra-precise so creating thick to thin winged eyeliner becomes much simpler. As for the formula, it’s a silky smooth high-performing liquid with supercharged luminous pigments that glide on in a single stroke every time. Lancôme offers a range of eyeliners so you can find the best formula and finish for you. Bye-bye uneven wings, and hello time saved!
How To Do Winged Eyeliner
Today, there are infinite variations of winged eyeliner looks, like a double winged liner, cat eyeliner, graphic eyeliner, and inner corner eyeliner. For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll focus on the classic wings. To apply winged eyeliner, grab your favorite eyeliner, like our easy-to-use Idôle Liner, and follow these steps:
Step 1 – Plan: Before applying eyeliner, find the end of your eyebrow tail and use that as a guide for your wing extension. Angle the tip of the eyeliner in line with the outer corner of your eye where your upper and lower lash lines meet. Place the eyeliner here and follow the natural curve of your eye to see where the wing should lay.
Step 2 – Draw Your Wings: Now take your eyeliner and apply light pressure on the precision tip and draw your wings. Wipe away any mistakes with a small amount of eye makeup remover on a cotton tip.
Step 3 – Line the Eyes: Lay the felt-tip applicator flat on your lash line and glide towards your inner-eye corner. Idôle Liner applies easily, with just one stroke so you won’t have to spend extra time getting the formula to show up. Start with the thinnest line you can make and build up the thickness from there.
Step 4 – Fill in Gaps: Apply additional pressure to the tip to fill in any spaces and complete your winged eyeliner look.
Makeup Artist Tip: Pair winged eyeliner with a nude lip for a little ‘60s glam or with a red lip for classic ‘50s elegance.
Complete Your Winged Eyeliner Look with Mascara
When it comes to a winged eyeliner look, mascara is the cherry on top – the finishing touch to accentuate the eye shape. Our best eyeliner and mascara combo for winged eyeliner is with Idôle Liner and Lash Idôle Mascara (also available in Waterproof).
Lash Idôle Mascara is the perfect companion to winged eyeliner because it was specifically designed to provide a lash-lifting effect. Its curved mascara wand pushes up and fans out lashes for an open eye effect, while the lightweight gel formula leaves lashes looking soft, plush, and feathery. Use the inside curve of the brush to lift your lashes from root to tip, building volume and curl to perfectly complement your winged eyeliner.
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