Eyeliner is a makeup bag staple—a thin swipe of black along the upper lash line has a magical way of tying any makeup look together. But while a timeless black wing never fails, there are plenty of other eyeliner looks worth adding to your repertoire. If you’re in need of some inspiration, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’re sharing 15 eyeliner ideas we love, from colorful variations on the classic wing to graphic floating liner and abstract looks worthy of a special night out. Find them all—plus a look at some of our favorite products for nailing different eyeliner looks—below.
1. Bright Eyeliner
Swapping out your go-to black liner for one in a brighter, more vivid hue is an easy way to update your everyday makeup. For a bold yet still wearable eyeliner look, try tracing your upper lash line with a deep green eyeliner, such as Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil in Emerald Empire. If you prefer liquid liner, we’re fond of Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner in On Red—the deep rust shade is especially flattering on darker skin tones.
2. Metallic Eyeliner
If you’re looking for a cool eyeliner look that’ll stand out in the best way, this is it. Start by covering your lids with a shimmery silver eyeshadow, like the Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow in Come Thru Coconut. Then, draw an exaggerated wing on your upper lid with a dark silver metallic eyeliner, such as Epic Wear Metallic Liquid Liner in Gunmetal. The deep pewter hue will contrast nicely against the pale shimmery shadow, while the liner’s metallic finish adds extra glitz to your look. You can leave it as-is, but for added contrast, define your upper and lower lash lines with a matte black liner, like our classic Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Pitch Black.
3. Winged Eyeliner
A sharp, defined wing is one of our favorite ways to wear eyeliner. It’s bold yet classic, eye-catching but not overpowering, and can easily be adjusted to suit your vibe. We find that liquid liner works best for creating a sharp wing, so for this eyeliner look, we recommend snagging the Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. Place the pen’s felt tip on your inner corner, as close to the lash line as you can get, and begin drawing a thin line toward the outer corner of your eye. Once you get to the outer corner, adjust your grip and draw a short line toward the tail of your brow to create your wing shape. If you want a thicker wing, trace over the line you already created until you’re satisfied with the thickness and shape.
4. Floating Crease Eyeliner
For those who prefer a more unexpected approach to makeup, floating crease liner is a must-try. This unique eyeliner style involves placing (or “floating”) your liner above the crease of your eye rather than along the lash line—and the result is undeniably cool.
You can use any liner you want for this, but we think the artsy look pairs beautifully with bolder eyeliner colors. Try our Epic Wear Liquid Liner in Lilac or Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Blue Trip.
5. Graphic Eyeliner
Graphic eyeliner can take many forms, but we’re fond of the exaggerated wing shape made popular in the ‘60s. To create this retro look, start by drawing an exaggerated wing across your upper lash line. Then, add floating crease liner just above your lid and connect the two lines. Complete the shape by dragging your floating crease liner down to your inner corner. Done properly, you should be left with the outline of a wing with negative space on your lid.
6. Neon Wing
For a fun eyeliner look fitting for a party, try creating a neon wing. The steps for this are the same for any other wing, only instead of black liner, you’ll use a vivid neon shade. We love the electric orange hue of Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Habanero Hottie for those who prefer pencil eyeliners, while Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner in Don’t Pink Twice is ideal for those who favor liquid liners.
7. Smudged Liner
We love smudged liner because it’s cool, edgy, and super easy to achieve—even if you’re a total liner newbie. Start by snagging your favorite shade from our Epic Smoke Liner collection. Trace your upper and lower lash lines with the eyeliner (no need to be too neat), then flip the dual-ended pencil over and use the attached paddle brush to diffuse the color and create a smudgy, lived-in look.
8. Two-Toned Liner
The only thing better than one bright color: two bright colors. To create this fun eyeliner look, we suggest grabbing two shades of the Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick—one lighter and one darker. Use the darker shade to trace your upper lash line, then tightline your lower waterline with the lighter hue. You can use coordinating colors (like Fierce Purple and Periwinkle Pop) for a subtle tonal effect, or opt for contrasting colors (like Orange Zest and Turquoise Storm) for a bolder look.
9. Cat Eye
The terms “cat eye” and “winged eyeliner” are often used interchangeably, but in reality, they’re slightly different. While winged eyeliner only features liner on the upper lid, the cat eye also includes liner on the lower lash line for a more defined effect. The wing in a cat eye also tends to be slightly straighter, rather than angled upward.
To create this sultry look, start by grabbing a pencil eyeliner, like the Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil in Onyx. Trace your upper lash line as usual, extending the line a quarter inch or so beyond the outer corner and toward your temples. Then, use the same liner to lightly trace your lower lash line, connecting the bottom liner to your wing for a seamless look.
10. Kitten Eyeliner
Kitten eyeliner is similar to a cat eye, only less dramatic. Keep the wing at the outer corner short and use brown rather than black eyeliner for a softer, more subtle effect.
11. White Eyeliner
White eyeliner is modern, bold, and unexpected—plus, the right placement can help make your eyes look bigger. Use Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Pure White to create a retro graphic eyeliner look, or use the stark white shade to define your lower waterline for an eye-opening effect. If snowy white liner feels a little too bright for you, you can use a pale beige shade, such as Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil in Quartz Queen, for a similar (but softer) effect.
12. Abstract Eyeliner
One of our favorite things about makeup is that, really, there’s no rulebook—you can (and should!) do whatever makes you feel happy and confident. Abstract liner can take pretty much any form imaginable, so feel free to experiment to your heart’s content. If you need some inspiration to get started, here’s a quick and easy abstract eyeliner look we love.
Start by snagging two liquid liners—we suggest using the Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black and the Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner in Ghosted Green. Locate the highest point of your upper eyelid and draw a horizontal line straight out, stopping in line with the tail of your brow. Then, draw another line parallel to the first, this one starting at the center of your lower lash line. Complete this cool eyeliner look by adding a thin green stripe or squiggle between the black lines.
13. Colorful Double Wing
Once you master the art of winged eyeliner, creating a double wing is a cinch. Start by using your favorite black liquid liner to create a traditional wing on your upper lash line. Then, use a bright eyeliner (try Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner in Lilac Link) to draw another wing immediately above the first for a stacked double wing effect.
14. Dotted Liner
Clean, sharp eyeliner requires a steady hand, and some mornings, that just isn’t in the cards. That’s when this dotted eyeliner look comes in handy. Creating it is super simple—all you need is a pigmented liquid eyeliner like the Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black. Use the pointed tip to draw pinhead-sized dots along your upper lash line to add definition (space them apart so there’s plenty of visible negative space). If you want to shake things up even more, try alternating black dots with metallic dots (we love Epic Wear Metallic Liquid Liner in Silver Metal for a bit of contrast).
15. Brown Liner
If you’re looking for a way to change up your everyday look but aren’t ready to dive in with neon liner or abstract shapes, consider simply swapping out your black liner for brown (we’re fond of Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Brown Shimmer and Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil in Smokin Topaz). You’ll get all of the definition you’d get from your standard black liner, but with a softer, subtler finish. For a cohesive look, we recommend pairing your brown liner with brown (rather than black) mascara.
Eyeliner Look FAQs
How do you choose the right eyeliner color for your look?
When choosing an eyeliner color, there are a few things to consider, including the eyeliner look you’re aiming to create and what other makeup you’ll be wearing. Neutral tones (like blacks, browns, and grays) are ideal for adding subtle definition to your eyes, while jewel tones and vivid brights are, unsurprisingly, more attention-grabbing. If you do opt for bold eyeliner, we suggest keeping the rest of your makeup relatively simple to avoid overpowering your features.
What type of eyeliner is best for creating eyeliner designs?
Both liquid and pencil eyeliner can be used to create designs, though liquid eyeliner makes for sharper, more defined lines. If you opt to use pencil eyeliner, make sure the tip is sharpened so you can get a clean, mess-free application. It’s also a good idea to opt for a waterproof liner when creating designs to help ensure your hard work won’t melt off if you sweat or get caught in the rain.
Should eyeliner go on top or bottom?
Eyeliner can go on both your upper lash line and lower lash line, depending on what look you’re after. Putting eyeliner on only the upper lash line helps create a more wide-awake look, while adding liner to your lower lash line can create drama or tie your look together.
How do you find the right eyeliner style?
There are so many different ways to wear eyeliner, and finding the right eyeliner style for you is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Use our list of eyeliner makeup ideas as a jumping-off point to experiment with different shapes, styles, and trends, and have fun with it. There’s really no right or wrong way to do makeup—as long as you’re enjoying yourself, you’re doing it right.
Next Up: Eyeliner 101: How To Apply Eyeliner Like a Real Pro.
Got an eyeliner look you swear by? We want to see it. Share a pic on social media and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
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VIVID RICH MECHANICAL PENCIL
Gem-toned pigmented mechanical eye pencil in 12 vivid matte, shimmer, and metallic shades
Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick
High-impact, waterproof eyeliner pencil
Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner
Transfer and fade-resistant colorful liquid eyeliner
Epic Wear Liquid Liner
Waterproof matte liquid eyeliner
Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Waterproof felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen
Epic Wear Metallic Liquid Liner
Waterproof Metallic Eyeliner
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Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow
Liquid Shimmery Eyeshadow
