These Beginner-Friendly Liners Make Creating Cat Eyes Second Nature (Promise!)

Let's face it—creating a flawless eye makeup look using eyeliner seems like second nature for some and near myth for others. But when you see someone apply razor-sharp liner in seconds without hesitation, it's easy to forget that eyeliner is a skill developed over time. There's a lot to think about while you're doing your eyeliner and if you're like me, you may have questions about how to get winged liner sharp enough or prevent a smoky eye from resembling a black eye.

When I first began to wear the product regularly as a teen, my shaky hands alone were enough to convince me I wouldn't ever be able to pull off the perfect liner look. Years later, I can say with complete confidence that I've gotten the cat-eye liner look down (in addition to cracking the code to streak-free waterlined eyes). With the help of celebrity makeup artists Andrew Dahling and Sloane Casper along with beauty expert Becca Raziuddin, I've compiled a list of the best eyeliner pencils, pens, and pots for anyone looking to level up their makeup game.

Content creator Jill Wallace wears bronzed makeup with winged eyeliner

(Image credit: @littleblackboots)

What Does a Beginner-Friendly Eyeliner Look Like?

Perhaps one of the most important things to know about eyeliner before you start shopping for your perfect match is that it can come in many forms. For some people, a liquid pen or cream pencil liner may help them achieve their unique makeup goals more than a gel-based pot eyeliner or one with a highly pigmented kajal formula. Beginners should consider opting for an eyeliner that is easy to use (made with an ergonomic design) and has a fuss-free cleanup.

According to Casper, gel pencils and pots are the secret to learning how to tightline the eyes (which Casper believes is the first step a beginner should take when learning to do their eyeliner). "These products stand out to me for beginners because they aren’t as runny as liquid, and they provide some time to clean up or perfect eyeliner before it sets and becomes smudge-proof," says Casper. "Once you learn your best liner angles and techniques, you can upgrade to a liquid and start playing with looks that challenge you."

How to Pull Off Flawless Application

Now that you know what to shop for in a beginner-friendly eyeliner, there are a few tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your product. Before doing any other makeup, Casper suggests starting with your eyeliner and perfecting it. "This way, you avoid eye shadow fallout or feeling bad about messing up your perfect eye shadow just because your eyeliner wasn't straight," she explains. Try using a waterproof gel pencil that can glide across the skin, smudging away any mistakes, and following with a liquid liner. "Practice makes perfect. Learn your eyelids and how to flatter or accentuate your shape. Use short strokes with a pencil liner first. Then smudge them to create a line," Casper encourages.

Raziuddin agrees that gel liners are the way to go for a breezy application, adding that it's also smart to avoid using an eyeliner that dries too quickly to correct any errors. "When it comes to learning how to apply eyeliner, you want to choose an eye liner that goes on smoothly and gives you time to correct any mistakes," says Raziuddin. To start an eyeliner look, she recommends keeping your eye slightly open to avoid adding too much liner to the lid, starting from the inner portion of the lash line and working your way out to the corner—and having a Q-tip and makeup remover near by for mistakes.

The Best Eyeliners for Beginners, Listed

Model and Content Creator Taylor Sears with Smoky Eye Makeup

(Image credit: @glossipgirl)

1. Pencil Eyeliners

2. Liquid Eyeliners

Content creator Marcela Alcala wears a sleek blue eyeliner look

(Image credit: @mexicanbutjapanese)

3. Kajal Eyeliners

4. Cream and Gel Eyeliner Pots

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.