Graphic Eyeliner for Beginners

Mary Kay Waterproof Eyeliner in Black on a white and pink background

Graphic Eyeliner For Beginners

Get beginner-friendly tips and tricks for graphic eyeliner looks.

When it comes to eyeliner, you can go subtle with a thin, eye-opening line or get extra creative with runway-inspired looks. If you’re ready to go from basic to bold for your next liner look, follow these makeup artist tips from Keiko Takagi, and let the beauty begin!

A flat lay of Mary Kay Waterproof Eyeliner, Waterproof Eyeliner Pen and Gel Eyeliner

Choose Your Eyeliner Formula

The key to getting the dramatic look you want is picking the right eyeliner for the job.
• Eyeliner Pencil: This type of eyeliner is ideal for organic, natural lines, and you can give it a little smudge for a more edgy, grunge look.
• Liquid Eyeliner: Clean, crisp lines are easier than ever when you use a liquid liner with a no-drip precision tip.
• Gel Eyeliner: Glide on this eyeliner for the bold, creamy lines of your dreams.

Tip!
Using a waterproof pencil or liquid eyeliner is especially helpful for graphic looks because of the extra staying power.

A medium skin toned model wearing winged eyeliner

Master the Winged Eyeliner Look

The winged cat-eye look is a true makeup staple (and especially flattering for beauties with close-set eyes), which makes it a great base look for when you want to branch into more graphic eyeliner looks! Just follow these simple steps to start your eyeliner journey with this classic feline flick.

Line Your Top Lashline: If you have trouble drawing a straight, steady line, rest your elbow on the countertop, and draw short, connecting lines instead of trying to line your lashlines all at once.
Find Your Wing: Grab your Independent Beauty Consultant’s business card or something similarly sturdy, and line it up so that the card follows the slant of the outer third of your lower lashline.
Draw Your Wing: Holding the card in place, draw the wing toward the outer corner of your eye so that the tapered end of your eyeliner is facing your eyebrows.
Clean Up & Sharpen Your Lines: If you mess up a bit or just want sharper lines, use Mary Kay^® Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover with a cotton swab to clean up your look. Our Eyebrow/Eyeliner Brush is also a go-to tool for making liner look nice and sharp!

A fair skinned model with a short, playful bob wearing a graphic eyeliner look

Upgrade Your Design

If you’re just getting started with graphic eyeliner, start with the cat-eye we describe above, and add one or more of these tweaks for a more unique look.
• Line around the inner corners of your eyes for an extra-alluring look. This graphic liner look is especially beautiful on wide-set eyes.
• Draw a line from the middle of your upper eyelid crease, and connect it to the outer tip of your wing.
• Create a double wing by lining your lower lashline to create a second wing that’s parallel to the first one. Just make sure you prep the area by blotting away excess oil or dusting on a little translucent powder.

A model with long, dark blonde, curly hair wearing a colorful eyeliner look

Add Some Colour

Want a break from black eyeliner? Use a colourful eyeliner shade like blue to add a pop of colour to your look. You can also experiment with layering different eye shadow shades on top of your eyeliner with a liner brush for custom colour combos. Here are a few of our favourites:

Blue eyeliner + Starry Night eye shadow
Black eyeliner + Emerald Noir eye shadow
Brown eyeliner + Shiny Penny eye shadow
Steely eyeliner + Granite eye shadow

Tip!
If you want to add a little neutral eye shadow as a base shade on your eyelid or a shimmering hue as a highlight, apply it after your eyeliner since the liner may need a little cleaning up along the way.

A model with dark hair and bangs wearing a negative space eyeliner look and holding Mary Kay® Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

Go “Colourless”

You can also go in the opposite direction and play around with negative space-inspired eyeliner looks.

Start with your usual eyeshadow look, then use an eyeliner brush and concealer to draw a cool skin tone-hued winged eyeliner design.
You can also draw a thicker eyeliner look and create a subtle break in the colour using eye makeup remover and a cotton swab.

Add Finishing Touches

Complete your look with more subtle shades on the cheeks and lips so that your eyes are the focal point. Also swipe on a mascara that’s more bold than your everyday formula. These are a few of our lash wardrobe favourites:

Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara ^®: Get the look of big, bold, separated lashes that last all day.: Get the look of big, bold, separated lashes that last all day.
Lash Intensity^® Mascara: Magnify, maximize, multiply the look of your lashes.
Lash Love Fanorama^® Mascara: Use this formula for fully fanned-out flutter and panoramic impact.

A group of women joyfully interacting during a Mary Kay makeup party

Connect With Your #MKBeautyBFF

If you’re ready to put your liner skills into practice, reach out to your Independent Beauty Consultant! She’s just a call or text away from helping you try the latest eyeliner formulas and styles with your BFFs from the comfort of your own home.

Upgrade Your Eyeliner Wardrobe

Quick View

Mary Kay® Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Intense Black

$22.⁰⁰

Quick View

Mary Kay® Gel Eyeliner With Expandable Brush Applicator

Jet Black

$26.⁵⁰

Quick View

Eyebrow/ Eyeliner Brush

$14.⁰⁰

Quick View

Lash Intensity® Mascara

Black

$23.⁰⁰

Quick View

Mary Kay® Waterproof Eyeliner

Blue

$17.⁰⁰

As a native of Japan, makeup artist Keiko Takagi developed a deep appreciation for the colours, textures and endless variety she found in nature. She studied ballet as a child and became a backup dancer for popular singers in Japan. But Keiko’s true passion for makeup blossomed as she experimented with colour at the makeup table backstage. Since then, designers, photographers and celebrity clients around the world have come to depend on her expertise and creativity as a makeup artist.

The writer, Kristen Reed-Belveal (Manager of Corporate Creative Content at Mary Kay), loves puns, spending time with her husband Noah and two sons, and studying the Bible. Her go-to eyeliner is Mary Kay^® Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue.