If you know how to put on eyeliner, you will be able to master the look that has stumped would be style mavens for centuries. Whether you are working with pencil, charcoal or liquid liner, there are certain tricks that will help you create a dramatic eye sure to be noticed.

If you’re new to the world of liner, start with an eye pencil or crayon. These liners are much more forgiving than their liquid counterpart. If your hand shakes or you slip up, you can smudge the liner for a dramatic look or wipe the liner off and start over.

Liquid liner, however, is the approach you want when you’re ready to take your lining skills to the next level. Liquid liner offers the sleekest possible line and allows you to easily make a sharp thin line for a more natural approach or a thick and heavy line if you want to take things to a highly glamorous level.

Steps to Liquid Lining

1. Start with a bare eye. You should apply liquid eyeliners before shadow and mascara.

2. When you apply, hold your upper eyelid taut with one hand. With the other, start applying the eyeliner starting at the outside corner of your eye. Only go about two-thirds of the way along the eyelid before stopping. Your line should go into the lashes, not above it. Use short strokes.

3. If you want to get a more dramatic look, make the line thicker toward the outside of the eye.

4. To use eyeliner to make your lashes look thicker, dot the eyeliner into your lash line on your upper lid.

5. For a smoky eye, after you’ve applied a liquid liner, smudge the line with your finger or a cotton swab.

6. If you want a bold look, line the eye all the way to the inside corner.

7. Eyes lined both above and below can be sexy for a night out. After you line the top, hold down the lower lid and apply your eyeliner to the outer three quarters of the bottom lid.