Eyeliner for beginners: a soft wing in five steps

A soft wing suits almost every eye and is easier than it looks once you break it into steps.

Which liner to start with

• Pencil or kohl: the most forgiving. Smudge it for a soft, smoky line.
• Felt-tip liquid: holds like a pen, ideal for learning a wing.
• Gel with an angled brush: rich colour and lots of control once you have practised.

Five steps to a soft wing

1. Rest your elbow on a table and look straight into the mirror with your eyes open.
2. Find the angle: imagine a line from the outer edge of your lower lashes to the end of your brow. Draw a short flick along it.
3. Draw a thin line along the upper lash line from the inner corner outwards, in short strokes rather than one long one.
4. Connect the tip of the flick back to the lash line and fill in the small triangle.
5. Tidy the edges with a cotton bud dipped in micellar water.

For hooded eyes

Draw the wing with your eyes open and looking straight ahead, so it stays visible when your lid folds. A slightly thicker line and a flatter, more horizontal wing usually work best.

Try eyeshadow shades around your liner in the Beauty Mirror.

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