It’s no secret, applying eyeliner is an art. Perfecting the smooth glide across your lid or powerful flick is not for the fainthearted – you need patience and control (and apparently some sort of wizardry). But, graphic eyeliner looks don’t have to be as intimidating as they seem.
While graphic eyeliner isn’t exactly a new make up trend (we have the ‘Euphoria effect’ to thank for that), it’s definitely come out of its shell in recent months – with bigger, brighter and bolder designs filling up our feeds. From coloured fusions to an illusion of lines, discover the Cult Beauty Copy Team’s favourite viral looks and how to recreate them for yourself, with ease!
BUT FIRST, WHAT IS GRAPHIC EYELINER
To put it simply graphic liner refers to a more creative way of wearing your typical eyeliner. The trend allows you to experiment with shape, colour, placement and more, in order to achieve a unique stylised look. So, as long as it’s a little different to your classic swipe of black pigments, it counts as a graphic design.
TEAM CB’S FAVOURITE GRAPHIC EYELINER LOOKS
LAYERED LINER
I’ma big fan of a ‘multi-liner’ eyeliner trend – I feel like it’s such a simple way to elevate my everyday winged look, without too much commitment or time! Once I have a black wing in place, I take a different colour pencil or gel and just follow the line, adding the colour directly above. If I want a subtle finish, I’ll use Charlotte Tilbury’s Colour Chameleon in ‘Bronzed Garnet’, as it’s a copper/brown that feels fairly neutral for my skin tone, and it glides on really easily. If I want a bolder look, I’ll go for a colour like the BY TERRY ‘No.5 Terrybleu’ Crayon Blackstar Eyeliner, or, my current obsession is RÓEN ‘s The Eyeline Define Shimmering Eyeliner in ‘Gunmetal’. – Josie, Content Manager
OVERSIZED CAT EYE
As someone who avidly wears the classic winged liner everyday (and I mean errr-day), I like to mix it up a lil’ if I’m going ‘out out’ with a more dramatic look – think Maddy Perez style from Euphoria. Although it may not be the most practical for day-to-day, a graphic cat-eye liner is a fun way to mix it up, without going too much out your comfort zone. Once you’ve created your classic flick, follow along the lash line into the inner corner of your eye and sweep it down slightly creating that illusion of a ‘cat-eye’.To finish off, feel free to pop on SISLEY-PARIS' Phyto-Kohl Star Waterproof liner along the waterline or draw a matching swish above for even more of a statement. – Anya, Junior Copywriter
THE SMUDGED HALO
If there’s an eyeliner rookie out there, it’s me. If I dare to attempt even the tiniest wing, I must hold my breath, scrunch up my toes and stare blankly into the mirror hoping for a steady hand. Enter: the smudged halo — the go-to style that helps the novice successfully cosplay as an eyeliner pro. Huda Beauty’s Creamy Kohl Eye Pencil is my secret weapon for the days (and nights) that require maximum drama with minimal effort. Tracing lightly along my arch, this ultra-smooth gel pencil works a charm for smoked-out smoulders, soft flicks and graphic lines. – Precious,Midweight Copywriter
THE THICK FLICK
IMO, you just can’t beat a classic winged eyeliner and no look is complete without one. If I’m going for a defined, cutting-edge wing (which is pretty much my forever go-to), then I always start from the outside-in (yep, you read that right) with a thin tip liner like Benefit’s Roller Liner. On other days, I fancy a softer, grungier look, so I will underline my edges with a kohl liner, then blend out with a dense, fluffy brush. Alternatively, get that grunge look on-the-go with Vieve’s Eye Wand in shade ‘Raven’, it literally glides on like a dream. – Jade, Senior Copywriter
THE SMOKEY SMUDGE
Whilst I love the look of neon lines, I’m not afraid to admit it: I don’t have a steady hand. So, my go-to is the classic smudged eyeliner look. Grab your favourite pencil or liquid and simply start by drawing along your upper lash line, staying close to the lashes – this doesn’t have to be precise (unsteady hands over here, remember?). Then, I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Eye Smudger Brush to blend the liner and smudge the edge, creating a soft effect. If using liquid, remember to work quickly, as once it’s set, it’s not budging! - Alice, Senior Copywriter
BLANK SPACE
A great way for me to elevate my eyeliner (and overall make up look) is through blank space. Proving that less is more, this style can be adapted with every wear. From changing its colour to playing with its thickness and shape, it allows me to be creative as I want. All I do is apply a normal winged liner with NYX’s Professional Makeup Epic Ink Eyeliner, then create another line in my arch, floating just above the crease.Simple! – Trifonia, Senior SEO Copywriter
