Beauty Experts Share Their Best Eyeliner Picks for Beginners

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.

What Does a Beginner-Friendly Eyeliner Look Like?