Release Your Inner Artist with Graphic Eyeliner!

After such a grueling lockdown period, collectively as a society we attempted to find something new to be good at. I may have jumped on the bandwagon a little late, but I started to become more expressive with my makeup. It was definitely a process. I found a creative outlet without exposing how bad my singing voice is, how tone-deaf I could be, or how badly I draw a nose on a portrait. While I realized maybe a full face of makeup wasn’t exactly an option for me, I saw how much fun I could have with an eyeliner brush and some neon-colored hydroliners. 

What are hydroliners? Well, it’s exactly what you think: they are water-activated eyeliners, easy to apply, usually amazingly pigmented, and allow simple removal for crisper lines. They were my saving grace as I learned to do detailed designs for my small canvas. I started small -- simple bat-like liner that I would see on TikTok. I would copy the steps of the creator with black eyeliner and fight that inner battle that I look good. Slowly, I became more intrigued by the looks I saw on social media. I started adding pops of color to my bat liners, which would evolve to the graphic liner, later bigger and messier designs, and finally came the more complex mini designs.

Here are some of the TikToks that can inspired some a new look for you!

I know, I know. It looks like it is a lot and like it could be complicated, but the fluidity of it is what makes it so simple. There is no right or wrong way to draw something on your face, and it doesn’t always need to be dark. The eye look is pretty edgy, but add a little polka dot of color somewhere and you’ve changed the game!

Once you get a hang of using the thin eyeliner brushes, it will be game over for the chunky, graphic eyeliner look. When I started, I had an NYX pink liner and an Elf black liquid eyeliner, and I went to town. I used only two colors, but that flare of color and the addition to the basic wing changed everything for me.

Now this one... this one was a big step for me. I no longer was doing a wing, but I was still working with eyeliner and my eye shape. Once I was able to convince myself that I can do it and it will look good, I went to town. Just like she says in the TikTok, it’s important to work with one big swipe, and I did just that. I created my version of this look and showed it off to the world. I was living my best life!

No one can criticize you without your permission. Makeup is a form of self-expression, and you should be proud of your work. People will look, stare, and ask you why... but also wish they could do it themselves.

Your eyeliner is just a start to unlocking some inner artists you may have. Practice away!