How to Do Reverse Eyeliner

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parts

1Laying Down the Foundation

2Applying Your Eyeliner

3Finishing Your Look

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Expert Q&A

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Reverse eyeliner can be a trendy look if you want to do something different with your makeup. To do reverse eyeliner, lay down the basic foundation of your makeup. Then, use eyeliner to trace a line below your eye. When you're done, you will be left with a fun look for the day.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Laying Down the Foundation

1. 
   1
   Keep your other makeup minimal. Reverse eyeliner is a somewhat bold, unconventional look. You want that to be emphasis of your makeup. Play down the rest of your makeup. Do only basic foundation and, if you contour, keep it minimal. Use a light amount of blush and lipstick to avoid an overwhelming look.
2. 
   2
   Add primer to your eyelids. To start, add primer to your eyes. This will make them brighter, calling attention to your reverse eyeliner. Dab a small amount of primer on your eyelids and use your fingers to gently blend it into your skin.

   • Wash your hands before applying primer.
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3. 
   3
   Apply your eyeshadow. Apply your eyeshadow as you normally would for an every day look. You do not want bold eyeshadow, like a smokey eye or bright colors. Stick to neutral shades, like browns or peaches, that compliment your natural skin tone or eye color. This way, your eyeshadow will not distract from your eyeliner.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying Your Eyeliner

1. 
   1
   Use a pencil to line your lower lash line. Take an eyeliner pencil in a dark shade like brown or black. Draw a line just underneath your lower lash line. Keep the line thin and keep it as close to your lash line as possible. Move from one end of the eye to the other.

   • If your eyeliner pencil needs sharpening, do this before applying the eyeliner. This will allow you to make a distinct, clear line.
   • You do want to end up with a slightly thicker line for reverse eyeliner. Keeping it thin at first, however, is important as this will help you keep the line as close as possible to your lower lash line.
2. 
   2
   Smudge your pencil. When you're done, you want to use a smudge brush to gently smudge the line you drew. Use sidewards swiping motions to bring the line down slightly. You want to make it slightly thicker, as reverse eyeliner is somewhat dramatic.

   • You can also blend the line closer into either corner of your eyes during this step.
3. 
   3
   Make a wing while smudging. As you smudge your eyeliner, make a small wing pointed upward slightly at the outer corner of each eye. When you reach the outer corner of each line, make sideways swiping motions with your brush that direct the eyeliner out and upward to form a wing.
4. 
   4
   Define your eye with a black liner. You can use either liquid or pencil eyeliner. Gently trace over your line with a black eyeliner. This will further define it and make the reverse eyeliner look more apparent.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing Your Look

1. 
   1
   Connect the bottom eyeliner with the top of your eye. You do not want too much eyeliner on top for a reverse eyeliner look. However, move the wing inward slightly onto your upper lash line. Draw a small line going a little into the outer corner of your upper lash line.

   • If you want, you can also draw a small line going into the inner corner of your upper lash line. This makes your eyes look slightly more defined and dramatic.
2. 
   2
   Fill in any obvious gaps. Take a black eyeliner pencil and look closely at the eyeliner you drew. If there are any obvious gaps, or places where the eyeliner is lighter, fill them in using your eyeliner pencil.

   • If you want, you can fill in your waterline as well. This is optional, however.
3. 
   3
   Finish with a few coats of black mascara. After doing your eyeliner, add a few coats of black mascara. This will really make your eyes pop, leaving you with a dramatic reverse eyeliner look.

   • Avoid adding too much mascara and do not go for fake eyelashes. Remember, your reverse eyeliner should be the focus of your look.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do I keep eyeliner from running?

  

  Melissa Jannes
  Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator

  Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.

  

  Melissa Jannes

  Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator

  Expert Answer

  Make sure you apply primer to your eyelids before you apply your eye makeup. Primer can keep your eyeliner in place.

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• Question

  How do I do reverse eyeliner like what Kim Kardashian had on at the 2016 Cannes film festival?

  

  Community Answer

  1: Using an angled brush and a taupe, start at the inner corner and your bottom lash line, flicking it out at the end. 2: Adding a dark brown shadow, define the lash line and flick out again over the top of the taupe. 3: Take a black pencil liner and apply it to the bottom lash line only and smoke it out. 4: Finally, add some tape to the side of your eye and use an angled brush to sweep out an even line from your lash line, remove the tape, and sharpen with concealer.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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