How to Use Eyeshadow as Eyeliner

An easy-to-follow guide on how to line your eyes with eyeshadow

Co-authored by Alana Schober

Last Updated: November 17, 2023 Approved

Many of us come across the time where we wish we had a different color eyeliner for just one or two occasions. Instead of buying a bunch of colored eyeliners, you can easily and quickly use eyeshadow and an eyeliner brush to achieve the same look.

Steps

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1

Use an angled eyeliner brush. You can use any brush you feel the most comfortable with, but an angled brush will likely be easier and more effective to use. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Alana Schober
Pout Pro Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 15 June 2021.}
2
Be sure that the brush you are using is clean , to avoid color transfer from the last time you used the brush.
- It may be better to use an unused brush if you are trying to apply eyeliner. Bacteria can easily get in your eye since the brush is so close.
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3
Prepare your eye with a primer or a lotion. This will help keep your eye from drying out due to the harshness of the eyeshadow. Eyeshadow is not meant to be used as eyeliner, so it is a good idea to counteract it by using a lotion or primer beforehand.
- Take care to not let the primer or lotion touch your eyeball. It will not cause harm, but it will be painful.
4
Gently dampen both sides of the brush in water. Do not make the brush wet, but just slightly damp. A brush that is too wet will cause the eyeshadow to run and will make it very difficult to apply.
- You can also try to use Vaseline. Do not apply so much Vaseline so that the brush is clogged up, but try to make it damp.
5
Lightly tap the brush into the eyeshadow. Coat each side of the brush with the eyeshadow. Tap off any excess eyeshadow to avoid fallout when applying the eyeshadow.
- Try to use a darker eyeshadow so that it resembles an eyeliner color. Good colors include brown, black, plum or dark green.
6
Close one eye to start applying the eyeshadow. Start at the inside corner of your eye and follow your eyelid to the outside corner using the brush. Depending on the darkness of the eyeshadow, you may need to repeat this step a few times
- Try to keep the brush as close to the lash line as possible for an accurate draw.
- Press the tip of the angled brush to your eyelid so you're stamping the eyeshadow in place. ^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Alana Schober
  Pout Pro Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 15 June 2021.}
7
Release your eyelid and keep your eye closed. Give it a few moments to dry and set before you blink, otherwise you'll get it smudged into your crease.
- Try to set it with a translucent powder so that it does not smudge throughout the day.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I do winged eyeliner like this if I use the tape method?

Community Answer

Yes. Use the tape to make a wing, then use an angeled brush to pick up the eyeshadow and use it like you would with eyeliner. It helps if you wet the brush a little and the shadow is pigmented. You can always clean up the wing line with concealer.

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Question

Can I use it for the underline?

Community Answer

Yes. Eyeshadow can be used for more than one thing, and people do use it as eyeliner sometimes.

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Question

Can I use watercolor pencils for eyeliner?

Community Answer

No.

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Tips

Try using a mixing medium instead, your eyeliner will stay on longer and your eyeshadow won't dry out.

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Apply a second layer of mostly dry color for extra bright or prominent color.

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If you want to have eyeshadow as well, then apply the same color as eyeshadow to the rest of your eyelid.

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Warnings

Using this technique can get your eyeshadow to dry out, so put the brush on a small corner of your (pressed) eyeshadow.

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Clean the eyeliner brush after each use to avoid transferring bacteria.

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Make sure to use a thin brush. Eyeliner that is too thick never looks good

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Be careful not to get the eyeshadow in your eye.

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Things You'll Need

Eyeshadow with color of your choice
Thin eyeliner brush
Room temperature water

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[1]

Expert Source

Alana Schober
Pout Pro Makeup Artist

[2]

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How to Use Eyeshadow as Eyeliner

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