As far as makeup looks go, it doesn’t get much more classic than winged eyeliner. Unfortunately, makeup looks also don’t get much more stressful than winged eyeliner — but the best eyeliners for wings can make the process go a lot more smoothly. When we’re talking wings, we’re talking control: Felt pens with semi-firm tips are easier to apply than fiddly liquids with long, thin brushes; and their fine, pointed tips produce that sharp, clean point you’re going for. Felt tips tend to be less wet than true liquids, too — meaning, less messy and more forgiving — and if you pick a good-quality pen, you’ll get the same intense pigmentation and oil-slick finish that you would with a liquid. Or, another option: Try a pot of gel liner and an angled brush. Gels have great staying power, and their creamy textures glide like a dream. Plus, the angled brush will basically do all the work for you, wing-wise.
Whether you’re using a pen or a gel, be sure to choose a waterproof formula. That way, you can avoid the absolute devastation of your wing smudging, or wiping off entirely, over the course of the day.
Easier still: Choose any of the best eyeliners for wings, listed ahead — and make liberal use of pointed cotton swabs and micellar water to get that point extra-sharp.
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