16 Eyeliner Looks That Will Transform Your Gaze

When it comes to makeup moments, well-executed eyeliner looks tend to be among the coolest—and the most transformative.

"Liner is sharp, graphic, dramatic, often shape-shifting, meaning it can really transform an eye shape," says celebrity makeup artist Jo Baker . "Creating an optical illusion is made easy if you have the right skills."

She's right: a wing of liner can open and extend the eye, while white applied along the waterline can create a doe-eyed effect. Add to that various palettes, distinct or softer detailing, and the option to smudge, and the humble pencil (or pen) becomes a makeup magic wand. Liner plays well alone and with shadows and lashes, acting as a standalone, standout detail, or a means of italicizing an entire aesthetic.

For her part, Baker—a go-to for the likes of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Lucy Boynton, and Olivia Wilde—favors anything feline or 1960s, mod-inspired. "Those looks are all about femininity, but in a badass, cool-girl way, which is forever on trend in my book,⁘ she says.

Application tools and tricks abound, but Baker considers the classic firm wedge sponge to be the ultimate liner BFF. ⁘It's old school and definitely the opposite of the beloved Beauty Blender styles that have been so popular,⁘ she says. ⁘But the classic edge, when damp, gives you the perfect invisible shaping tool to get those lines extra sharp and elongated.⁘

While trends, old and new, can inspire your eyeliner look, so can your own eye shape. Take a few minutes to analyze your eyes, the better to determine what type of liner will best enhance your gaze.

For a more subtle look, you can achieve the sultry effect of a smoky eye using just eyeliner. Gracie Abrams' softly smudged black liner complements her natural, brushed brows. This effortless application works well for both daytime and evening looks.

Chappell Roan's avant-garde makeup draws inspiration from drag and editorial. In this instance, brows are traded for a hyper-extended liner pull, the wing serving as a springboard for a bronze-dusted lid.

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