10 Eyeliner Styles To Inspire Your Next Makeup Look

The basic liner doesn’t need much of an introduction or explanation but definitely deserves a spot here. This is basically just a line right above your lashes that adds some more dimension to your eyes. It's basic but classic and also the baseline for most eyeliner styles. You get this right and you're almost halfway done with all the others.

Best Suited For: Round & Almond Eyes

Winged eyeliner is how the natural progress goes with eyeliners. You basically flick out another line from the corners of your eyes. You can decide the angle of your wing and how you think it suits you best. We've noticed that the more you do this, the more you'll come to perfect it for your eyes. The thickness of your winged eyeliner can be as thin or as thick as you want. The best way in our opinion is to look straight in the mirror and start with small flicks till you like the shape, then simply connect it to your lash line and fill it in.

Best Suited For: Almond & Upturned (when the outer corners of the eyes are upwards) Eyes  

A cat eye is somewhat similar to a winged liner but the basic difference is that this goes straight instead of an angle. The idea is to make it look more geometric, from what we've read and know. It's also suggested that a cat eye usually includes applying liner to the bottom line of your eyes as well, but only on the outer edge.

Best Suited For: Downturned Eyes

Graphic liner is a trend that really encourages you to play and push the limits of the eyeliner world. People usually use different kinds of colours, and from what we've seen, people use water-activated liners for this style for the most vibrant colour payoff. You can do a normal wing, double wing, or even a neon-coloured eyeliner; the world is your oyster. Since this style is more about colourplay and less about style, anyone can try it out! 

Pro-Tip: Check out the different types of eyeliners here.

A smokey eyeliner style might sound daunting, but it's really one of the most beginner-friendly eyeliner styles of all. It's a simple style that includes the use of kohl so that you can smudge it out slightly. All you have to do is roughly line your eyes (like a basic eyeliner) and then use a smudger or cotton swap to smudge it slightly. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about making the initial line straight and clean because you're going to smudge it out anyway! This style is great for effortlessly chic no-makeup makeup looks.

Best Suited For: Close-Set Eyes

Floating crease eyeliner is one of the newer trends. In this type, you basically create a line in your crease, and from what we've noticed this looks best when paired with a pop of colours, either on the eyelid or the liner itself. We'd suggest using neon or reflective colours.

Best Suited For: Monolid Eyes 

A doubled-wing eyeliner look is exactly how it sounds, it has double wings! The first step is simple, create a simple winged liner, and the second is where you can be creative and go about it a few ways, depending where you are in your eyeliner journey. The two most popular ways are to either create a wing right below your actual wing following the waterline, or create it above the wing, near the crease area to give it an illusion of one wing in the air. Sounds a bit tricky, but it isn't really, in fact, it's super fun! 

Best Suited For: Hooded Eyes

As the name suggests, this liner style is absolutely over the top. When Deepika decided to go ahead with it at the Cannes Film Festival, everybody talked about how bold and beautiful her eyes looked and I couldn't help but agree. There is no hard-and-fast rule to get this one right. Just outline first and then fill it out!

Best Suited For: Almond, Hooded, And Round Eyes 

Pro-Tip: Explore The Best Long-Lasting Black Eyeliners

This style is a subdued version of cat eye eyeliner. It's less dramatic, thinner, and subtly smokey. It's best for those occasions where you don't want to look extravagant but glam enough. Just keep the strokes short and give a small flick. Remember: Small wing, big impact. Wide eyes? Close-set eyes? Doesn't matter. This eyeliner style will look pretty no matter what. 

Best Suited For: Sensitive Eyes (as you don't have to apply it end-to-end)

If you want to bring on the bling then rhinestone eyeliner will be more than perfect for you. The sparkle makes sure that you look all glam and it can be applied easily with either a lash gel or nail art pen. A couple of rhinestones in the centre of your lash line can capture the light, enhancing the natural colour of your eyes. Less bitter, more glitter all the way! 

Check out celeb-inspired eyeliner trends here.

Q. How do you choose an eyeliner style based on your eye shape?

A. Choosing an eyeliner style is a personal preference and often depends on the look you're going for. That said, certain styles can enhance different eye shapes. For example, smoky or bold eyeliner works wonders for close-set eyes by adding drama. On the flip side, almond and round eyes shine with thinner strokes like kitten or classic liners, which highlight their natural shape without looking too overwhelming or dramatic. 

Q. What eyeliner styles are trending right now?

A. While a classic single stroke is never going out of style, colours have entered the scene now. Graphic eyeliner is another hot trend—it's all about bold, artistic designs that let you experiment. Also, the fishtail liner is having a moment; this style features a stroke along the lower lash line for a unique twist. 

Q. What eyeliner styles should a person with sensitive eyes go for?

A. If you have sensitive eyes, it's important to be mindful of both the product and the style you choose. Always do a patch test before applying anything. Once you've found a suitable product, stick to softer styles like kitten or winged liner, which don't require heavy application.

Pro-Tip: Best Kajal Sticks For Sensitive Eyes

Q. How to apply eyeliner quickly?

A. For a quick and easy eyeliner application, get up close to the mirror and draw a line from the inner corner to the outer edge of your eye. If one smooth stroke feels tricky, use small dashes to trace the line instead. Keep the liner close to the lash line for a polished look.