How to do no smudge eyeliner

When it comes to enhancing eyes, eyeliner giveth and eyeliner taketh away.

For every time you’ve nailed the application and made your eyes look like wondrous windows to your soul, there was another time when the eyeliner has smudged underneath and/or to the sides of your eyes, or run down your face when you’ve got the tiniest bit of moisture in your eyes.

So what’s a girl to do to prevent these problems? Just follow these 4 easy-peasy steps and you’re good to go!

#1: Use an eye primer

And that’s whether you plan on wearing eyeshadow or not. If you find your eyeliner always ends up on your eyelids, it could be that the natural oil your eyelids produce is causing the pigment to shift and smudge. Lightly dab some eye primer (bh loves: e.l.f. cosmetics Essentials Eyelid Primer) on your eyelids, and leave it to set before applying liner.

#2: Avoid creamy concealers

Applying a creamy concealer under the eyes can have the same effect as the oil on your eyelids, and can cause the pigment in your eyeliner (and mascara) to smear under your eyes – hello, dark circles!

Try switching to a concealer that’s a little less creamy, or if you simply can’t part with your fave under-eye concealer, set it with powder afterwards. The Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit comes with a handy powder to finish the job, otherwise you can use translucent powder, like Nude by Nature Mineral Finishing Veil.

#3: Set your liner

Find a matte eyeshadow that’s the same (or a similar) colour to your eyeliner. Then, grab an angled eyeliner brush and gently follow the eyeliner line you’ve already created. The powder will help to absorb any excess oil in the eyeliner formula and set the colour in place.

If you want to up the ante and give your eyeliner a little shimmer or sparkle, use a similarly coloured eyeshadow with a pearl or glitter finish.

#4: Go waterproof

If you tend to tear up or get involuntary leakage from your eyes, a waterproof liner is your best bet to avoid that panda look. Our tip, though? Make sure you have a good eye make-up remover on hand, because there’s nothing worse than having to rub your eyes for a solid five minutes. Opt for Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, or give micellar water a go.

Does your eyeliner often smudge or run? Do you have any tips to help fellow smudge sufferers?

Main image: @haileesteinfeld

The product recommendations in this article have been updated to keep beautyheaven members informed of the most up-to-date related products.

151 Member Comments

jodieleigh 26 Apr 2017 6:13 PM

Setting liner with shadow is my go-to now, soooo much better

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Petal 30 Mar 2017 7:59 PM

Now that I'm in my fifties and my eye area is more crinkly and hooded, I almost always use an eye primer. Sometimes I set the eyeliner with eyeshadow and that works well.

angelgun 30 Mar 2017 1:11 PM

I use a waterproof eyeliner, good tips though!

Goddess..... 30 Mar 2017 9:34 AM

I don't mind if it's smudges just a bit it still looks ok but if it gets too much I just wipe it off just as simple as that.

Ellelily 26 Mar 2017 8:39 PM

I find that i have been using eyeliner for so long that I know which ones work for me. I mostly use liquid eyeliners.

Shop A Everyday 26 Mar 2017 12:58 AM

A little eyeshadow helps too

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sootyblack_14 25 Mar 2017 4:50 PM

Good to know...

Shilpashetty 24 Mar 2017 5:10 PM

Nice tricks for making eyeliner doesn't smudge

Chrystalage 24 Mar 2017 4:59 PM

Might need to give the water proof eyeliner a go. Pencil smudges in a flash and apart from being self conscious, I don't have the time to keep fixing it up

Sally10 24 Mar 2017 4:38 PM

I always set my eyeliner pencil with a powder shadow in the same shade..........it makes it last and last!

josella432 19 Dec 2016 11:08 PM

Australis gelifeye liners don't smudge a bit!

Sootyhere 29 Jan 2019 10:18 AM

Good to know.

josella432 29 Jan 2019 4:35 PM

Unfortunately I think those are now discontinued.

Petal 30 Mar 2017 7:49 PM

There is only one shade listed for this eyeliner on BH at the moment. I wonder if the eyeliner is being reformulated. Anyway, I will keep a lookout for it.

Yohanna 9 Dec 2016 7:45 PM

I have no issues with my coloured liners, as just recently got Eye of Horus range (liquid gold, silver and pencil in 3 vibrant colours). They do not smudge! Even when in the water! Great stuff

clearcrystalwater 9 Dec 2016 5:15 PM

The blinc eyeliner brand is great for hooded eyes - it does not smudge, not one little bit!

Petal 30 Mar 2017 7:45 PM

Thanks for the recommendation. I have hooded eyes.

Miss19 16 Nov 2016 11:37 AM

Never thought about setting my eyeliner before

Me neither....or setting anything for that matter. I am clueless when it comes to makeup lol

Sootyhere 29 Jan 2019 10:19 AM

haha I'm clueless as well. Interesting to read up on these things.

preciousia 6 May 2016 2:47 AM

great tips

lynx 24 Mar 2016 8:20 AM

Being the queen of panda eyes, I value these tips immensely.

OnFire 22 Mar 2016 12:56 PM

Wow-o-wow! I like the tip about using the same coloured eyeshadow over the liner. I am concerned however I will either smudge it or make the line fatter and then have to start from scratch again

Shop A Everyday 27 Dec 2015 3:39 PM

Some very good tips

tarameoww 25 Nov 2015 11:48 PM

These are great tips, but unfortunately nothing will stop my eyeliner from smudging off of my waterline.

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