How do you do winged liner with shaky hands?

The wing is the makeup move people fear most. The good news: you don't need a surgeon's hand. You need support, a guide and short strokes.

Step by step

1. Rest your elbow. Sit facing the mirror and rest your elbow on the table. With your hand supported, it shakes far less.
2. Mark the end with a dot. Looking straight ahead, imagine the line that follows your lower lashes towards your temple and place a small dot where you want the wing to end.
3. Connect with short strokes. Don't try one line in one go. Connect the dot to the outer corner of your eye in two or three short strokes.
4. Close the triangle. Draw a second line from the dot to the middle of your lid, hugging the lashes, and fill in.
5. Clean up. A cotton bud with a little makeup remover sharpens the edge.

The tape trick

If it's still tricky, stick a piece of tape (take off some of the tack on the back of your hand first) along the line of the wing. Draw over it and peel it off gently: a perfect edge.

Which liner to choose?

• Flexible felt tip: the easiest to start with.

• Brush tip: more precise once you've had some practice.

Before you try, test it in the try-on with the "Winged" style: you'll see which length and angle flatter your eye.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my two wings never match?

Do both at once, in stages: both guide dots, then both lower lines, and finally the fill. That way you compare them at every step.

What if I have hooded eyes?

Do it with your eyes open, looking straight ahead, so it doesn't vanish into the fold.