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The Brilliant Eyeliner Trick You Haven't Heard Before

But need in your life

Eyeliner is hands down one of the hardest beauty skills to master. Despite our best efforts and unorthodox attempts (Scotch tape, anyone?), things somehow still end up wobbly or uneven. So when we heard about this bizarre trick that makeup artists use to apply their own liner, we had to give it a go. And guess what? It works better than anything else we’ve ever tried. 

What you need: Your favorite eyeliner and a compact mirror.

What you do: Place the mirror on top of a steady surface that's lower than you (like a desk) and look down to see where you want to draw your line. This will give you a tighter line and ensure that there aren't any telltale gaps. Now here’s the trick: Clench your toes (really) and swipe on liner as you normally would.

Why it works: Perhaps it’s in our minds, but there’s something about clenching our toes that steadies the rest of us, namely our hands. Some things can’t be explained, but the results--sleek, even lines on both sides--speak for themselves.


Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

Jenny Jin is PureWow’s Beauty Director and is currently based in Los Angeles. Since beginning her journalism career at Real Simple magazine, she has become a human encyclopedia of...