What it is
Raise your hand if traditional pencil eyeliner was your gateway into the world of eye makeup. I’m typing this sentence with one hand because I’m raising the other. It’s one of the most beginner-friendly formats because it offers control without demanding strict precision, which is why so many people keep using it decades beyond their earliest eyeliner attempts.
“A traditional pencil is usually a little firmer and more forgiving, which makes it great for beginners or anyone who wants soft definition without committing to a super-sharp line,” says Rose Siard, a Houston-based makeup artist, founder of Rose & Ben Beauty, and the Allure Readers’ Choice Award winner for favorite beauty creator. She favors the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil because “it’s pigmented, blendable, and works really well when you want control without harshness.”
Compared with softer formulas like kohl or gel (stay tuned for those), traditional pencils are firmer with a little more tug (a good one doesn’t have too much, though), which allows you to build intensity instead of instantly plopping on a bold stripe. Christian Briceno, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles, explains that this grip is exactly what makes them useful professionally: “I like that resistance because it lets me apply the definition gradually rather than deposit a heavy line all at once.”
Unlike liquid formulas, which have a more high-impact finish, traditional pencils tend to look more blended. Even a deep black pencil can feel softer and more natural because the pigment doesn’t sit as sharply on top of the skin.
Uses
Traditional pencil eyeliner is quite the multitasker. It’s ideal for everyday lash line definition, subtly filling gaps between lashes, softly extending the outer corner, or creating the first layer of a smoky eye—if you act fast. “While it is smudge-capable, you just need to be a bit quicker to do so, as it will dry down to lock into place,” says Steve Kassajikian, makeup artist and director of global artistry at Urban Decay.
Siard likes using these pencils to “lightly map out a wing” before committing to a stronger shape, while Briceno reaches for them when he wants definition that feels effortless rather than obviously drawn on. “This is also one of my favorite formulas for textured lids,” Briceno says. Because you can work in small sections and soften the line, you have more flexibility than you would with a fast-drying liquid.
Pro tips
The biggest mistake beginners make with pencil eyeliner is attempting to draw one flawless, uninterrupted stroke from the inner corner to the outer corner. “My biggest tip is to use short strokes instead of trying to draw one perfect line,” Siard says.
For a natural, lash-enhancing effect, Briceno suggests pressing the pencil directly into the roots of your lashes rather than drawing a thick line above them. Concentrate the deepest intensity at the outer third of the eye and gradually lighten the pressure as you move inward.
Both Siard and Briceno say that a pencil that feels a little too sharp can be softened a bit on the back of your hand. “You still get precision without the pencil scratching or catching,” says Briceno, who’s a fan of Mineral Fusion Eye Pencil for its balance of smoothness and control.
