Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Eye liner

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Eyeliner is a cosmetic used to define the eyes.

Eye makeup
Eye makeup

People apply it around the eye's edges to create different looks. You can use it to make eyes look wider or smaller. Some people draw lines above the upper lashes. Others draw them below the lower lashes. You can even apply it to the waterlines.

eye liner
eye liner

This helps highlight different features of the face. It is a popular part of daily makeup routines today.

There are many ways to apply this makeup.

Headshot of Model with Blue Eyeliner
Headshot of Model with Blue Eyeliner

One way is called winged eyeliner. This shape follows the top eyelid and points toward the eyebrow. A cat eye look is similar but has a thicker wing. Another way is tight lining. This means putting liner very close to the waterline. This makes eyelashes look longer. Some people use gel eyeliner and a small brush for this. Others use waterproof pencils so the color stays put.

Eyeliner has a very long history.

Tomb of Nakht
Tomb of Nakht

People in ancient India, Egypt, and Mesopotamia used dark black lines. As early as 10,000 BC, Egyptians used it to protect skin from the sun. They also used it for beauty. Some think it was worn to protect against the evil eye. Ancient Egyptians used materials like copper ore and antimony. Their kohl contained galena from places like the Land of Punt. This history is often shown in ancient Egyptian art.

Today, there are six main types of eyeliner.

Tekom003
Tekom003

Liquid eyeliner comes in a small bottle with a sharp brush. It is great for precise, sharp lines. Powder-based pencils come in wood. Wax-based pencils are soft and come in many colors. Kohl is a soft powder that is easy to smudge. Gel eyeliner is soft and uses a brush. Cake eyeliner is dry until you add water. You can also find shimmer eyeliner with glitter. Some even use felt tip liners that look like markers.

Different groups of people use eyeliner to show their style.

eye liner
eye liner

In the 1960s, designers like Mary Quant used thick black and white lines. Later, punk and goth fashions used it for a dark effect. The emo subculture also uses heavy eyeliner. Men sometimes wear it too. This is sometimes called "guyliner." This term became popular in the early 2000s. Bands like Fall Out Boy helped make it well known. Eyeliner connects ancient traditions to modern fashion trends.

389 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:eye liner.jpg
eye liner.jpg
File:Tomb of Nakht.jpg
Tomb of Nakht.jpg
File:Tekom003.jpg
Tekom003.jpg
File:Eye makeup.jpg
Eye makeup.jpg
File:Headshot of Model with Blue Eyeliner.jpg
Headshot of Model with Blue Eyeliner.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.