The right touch of eyeliner can absolutely make or break the face and with eyeliner being the cornerstone to so many of the ‘in looks’ this season, I thought it the perfect time to share some of my tips, tricks and secrets. Read on for the major don’ts and a hand full of tips when it comes to eyeliner application.

When it comes to lining the eyes, what you don’t do is just as important as what you do. Putting eyeliner on wrong has the potential to pull down your face or shrink your so pay close attention to these next few tips.

Don’t…

… apply thick eyeliner to small or close-set eyes. It will make them appear even smaller.

…over blend on the lower lash line if you have dark circles. Pulling your eyeliner too far onto the skin will make the dark circles look worse.

…circle the entire eye with dark color. It creates an eyeglass-style circle, which results in them looking small and beady.

…let liner fall below the outer corner of the eye. This will pull the eye and the whole face down. Trust me, this is not flattering.

…share eyeliners. Infections can be easily transferred.

…apply eyeliner to the inner rim if you have small eyes. By darkening the inner rim, your small eyes will look even smaller.

Here are some tricks to help you make the eyes pop for all the right reasons.

Tips to Do…

If you have trouble drawing a single straight line, hold the outer corner of lid taut and apply using quick short strokes.

When lining the lower lid leave some space on the inside corner of the eye. It will give a softer, less severe look.

If the pencil feels hard on the lid or won’t lay color easily, warm the tip by gently rolling it across the back of the hand.

The thinner and more precise you draw the line, the more “pop” the eyes will have without looking like make up has been applied.

For a natural enhanced look, rich, chocolate brown eyeliner is a better choice than black. It gives the same depth without the potential harshness.

If you didn’t apply the liner so that it was perfectly straight and symmetrical on both eyes, dip a cotton swab into makeup remover and correct it.

For easier application, hold your head back and look down into the mirror. This makes the eyelid tight.

Apply liner as close to the lashes as possible. A gap of flesh between the liner and the lash line will ruin the effect.

To start, keep the line as thin as possible. If a thicker line is desired, repeat the process either across the entire lash-line or simply on the outer third of the lid.

With a finger or brush, blend away any thickness or depth of color that is more dramatic than you intended.

When using liquid liner, keep it to the upper lid. For most, liquid on the bottom is far too severe.

If you want to make your liner look smoky and sultry, use an angle brush to pull the liner up onto the lid and out past the corner of the eye.

If you want a softer line of definition, use an angle brush or eyeliner brush and line the eyes with eyeshadow.

My favorite pencil liners are Aqua Eyes by Make Up For Ever ($17, www.sephora.com). These babies go on strong and stay all day. My favorite liquid is Draw the Line by Beauty Society ($28, www.beautysociety.com). Not only does it have actives that grow your own lashes but it also dries to a beautiful patent leather finish.

Whatever the look you are trying to achieve, I can almost guarentee that the addition of eyeliner will make it so much better. If you add these tricks to your arsenel and avoid the few don’ts, you will have the most popping eyes in the room. Don’t be afraid to try something new…