These Makeup Artist Tips Will Help You Revive All Your Winged Liner Mess-Ups

Rather than grabbing your makeup remover and attempting again (and again, and again, and…), makeup artists have a few tricks up their sleeves to clean up the messy bits. No need to start over on a blank canvas—just lean on these tips to revive the wing back to razor-sharp. 

Or, you don't have to use remover at all. Take this technique from Savannah St. Jean, makeup artist and owner of Savannah Rae Beauty: "[If] I can see a jagged line, I will go in with a black eye shadow and a fine brush, and I'll just dab it over the line to soften that edge and make it look clean," she says. Basically, you're filling in the edges with a smudgeable product, which also gives it a slightly smoky effect. Just don't overdo it, here, as filling in the gaps over and over again can result in a pretty thick line.

It ultimately depends on what end result you're looking for: If you love a softer line, St. Jean's shadow trick can help you smudge it out to perfection. If you're hoping for a bold, so-sharp-it-could-cut-glass winged liner, Compton's tip can help you reach that precision. Both require minimal effort, though, even if you've royally stuffed up the first attempt.