Lady Gaga’s Makeup Artist Taught Me Her Best Eyeliner Tips

I’m someone who’s always found solace in music. So when Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande released their bop “Rain on Me” and the accompanying music video at the height of my pandemic anxiety, I actually burst into tears. Finally, something worth celebrating had arrived. In between celebrating my Italian heritage and getting the choreo down pat, I found myself mesmerized by the graphic white eyeliner looks Gaga and Ari were rocking the hell out of. 

I tried the white eyeliner trend when it first started popping off last summer, and while I have mastery of the simple wing, I was ready to try something a little more extreme, like the crisp cat eye worn by Gaga in the video for my new anthem. The problem? I had no idea where to start. 

So when I was offered the chance to hop on a video call with Sarah Tanno, Gaga’s personal makeup artist and global artistry director of her makeup brand, Haus Laboratories, I said yes faster than you can say “I’m just an Italian girl from New York.” And it was the most fun I’ve had in months. 

Tanno walked me through Haus Lab’s newest liner launch, Eye-Dentify Gel Pencil Eyeliners, how to do the “Rain on Me” liner in five minutes flat, and the best eyeliner tips in her repertoire. Read on for her game-changing advice. 

Choose Your Product Wisely

Tanno says the most asked question she gets is how to perfect eyeliner for hooded eyes. The answer is much simpler than you might suspect; it’s not about technique, but product. Since transfer is the biggest issue, pick a formula that has minimal drying time, such as the Eye-Dentify Gel Pencils. “When we were testing different versions of the pencils with a longer dry time, it would transfer when it had more play time,” says Tanno. “I feel like it gives less versatility to people with different shaped eyes, so with this [formula] it,s easier to nail down the shape that they want.”

Create a Guide 

Sometimes even the best makeup artists need a little bit of help when it comes to winged liner, which is where this fail-safe tip comes in. If you find wings intimidating, Tanno says to create a guide using a brow pencil. Look straight in the mirror, and with your eyes open, dot the brow pencil where you want the very tip of your wing. The placement depends on your eye shape, so play around with what you think looks best. Then take your black pencil liner and, starting at the dot, draw a line connecting to your lash line. Then start at the inner corner and connect to the wing, and fill in any blank spaces. 

“I would tell you to do both dots at the same time,” says Tanno.  “And then when you’re done, you don’t even have to erase the guide. That’s also very helpful for a makeup artist, because if Gaga’s moving a lot and I don’t have a lot of time to keep cleaning it, she can go back to talking or doing whatever, and I know where it needs to be.” 

Layer Up

Another classic makeup artist tip Tanno swears by is using both a pencil and liquid liner to create a perfect cat eye. Start with your pencil to create your shape and your guide, since it’s much easier to get your basic shape with that tool. “My guide is there, and you’re able to sharpen and define it without going over it a million times,” says Tanno. Then go in with your liquid liner, such as Haus Laboratories Eye-Lie-Ner, to add definition and depth. “I would always say to define using your liquid eyeliner, especially if you’re just starting out and are scared to jump in,” she says. “Most makeup artists never jump into a liquid liner without using a pencil first.” 

Clean It Up

The one tip Tanno kept repeating no matter what look she was demonstrating? Clean up your work with a cotton swab. If you’re creating an everyday wing, a dramatic graphic look, or an undereye smudge, don’t worry about it being perfect on the first try. “It’s not about perfecting your application nor so about the technique; it’s more about cleaning it up after,” she says. Especially when working with a gel or pencil, get your basic shape down, and then use a cotton swab and some micellar water to perfect it.

If you want something to look really “perfect and snatched,” Tanno recommends taking a bit of concealer on an angled brush, like a brow brush, and using that to perfect and clean the edge of your wing.  

Try a Metallic 

You heard it here first, folks: Tanno predicts that metallic eye make up will be having a huge moment going forward. But while you can absolutely go all-out with a Gaga-approved silver or green wing, there are subtler ways to incorporate shimmer into your everyday look. Tanno says she likes to highlight only certain areas with the metallic liners, like a dash of the silver pencil Blade on her inner corners. 

Another way she’s been loving it is by doing her usual wing in Go Diva, a rich matte brown, and layering Antique Rose, a glimmering rose gold, on top for just a touch of shimmer. 

“Sometimes what I do is wear metallic liners like I would eye shadow,” says Tanno. “I’ll just take a little along the lower lashes, and it just brightens up your look a little. Even if you were to do that with your everyday look and added just a little tiny pop of color, or just drag it on top a little bit, it’s just a cool way to do your makeup, especially given that we have to wear a mask.” 

Take a Risk 

Now that I had the basics down, Tanno walked me through the “Rain on Me” liner step by step. The gag is, it not only looks amazing, but it’s crazy easy to do. “It’s really something that didn’t take a lot of time, and it’s so achievable, no matter what your artistry level is, or whatever you’re comfortable with,” says Tanno. “Even if it’s just layering the black and white eyeliners in a simple, clean way that you would do everyday, and just popping the white liner over the black. It’s a fun trend, it’s super easy, and the white liner is so powerful.”

1. First, grab a white liner like Eye-Dentify in Aura. Start by lining your inner tear duct, then line your top lid. Tanno stresses that this doesn’t need to be perfect; it can be a little messy.

2. For the wing, look straight in the mirror and make your dot. Tanno likes to bring her wing to about below the corner of her eyebrow, but where you place it depends on your eye shape and how dramatic you want to be. Instead of connecting the dot down like a regular wing, bring it over into your crease, and then from there connect the inner corner to create an outline. Again, don’t stress about perfection; you can always clean and sharpen the makeup later.

3. Fill in your eye with the pencil, and then using your finger, just tap on a white eyeshadow like 911 from the Stupid Love Palette. No need to blend; just get a nice even layer.

4. Finish off by lining your eyes with a black pencil, getting close to your waterline but not inside it, and finish off with a wing to add back some definition.

Now perfect your eyeliner and strap on your moon boots—we’ve got dancing to do.

Haus Laboratories Eye-Dentify Gel Pencil Eyeliner

$18.00, Available August 4

BUY NOW

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.

Originally Appeared on Glamour