Back in 2009, I wouldn’t have been caught dead without a black liner ring. Fully framed, dirty-looking “raccoon” eyes were my idea of the perfect facial beat. Bonus points when you combine this with a Half Baked smoky situation like Urban Decay. When I look back at photos of myself from back then, I honestly get chills down my spine. Thankfully, my makeup choices have evolved. I hardly even wear eye makeup anymore, and if I do, it’s just a blur of brown shadows in the corners of my eyes.
Then, like any other chronic online beauty fan, I discovered Billie Eilish’s GRWM on TikTok. Meanwhile, Billie Eilish framed her eyes with dark brown gel liner. She wiped both water lines with a dry cotton swab beforehand to ensure the rich pigment lasted all day (a classic trick!). Now, it’s no secret that lived-in, smudged makeup is the trend for 2025, but we never expected the pendulum to swing back to where we’ll be taking our breath away while dusting off our jet black liner . Use old, disturbing photos as inspiration. The middle schooler in me is totally screaming.
Of course, today’s version will (hopefully?) have a much more elevated feel than my 2009 orb. Find out how to update your full rim look for 2025.
(Image credit: Getty Images/Cindy Ord)
“I think eyeliner is going to be the star of the show this year,” professional makeup artist Sofia Escobedo told me. “For cold weather, lining the entire eye rim with a classic black or brown pencil liner has an edgy ’90s vibe that’s making a strong comeback.”
Unlike the “soft grunge” look that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few months. Unlike Olsen-style eye makeup, which has a light mascara and plenty of shine, this look relies on dark eyeliner. Wings aren’t required either, but that’s probably what’s refreshing for 2025. Rather than razor-sharp, elongated wings, a little flick of the outer corner is enough to make the eyes pop out (if that’s what you want). Bella Hadid also wore a full-rimmed liner in November.
You don’t necessarily have to choose shades of brown or black. Escobedo says jewel-toned liner is always a good idea. “We’re seeing colored liner in shades like purple, green, and even blue making a statement, especially on the waterline. It’s a fun, fresh way to add personality to your look,” she shares .
The best part? A full-rim liner will look better the more you use it. If you need to clean the edges throughout the day, you can use a cotton swab soaked in micellar water (like Eilish does in the video) to touch up any jagged areas. Or you can simply embrace the dirt. You could call it a vivid early 80s moment.
Shop Editor Approved Eyeliner
Maybelline
Tattoo Studio Smokey Gel Pencil Eyeliner – Smokey Brown
Valentino
Colorgraph Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil
chanel
Stylo U Waterproof
Causas
Soulgazer Intensifying Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
lancome
Drama Liquid Pencil Long Wear Eyeliner
hourglass
1.5mm mechanical gel eyeliner
danessa myricks beauty
Infinite Chrome Waterproof Micro Pencil Eyeliner
Patrick TA
Major Dimension Precision Gel Eyeliner
urban decline
24/7 Waterproof Waterline Eyeliner Pencil
Too Faced
Killer liner 36 hour waterproof gel eyeliner
