A No-Fail Way To Make Bright Eyeliner Work For You

Bright eyeliner is one of those easy-to-overdo makeup items that should come with step-by-step application instructions. (Beauty brands, we're begging you.) But, until that happens, we'd all be wise to take a cue from Byrdie's super-simple guide to colorful eyeliner. The site, with help from celebrity makeup artist Lauren Anderson, broke down what might be the world's easiest way to wear this liner style — we're talkin' just five quicker-than-quick steps.

After putting on your face makeup as normal, Anderson advises applying your liner (she favors a bright turquoise by Urban Decay) on your waterline and all around the lower half of the eye. Then, with a little smudging and shaping, she turned the look into a reverse cat-eye of sorts — one that's somehow electrifying and totally wearable. We attribute her success at incorporating standout shades to her simple approach: Anderson keeps everything else on the face bare so the color becomes the star of the show. And, when it comes to the application itself, less is more there, too: Layering a traditional brown or black liner will muddy the bright one and completely change the look, she warns.

To get a full look at each step, click through to Byrdie. As for us, we couldn't be more grateful for this back-to-basics breakdown — it's got "summer night out" written all over it. (Byrdie)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Electric, $20, available at Sephora.