love this subject.. I love makeup, from an artist's perspective rather than a woman's.
So to start with I am using the following from Target:
Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner - Comes in a little glass cup like brow dip
Sonia Kashuk brush no. 107 (Wasn't happy with the mac no.209 or 210)
Neutrogena fragrance free makeup wipes
Straight edged, paper medical tape
1. Take about a 2-3 inch long piece of tape, angle it under your eye facing out towards your temple. This is your wing stencil.
2. Wet your brush using a makeup wipe, it makes the gel go onto your skin much smoother
3. slide your brush from the center to the outside of your gel liner cup, lightly, a little goes a long way
4. work your way from the inside by your nose, to the outside, in short strokes like using a paint brush. Don't worry about those youtubers that do it in one stroke, those people sold their soul to the devil to do so. Just keep slowly filling it until you have it the way you want it.
5. apply whatever eyeshadow you want then remove the tape and touch up anything that you aren't happy with. I like to go back and fill out the underside of my wings after I take the tape off.
My eyeliner and eyeshadow takes me about 10 minutes. 20 If i'm doing something more runway-like
As far as poking yourself in the eye.. tilt your head back so you're looking "down" at the mirror. That helped me a lot when I first started learning to apply eye makeup. If you have any questions feel free to ask me
<3
-Jenna