Hands not always as steady as you'd like? Eyeliner refusing to cooperate? Can't seem to get an even look? We completely understand the little glitches that can thwart your quest for the perfect smokey eye or precise flick.

Make botched mascara or smudged shadow a thing of the past with these handy eye makeup hacks that every woman should know.

Invest in a good quality white eyeliner pencil. Yes, we said white. Hold your pencil at a slight angle and gently stroke a thin layer of white over the entire eyelid. It creates an even base for your eyeshadow that will intensify its shade.

Mascara is an eye makeup essential but it's so easy to get it wrong. Lashes seem determined to stick together and your mascara feels like glue. That spider leg effect isn't attractive and clumps are so passe. Just pop the tube in your bra to warm up for a few minutes while you get on with the rest of your makeup and it will glide on smoothly and evenly.

Turn up the heat for the luxuriant eyelashes you want. Use your hairdryer to heat eyelash curlers before use and you'll find it much easier to get a defined curl that stays in place. We don't want you to get burned so be sure to do a touch test first.

...is a spoon. That's right, a spoon doubles as a precision eye makeup applicator and helps you to draw that perfect cat eye. Hold the spoon so that the bowl is at nose level. Now line the handle up with the outer corner of your eye.

Using the handle as a ruler, take a liquid eyeliner pen and draw a line up from the eye. The length and angle will determine the shape. Place the spoon above the eyelid so that the lower curved edge of the bowl meets the line you've drawn.

Draw another line using the curved edge as a guide and join the two. You should have a shape that's roughly triangular. Fill it in with your liquid liner, remembering to extend the line along the base of the lashes till it's above your pupil. Voila! A no fuss, never fail cat eye flick.

You can now hold your spoon just behind your eyelashes to avoid smudges and marks when you apply your mascara. Every woman needs a spoon in her makeup kit.

Run a nude or white eyeliner pencil along the inner lower lid and add a dot of white liner to the inner corner of each eye. This opens your eyes up beautifully and makes them look bright and sparkly.

Use olive or coconut oil as a natural alternative to eye makeup remover.