When using eyeliner, make sure you line the whole length of your eye. (Like don't start towards the middle or anything.) Also, it's best if you make a small dotted line with the liner and smudge it into your lash line. And if you are going to use liner and mascara, only use mascara on the top lashes to avoid overdoing it and looking like a "corpse" (lol) as you said.

Hope it helps!