Ahh liner - the aspect of make up I get asked most often about. There are so many options out there it really is hard to choose. First off, every company claims to make the best liner, but then even within that company they have cream liner, kohl liner, and liquid liner. Then they have an array of colours to choose from in different sizes: the thin crayon or the impossible-to-apply-properly thick liner.
At the end of the day, you gotta choose what works for you in your daily routine. And so the question remains, what is best for you?
(Left to right: Givenchy, Chanel, Mac)
Liquid liner is one of my favourites to use, but it really depends on what look you are going for and how steady your hand is. Many might argue with me on this one, but I stand by the fact that it is the hardest of all liners to apply: it's wet and dries very quickly. So, you gotta be steady, straight and you can't make a mistake, especially since liner is the last part of the eye to be applied (with the exception of mascara).
I love these three brands, Chanel being my favourite. I usually use a liner brush to apply the liquid liner, forgetting the brush that the liquid comes with. I don't like to use the brush from the bottle because anything that comes in a bottle can accumulate bacteria… need I say more?
(MAC Cosmetics)
Straight up crayon liner and kohl liners are the easiest to use. And if you make a litre mistake they aren't so hard to wipe off. The most common mistake with liner is that you have to make one sweep across the lid, which is largely incorrect. I like to make dabs (like a perforated line) in the desired area and then connect them either with the pencil or with an angled brush, smoothing over the line. This also helps to add a bit of shading to the liner, so that it doesn't look like a stencil across your lid (if that is what you are going for, you are better off with liquid liner).
(Smashbox)
Choosing the right colour for your look is the easiest part. Most people opt for black, brown or even grey. I like to switch it up and throw a little green, purple or blue in there sometimes. But, then again, it depends on the look you are going for, the event you are off to, the outfit you are wearing, and how bold you want your look to be.
(Laura Mercier)
I love love love Laura Mercier liners. My favourite is the thicker stick shown here. It works so well for under the eye. Here's a tip: hold the liner crayon up (like the whole stick is vertical against your cheek) and run the liner along your bottom lid. If you use a good angled brush to smooth it in, the smokey look can even be achieved by make-tards (this who can not apply make up to save their life). I'm not such a fan of cream liners. But if I had to use it, I would use Laura Mercier.
(Left to right: Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier)
The angled brush and the liner brush. These are my top pics. The thin angled brush to blend in the crayon or kohl, or the chubbier one to really create some shading (even smoke) and finally the liner brush, to dip into the liquid bottle or cream jar.
(Paula Dorf) (MAC Cosmetics)
Last but not least is the option for those who can't find the colour they want, or are in between on the war of cream and liquid versus crayon, pencil or kohl. Use Paula Dorf's shadow transformer and mix it with the shadow of your choice, and voilà! Liner baby!
The best way to achieve the perfect upper liner is to find your natural line - the way to do this is to follow your bottom lid outward toward your brow (not that far out, just on that invisible line).
That's the bottom line on liner. Because what's in your case goes on your face, and that matters ;)
Thanks for stopping by!
Z.
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