Eyeliner

Eyeliner is one fantastic little thing. Sometimes, when I am applying it, I think it is a little bit like paint for the eyes! Eyeliner makes eyes more noticeable and attractive, draws attention to your eyes, and can make them look dramatic. Theres no use denying it though, it can be tricky, and it also requires trust in the person doing it for you – but get used to it, and it’ll be essential to your makeup bag. However, it comes in many different types and to begin with it’s useful to know what you what type you’re aiming for when you decide you want to buy some. Here’s the two main types you need to know:

Kohl Pencil – creates an easy, basic line, with a soft definition. It is definatly the best one for those who are new to eyeliner, as it is the easiest to apply.

Liquid Eyeliner - create a very fine but bold line, and looks sharp and dramatic if done well. The only problem is it is harder to control, so make sure you have a steady hand whilst applying. It comes in different types: you get the typical liquid eyeliner, a little pot with a little brush for applying – either a tiny fine sponge or a else a little paint-brush type with bristles. And liquid eyeliner pens are also availabe, which bascially look like a felt tip pen.

 

To be honest, there are all sorts of things you can do with eyeliner, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it. But on this page we will show you some easy and pretty techniques for you to test out and flaunt your skills!

The Flirty Look

 

 I swear by eyeliner, and if I don’t have enough time to do the whole makeup job in the mornings, I make sure I at least have a little eyeliner on, and I usually do my eyes like this. This style is beautifully feminine and great for an everyday look, as well as for nights out! Uses:

• Liquid eyeliner/ Liquid eyeliner pen
• Mascara

1. Wash lids so they aren’t greasy or grubby. 

2. If you wish to add a little bit of eye shadow, do so now, although this look doesn’t work with over-done eyeshadow, so try to keep it as simple as possible.

3. Dip your liquid eyeliner in the pot, and remove any extra fluid, you don’t want splodges everywhere! Pulling the edges of your eyelid taut, sweep the brush from the inner corner of the eye to the out corner, right close to the lashes. You defiantly don’t want: eye lashes, line of skin, line of eyeliner! Keep to line fine and slim. This can take practice so keep working on it.

4. Now add your mascara. Obviously its better in most cases, but using a good quality mascara will do the trick much better for this technique. You’re aiming for long, spidery lashes, and a good quality mascara will cover the lashes more thoroughly and do a better job. 

Liv Tyler does this look wonderfully as she wore it to the oscars in this picture. She uses a soft grey eyeliner.

Rock Chic

 

The Rock Chic really makes your eyes stand out. It may look like your putting far too much on, but it really doesn’t look bad when you stand back and looks at yourself. It particularly draws attention to your eyes, so the worst thing to do would be to put loads of bright lipstick on too, it would look far too over the top. Uses:

 

•  Lots of eyeliner. Black Kohl is best.
• Liquid eyeliner if you like, but its not essential.
• Dark, Charcoal eyeshadow 
• Foundation
• Concealer

 

  

Avril pulls this off perfectly, as if suits her rocker image. She balances it out with nude lips.  

 

Dramatic Flicks

 

Flicks enhance the eyes and draw attention whilst looking feminine and attractive, But they are tricky, so practice and skill is often required or they could go wrong! The point is though, they can come in all shapes and sizes, so you just need to experiment and work out what looks best on you. 

Uses:

• Liquid eyeliner/ liquid eyeliner pen.

1.Once again, making sure you have enough light in your room, wash and powder your lids so they are not greasy or grubby. It is very easy for flicks to go wrong.

 

2. Get your eyeliner and wipe off any excess liquid. Rest you elbow on a steady surface and carefully draw a line close to your lashes, by pulling your lid taught, like the flirty style. Then, bit by bit, build with the liner on your upper lid, making it thicker and thicker towards the outer edge.

 

3. Don’t finish the liner off at the edges of the eyelid! Create the all-important flick, by carefully drawing the line slightly upwards and outwards towards the brow-bone, or perhaps over if you want to go bit bigger (a la Amy Winehouse)!

 

4. With the heavy black eyeliner, mascara may not be noticed much. But to add a little more femininity, you may want to touch your lashes up a little! Be warned though, go carefully with mascara as if you puts on too much and want to get rid of it, you’ll have trouble avoiding the careful eyeliner job you’ve just done!

 

Dramatic flicks are Amy Winehouse’s trademark look, & Angelina specializes in feminie winged liner.

 

Sharp Outline

 

This style is raher like the Rock Chic style, but it has limits! It creates a crisp outline round the eyes to enhance and draw attention to them, and is widely used by celebs.

You will need:

• A Liquid Eyeliner (in black)
• A Pencil Liner (in black)

 

1.Its very simple. Using your liquid eyeliner, paint on finely in little dashes up to half way along your eyelid. Bring it slightly downwards at the edges, and keep it close to the eye.

2. On the inner half of your eyelid, its harder to apply, so pull your eyelid taught and apply finely there.

3. Wipe the side of your liner brush on the edge of the pot. Very carefully and gently, bring your liner brush round the inner corner of your eye. Go very fine here – your don’t need much at all.

4. Now, using your pencil eyeliner, draw on your water line, underneath your eye, and then bring it up to meet your liquid – line.

5. It’s not essential, but at this point, add and mascara or eyeshadow you want aswell.