Product breakdown - Eyeliners!

Do you have a love/hate relationship with your eyeliners?  You know, when you do one eye really pretty, but can't get the other one to match?  Maybe you're a creature of habit and have been using the same brand and type of liner for years?  Time to break out of that comfort zone and get your glam eyes on, baby!

Creamy pencil liners are excellent for beginners to use, and ideal for lining your waterlines.  This is probably one of my favorites because it's reliable, easy to use, and great for blending or smudging for a smokey effect.  When you're shopping for pencil liners, be sure it has a creamy texture to it -- meaning it glides easily without pulling on the skin.  Yes, I'm one of those girls standing in the makeup isle with different colors swatched on her hands. :)  My creamy pencil liner of choice currently is the Rimmel Soft Kohl line - color is Jet Black.  Be sure to get the Soft Kohl one, as Rimmel has several choices in pencil liners. It's available at places like Target, Walmart & Walgreen's for around $3.

Gel or clay liners are perfect for getting precise lines and easily creating a "wing" effect for extra drama.  Gel/clay liners are NOT to be used on the waterlines, unless you're aiming for a painful, bloodshot look??  These liners typically come with a brush applicator, if not, you could nab a cheap one anywhere.  I love the Sonia Kashuk Bent Liner Brush from Target, for about $6. 

Using a brush and gel liner does take some practice, but once you've got the hang of it, you'll likely never go back to regular liquid liner.  A while back, I tried the Maybelline Gel Liner and loved the application, but hated the fact that it took a TON of scrubbing to get it completely off.  Unless you're good with gel liners, I would advise against this for beginners, as it dries quickly and is hard to remove.  My favorite is Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Amazonian Clay liner.  It's pricy, but it comes with a WONDERFUL double sided brush.  It's available at places like Sephora & Ulta for around $24, but as always browse Amazon and other beauty sites.

The third and final liner is a liquid pen, which is probably for a more experienced user.  Liquid liner is fairly easy to get used to, but definitely requires a steady hand.  Remember, never use liquid for waterlines!  You can create dark, dramatic lines - perfect for a pinup look.  I've never had much luck using a liquid liner for smudging or creating a smokey look, but I've only tried a few times (I prefer pencil for this).  With a little practice, you too will be a liquid lining fool.  I've tried a few different ones, but my old favorite is Almay Liquid Eyeliner.  It comes with a firm felt tip, so it's easy to get precise lines.  I recently purchased Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner Pen.. as it was highly recommended as well.  Either of these liners can be purchased at places like Target, Walmart and Walgreens for around $4.

Hope this helped a little!  Hopefully I will have some video tutorials posted soon.  Be sure to check out the "Product Links" tab for stuff that isn't available locally.

Lots of love.
-- Kali @ The Pink Leopard