Eyeliner Basics: The 3-Step Guide

Eyeliners are my one must-have makeup product.  The black Lakme Instaliner was my very first one, and till today, I prefer the ease of use of a liner over the effort needed for an eyeshadow.  My favorite is, of course, the black kohl liners - a staple for almost every Indian girl!  Available in a variety of formulations - gel, liquid, pencil - the one I reach for the most often is the pencil :D

Used Urban Decay Perversion along the upper lashline, waterline, and for tightlining.

As with any other makeup, there are a few  steps to applying even a basic eyeliner that make the application easier and helps it last longer.  Here's what works for me:

1.  Prime your lids before applying the eyeliner  - even if you are applying the liner only along the lashline, applying a little primer on the lids helps the liner stay on better without smudging/transferring.

If you are applying the liner along the lower lashline, something I almost always do, it helps to apply a bit of the the primer along the lower lashline (don't get it on to the waterline or into the eyes).  This keeps the liner from straying under the eyes and avoid the raccoon eyes!

2.  The Pencil Liner Basics:  I like to pick a softer pencil (my obsession - UD Perversion) which won't tug or pull the skin and needs only the slightest pressure to apply.  Next thing that I do is ensure that it's sharpened - not pointy sharp but a slightly more rounded yet precise tip.

• My pet peeve with liner application is having a visible gap between the lashes and the liner.  An easy tip I picked up from a makeup artist - apply the pencil right at the roots of the lashes. This would avoid the gap while also making the lashes look darker and thicker.
• While everyone has their own way of getting that perfect line, here's my easy shortcut to a neat line:  Trace out the line using short strokes.  Then use a fine liner brush (I use the one that comes with the Maybelline gel liners) to smudge the line and connect the dots.  This is especially helpful with getting those barely visible, thin lines close to the lashline :D

3.  Applying gel or liquid liners:  I started using gel liners a little over a year ago, and I really haven't used liquid eyeliners since then, but I think both formulations apply sort of similar.  I use either an angled liner brush or an finer-tipped eyeliner brush to apply these.

As with the pencil liners, applying the liner close to the lashes with short strokes helps with a neater application.  Another tip is to steady the elbow against a surface, a table perhaps, to get a more precise line.  Pull the eyelid skin taut at the corner to smoothen out the skin and avoid any creases - not a problem everyone has, but it's something I find useful on my eyes!

Avoid any harsh lines by using a smudger brush and/or some shadow to smoke out the line.  This softens the line and also avoids the pesky line that comes from the excess liner transferring on to the crease.

So, that was my basic guide to eyeliner application.  Happy lining and have a great weekend :D