What Type of Eyeliner is Right for Me?

Choosing the right eyeliner can be a difficult process. Row after row after row of products, divided by brands, color, type... it almost makes my head spin! Where does one even begin?

Pencil Eyeliner

Pencils are perhaps the most commonly used eyeliner on the market.

In fact, several women have had their first experience with eyeliner in the form of a pencil! Whether they are wooden pencils that require sharpening, or retractable pencils that raise and lower similar to lipstick, pencils create a smooth line with little effort.

However, pencil eyeliner isn't known for its staying abilities, as it has a tendency to smudge quite easily. Some women claim that warming pencil eyeliner between two fingers helps it go on smoothly; other women claim that putting the pencil in the freezer for a few minutes helps it go on more smoothly. What nonsense! If your eyeliner pencil isn't performing up to par, perhaps it is time to look for another type of eyeliner.

Here are some examples of pencil eyeliners:

Bonne Bell Eye Definer
Youngblood Eye Liner Pencil
Maybelline Expert Eyes Defining Liner
Merle Norman Automatic Definitive Eye Pencil

Cream and Gel Eyeliner

Cream and gel eyeliners are trickier to use than their pencil counterparts. However, the staying powder of these formulations far exceeds that of the wimpy line one achieves with pencil eyeliner.

While using a brush is necessary with gel or cream eyeliner, it can be applied with a dry or damp brush. I personally prefer a dry brush unless I am going for a much exaggerated line.

Do not leave the cap off your cream or gel eyeliner for a long period of time, as it will dry out. Also, it can be a bit tricky to apply this type of eyeliner to the lower lash line.

Here are two of the many options at your disposal if you wish to try this type of eyeliner: M.A.C Fluidline and L`Oreal H.I.P. Cream Eyeliner.

Liquid Eyeliner

Liquid eyeliner is known for its speed and accuracy, once you've become accustomed to it. Liquid liner leaves a smart, even line in one swipe. And since liquid liner comes pre-packaged, there is no need to worry about sharpening, retracting, or brush cleaning. The lid needs to be replaced immediately after use to keep the liner from drying out.

The downside to liquid liner is if a mistake is made it is difficult to fix. If you are new to liquid liner I highly recommend Revlon's Eye Makeup Eraser Pen. (You may also find success with cotton swabs soaked in makeup remover.)

I have included a couple of examples of liquid eyeliner: L`Oreal Line Intensifique Extreme Wear Liquid Liner and Almay Amazing I-Liner Liquid Liner

Eye shadow as a Liner?

Once, when I was at a M.A.C counter looking for new eyeliner, a sales associate mentioned using a dark, matte shade of eye shadow for eyeliner. She suggested that I take my liner brush, dampen it with water, apply eye shadow to the wet brush, and then simply use the brush as if I were using a gel liner. I actually tried this twice, and it worked rather well. However, it also seemed to make more of a mess than all of the other methods; even more so than the gel eyeliner. I suppose if I wanted to keep the number of makeup products I used to a minimum, then I could use a dark color for both my liner and the crease of my eyes. Unfortunately, I am absolutely addicted to makeup.

Other Eyeliner Related Tips

Above all, remember these important tips:

Always apply eye makeup in this order: eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara.
It is acceptable to put on foundation before or after making up the eyes. Some women prefer to put the foundation on first, and some women prefer to put the foundation on last. I prefer to put it on first.
Eyeliner should never be darker than your mascara.
Waterproof eyeliner is superfluous and should only be worn when you have need to wear waterproof mascara (i.e. sad movies, weddings, etc).
While colored eyeliner can be fun, approach vibrant hues cautiously. No one should wear red or pink eyeliner, as it can make the eye appear infected and unwell.
If you have very little lid visible when your eyes are open, you may want to skip eyeliner altogether, or apply your liner in a very, very skinny line. (This mainly applies to Asian women.)
Eyeliner doesn't have to be expensive! I've seen eyeliner priced between $2.59 and $40.

Finally, while it can be fun to apply your eyeliner the way Liz Taylor wore hers when she played Cleopatra, please do not make this your daily habit. It can be quite overwhelming!