How to apply the perfect eyeliner and with what?

Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.

                                                                                                      -   Sophia Loren

Some of the most beautiful women in the world have the most expressive eyes. A well defined eye is sometimes all you need. A lot of women find it difficult to function without a little bit of eyeliner or deem themselves "sick looking" if they haven't applied their favorite beauty product.

Im going to share with you products to get an amazing well defined eye. As well as techniques and different types of liner shapes. Later in the week I will add a video tutorial to help the beginners with their liner application. Just to reiterate this post is  how to get a well defined eye and not about any full blown eyeshadow looks.

The first thing you need to know are the tools available to you.

Lets start with my favorite product.

Eye Primers: Eye primers are the products you apply on your upper and lower eyelid. This helps your eyeshadow, liner etc stay longer, the color is more enhanced and it stops your liners from smudging. So for all you ladies who love BLACKEST BLACK liners and hate that they don't last or smudge, then eye primers are your best friend. Some of my favorite primers are:

Urban Decay Primer Potion: In my humble opinion the "Holy Grail" of eyeshadow primers.

 Image courtesy www.temptalia.com

Image courtesy www.makeupgeek.com

 



Urban Decay Primer Potion comes in 4 different types. Original, Sin, Greed and Eden. They all have different colours & effects. However they essentially do the same thing, they keep your eyemakeup on for longer , enhance the colors and stop any smudging.

Application: You apply a little bit of the primer to your eyelids as well as lower lash line if youre going to apply any eyeliner in your waterline or lash line. Blend the primer evenly all of your lid and lash line. Do not apply this in your waterline.

Other options: NYX Eyeshadow Primer. You'll get eyeprimers in most cosmetic brands.

Now that we have our base correct, let now go to actual definition tools.

Black or Brown Eyeshadow:

Using an eyeshadow to line your eyes is probably the best way especially if youre a beginner.
Taking a small eyeshadow brush or a angled brush (cruelty free real fibre) you can dip it in the eyeshadow and apply gently with small strokes around your eyes. If you mess up its easier to clean with a lilttle bit of eyemakeup remover on a cue tip, then it is to clean eyeliner. Eyeshadow is also easier to blend and it gives you a lovely natural smoked out finish. Its a softer look then an eyeliner.

Favorite eyeshadows to use as a eyeliner: MAC CARBON, MAC BRUN & MAC BROWN DOWN.
Favorite Brushes to use with eyeshadow liner: MAC 263 (Hands down the best angled brush ever!)

Eyeliner Felt Pens: Now these are the easiest to use as well as remove. They mostly arent waterproof however they give a lovely glossy effect. You wont be able to blend it very well for a seamless look though after applying it you can blend the edges with a black eyeshadow. That will help with a smokey softer look. Perfect to practice a winged liner.

Favorite Felt Tip Liner: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner.

Image courtesy glamournazi.com

Pencil Liners: One of the best ways to line your waterline is with a pencil liner. If in case youre wondering, your waterline is the inside part of your lash line. We predominantly line our lower waterline.

My Favorite Pencil Liner is : MAC Smoulder. It's beautiful and has never smudged on me. In case if you experience any smudging, use a primer before applying your liner.

Image courtesy of raemathiesonmakeupartist.blogspot.com

 



Other ways to line your waterline is with a Eye Khol or a Kajal.

How is a Kohl Liner different from a regular liner?

They are made of different ingredients, they're made to smudge easily so you won't tug at your eye to mutch when trying to smudge like you do with regular eyeliners. Also they tend to have more nourishing ingredients. That's pretty much why people use them to get the smokey eye kind of look.

Favorite Kohl Liner : ColorBar Indian Kohl.

What is the difference between Kohl and Kajal?

I checked ingredients, formulations and applications techniques for both products and the verdict is...they are absolutely the same. Kajal according to me is a little drier than kohl, but essentially the same product. They both smudge easily and give a great smokey eye effect. Also they are used to cool the eyes which helps if you tend to get any redness. They have a large amount of camphor which is good for the eyes.

Liquid Liners
This product is amazing to use, gives a great effect and if you use a waterproof liquid liner you are set for hours. A few drawbacks...You need to be a little experienced at eyeliner application to use this product efficiently, you cannot use it on your waterliner and last and most important if youre using a waterproof liquid liner which dries fast... it is a bi%ch! to remove if you have made a mistake and some waterproof liquid liners tend to peel of after a few hours.

My favorite Liquid Liner :Makeup Forever Aqua Liners

Image courtesy lauravaluta.blogspot.com

Image courtesy Karlasugar.net

 

And at last my favorite Liner, The Gel eyeliner.

 

The consistantcy of the gel liner is literally like butter. It glides on smoothly. And you can get a glossy gel liner or a  matte gel liner.This can also be used in your waterline. The only con might be that you have to apply it with a eyeliner brush and that takes practice. But once you have achieved perfection you would not want to use anything else.

 

My Favorite Gel Liners: Bobby Brown Long wear gel liner & Maybelline Lasting Drama eye gel

 

Image courtesy glamgirl.co.in

 

Beginners guide to perfect eyes

1. USE A PRIMER

2. Which ever product youre using, apply it by making small dashes on your upper lash line. If your eyes keep fluttering or you cant close one eye and apply your liner, this technique helps you as you can keep checking your work after every small dash.

 

Image courtesy pennypincherfashion.com

 

3. Always make sure the hand you're using to apply your liner has support. This eliminates most mistakes.

4. Have a cue tip and eyemakeup remover handy to erase mistakes or make your eyeliner sharper.

5. Use a felt tip eyeliner initially till you get some practice.

6. Use an angled brush to apply eyeshadow or gel liner. Gives you straight lines and best for winged liners.

 

Different shapes of liners for the beginner

 

My favorite liner shape - The Cat eye!

 

I hope this helps all you lovely ladies define those pretty peepers.

Here's looking at you Kid!





The Starter Kit

I realised that in India women start applying makeup a little later than other places. I personally think that's absolutely fine. However, that makes us a little late on the uptake.

Ever since i started my blog and youtube channel, one question consistently occupies my inbox, "What products should I use?"

I thought it would be great to help all my readers create a pocket SMART and Skin protecting makeup kit.
Now keep in mind you can only know how effective a product is for you once you use it. And the list below is the minimum number of products for a complete personal makeup kit.

The first thing you need for a good makeup routine is skin products. I start with cleansing my face with my favorite face wash. Now here is where the extra care bits come in.

1. After cleansing, I use a toner. A good toner really helps in minimizing face pores. This helps in protecting your skin from trapping dirt as well as your makeup, as the pores dont create a lot of oil once minimized. I use the Clinique Toner. The reason i recommend a high end toner is, you should never compromise on skin products. The most expensive products in your kit should be the ones to protect and enrich your skin.

2. After toning, moisturing is the key to prep your skin for makeup. A well moisturised skin helps the foundation and concealer glide on your face. There is no flakyness. And if you feel you have too much on you can always use a tissue or muslin cloth to dab it out. The moisturizer I use Sheshaido White Lucient. However, any good gel, water or oil based moisturiser will do depedning on your skin type. The clinique moisturiser is probably the best for all skin types and you also get small tubes that you can easily carry with you.



***** Now this product is my ace in the sleeve. BB CREAM. In India as of now we only have the Maybeline BB Cream. Its a moisturizer, spot remover, SPF and also provides slight coverage. After the toner you can use the BB Cream and directly get to the foundation routine.

3. Another trick or miracle product is Clinique's City Block. it's a tinted moisturiser with SPF and can also be used as a light primer for your face. A primer is applied before your foundation and it works like a glue. It smoothens lines and fills pores which helps foundation go on smoother and last monger.

4. Now we start with the actual makeup routine. You will need a great foundation to begin with.

The Revlon Color Stay foundation is cost effective as well as full coverage for someone with oily skin. It also has quite a few skin tones so there is a good chance you will find the tone perfect for you.

The Lakme Perfect Radian Skin Foundation is perfect for someone who doesnt need full coverage. It evens your skin tone and lasts pretty long. Those who have oily skin will have to reapply or powder you face half way throught the day since it's a light foundation.

The Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse is a great foundation for those who need a little more coverage but still like to keep it light. It gives you a very nice smooth finish. You get a variety of skin tones , however if using a brush or you fingers to apply, you have to work a little fast because it tends to dry fast.

And now the Holy Grail of Foundations. MAC Studio Fix Fluid. Priced at almost 2k, its a full coverage foundation with skin tones that closely match the indian womans colour. It can be applied lightly to even skin colour out and if you dont want full coverage. It's builable so that you can get the coverage you want. Again its best if you work fast with it. Applies well with a brush or your fingers.

5. Next product that you would need for your starter kit is concealer. Your concealer should be a shade lighter than your foundation to brighten and conceal your under eye and highlight areas like your cheek bones, the bridge of your nose. If you have dark circles that are dark brown nearing black or similar pigmentation anywhere on your face, then its best to use a concealer thats teh same shade of your foundation. Otherwise if you use a lighter concealer that area will start looking grey.

Mac Studio Finish Concealer is perfect for heavy converage, especially for dark circles and pigmentation.

For light coverage Revlon Photoready Concealer Stick is a good option. It really reflects light and looks great in pictures.

6. Now to make sure your foundation and concealer lasts you the whole day and doesnt slip and slide on your skin. You should use a powder to set it.

Revlon Aqua Mineral Powder is my favorite because while applying it , it feels wet however it blends into your skin very well and keeps the foundation and concealer wells et on your face. It also provides coverage so if youre using it as a finishing powder to set your foundation, it should be used sparingly.

Kryolan Anti-Shine Powder also helps set the foundation and concealer. If you have oily skin , this product is your best friend as if applied over a shiny T-Zone it really immediately mattifies it. It adds no colour to use foundation in case you dont want anymore coverage.

7. Next a great eyeshadow pallet that can double up as a eyebrow filler (if needed). I do alot of looks for myself and others professionally and I always find myself reaching for one eyeshadow palette.

NYX Runway Collection 10 - in Champagne and Caviar.

8. Eyeliners that you would love to use is,
Maybelline Colossal Kajal for a nice dark black liner.
Lakme Shadow Artist Shimmer Stick in Starry night
Lakme Glide on Eye Color in Peacock Green and Plush Purple.

9. My absolute favorite Gel Liner is the
Maybelline Drama Gel Liner in Black, It comes with a brush and applies really well. it can also be used in the water line.

10. Sometimes just using a mascara can make all the difference. My new favorite mascara is
Faces Lush Lash Mascara. It applies well, not to heavy and I love that it coats every lash strand.

11. Blush. Adds the color to the face, also helps in acheiving a healthy glow.
Lakme Absolute Cheek Chromatic Baked Blush. It comes in to shades. One for lighter skin and the other for darker. It works well as a contouring color as well as a bronzing color.

Girlactik Cream Blush in Pink is perfect for all skin tones. and a little on the apple of your cheeks looks so lovely.

12. ColorBar USA Lipliner in 007 is best for skin color lipliner.

13. Faces Lip Palette has all the usual suspects, Nude, Pink, Brown, Maroon, Red, and Coral.
This is a good palette to have because you can mix the colours and create a lip colour perfect for you.

14. LOreal Colour Juice Peek a Boo lip gloss is perfect for you to add that extra ommph to any lip colour.

The above products are perfect for your Starter Kit. This list is for your entire makeup kit. You can use the products to add to your carry on makeup kit for daily use.