Here are some lining techniques as requested by I’ve Been Sungified.
Basic Technique
*Top lash line: Tilt your head up slightly, pull your skin taut, look down into a mirror and start from the inner corner working your way towards the outer corner. A pointy but soft brush like Sephora’s Long Handle Sable Eyeliner Brush (US$8) as shown below would work.
Sephora Long Handle Sable Eyeliner Brush
*Bottom lash line: Pull the skin under your eye down a little, look up into a mirror and start from the outer corner lining inwards. I recommend using a push brush like MAC #212 Flat Definer ($20) or an angled brush like MAC #263 Small Angle Brush ($16.50).
MAC #263 Small Angle Brush
MAC #212 Flat Definer
More Advanced Technique
*Tightlining: This is a technique highly recommended by famous makeup artist Laura Mercier. It is mostly done along the top lash line where the liner is pushed into the lash line. The end result is very natural and subtle. You should not see any spaces between the liner and your lashes and your lashes will look thicker and your eyes more defined.
How To Make Your Liner Lasts Longer
1. The best way to make your liner stay is to line your top and bottom lash lines with a pencil followed by a liquid liner.
2. Powder your skin with translucent powder before and after you line your eyes.
3. Never ever rub your eyes if you have makeup on. Although this is common sense, a lot of people still do it unconsciously.
4. Liquid and gel liners tend to stay on the longest while pencils have the tendency to smudge easier.
5. Wet your liner brush with a drop of MAC’s Water Based Mixing Medium for extra staying power.
Different Looks
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Natural Look If you just want a little definition, this is the look for you. Simply line your top and bottom lash lines with a black, gray or brown pencil liner. Smudge with a q-tip to soften the look. Another way to do this is to use powder eyeshadow as your liner. |
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Classic Look Think Audrey Hepburn, aka black liquid liner extended past the corner. Rest your elbow on a flat surface and start from the middle of the eye. Line towards the outer corner. Wing it just past the outer corner. Go back to the inner corner and line until it meets the middle. This look is best paired with nude eyes and red lips. |
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Fun Look For something a little out there, experiment with colors. You can try: a) lining your top and bottom lash lines in different colors b) doing a bold color only along the bottom lash line c) rimming your top and bottom lash lines with a bright color like teal (as shown on the left) or violet. |
Related Entries
How To Tightline Your Eyelashes
10 Comments
you have a really great blog here =D
I found all your reviews really helpful, since i buy a lot of drug store brands and MAC products.
But i was wondering, what kind of lipstick and/or gloss would let me have the look in “fun look”?
I bought Underage from MAC, and the color doesn’t really show up the way i want it to. (It just looks kinda shimmery.)
Any recommendations on lipstick color/brand would be really great.
Thank you!
Forgot to ask my second question ^^:
What blush/bronzers would be similiar to the “fun look”?
thanks again *^^*
hi Grace, the lip color that the model was wearing looks kind of like a nude pink color. I have Underage too and it’s definitely too light to get that effect. You might want to try Prrr instead – it’s slightly darker and more pigmented.
sure I will write an entry on lip products some time next week, thank you for your support! =)
the above techniques are all using a brush, but what if you use a pencil eyeliner or something like that which doesn’t require a brush.
how would you go abt it?
Hannah, basically you do the same thing. Just make sure your pencil is soft enough so it goes on smoothly and does not tug your eyelid. I personally love MAC’s Kohl liners for this.
Hi Phyllis,
Your blog is brilliant. Love it!
I’m using mousse type Stila eyeshadows and I pair it with MAC’s Kohl eyeliner. But, by half of the day, the eyeliner will smudge onto the lid. So now, i’m trying to find a good eyeliner to use with my Stila eyeshadow. I don’t like the Stila eyeliner – The Smudge Pot that I’ve tried during the makeover. Could you please recommend the one that’s good. Cheers.
my eyes are really very small as i’m a pure chinese..i adore baby doll eye/big peepers.. is there any way to make them looked like baby doll eye?
The whole liner thing makes me crazy–I’ve tried Stila Smudge Pots, Prestige waterproof liner, and HIP liquid liner, and just using shadow. My eyes are SO deepset, that it just gets all over the place, and smudges like mad. Any ideas??
Ahhh this is so helpful I was wondering if u have enuff time would u consider doing a video tutorial for how to apply eyeliner for a natural look? B/c everytime I apply my eyeliner on my bottom lashline it makes me look like i'm wearing a lot of eye makeup even though I press lightly >__<
heyyy, i have a problem with eyelining that maybe you could help me with? when ever i line my eyes with liquid liner, i get this white gap which is basically my lashline, but the eyeliner looks as though its just sitting on my eyelid above my lashes. any ideas on how to make it look more natural?
thnkss ^^
love the blog!!