What's Your Problem Wednesday: Liquid Eyeliner

Wondering the right way to apply blush?  How to use contouring to slim your face?  How to get those "Pamela" lips?

Each Wednesday, I'll be answering your beauty questions at Mama Does Makeup!

So... what's your problem?

Send your questions to Lisa at lisabmakeup@gmail.com

Today's question comes from Karen:

"I need a good, easy to use liquid eyeliner that won't leave me looking like I'm trying too hard. Any thoughts?"

Yes Karen, I have a thought... I HATE liquid eyeliner!  LOL  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE how it looks but I hate applying it. I've tried every brand, every application technique, and practiced my butt off but I still can't get that darn line to look perfect.


Because nothing beats the intensity of liquid eyeliner, I went searching for any easier product with the same properties.  Enter:  gel liners.  YAY!!!!!  These products have the same intense, highly pigmented payoff, but they go on SO much easier because they are a creamy!  The gel/cream liners also dry quick and last forever.  Double bonus!!!!


I have 2 drugstore favorites:  L'Oreal HIP Studio Secrets Professional Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black (could that name be any longer????) and Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black.  The L'Oreal liner retails for around $11 while I believe the Maybelline one is under $5.  Honestly, I don't really think one is better than the other so.... go for the cheaper one!  And FYI, Walgreens puts Maybelline on sale for 40% quite often so watch the sales ads.

The trick to getting a perfect line is chucking the cruddy brush they give you with the liners.  Better yet, use it to clean the dust from between your keyboard keys!  The brushes both companies give you are too small and too stiff.

Pick up a REAL liner brush like this one from Crown Brush (www.crownbrush.com)  it's under $2.

You want a long-handled tool with taklon bristles.  Taklon is a synthetic material that won't absorb the liner... thus giving you a much smoother application.  You can also pick up cheap taklon brushes in the art section at Michael's.  Just make sure the bristles are around 1/4 long and that the head of the brush (probably not the official name of that part) is about the same width and not TOO stiff... you don't want to scratch your eyelids.

I was going to post step-by-step photos here, but why reinvent the wheel?  There are LOADS of YouTube video tutorials on how to apply gel liners.  I'm recommending you check out  Kandee Johnson's Prom Makeup 2011 Video to see how easy it is to apply these babies.  You can fast-forward to 5:34 min to skip to the eyeliner part.  And yes!  She is even using the Maybelline liner in this video LOL.  I also invite you to take a peek at Kandee's other makeup tutorials.  She has got a lot of great tutorials on her YouTube channel.


Happy Lining!

~ Lisa

Blue Eyeshadow (and other colors that scare you)

There was a time when the only eyeshadows I used were brown and taupe. Sure, I had a ton of other colors, but those were reserved for Halloween. Then, about 2 years ago, I discovered that color eyeshadow could be my friend. The kind of friend who shows up and brightens your day and puts a smile on your face every time you see her.

Color scares most ladies who are out of their teens and think that blue eyeshadow (ala Mimi Bobeck) isn't appropriate for a trip to WalMart or the PTO meeting. But that's where you're wrong! Blue, purple, green, even orange eye shadows can look polished and stunning with the right hues and lots of blending.

Take a look at these examples:

Teal blue with grey

Dark royal blue on lids only



Light & Medium purples for a breathtaking smokey eye

Purple and brown plums


Ok, this next one probably isn't the look you'd choose for the PTO meeting. Unless you're me (because that's how I roll) or you live in New Jersey! :D

Dark and medium greens
with black and grey to "smoke out" the eye

A BEAUTIFUL Gold and Green eye with black gel eyeliner, how sexy!

So now you know colors can be your friend too. I could post tutorials here... but why reinvent the wheel? There are 1,000's of videos on YouTube to show you color combinations and blending techniques. Just decide what color you want to try first and do a search for it on their website.

Some of my favorite drugstore colors are:
The Wet N Wild Palettes (with 6 colors)
Cover Girl Eye Enhancers shadow singles in Forever Fig, Sterling Blue, Lime Alive, and Indigo Impact
L'Oreal HIP Bright Shadow Duo in Reckless (purples) and Concentrated Shadow Duos in Lively (Dk green), Devious (olive green), and Spirit (blues... this one may be discontinued)

Not sure what color eyeshadow will work best with your eye color? Well... I say whatever color you feel comfortable in... there really are no rules! But, the book Makeup Makeovers by Robert Jones makes the following suggestions.

Blue Eyes - Rich warm browns, warm taupes, and soft peaches.
Green Eyes - Golden browns, warm taupes, deep purples, soft peaches, and soft violets.
Brown Eyes - Golden brown, blue, green, light mahogany, charcoal, and purple.
Grey Eyes - Charcoal, cool brown, and purple.

Those are great starting points, but he doesn't give too many colorful suggestions for the blue and grey eyed gals. So for those who have blue eyes, I would like to add that blues and plum-y purples will look pretty too. And if you have grey eyes... I think the colors he suggests for brown eyes will be perfect for you!

And so I challenge all my readers to step out of their comfort zone this weekend. It's springtime and time for you to blossom! Choose a new color and go for it!

I'll see you on the other side of the rainbow
~ Lisa