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
