Eyeliner can make or break your eye makeup. It is what shoes do to your outfit. They either pull together the look and compliment the colours or completely spoil the look. Yet few makeup items cause as much panic and consternation amongst women as the humble eyeliner. There are a couple of reasons for this. One; many are unsure how to apply the eyeliner correctly. Two; there is a huge variety of eyeliner styles and colours, so which do you choose? In this article we will address both concerns to help you make the most of your eye lining skills and help make your eyes pop!

Applying The Eyeliner

As very few of us have rock steady hands it is best to rest your elbows on a solid surface and apply your liner looking down into a mirror. This will naturally stretch your eyelids so you don't have to pull on them so much. Position the eye liner as close to your lash-line as possible from the inner corner of the eye. Once again as very few of us have such steady hands to draw one single straight line along the lash-line, it is best to feather your strokes. What that means is drawing short strokes along the lashes, than having a break. This way you will avoid the dreaded wobbles and you can judge your progress. Follow the curvature of the lid all the way to the outer corner in this manner. To start with, it is best to keep the line as thin as possible and if a thicker line is required simply go over the already existing line either all the way or simply from the middle of the eye for a simple stylish look.

To get that sexy 50's cat-eye effect, when you reach the outer edges of the lash-line, angle the eye line slightly upwards and extend the line a few millimetres creating a wing effect. Than you build the line until you have the desired effect. This is a very flattering look for most as it visually lifts the eyes.

Most women are terrified of the liquid eyeliner because they think it is messy and difficult to control. However, nothing creates more drama that a bold line. Here is a foolproof tip for those of you who would like to give the liquids a go.



The secret is in the tip of your liquid liner brush tip. With a very light hand, gently dot the very tip of your liquid liner brush along the lash line, then go back and join the dots together. Keep going over the line in short strokes until you have the desired look, then let the line dry for a few seconds.

I'm not a big fan of lining the lower lashes, however if you are going to do it, only line the outer two-thirds of the eye. Never ever line all the way across the lower lashes as this will only close up the eyes, giving you a bracketed in <> look that is not only very severe but also very dated.

Applying eyeliner to the inner rim of the eye is strongly discouraged for two reasons. One; the eye is a moist area and the eyeliner will start to smudge within a couple of hours at the most, creating a very unattractive panda eye effect. Two; introducing foreign substances (colour pigments, wax) to the very delicate eye area will irritate the eye and may cause inflammation and other problems.

With all eyeliner application a little patience and plenty of practice is required. If you are unsure or haven't practiced before, don't leave it to the last minute before an important event as it will only make you more nervous and bound to cause mistakes.

Choosing The Right Eyeliner.

There are several different eyeliner types. Experiment to find the right one for you or use a variety of eye liners for different effects and occasions.

The Pencils: The eye pencil is probably the most popular eye liner due to its versatility and ease to use. Start with a light hand and build on the colour. It is also a great way to get the smudged smoky look.

1. Model Co colourbox eyeliner in Black with sharpener $24.00
2. Shiseido 'The Makeup' Eyeliner pencil duo in Desert Dusk $35.00
3. Bourjois Eye Pencil $16

The Creams and Gels: The latest things on the market. Cream to powder eyeliners are long lasting, most are smudge proof and they are applied with a fine brush. Very versatile liners as you can easily vary the thickness of the line. 1. Jane Iredale Cream to Powder Eye Liner $54.00 2. Napoleon China Doll Eyeliner $30.00 3. Clinique Cream Eyeliner $37.00 The Liquids: The most challenging eyeliner but the most glamorous too once you have mastered the technique. Can be used on it's own with mascara or over the top of eye shadow. The longest wearing eyeliner. 1. Yves Saint Laurent Easy Liner for Eyes $55.00 2. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Liner $21.50 3. Shiseido 'The Makeup' Fine Eyeliner in Black $53.00 Choosing the Colour The most popular and safe colours are Black, Brown and Gray. Eyeliner is designed to give intensity to the lashes, make them appear thicker and emphasize the eye. However coming into summer a lot of bright colours are popping up at all cosmetics counters. Don't be afraid to experiment with these colours. A good guide is to choose a colour slightly darker than the eye shadow you will be wearing. Or pick a funky bright colour and wear it by itself or with a nude eye shadow making your liner the main focus. With patience and plenty of practice you will master the art of eyeliner to help you make your eyes Pop wherever you go.