Eyeliner

Universal eyeliner is familiar to every girl. Known since the times of Ancient Egypt, this part of decorative cosmetics has not lost popularity in our time.

Peculiarities

It is difficult to find something more convenient to quickly and easily make the eyes more expressive. Representatives of many nations used this technique. Moreover, even men used eyeliner (remember the same Tutankhamen). Eyes thickly lined with black paint were a special privilege of the pharaohs and their entourage. At the same time, the lead, which was part of the eyeliner, made it possible to use it not only for decorative purposes, but also as a prevention and treatment of eye diseases - a fairly common occurrence in a desert climate with sandstorms and floods. In addition, the arrows on the eyes, which sometimes reached from the nose to the temple, also had a religious connotation: they repeated the shape of the eyes of cats - the sacred animals of Egypt.

In the modern world, eyeliner (or “liner”, as it is now commonly called) is used exclusively for decorative purposes. She has become a sure tool for those who like to experiment, creating an endless number of looks that can be changed depending on the mood. The main thing is to acquire a certain skill, skillfully emphasizing the merits and hiding the flaws.

Kinds

If it’s not difficult to learn how to draw arrows beautifully and accurately thanks to numerous videos and master classes in our time, then it’s not too easy to figure out the abundance of types of eyeliner. The choice of liners today is so great that the question of what is better to bring your eyes up sometimes baffles. Let's try to determine which species will be the easiest to deal with, and which will require skill and patience.

contour pencil

The simplest and most practical option, since even without special experience, drawing a clear and even line will not be difficult. Depending on the sharpening of the stylus, you can draw both a thin and a wide arrow. And even if the line turned out to be not very even, it can always be shaded, getting a trendy blurry "smoky eyes" effect. You can draw a sketch with a pencil, apply the final arrow over it with liquid eyeliner.

A less traditional version of the pencil is a contour felt-tip pen. Unlike its counterpart, it does not need to be constantly sharpened, it easily glides over the eyelid, which means that it is impossible for them to scratch delicate skin. It is ideal for creating wide and thick arrows. But its main drawback, like a pencil, is the lack of durability compared to other types of eyeliner. In addition, capricious felt-tip pens require careful storage - strictly with the tip down in an upright position.

It is worth mentioning the know-how in the modern market - automatic eyeliner. Its main advantage is that, thanks to a special technology, the brush is automatically replenished with the necessary amount of paint, which greatly simplifies the application process. No wringing or dipping required to quickly draw an arrow, this handy liner does it all for you. An additional plus will be a deep saturated color and stunning durability until the moment of removing makeup.

liquid eyeliner

Some skill is already required here, so many avoid using it. But with the help of a liquid eyeliner, the lines are brighter, juicier and more expressive. The soft and thin brush allows you to draw graceful, persistent and clear lines. True, since such an eyeliner dries very quickly, you need to use it quite quickly, so you should fill your hand a little before using it to go out.

A simpler option would be a gel eyeliner. With a pleasant creamy and thick texture, it will easily hide small irregularities and errors, so it is ideal for beginners. Before making up the eyes with a gel liner, it is desirable to degrease the skin of the eyelids for better makeup durability. Otherwise, after a couple of hours, the arrows will begin to noticeably wipe off. Although, of course, unlike liquid, it does not spread so much and it is easier to draw wide lines with it (liquid can crack in large areas). True, gel eyeliner is inferior to the rest in terms of durability, and since it is usually sold in jars, the brush will have to be bought separately.

Dry eyeliner

This type is a compressed pigmented powder, reminiscent of powder or loose shadows. Using a wet brush, this eyeliner creates matte and slightly blurry arrows. It requires some skill, so it is adored by professional makeup artists, but rarely used at home. In addition, because of its structure, it is easily smeared, spreads from moisture and tends to crumble a couple of hours after application.

Which is better?

When choosing an eyeliner, a lot will depend on your experience in drawing arrows and your desire to learn. In order not to get lost in a huge assortment and choose the right eyeliner option, you should use a few tips.

• You should not buy liquid eyeliner if you are a beginner and start drawing arrows for the first time. It will be easier to get the hang of the hard contours of a pencil or felt-tip pen.
• Also, a contour pencil (it is also called “kayal”) should be used by all fans of arrows on the lower eyelid. Liquid or gel eyeliner in this case will look vulgar and cheap, and neat arrows are unlikely to work here.

• Gel eyeliner is very economical, so be sure to look at the expiration date so that the purchase does not become an extra waste of money and does not harm the delicate skin of the eyelids.
• You need to be more careful with black eyeliner - it visually reduces the shape of the eyes, so if you do not naturally have large expressive eyes. It is better to purchase a colored eyeliner - fortunately, today the choice of color palette is huge.
• Glossy arrows work well with liquid eyeliners or felt-tip pens. If you need a matte finish, you should pay attention to the gel version or pencil.

How to choose?

The complexity of choosing a liner lies, first of all, in the ability to use it. After all, beautiful smooth arrows can become both the main element of the entire makeup, and part of a multi-stage combination of shades of shadows and other decorative aids.

Colors

For a festive make-up, colored eyeliner is ideal. Light shimmer and mother-of-pearl particles included in their composition will help create a rich and vibrant look for the evening. Blue and emerald green, silver and gold - the modern industry does not limit the choice of shades.

White arrows look very original. Applied with dry eyeliner, they are perfect for bold and creative girls. Another option is double black and white arrows, no less stylish and graphic. Well, the most extravagant people will surely appreciate red or all shades of purple.

Still remain a hit "smoky eyes" in gray and black. To achieve this effect of a smoky look, it is enough, without waiting for complete drying, to shade the drawn arrow with a brush or a cotton swab and apply over a dense layer of shadows of dark shades.

Also for special occasions, eyeliners with sparkles are the best fit. Due to the transparent structure, it is best applied over eye shadow or a pencil. As an independent option, it is perfect even for everyday looks. With a brilliant liner, you can either draw a classic arrow or blend it in the center of the upper eyelid. This will make the look more sparkling.

A more casual option would be to choose a light gray or brown pencil eyeliner. Such arrows will noticeably highlight the eyes, but will not look defiant in an office setting or on a walk in the park.

Is black eyeliner suitable for blue eyes?

Undoubtedly, the choice of eyeliner color plays an important role if you want to emphasize the color of the eyes. Therefore, it is worth considering a few recommendations so as not to get the opposite effect of what is expected.

For owners of green and blue eyes, dark brown arrows are ideal. This shade will make the eyes brighter and will not distract from the native eye color. Black eyeliner will seem too harsh for such delicate eye shades. For special occasions, you should still use bronze or gold eyeliner.

If you want to draw arrows of the same color as the eyes, you should choose a shade a tone darker than the color of the eyes. Otherwise, you will achieve the opposite effect by making your eyes paler.

But for brown-eyed representatives, choosing the color of the liner is much easier. Bright, juicy tones, as well as bold shades of pink, easily emphasize the beauty of brown eyes. A traditional black eyeliner will make the look more expressive and inviting.

How to let down?

The main classic rule for a neat arrow is to apply eyeliner, as if continuing the lash line and going up a little. At the same time, the arm should rest steadily with the elbow on the table or any other horizontal surface. If there is not much experience yet, you can apply the arrows first with a small dotted line. Also, before using the eyeliner directly on your eyes, try practicing on the outside of your hand. It is important to paint over the area between the eyelashes so that the line looks harmonious, and not as an extra element. Ideally, you need to fill the entire lash line with eyeliner. If shadows are to be applied, the arrows are applied last. If, apart from eyeliner, nothing will be used, it makes sense to lightly powder the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eyelid - this way the makeup will last longer.

For beginners, popular stencils will be an excellent help. It will be a convenient solution for those who want to save time for applying makeup. This blank is suitable for any type of arrows. It is enough to attach it to the eyelid, holding it with your hand or, if necessary, fixing it, for example, with adhesive tape, and you can start drawing the desired arrow or applying a unique pattern. Everything that goes beyond the contour of the stencil will remain not on the eyelid, but on paper. Liquid eyeliner or a soft pencil are best for using a stencil.

Makeup Secrets

With skillful handling with the help of eyeliner, you can draw before your eyes not just an elegant and neat arrow, but also whole masterpieces that can favorably emphasize your taste and make your eyes brighter and more expressive. But it is worth noting that each type of eye needs different arrows.

• If you are the owner of the correct eye shape, any type of arrow will suit you. They can be safely used both with shadows and separately. Be sure to try Cleopatra-style makeup - the ends of the arrows go far beyond the edges of the eye.
• Round bulging eyes can easily be visually lengthened with eyeliner. It is better to draw a wide arrow, thin lines will not work here.

What to do if it's dry?

Liquid eyeliner, like gel eyeliner, tends to dry out over time, especially if you periodically close the jar badly. It begins to crumble, unevenly falls on the eyelids, loses its former firmness. But you should not throw it away right away, because the eyeliner can be easily reanimated with the help of ready-made cosmetic thinners, which can be purchased at any store. Also, eye drops or lens fluid will cope with this task. Their undoubted advantage is hypoallergenicity and disinfectant properties. After brewing for a couple of hours with such drops, the eyeliner will again acquire its original appearance.

If you prefer to use natural products, olive, almond, peach oil, or even ordinary vegetable oil will help restore the former consistency of the eyeliner. The main thing here is not to overdo it - just add one drop (you can use a pipette) and mix. Aloe juice will help not only dilute your favorite liner, but also turn it into a vitamin cocktail. The option is quite perishable, but the remedy will serve you for a week or two. Vodka, alcohol or a regular facial tonic are also good for dried eyeliner, however, the effect after their application is short-lived, so you will have to add them before each application of cosmetics.

lancome, Nyx,Inglot, Bourjois, Pupa. With eyeliners from these manufacturers, you can not worry about the condition of the arrows throughout the day. But of course, their quality and standard of products significantly affects their cost.

If funds for the purchase are limited, take a closer look at companies that, although they cannot boast of promotion, are in no way inferior in quality - for example, Essence, golden rose, Catrice, Eveline. Their lesser known counterparts are Ffleur, liquid ink, Black Brilliance, Luxvisage, Kylie– are only gaining their popularity and also deserve attention. It is worth mentioning the representatives of liners of network cosmetics - Avon,Faberlic, Oriflame. Their quality is often in doubt, but due to their cheapness they also have their admirers.