Q: I have really oily eyelids so anything I use seems to disappear or smudge in only a few hours. Based on your recommendation, I tried using one of L'oreal's liquid liners, but find that it's not working for me either. By the end of the day, my eyelids are still oily and the oils (I think) break down the liquid liner, making it smudge. I've almost given up on it, but are there any make-up artist tricks you can advise of? Thanks for the help!!

A: Great question! I used to have this issue when first starting to use liquid liner. In the early days, I experimented with using some concealer and powder on the eyelids to help act as a barrier between the natural oils on the lids and the liquid liner.

But once I discovered MAC Paints and MAC Paint Pots, I never turned back. Just choose a neutral colour that matches (or is slightly lighter) than the skin on your own eyelid for a natural effect. From the Paints, try Sublime Nature, Bare Canvas and Paint Pots in Soft Ochre and Bare Study to see which one best suits your own skin tone. Either apply the product all over the lid from lashline up to the eyebrow or focus the application simply atop the eyelid. You may see some slight creasing later the day (especially if your eyelids are oily like mine!), but the liquid liner will definitely remain intact!

ARTIST TIP: MAC Paints and Paint Pots also double as a great base for eyeshadow application.

Related posts:
ARTIST TIP | How to Make Eyeshadow Last
Q & A | Smudging Eyeliner on Asian Lids
PRODUCT REVIEW | L'oreal Lineur Intense

Being product faithful sometimes makes you miss out on other great products that are on the market. As my go-to liquid liner, I've sworn by L'oreal's Lineur Intense for as long as I can remember - even before I knew how to apply it properly! Fortunately, in my line of work as a blogging make-up artist, I come across clients that introduce me to products they love and make-up companies that also want to get the buzz going on new products they have available.

It's been out for a couple of years now, but Cover Girl's LineExact Liquid Liner only recently became a welcome addition to my personal kit. The compact-sized liquid liner makes it simple to get both thin and thick bold lines to frame the eyes; it's literally like drawing your eye make-up on with a marker! My personal fave is LineExact in Black Brown - it's a perfect colour to wear for day (not too harsh), and the smudgeproof factor of the liquid liner will easily carry your look through the night!

Great for beginners: For liquid liner virgins, Cover Girl's LineExact is a great starter liquid liner. The marker-like tip of LineExact will give you greater control over where the product goes, versus a brush-tip liquid liner. (Remember liquid liner just takes practice!)

At under $9CAD per liner (and under $7CAD at well.ca!), Cover Girl's LineExact Liquid Liner is a definite deal for the ease of application it provides. You can find it at your local drugstores, available in the following colours: Very Black, Brown, Smoke, Black Brown.

(....and you can find it in my make-up bag in Very Black and in Black Brown!)

;)

While on vacation, we all still want to look fab without necessarily being worried about our usual make-up routine. Returning from vacation recently, I realize that I did it again - I had packed way too much make-up and used only half of what I actually brought! There are some definite make-up travel essentials that I'd likely still take to a deserted island with me! Here's my list of essential make-up items when traveling (and hopefully I'll be more efficient when packing the next time, but knowing me...probably not).

1. Multi-Purpose Cream: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè (24-Hour Miracle Cream)This multi-purpose cream is aptly named. Embryolisse can be used as a moisturizer, make-up primer and make-up remover. The cream also quadruples as an impromptu shaving cream (your boyfriend will thank you for thinking of him as well!). Items with multiple uses mean less to pack in that bag...and who doesn't love that?! Embryolisse is also an industry insider favourite - make-up artists and models are known to swear by this cream for its many uses.

2. Tinted Moisturizer: MAC Select Tint SPF 15
Select Tint doubles as a moisturizer and foundation in one handy bottle. The tinted moisturizer formula offers the most minimal amount of coverage in a foundation, while still helping to lightly even out skin tone. Select Tint also has a built-in SPF of 15, which makes it the practical and perfect choice in attaining that polished look. My forehead has a tendency to catch most of the sun, and by the end of the trip, there are two different shades on my face! I apply Select Tint just on the forehead to brighten the skin tone there, and then I dust some bronzer on my cheeks to deepen the skin tone and bring everything in balance.

3. Blotting Tissues: Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues
To keep looking fresh in the hot vacation weather, there's no sense in touching up your shine with more and more powder (which could contribute to clogged pores and break-outs). Instead, scoop up a handy pack of blotting tissues to keep your shine in check. Simply dab a tissue wherever you see an excess of oil build-up, and watch the absorbent tissue do all the work.

4. Bronzing/Highlighting Powder Duo: MAC Mineralize (Dark/Natural & Shimmer)
Use a bronzer and highlighter combo to accentuate your glowing bronzed skin. With the MAC Mineralize Duo, I used the dark matte powder as a contour on the cheeks and as an impromptu eyeshadow to define the crease of the eye. With the shimmery half of the powder, I used a large powder brush to dust it atop the browbone and on the cheekbones. Spotlighted tan? Check!

5. Lip Balm: Burt's Bees Radiance Lip Shimmer
The hot weather was a welcome climatic change for my lips. My lips had seen more than their share of dry and cracked days, courtesy of our Canadian winter season. I usually throw my Kiehl's Lip Balm No. 1 into my purse for its reliable moisturizing and SPF properties, but found that the balm tended to liquify in the extreme heat. Fortunately, I had Burt's Bees Radiance Lip Shimmer as a back-up. The waxy stick withstood the heat better while adding a moisturizing shine to my lips.

6. Liquid Eyeliner: L'oreal Lineur Intense
My failsafe way to beat the heat while keeping my eyeliner in check is to use liquid liner. I've worn liquid liner in extreme heat, and found that nothing beats its lasting power. To help prolong its longevity, I apply a neutral-coloured cream eyeshadow base to tone down my oil-pone eyelids.

Check out my final write-up for Make-up Junkie!!Fabulous Feel Liquid Colour glides on smoothly to give opaque colour with high shine. The formula is non-sticky and just like the name - feels quite fabulous on the lips! I test ran Amaretto, a pretty neutral pink-brown colour that works well on different skin tones. The colour stayed true for the most part, but I found a touch-up was required after about 3 hours. The one thing that took me a bit to get used to was the strong fragrance of the gloss. I like subtle scents to my glosses, but found this one initially overpowering. A minor setback, but the look and feel of this gloss is still a steal for $12 USD (approximately)!

Double Lush Mascara Plus Primer I'm not a usual fan of 2-step primer and mascara products, but I was pleasantly surprised by American Beauty's version. I found the formula gave my lashes much needed volume, versus other 2-step mascaras I've tried in the past. I tried out the mascara in Black, but Double Lush is also available in Brown and Midnight, which is a first that I've seen for primer plus mascara products (usually they're only available in Black). I love what Double Lush does for my lashes, and I'd definitely be willing to shell out the $12 US that this mascara retails for.

Ultra-Easy Automatic Eyeliner (Auburn) The simple twist-up and no-sharpen action of this eyeliner definitely makes it ultra-easy. I had the chance to try out Auburn, a gorgeous maroon brown with faint shimmer that looks particularly lovely on blue-eyed ladies. The creamy eyeliner glided on smoothly and lasted well throughout the day to keep my eyes defined (minor midday touch-up was required though!). This eyeliner is perfect for the no-fuss make-up junkie – no need for sharpening – just roll up and apply as desired!

Pretty Bronze Bronzing Powder (High Summer) Get that coveted bronze goddess look with American Beauty’s Bronzer months ahead of the summer season! The sheer tan brown powder accentuated with flecks of gold sparkle. With just a couple of swipes, you can instantly revive that glow and say goodbye to blah winter-skin (all my Canadians are saying amen right now!). The sheer consistency of the powder makes it very user-friendly to work with – it builds and blends well for a more of a natural appearing non-streaky glow. Dust some of the powder along the collarbones or atop the décolletage for the piece de resistance!

Be sure to check out Make-up Junkie for all the latest, greatest (and not so great) in beauty products!

Check out the original post on Make-up Junkie!I love the all-encompassing 360-degree approach that Eyes by Design takes towards getting your best eyes yet! The Eyes by Design Ultimate Set aims to simplify the beauty process by including both the eye make-up and treatment products you need - all in one package. The user-friendly set also includes a manual that details how to use each of the set's components and achieve different eye make-up looks with the palette. Check out our review of the Ultimate Set!

Transforming Eye Cream
A light moisturizer that aims to diminish the look of dark undereye circles and fine lines. The eye cream has a light serum consistency, and I only needed two pea-sized drops to cover each eye area. I have to admit I was quite surprised by the size of the 15 mL Eye Cream; it's quite a generous sized jar to be part of a package like this (no complaints, here!). Yet, two weeks later after using it twice per day, there wasn't a noticeable difference in the darkness of my undereye circles. But it did help my trusty concealer to glide on smoothly and give better coverage!

Retouching Cream (Eye Primer)
The eye primer is also formulated to eliminate the look of fine lines and dark circles. It has more of a gummy texture than the Transforming Eye Cream, but really smoothes out the surface of the skin it is applied to. I used it on the undereye area, but also on the eyelid to smoothe out the surface for eyeshadow application. It definitely kept my oily eyelids in check!

Transforming Eye Palette (Blue Eyes - Peach Shimmer, Taupe, Plum Brown, Bronze)
The four pan eyeshadow palette comes in shades that are designed to flatter each colour of the eye. I test ran the Blue Eyes set, and found it worked just as well for brown-eyed beauties! The overall pigment of the eyeshadows was good, but I would have preferred if the three of four shadows weren't shimmer based. The peach shimmer makes for a beautiful highlighter, but may be a bit dark for fair-skinned blue-eyed beauties.

Lining Brush & Blending Brush
The kit also includes two soft-bristled and ergonomically friendly brushes. The brushes are fashioned with a "Design Grip", which allows for easier control of the brush and aids in precise application. The Lining Brush can be used to define the eyebrows or as a subtle eyeliner tool when paired with one of the eyeshadows. The Blending Brush is great for building colour into the crease. I love that the brushes are full-sized and the fact that you can actually use them! How many times do we all buy products where we find the included brush useless?!

Eyes by Design also offers mascaras, brow and eyeliner pencils. You can purchase the sets online through the Home Shopping Network (www.hsn.com). The products are available individually, but scoop up one of the well-priced sets for a better deal! Enjoy!

BEFORE:
AFTER:Here's a before and after pic of the lovely Sam, from a shoot we did with Andrew back in December. All I have to say is watch out for this face - this gorgeous young lady has a very bright future ahead of her!

Get Sam's Smoky Eyes
More with Sam and Andrew

Q: I have creaseless Asian eyes and I’ve practically given up on eyeliner, because it never seems to stay in place! Any tips for us crease-less gals?

A: Great question! I know part of the frustration is that after accomplishing the feat of applying the eyeliner perfectly, you blink and an imprint of the eyeliner appears on the eyelid! And for whatever reason, now the eyeliner seems tougher to remove without ruining the eyeshadow you just carefully applied as well.

To apply eyeliner on gorgeous Asian lids, it’s best to use a 2-step approach:

1. Minimize oily lids by first applying a cream concealer or a smudgeproof cream eyeshadow.

i) using a CREAM CONCEALER
Apply a layer of skin-tone matching concealer all over your eyelid (from lashline to eyebrow). Blend well so that you don’t see any visible streaks of the product. Set the concealer with a dusting of loose powder to help it last longer and smooth out the eyelid.

OR

ii) using CREAM EYESHADOW
Apply the cream eyeshadow in a neutral base colour all over eyelid in the same manner. Blend well. Try MAC Paints or Paint Pots.

Using one of the above products will help act as an absorbing agent for oily lids, reduce the chance of unwanted eyeliner transfer!

2. Use either a waterproof pencil liner, gel liner or liquid liner. “Waterproof” and “smudgeproof” are keywords when looking for your liner of choice here.

When applying, keep the line very tight to the lashline. If you take the eyeliner too far up, it’s more prone to imprinting where you don’t want it to. Instead of drawing a thick line, use a black cream eyeshadow (make sure it's smudgeproof) to add height to the line. The eyeshadow will blend out smoothly and will be less messy looking when you blink and look down.

ARTIST TIP: If you’re using pencil to line the eyes, set the look by tracing over it with black eyeshadow. I love liquid liner for its incontestable staying power. If you want something that doesn’t budge, use liquid. The line is more ‘harsh-looking’, but if you keep the line tight to the lashes, you don’t have to worry about looking vampy!

Hope this helps!

Related posts:
How to Make Eyeshadow Last
All Eye Posts
All Eyeliner Posts

For the next few posts, we’ll be focusing on festive looks to get you dolled up for your holiday parties. So while you’re focusing on prepping for the parties you’ll be hosting and shopping for the people on your list, we’ve got your make-up tips covered here:
Smoky eyes are a gorgeous and effective way to prep for the office holiday party or for a night out. The application doesn’t have to be complicated – the look is meant to be messy so don’t worry about making it too perfect!! The intensity of the application is totally up to you. You can opt for a softer look and use brown eyeshadows (as in the example here), or go for a more dramatic look with grays and blacks. Once you have the smoky eye technique mastered, you can use any colour (even purples, blues and greens!) and even add texture (shimmer, glitter) to get the look. Try these application tips for a smoldering look that will get you noticed!

What you’ll need:
1. neutral cream eyeshadow (for use as a base)
2. black eyeliner
3. base (neutral/medium coloured) eyeshadow
4. contour (darkest coloured) eyeshadow (i.e. gray, chocolate brown)
5. highlight (lightest coloured) eyeshadow
6. black eyeshadow
7. black mascara
8. black cream eyeshadow (*optional)

Tools:
Medium dome eyeshadow brush
Crease eyeshadow brush
Blender eyeshadow brush
Eyelash curler

How to apply:

1. Use a base to prevent creasing.
Grab your base coloured cream eyeshadow and apply all over eyelid up to the eyebrow. Using a base is an integral component of the smoky eye – you want to make sure the shadow stays where you initially apply it and not travel south to give you a raccoon eye! A base will help to keep everything in check and prevent your eyeshadow from creasing.

2. Take the neutral coloured base eyeshadow and apply all over the eyelid (see area "a" above).
This part of the application doesn’t have to be too neat. Once the cream eyeshadow layer has set, take the medium dome brush and apply the neutral eyeshadow colour all over area "a". This will smooth out the eyelid for application making other eyeshadows applied atop of it easier to blend.

3. Use the crease brush with the dark coloured eyeshadow and push the brush into the crease of the eye, swiping back and forth to deepen the hollow of the eye (see area "b" above).
Concentrate the bulk of the dark colour on the outside corner of the eye and blend gently inward towards the centre of the eye. For added drama, build up the intensity of the dark eyeshadow by applying a couple of layers. Blend well and keep this dark colour concentrated in and below the crease.

4. To up the smoke factor, take the crease brush and dip it in some black eyeshadow and build up the shadow in area b.
Tap the brush to get rid of any excess flakes and apply it close to the lashline and blend it upwards into the crease.
*optional: For a super-smoky effect, layer on black cream eyeshadow atop and blend. Creams eyeshadows appear more vivid than powder eyeshadows and are perfect for those after a strong smoky look.

5. Use your tapered blending brush to soften the dark colour into the crease blending so there are no harsh lines.

6. Highlight atop the browbone to create the illusion of more depth.
Using a highlighting eyeshadow plays up the light and dark areas of the eye. It brings the most prominent part of the eyelid forward (the area just atop the browbone), while making the hollow of the eye seem deeper by contrast. You can also use the highlighter on the inner corner of the eye for a gorgeous light-catching effect.

7. Apply your liner keeping it tight to the lashline. Line the bottom keeping the line thicker on the outer corner and gradually tapering it off as it approaches the inner corner.
You can line the inside rim of the eyes for a full-on smoky effect, but as this area of the eye is wet, be prepared to check your eyes throughout the night to make sure the eyeliner hasn’t shifted downward.

6. Curl your eyelashes and add two coats of mascara.

Balance the look:
Complete the look with a neutral coloured lipliner and some high-shine gloss. If you prefer to go deeper on the lips, try a coloured lip gloss or a lip stain. Avoid lip colours that are too dark and too matte, as pairing them with a dark eye will have a tendency to make you look aged. Add a bit of blush/bronzer to ensure the cheeks aren’t washed out and voila - you're ready to party and get noticed!
Artist tips:
I prefer using a gel liner or liquid liner for a smoky eye, as they have greater staying power. A pencil works well and is super easy to work with, but unfortunately does not last as long.

Don't forget the importance of polished brows and concealed under-eyes for a completely polished look!

Pack a mini-touch up kit with q-tips, concealer, powder and eyeliner just in case you need to touch up the look.

Remember the diagram above is just a rough guideline of where colours should be placed on the eyelid. As long as you keep the darker eyeshadow colours in areas that recede, the lighter coloured eyeshadows in areas that come forward and blend in between, you'll be fine. So experiment and have fun with it to find your hottest smoky eye yet!

Q: Help! No matter what product I seem to try, my eye make-up seems to have a mind of its own and give me raccoon eyes by mid-day. What products or make-up artist secrets are there to keep my eye make-up from wandering?

A: Here are a couple of tips that I abide by, especially with my bridal clients who require extended wear from their make-up application:

1. Use waterproof products to minimize any eye make-up transfer.
Waterproof mascaras, liquid liners and gel liners are at the top of my list for waterproof/water-resistant eye make-up. If you prefer pencil eyeliner, opt for a waterproof formula. I swear by the Make-up Forever Aqua Eyes collection.

2. Pat the eyelid area with some translucent powder or your powdered foundation.
Some women tend to have eyelids that are more on the oily side (nothing wrong with that – more natural moisture also means being less prone to wrinkles!). Dusting some loose powder on the lids will help to keep your eye make-up in its place and also act as a great base for eyeshadow application.

3. Use concealer to camouflage any darkness under the eye and set with a light dusting of powder.
Without concealer, migrating eye make-up will only make undereye circles look darker. When you’re doing eye make-up, remember to think it from a full 360° viewpoint: the eyebrows, eyelid and undereye area all play their part in framing the eye and need to be properly maintained for a make-up look fit for the pros! Applying some concealer and powder under the eye will also help act as a barrier to keep migrating eye make-up in check.

4. Avoid lining the inner rim (aka the waterline) with eyeliner.
Yes, lining the inner rim makes an undoubtedly gorgeous smoky eye look, but the look only stays fresh for as long as the liner stays put (usually a maximum of 3-4 hours). This area of the eye is naturally “wet” and is a high transfer area. Once the eyeliner starts heading down south, the look can transition from smoky to spooky. Be prepared with some q-tips, concealer and eyeliner to do a touch-up throughout the day.
Alternate option: Skip lining on the inner rim and try lining just below the waterline, right at the root of the bottom eyelashes. I like to use either a brush-tipped liquid liner or a combination of an angled synthetic eyeliner brush with gel liner to get a precise (and water-resistant!) line in this area.

5. Bring a mini-touch up kit.
Particularly if you can’t let go of the inner rim lining, pack some items in your make-up kit for a quick touch-up at lunch time. Some q-tips, undereye concealer and your trusted eyeliner are some of the items you can include to keep your smoky eyes looking their best!

For related eye make-up tips, see:
ARTIST TIP | Mastering the Smoky Eye Without the Mess (Part I)
ARTIST TIP | Mastering the Smoky Eye Without the Mess (Part II)
BEAUTY 101 | The Basics of Concealer
Q & A | How to Cover Undereye Circles
Q & A | Choosing the Right Eyeliner Product For You

Q: Rhia, what's in your make-up kit? (...continued)
A: Now, that I've owned up to all the beauty products I use to bring my skin to a normal-and-ok-to-go-out-in-public state, we move on to our next segment of what make-up products I use for the eyes. If I'm running short on time in the morning, I normally opt to cut off steps from the skin and face routine, but never from my eye make-up routine! Anybody that knows me and my make-up technique knows that I love to focus on the eyes on myself and my clients. I'm inclined to believe that even in the case of an emergency, I would reach for my eyelash curler and mascara before dashing out! (Can you say intervention?)

Part II | What’s in My Make-up Kit: Eyes
Here are my daily essentials for the eyes in the order that I apply them:

EYESHADOW BASE

MAC Paint – Bare Canvas
I once heard that MAC Paints were going to be discontinued with the introduction of MAC Paint Pots, and my heart skipped a beat. I swear by MAC Paints - I use them in all my applications in my own routine and in my client appointments. I use Bare Canvas paint as a base applying it from lashline all the way up to the eyebrow to help prolong the daily life of my eyeshadow. Bare Canvas is a pale colour that lives up to its name as it neutralizes the eyelid and in doing so also helps the true colour of your eyeshadow to come through. I cannot say enough good things about MAC Paints! Definitely a personal kit staple!

EYELINER

L'oreal Lineur Intense
I've had a love affair with this product since high school, but we did have a rocky start. My hand wasn't always so steady; I have some questionable photos of liquid liner rimmed lids from high school (think thick black liner nearly shaped like a thick rectangle on the top lashline. It might look half decent on the runway, but it was an attempt to disguise my shaky hand by drawing on thicker! In fact, too thick). The thin brush of Lineur Intense does take precision, practice (and obviously) patience. But once you've got a handle on it, you'll see that the tiny brush is the best part! I use it tight against the top lash line and then I tightline the bottom lash line. Read more of my review on L'oreal Lineur Intense here.

EYESHADOWS

Inglot Eyeshadows and MAC Eyeshadows (too many to mention)
My eyeshadow look usually varies with how much time I have to get ready in the morning and on what I’m wearing, etc. For as much as I would rather sacrifice sleep to have more time to get ready, some days my body just refuses and wants to sleep in! I usually opt for a more neutral coloured look for the day when going to the office, and kick it up with colour at night using any of the colours from my Inglot eyeshadow palettes.
One eyeshadow that I do use daily is MAC Starflash Eyeshadow in Grand Entrance. I use this colour to highlight the inner corner of the eyes and help them appear larger.

CREAM EYESHADOWS

MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist, Artifact, Quite Natural, and Blackground
So, I've already detailed my love for MAC Paints and their crease resisting charm. MAC Paint Pots are the next generation of the Paint, and versus its predecessor, Paint Pots are a lot more user friendly. With the Paints, you have to work with them really fast and blend or else you end up with uneven colour. Paint Pots allow more room for movement and do not set as quickly making them easier to blend. I like to layer the Paint Pots atop my eyeshadows to soften the powder for more of an airbrushed and slightly diffused effect. Depending on what eyeshadow I have used, I match either Constructivist, Artifact or Quite Natural and concentrate it in the crease of my eye and lightly pat to blend it outward using my finger. I use Blackground whenever I want more of an intense smoky eye: I smudge it tight to the lash line and blend it with a pencil liner to create more depth and interest for the eyes. See more on my love for Paint Pot here.

EYEBROW PENCIL

Rimmel Dark Brown Pencil
Rimmel's eyebrow pencil is an absolute kit essential for several reasons:
1. I only have 1.5 eyebrows without it - I need it to make my brows presentable!
2. The waxier formula is perfect for doing the feathery strokes of a great filled-in brow. See here.
3. A pricepoint of $7 for a brow pencil can't be beat.
See more of my product review for it here.

EYEBROW BRUSH + EYESHADOW

MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush + Inglot Eyeshadow in a matching dark brown
The angled brush works great for doing the light feathery strokes and blends out any unevenness in the pencil. The eyeshadow acts as a powder and helps to keep the waxy eyebrow pencil in place all day long!

EYELASH CURLER

My eyelashes tend to do the Asian thing and grow straight and then downward. Thus, an eyelash curler is a definite prerequisite before applying mascara. Applying mascara without it would do the opposite effect of what we're aiming for - longer, plush lashes that make our eyes look bigger! Lesson learned. Curl those lashes before applying mascara!

MASCARA

Since mascara has a high turnover rate, I use this as an opportunity to go out and try something new. I would rather not spend $30 on a mascara, but some days--guilty as charged--I submit. On these days, you'll see me picking up either Kiss Me Mascara or Dior Diorshow. But I'm also a sucker for drug store mascaras and love trying out the latest claims of 500% more lashes, 98% thicker, (enter exaggerated claim here), etc. As much as I like to try new mascaras (more of my faves here), a tried and tested kit staple that I know I can always revert back to is L'oreal Voluminous.

Check back to see all installments of the What’s in my Make-up kit Series for:
Part I | What’s in My Make-up Kit: Face
Part II | What’s in my Make-up Kit: Eyes
Part III | What’s in My Make-up Kit: Lips
Part IV | Auto-Pilot

What do you use? Feel free to comment and tell me what make-up products work (or don’t work) for you!

Where to find: your local drugstore
Price: $12 regular price ($9 on sale)
Review: love it

I have been a devoted fan of liquid eyeliner ever since my friend, Chantele, first introduced it to me in high school. From day one, I have loved L'oreal's Lineur Intense for its precise application ability and for its staying power. The fine brush tip gives you total control over the lines you draw: either use a light hand for a thin line, or a heavier hand for a thicker line. The waterproof and sweatproof formula lasts throughout the day and is perfect for the wedding applications I do. L'oreal Lineur Intense is a classic and a definite kit necessity!

For tips on how to apply, see here.

Q: What type of eyeliner is best for me? i.e. liquid or pencil? cake or gel? Help!
A: What's best for you is really based on personal preference - this varies with how much time you have in your day for make-up and your comfort/skill level with different eyeliner types (i.e. pencil versus the more difficult liquid type). Never fret though - make-up is all about options, and both eye-lining beginners and experts have ample choice. Here are some benefits and disadvantages of different types of eyeliners to help you decide what suits you best:

I. PENCIL
Eyeliner pencils come in all different types and colours by most of the major cosmetic brands. For eyeliner pencils, I usually prefer to pick up one from a prestige line, as I need something that lasts as long as possible. One of the better ones I've come across is from Make-up Forever's Aqua Eyes waterproof line - it's among one of my fave products and a kit essential. (You can view my blurb on it here).

Benefits

• is the easiest eyeliner to work with - recommended for beginners and veterans
  
• range of eye make-up looks from subtle and natural to dramatic and smoky
  
• everyday wear (work, school) and convenience (easy to touch up!)
  

Disadvantages

• can fade and smudge (look for a waterproof type for maximal lasting throughout the day)
• does not last as long as other eyeliner types

Ok, now manual sharpen type or automatic roll-up type of pencil eyeliner??
Again, personal preference. I prefer the manual sharpen type as it gives you more option and control over how the eyeliner is applied. The automatic roll-up style although easy to use is more difficult to use when you're attempting to draw precise and straight-edge lines. With the manual sharpen pencil type, if you prefer to go thick and smudgy for a smoky eye, you can always dull the pencil point to achieve the desired look.

Tip for the roll-up pencils: Be careful not to roll up too much of the eyeliner; exposing too much of the stick will make it more prone to breaking off and going to waste!

--------------------------------

II. LIQUID
Liquid is always my first choice for eyeliner applications and is the best choice for women who want their eyeliner to last all day. Liquid is also great for women who prefer stronger eyeliner definition. Liquid goes on like a marker: the line can appear too harsh for those who prefer a more natural look, but can appear 'defined' to someone who wants a stronger eye look.

Benefits

• lasts all day with minimal touch-up required
  
• great for dramatic eye looks (best for the cat-eye look!)
• great for women who prefer no-fuss make-up

Disadvantages

• not recommended for beginners
• can get very messy when it goes wrong
• does not come off easily (eye make-up remover required, but you should always use that to remove eye make-up anyway!)
  

Ok now, felt-tipped liquid liner or brush-tipped liquid liner?
Felt tip liquid eyeliner usually looks like a marker. You shake the container to replenish the liquid liner at the tip. Brush tip liquid eyeliner usually looks like a fine-tip brush that can be twisted and removed from the container of liquid liner. Using a thin-tipped brush allows you to have more precision and helps in achieving a thin, tightly-lined eye.
Note: Brush tip eyeliner is not recommended for the eyeliner novice.

Tip for liquid liner: Starting off with liquid eye liner can be discouraging to an eye liner beginner. If you're using liquid for one of the first times and find that you're having problems, use pencil eyeliner first and draw along your lashline of where you want the liquid to go.

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III. CAKE EYELINER (+ eyeliner brush):
Dip the tip of your brush into a bit of water and glide across the cake eyeliner (usually a highly pigmented eyeshadow, almost creamy-like in texture). Tap the brush twice to get rid of excess cakeliner bits (to prevent them from falling on your face and smearing). Apply accordingly.

Benefits:

• ideal for those who prefer more of a natural look similar to what eyeliner pencil gives
• cake formula is longer lasting than a pencil (but still not as long as liquid liner)
• fairly easy to use with an angled brush

Disadvantages:

• stray flakes can become messy and lead to smears on the face
• two part process - need a brush for application

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IV. GEL EYELINER (+ eyeliner brush):
Apply in a manner similar to applying cake eyeliner (minus the dipping brush into water part). With gel eyeliner, you can create a line that is more defined than pencil eyeliner, but not as harsh as the line you would get when using liquid liner. Lasting power of gel eyeliner is also longer than pencil eyeliner, but less than the durability of liquid liner.

Benefits:

• ideal for all applications from natural to dramatic
• can build up intensity
• less messy than cake eyeliner when things go wrong
  

Disadvantages:

• two part application process requiring a brush
• not as widely available as pencil eyeliners

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V. EYESHADOW (+ brush):
Yes, eyeshadow has multiple uses! Use it as an eyeliner by applying it either wet/dry with an eyeliner brush. Use a wet brush for a more intense look; a dry brush for a softer look. Swipe the brush across the eyeshadow and tap it twice to rid the brush of any excess flakes. Line the eyes, staying close to the lashline always.

Benefits:

• good for beginners to experts
• no need to buy another product - less to carry in your kit
• good for natural or intense looks - change it up by applying it dry or wet

Disadvantages:

• similar to cake eyeliner, can get messy when eyeshadow flakes stray on other parts of the face
• not as long lasting as other eyeliner types
• usually requires a brush for application
  

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With eyeliner, always remember that you won't always get it straight (literally) the first time, but that it takes practice to achieve perfection. Once you get a firm handle on applications with pencils, with daily practice (and patience), you'll soon enough become an expert with gel liners and liquids! Have fun!

Where to buy it: Sephora, Sears
Price: approximately $18
Review: love it

Black eyeliner is an absolute staple in anyone's make-up kit. Drawing on that black eyeliner can be just as flattering for eyes, as an actual full night's rest!

One of the frustrations I hear from many clients is finding a pencil eyeliner that lasts. I usually use liquid liners in my applications because of their proven lasting ability, but the bold look of liquid liner and the lack of ease in application doesn't make it suitable for everybody. Pencil eyeliner is a lot easier to work with and is also ideal for a softer look around the eyes. Pencil eyeliner is also a better choice for women in their 40s+, as eyelids that tend to be more crepey and liquid liner can appear too harsh.

Hands down the best black eyeliner that I've found for everyday use is Make-up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Black. MFE's is waterproof and sweatproof and comes in an array of colours. Tried and tested, it stays in place and still looks fresh after the length of a 9-5 workday. Definitely one of my faves as a make-up artist...and as a make-up consumer!
Photo courtesy of Make-up Forever

Generally, the most universally flattering shape for eyeliner application is a line that gradually increases in thickness from the inner corner of the eye to the outer edge. A good reference point for the outer edge is usually where your eyelashes stop. For an everyday, look you don't want to take eyeliner out too much further than that, unless your intent is to look dramatic!

The line should also be drawn right atop the lash line AND into the lashes - absolutely no gaps allowed between the drawn line and your lashes! Pressing the eyeliner into your eyelashes also enhances the lash line, helping your eyelashes to appear fuller. The final result should bring your eye 'forward' and make the eyes appear larger.

Where to stop drawing the line?

Usually it's best to stop the line at the outer corner where the lash line ends. I like to extend the line slightly and draw it slightly upwards to achieve an eye-opening look. Extending the line beyond the natural lash line also helps with eyes that are set closer together. This method helps to create the illusion of pulling close-set eyes apart, bringing them in balance with the rest of your features.

Having trouble?

If you're having trouble applying eyeliner, use pencil and start by drawing short strokes (see bottom photo. Use a connect-the-stroke like method to create a smooth flowing line.

To help with an unsteady hand, try to rest your elbow atop the counter/table of where you're getting ready, or you can try resting your hand on your cheek as you apply the eyeliner. These methods helps to give a shaky hand a steady surface to balance upon in order to draw on a smooth line. And remember, you can always clean up untidy edges with a q-tip. In the end, practice makes perfect so even if you don't master the technique initially, keep on trying and soon enough you'll be an eyelining make-up master!

Tightlining is a method of lining the eye coined by make-up artist and make-up line mogul, Laura Mercier, but I'm certain a lot of us were doing the method before we actually knew its technical term!

You can use either use:

• a thin, stiff eyeliner brush with gel eyeliner

• pencil (recommended)

• liquid liner (if you dare, but not recommended for sensitive eyes)

1. Looking down into your mirror with your eyes half-open, press the eyeshadow brush/pencil/liquid liner right into the top set of lashes. Be sure to concentrate colour on the area just where the outer edge of the skin meets the inner membrane (wet rim of the eye). Line across this outer edge, also commonly called the 'water' line.

2. For more seasoned eyeliner users, you can attempt the same method on the bottom lashes, keeping the line tight on the area just at the root of the bottom lashes on the outer skin, but not on the wet inner membrane of the eye

To make eyes really stand out:

Use a light pencil* to line the inside rim of the eyes to make them appear larger. This contrasted with the tightlining effect really has the effect of making eyes 'pop'.

*when lining the inside rim, to make eyes appear bigger use:
white pencil for light eyes
peaches and cream coloured pencil for darker eyes and skin tones

You don't have to dish out an arm and a leg for some of the best beauty tools out there: Q-tips that you can pick up from your local dollar store can have mutiple uses for your daily make-up application. These Q-tips are actually ideal for make-up application, as they have minimal cotton (which means the fuzzy bits cotton won't end up on your face--where they shouldn't be!). The lack of cotton also allows for more product transfer as it reduces the amount of product that is absorbed by the Q-tip. Plus, you can get a box of 400 for a $1.14!

The q-tips are perfect for:

• applying concealer
• straightening and refining lines after you've drawn on your eyeliner (see picture at right)
  
• perfecting line shapes after you've drawn on your brows
• cleaning up any runaway mascara on the face (Just be careful and wait until the mascara has dried! Use a tiny bit of make-up remover and swipe the q-tip away from the face on the problem area)
• blending lipliner
• keeping make-up sanitary (avoid double-dipping!)
  
• travelling (if you don't want to lug around brushes)

No sense in spending $5 on a box of 100 'cosmetic' q-tips at your local drugstore...try these dollar store Q-tips out, and for $1 (+ tax) a shot, you can't go wrong!