The Makeup Bandit

                   

*courtesy of sephora.com -cat eye*

Everywhere I go, I am always looking at/analyzing makeup. Whether its a person who passes me on the street, a billboard, a store front in Vegas, a promotional ad displayed in a retail chain. Its such a blessing to be aware of your surroundings constantly, but then SUCH A CURSE. (It recently ruined the last Twilight movie for me)

You know what normally seems to have the least attention paid to it? Eyeliner.

As a Makeup Artist I have found: SUCCESS IS IN THE DETAILS & this is one of the things it has taken me the LONGEST time to master. I know right?! BUT ITS SO SIMPLE! Yeaaa.. Think again.

 I was unable to create matching eye liner (or at least that I, the over analytical perfectionist, found acceptable) smoothly. The left eye was always the hardest and I didn’t get it! Until the one day that a good artist friend of mine said ‘Just go with it. Don’t second guess yourself.’ What? Confidence? Ok… I’ll try it.. Four years later? A straight line no longer haunts my dreams. ;)

Quick tips to drawing a straight line: For me? An angled eyeliner brush makes it easy. You are able to nestle the point into the inner corner of the eye lid beautifully! As well as maneuver the brush so you can work from outside in as well. I’ve posted an example below because I find that ‘angled eyeliner brush’ can have many different meanings.

               

Whenever explaining an application to a newbie, I always include that you don’t have to draw the line in one swoop. Take your time! CONNECT THE DOTS. Start from the inner corner and draw 1/3 of the way across; pick your brush up, dip it in more liner and draw over the center of the lid; pick your brush up again and finish out your line. See!! Its not so bad :)

If you mess up? Its ok! Its just makeup, it can be washed off. That or try smudging it and applying a bit of matching shadow on top. It will give you a sultry eye, and who doesn’t want to be sultry?

I put eyeliner on after the shadow when I want a precise line. If you put it on before it will set the liner, yes, but that will also make it flake underneath your eye. So unless you like looking like someone ashed their cigarette on your face, I don’t recommend this. (When smudging the line? Liner before shadow is awesome.)

I tend to work with cream liner over liquid (Mac Fluid Line or Tarte Emphaseyes Cream Liner Waterproof), NOT TO SAY THAT LIQUID ISN’T OUTSTANDING, there is a time and place for everything. Guerlain has an AMAZING liquid liner.

***PHENOMENAL product that everyone is scared to try - Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner. Are you looking for a liner to last ALL DAMN DAY in your water line? Here you go. I have solved all your problems. It will change your life. Coolest thing about this? This is how the Egyptians used to put eyeliner on their waterline. JUST SAYING***

-TMB