All Eyeliners are Not Created Equal

In high school, I wasn't very social and found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I would spent my evenings in front of my giant mirror trying new tricks with make up. I've used every kind of eyeliner there is. While I like the convenience of a pencil (I used to use Clinique Quickliner for Eyes), I appreciate the clean lines of a liquid. Liquid liners, however, come with the hazards of diminished control and having to wait for it to dry. Makeovers by various make up counters and their "experts" left me looking awkward and overdone, but I did discover the joys of Bobbi Brown's Gel Eyeliner.

This eyeliner allows you a higher level of control in regards to thickness and shape, and it's also long lasting. Of course, it takes a bit of getting used to, because you're not going to be using a pencil. You'll need this:

Start in the inner corner of your eye and slowly make your way across to the outside by making short dashes. Keep in mind that you should thin out as you get closer to the end. You can go dramatic with a thick line and cat's eye curl at the end, or you can go natural with a thin line all the way across. Either way, remember to stay as close to the lash line as possible.

Tip: If you are Asian, like me, it will take a little bit of experimentation to figure out what looks best. I notice that if I make the line thicker towards the center and just a little to the outside of center, this makes my eyes look bigger, whereas a thicker line toward the inside of my eye has the opposite effect. Also, apply powder to your lid before applying liner to keep it from smudging. I also apply concealer to the entire under-eye area.

The pot is $21 and the ultra-fine eyeliner brush is $25. The high-quality brush will last you a LONG time (I still use the very first brush I bought some 4 years ago) and should be washed gently with soap and water every so often. After each use, I like to wipe off the excess on some tissue and do the same before every use, too. The pot will probably last you a good 4 or 5 months.