Liquid Eyeliner: Pros and Cons?

[Wind]

I'm just starting to venture into the world of makeup, and a lot of it is rather confusing. :ooh: I've been working on my eyes recently, but the stick type eyeliner (sorry, I'm sure that's not the right name for it. :purplex:) doesn't look that great on me. It always looks funky unless I also use shadow. So, I've been thinking about trying liquid eyeliner instead.
The few questions I have are: Is it possible to wear it during the day, or is it strictly an evening thing? How hard is it to get the hang of? Can it be worn by itself/with just mascera, no shadow? Any brand rec's/tips/suggestions/ect? :happy:

Thanks so much!

[eiyela]

I'm clumsy, so I still have to work on the application thing. It's pretty hard for me, but I'm getting better.:sweatdrop:

I prefer using a pencil during the day, or lining with eye shadow. Eye shadow is the easiest to get right for me too, since I like handling brushes. Plus, eye shadow comes in all colours! :whoohoo:

So far, the pros for liquid liner are:

That it stays on all day without smearing
That it gives a certain distinguished look that's hard to get with anything else

The cons:

I have to be careful not to get it in my eye, because it stings!
It's hard to get it right, especially with my coloring
Most people can't really pull it off for daytime wear (I live in Sweden, though. Most people here are rather pale.)

[Stephanie]

I love liquid eyeliner, but the biggest task for me is finding the perfect applicator with the right product. I fully recommend a waterproof formula if you're going to use a liquid liner as a little bit of water will make a far larger mess than pencil liner. I used to use (and LOVE) a pen form eyeliner by Maybelline, but they've discontinued it. At the moment, I'm using Max Factor, though the wand brush applicator isn't my favorite (I'd prefer it in a soft, flexible pen form). The colors are great. I use Rich Black and Black Brown, but there are others, too.

A tip...don't confine yourself to applying it one way. Liquid liner, even as dramatic as it can be, can look incredibly natural, as well, with the proper application. The key is to practice, remove, practice, remove, practice, and remove. Get the liquid liner in your lash line. Take your eye shape and lash pattern into account, as well. You want the liner to look smooth and flow with your eye. For example, when I line my entire upper lash line with liner, my eyes look very round. Because of this, and because I like a more cat eye look, I only line the outer half of my upper lash line, but am careful to start the line within my lashline. I find that for a more natural look, a neutral eyeshadow applied after the liner is applied helps soften it. Matching mascara will help the liner look like part of your lashes.

Just some thoughts to chomp on. I love eyeliner and switch between liquid liner and powder applied wet.

[Pegasus Marsters]

What i prefer is liquid liner on top lids, pencil liner on the bottom. If I use liquid on the bottom it runs and if i use pencil on the top it smudges. The trick is figuring out when to use liquid and when pencil to make sure it doesn't run or smudge. Liquid liner in the eyes stings like hell, imo.

[Flaming Bunny]

Oh my! I couldn't live without liquid eyeliner...my makeup never looks complete without it! :grinhappy: You can do thick, sweeping lines for a dramatic look or a thin line for a minimal but flattering lash line. Only use it on the top lid though...it's not meant for anywhere else!

If you've never used liquid iner before, I recommend an eyeliner pen (which is like a felt tip). The best one I've found is by Maybelline (sp?) I think it's called "Liner-matic" It's a dark blue casing with a gold lid. It rocks :soppy:

[Stephanie]

Flaming Bunny - I haven't seen that! I didn't think they still had a pen liner. Oooh! I'll have to check it out. :happy:

Also, I agree - liquid on top, pencil/powder on bottom.

[golden_gal]

I like liquid liners because they are water and smearproof. However, it's kind of hard to get used to applying it so I usually stick to pencil.

[Wind]

It sounds like this is one of those "practice makes perfect" things. I'll check out the Liner-Matic.

[Samara Morgan]

I've just ordered some liquid eyeliner from Avon :) ...Though I agree with Stephanie for getting a waterproof one, as I've noticed that my friends (who wear liguid eyeliner) after wearing it for a long time it starts to fade/flake, but I'm not sure, I've not tried it yet lol ;)...

[Hairstorm]

I find it hard for the liquid liner to not look harsh.
One thing that works for me is to blend the outer edges (the edges away from the eye) of it with a wet q-tip after application. And I agree, get it into the lash line.
I don't use it too often though.

[Stephanie]

I find it hard for the liquid liner to not look harsh.
One thing that works for me is to blend the outer edges (the edges away from the eye) of it with a wet q-tip after application. And I agree, get it into the lash line.
I don't use it too often though.
That's a good tip! Blending it with a wet q-tip - I'll have to try that.

[CurlyBrunette]

I used to use (and LOVE) a pen form eyeliner by Maybelline, but they've discontinued it.


I love eyeliner and switch between liquid liner and powder applied wet.

I used to love that liner also and they went and discontinued it on me!:pissed:

I have been using the liners that Bare Escentuals makes and I wet the brush to make it look like liquid. I also like to apply it dry for a softer look.

[summer-time]

I used to use liquid liner, either Mac or Revlon Color Stay. What I did to learn to apply was use a black liner pencil/ pen, then trace with the liquid over the line.

Now I use Kajal, the best black lines, and stays.

[Phantasmagoria]

To those who have mentioned it, how can you get the liner to go into your lashline? I try to, but simply can't make it work.

[summer-time]

To those who have mentioned it, how can you get the liner to go into your lashline? I try to, but simply can't make it work.
If using liquid with a felt tip like "marker" use the tip to line in the lashes

[cichlid]

I could never get used to the liquid eye-liner. It always smudged on me after wearing it...or I'd purposefully try to smudge it and it wouldn't when I was applying it. I also had the problem of it never seeming to dry...I would apply it...be careful not to open my eyes all the way for awhile. But then later after it is dry I discover it moved to right under my eyebrow. Thankfully, it's hard to see most the time and I catch it before going out. Yeah...maybe it's my oily eyelids or something...it's even worse when I decide to wear contacts!

I have had so much better experiance with the self sharpening pencil. Or whatever it is called...it's like a thin pen. But you twist the top or bottom and more pencil comes out. Easy to apply (not like the pencils you sharpen) and less likely to have unevenness like with the liquid pencils.

[Lady_Evalyn]

Lots of practice. Often times, I find the brushes that come in liquid liners to be too thin and not stiff enough for me to apply. I use mineral makeup, wet a bit in the lid of the makeup, and apply with an eyeliner brush. It's wet lining, but much easier to get the hang of.

Practice with the shape and give the pencil a try again. Like Stephanie said, try to line the outer corner of your eye. This is what I do also since my eyes end up looking round and squished together otherwise.

Maybe you know someone who does makeup well and can show you some techniques. Preferably someone with a similar eyeshape.

Also, check out a makeup book from the libarary. They usually go through application for different eyeshapes. You can choose your shape, and try their suggestions.

[ravenlox]

It takes heaps of practice to get liquid eyeliner close to the lashes, and also to get it "even" on both eyes. I love the look of it, but reserve it only for night or when I want to "sex it up", as it can look a bit harsh. I will try the q-tip thingy.

[kimberlily]

I personally like a matte, nude eye with black liquid liner & mascara, paired with red lips. It looks retro and very cool. I don't recommend not wearing any shadow though, because I think it looks like there's something missing.

That said, I usually use a slightly thick brush (mine is actually a lipliner brush from MAC) with eyeshadow and water. I find that actual liquid liners look a bit cakey on me, and the thicker brush gives me more control, since I'm actually after a slightly thicker line than an eyeliner brush will give me.

I like using MAC "Beauty Marked" which is a purply black. It brings out my green eyes without screaming "PURPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" :grinhappy:

[kimberlily]

Oh, I should mention. Usually I don't use water, but a product I from Paula Dorf: http://pauladorf.stores.yahoo.net/pp-eye-transformer.html

This stuff rocks my world. It makes your shadow into a liquid liner, and it makes it waterproof! I found it at Sephora, so you don't even have to order online if you have a Sephora nearby.

[summer-time]

I personally like a matte, nude eye with black liquid liner & mascara, paired with red lips. It looks retro and very cool. I don't recommend not wearing any shadow though, because I think it looks like there's something missing.

That said, I usually use a slightly thick brush (mine is actually a lipliner brush from MAC) with eyeshadow and water. I find that actual liquid liners look a bit cakey on me, and the thicker brush gives me more control, since I'm actually after a slightly thicker line than an eyeliner brush will give me.

I like using MAC "Beauty Marked" which is a purply black. It brings out my green eyes without screaming "PURPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" :grinhappy:









I have wanted to try Beauty Marked for some time. Now that I know the true color, I know I will love it. :happy:
I tried White Gold- absolutely beautiful shimmery color with a tinge of green, but it looks the worst on me. :ooh:
I can't carry that color off at all, any pastel really. I gave it to my sister and she loves it. :grinhappy:

[kimberlily]

summer-time, Beauty Marked is the BOMB. My favourite liner. It looks great with brown and green shadows too.

ETA: the colour on the MAC website is sooooo far off from the real colour. It is more like black with a plummy purple shimmer to it.

ETA again: Here's a pic of mine. It has been well loved, as you can see, but this gives a better idea of the colour. Crappy pic, because I had to use my scanner ;)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/kimberlily74/beautymarked.jpg

[summer-time]

summer-time, Beauty Marked is the BOMB. My favourite liner. It looks great with brown and green shadows too.

ETA: the colour on the MAC website is sooooo far off from the real colour. It is more like black with a plummy purple shimmer to it.

ETA again: Here's a pic of mine. It has been well loved, as you can see, but this gives a better idea of the colour. Crappy pic, because I had to use my scanner ;)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/kimberlily74/beautymarked.jpg














It looks like an intense wine or burgandy( thats fine too) , but now that I know its purpley, now I really want it. :cool:

I know several sites on L J that are MAC sites, you can see the real or close to the real colors. They have MAC: Face of the Day, the ladies show their make up and list the colors they have used.
If you are interested , pm me and I will send you the links. :)

[kimberlily]

Mm, no, not wine or burgundy. It is more of a cool colour. The base is black, and the shimmer is a hard colour to describe. It is kind of like this, but darker...

[summer-time]

Mm, no, not wine or burgundy. It is more of a cool colour. The base is black, and the shimmer is a hard colour to describe. It is kind of like this, but darker...







Oh boy... when applied wet, it is going to be something. :grinhappy:

[SunCat]

For me I don't like the look of liquid eyeliner. I like a more natural look for my eyeliner. I use mineral makeup for my eyeliner, apply it with a small eyeliner brush and dot in on right at the base of my upper and lower lashes all the way across, I don't draw a line. This makes my eyes look bigger and more open and my lashes look longer. When I used liquid eyeliner my eyes looked droopy and more closed. Even when I wet my mineral eyeliner my eyes don't look as big or as open when I draw a line.

[Buddaphlyy]

I can't think of any pro's of liquid eyeliner. Maybe because I'm very clumsy and scary, but I never can get a straight line when I apply it. Also, it dries way too fast for me, so I sometimes have to reapply all my eye makeup just to fix the eyeliner.

[AshenLady]

I tried liquid but didn't like it. Pencil's still the best for me. I wear eyeliner right on my lower eye line. Luckily, I don't need to make my eyes look bigger.

[AshenLady]

I tried liquid but didn't like it. Pencil's still the best for me. I wear eyeliner right on my lower eye line. Luckily, I don't need to make my eyes look bigger.

[nsanders]

I have tried liquid, but it was way too difficult for me to apply. I couldn't get it straight, then I would try to fix it. But, I always just made a mess and had to completely redo my eye makeup. I will stick with my pencil.

[Caldonia Sun]

Iridescent black liquid liner was the rage in the late 60's. I was a young teen (14) and, of course, had to have it. Also popular was lining the inside of the lower lid. Well, we ALWAYS had black eye goobers in the corners from doing this. It was not a pretty sight. I soon gave it up and haven't touch liquid since :)

[summer-time]

Iridescent black liquid liner was the rage in the late 60's. I was a young teen (14) and, of course, had to have it. Also popular was lining the inside of the lower lid. Well, we ALWAYS had black eye goobers in the corners from doing this. It was not a pretty sight. I soon gave it up and haven't touch liquid since :)


Lining the eyes like this have been popular for awhile. The late Kevin Aucoin -famous make up artist used this method many times when doing make up.

I still use this but I don't use liquid liner anymore. I use Kajal, an Indian form of eyeliner, I love it. :)


http://hashmisurma.com/hashmiweb/data/pro06.html

[LittleFlower]

Reviving this old thread...
Whoever suggested getting the eyeliner into the lashline, thank you! I never knew you were supposed to do that until recently and after all the suggestions here I just tried it out. It works! Finally I have a use for the liquid liner I bought to try. It kept going on uneven the first few times I tried lining 'normally'.
The lined eye looks subtly bigger now than the unlined one! :)

My only question is the sensation of applying the liner into the lashline is really weird, I guess because the skin there is more sensitive. Is this something you just get used to or am I the only one with this issue?