Powder vs. liquid liner
The pencil is just the tip of the eyeliner options out there. While a quality, waterproof eye pencil can accomplish many eye makeup tricks, but a pencil cannot do all.
Powder eyeliner and liquid eyeliner are two other tools it’s great to keep in your makeup case. Here’s how to use powder and liquid eyeliner and some of the best products out there to get the job done right.
Liquid eyeliner:
Sephora Collection Colorful Waterproof Eyeliner 24 HR Wear, $12 (plus Cash Back), Sephora
Liquid eyeliner can be challenging and intimidating. Getting the lines just right takes a lot of practice.
When using liquid eyeliner, a primer can help prevent smearing and smudging. Make sure you fully let it dry before you move on (at least 30 seconds). Always apply mascara after liquid, so you don’t ravage your lashes.
Make sure your liquid liner is waterproof.
If you make a mistake, wait for it to completely dry and then remove it with a Q-tip and make-up remover.
The Sephora Collection’s waterproof 24-hour wear liquid liner has a fine-point brush and is designed to stay in place up to 24 hours. Hopefully, you don’t need to stay awake that long without washing your face. Sephora Collection Colorful Waterproof Eyeliner 24 HR Wear, $12 (plus 4% Cash Back), Sephora.com
Powder eyeliner:
Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner, $25 (plus Cash Back), Sephora
Powder liner is more forgiving than liquid liner, but make sure you use a thin, pointed brush to apply. Powder liner can create different looks: softer when applied dry, subtler with lighter colors or more dramatic when applied wet with a darker hue.
Get a thin brush at Ulta.com for $24; don’t balk at the price tag. The quality of your makeup application depends on your tools.
Laura Mercier’s “cake” eyeliner is hands down the best powdery option out there. Nothing else even comes close to creating the lines you want without the smudging. Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner, $25 (plus 4% Cash Back), Sephora.com
Combine the two:
You can combine liquid and powder liner to help hold your powder in place and create a slightly smokier look. Carefully dust a bit of powder over the liquid while it’s still slightly wet with an angled brush.
