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An eyeliner question

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

(Makeup doesn't belong in Off-Topic, does it?) I really like the look of eyeliner and have even mastered putting it on pretty well, but as a pale-skinned person I find that most eyeliners are super-dark. Even the ELF pens I really like in brown and gray are very dark brown and very dark gray. This makes for a really made-up, severe look for day. Are there any brands/colors you've found that are actually a lighter color? Anything in the tan/taupe/brown family would probably be the most wearable for me. I've had the best staying power with liquids and gels rather than pencils, which tend to end up all over my face by the end of the day.

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

K. Period.

Veteran

Stila has a few great colors that are softer. Moray and dragonfish are both great. They have impact, but are definitely lighter rather than the typical dark brown or olive.
http://www.sephora.com/smudge-.....Id=1247683

These are great waterproof eyeliners, btw. They go on softly and you can smudge and soften your line for a minute or two, but then they set and really stay. I love them (and so does my bff, who is just as makeup obsessed as I am).

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I love the Stila pen, but I do use it in black. I apply it near the waterline, kind of smudging it in between my lashes. I stopped lining above my lashline because I found it too harsh a look for me.

Oooh, I found a tutorial, it's called tightlining: http://www.beautylish.com/a/vm.....tline-eyes (I don't hold my lashes or anything; it takes me seconds using the Stila pen).

ETA: Here's the Stila pen: http://www.sephora.com/stay-al.....aves%20_P2

Jjsloane

Veteran

I think if applied in a thin line at the lashline it is just an emphasis of lashes and therefore should be same color as mascara. If you are applying thickly then maybe you need a more subdued color. I love Stila, smashbox, Tarte and Bobbi Brown for their staying power (the gel ones are great, but dry up a bit quickly for the price)

cciele

Veteran

I don't have a comment about color, having dark hair, but I vouch for the Stila Smudge Stick liner that K mentioned. They last forever and go on easily. The one I'm using now is a purple color -- softer than black but not obviously bright purple or anything. I also use the Stila Smudge Pots for more dramatically eye lining.

deb

Veteran

I use dark pigmented shadows. I do not wear the dark shadows from any of my sets and since I started using them I get compliments on my eyes. Dark purple, green, grey, blue, really any of them. I use an angles brush and is I want more definition, I wet the brush before grabbing the color.

Anonymous

Oooooh Deb - I will have to try that!

I have been unsuccessful in the eyeliner department.

Von

Veteran

You might try a few of the Urban Decay 24/7 colors. Stash, Hustle and Mushroom in particular. They are all in taupe-khaki range. Hustle is the brownest one, but it's still pretty light brown. Mushroom is more taupe, Stash is more khaki green.

catgirl

Veteran

I love the Stila eyeliner too, but it DOES NOT COME OFF. It almost peels off with makeup remover and scrubbing, like nail polish. Just be warned!

JAileen

Veteran

My eyes are a light greenish brown and I use a dark purple eyeliner. I put it right on the lash line and do not use any mascara. Since I switched from dark brown, I've been getting a lot of compliments.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the product recs, everyone! I've had good luck with Stila shadows so I'll definitely have to check out the liner options too, and the UD one too.

Beth

Veteran

I agree with Deb, try lining with dark eyeshadow. There are an incredible variety of colors, can apply as sheer or as dark as you like and powder shadows last forever. With the right brush, it's very easy. Trish McEvoy makes a good flat push brush and Bobbi Brown makes a super liner brush that works well with gel and powder liners.

Head on over to the makeup counter and have them show you how to do it. You'll never go back.

Kristin L

Veteran

I second Deb and Beth. The only eyeliner I wear is darker eyeshadow as liner. The only advice I would give is to make sure you use an eyeshadow primer to help give it some hold. I swear by Urban Decay's, but I've heard that Elf's and Mary Kay's is pretty good as well. I use a MAC 266 brush. I'm not sure if it's technically the "right" brush, but it's worked great for me.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

After this post, I went to try out more of the Stila liquid eyeliner pens, and I decided to try the Moss color. I used to wear colored eyeliners but stopped once I discovered the tightlining method, when I switched to just black. But Moss doesn't scream GREEN. It's actually a great black alternative! I wore it today and it just seemed like a lighter, less harsh shade of black. I highly recommend trying that one out!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Question for those of you who line with shadows, do they stay put without primer or some other tweak/additive? I've apparently got the skin chemistry that means that even 'waterproof' items will fade and/or smear by the end of the day, which is why I tend to go minimal most of the time.

Pastrygirl, I think it's time for me to go to Sephora

Jeanie

Veteran

I switched long ago to Laura Mercier cake eyeliners. You put them on with the end of a special eyeliner brush. You get the brush wet and then push down along the lash line. It stays on wonderfully and doesn't look as harsh as a pencil. I also find brown to be less harsh than black. You can probably try this out at Sephora.