Pencil Liner
I think this would be my least favorite liner. It's clumsy, not very saturated, and smudges way too easily. I hate having to sharpen it constantly to get a good thin line which seems kind of wasteful? That being said, it's the best when you make a mistake. It's a wonderful thing when you can take a clean q-tip and erase the horrible makeup line without having to completely start over. When I do use a pencil, I prefer NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner because of its long wear.
Liquid Liner
I'd consider this to be more of a love/hate type of liner. I think it best suits the makeup expert (aka not me). It creates a beautiful saturated line with one application. If you're a pro with a steady hand, this is a dream. Unfortunately, it takes forever to dry. Even if I'm lucky enough to get it right the first time, chances are I'll blink or look up and smear it all over the place. It's also really hard to correct any bad lines without looking like a raccoon. Maybe that's just me though? My favorite liquid is definitely Benefit's Magic Ink. It has a really thin applicator and never clumps!
Gel Liner
I think gel liner is a good mix of the first two. It has the precision of the liquid liner with the forgiving nature of the pencil liner. I'd say I use gel liner the most but it's definitely not perfect. It takes a few layers to get on a nice saturated line which is a bit frustrating. I have to admit, I'm kind of a makeup snob but Maybelline's Lasting Drama Gel Liner is amazing. It definitely beats out any of the "designer" brands out there and it's super affordable. I've had mine for about three years now and I haven't even finished half of it!
So what's my favorite for my routine? I actually use a mix of gel and liquid. I use the gel to get the initial line and use the liquid for the finishing touch. Especially if I'm going for a cat eye look.
What's your eyeliner routine? Which type best suits you? Let me know in the comments below!
xoxo
Ashley
I prefer pencil or this one Revlon one I have that is like a really thin marker. It's pretty much idiot-proof, so that's why I use it :P
ReplyDeleteI forgot about the eyeliner pen! I actually like using that a lot, my favorite is the Marc Jacobs pen. Unfortunately, I can't afford $30 eyeliner anymore :(
DeleteI think this calls for a tutorial!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Taylor
This is so helpful. I've never tried a gel liner, but I watched my friend get a trial run of her wedding make-up and the girl was using it and I was intrigued. Good to know it seems to be pretty nice. I like liquid, but it feels a little too weird on the eyes for me. I like pencils that don't need sharpened, but they smear on upper lid too much. Why isn't there some make potion?!
ReplyDeleteI feel like gel is the most user friendly with the best results. If I were some amazing makeup artist I'd just use the liquid but we all know I'm not.
DeleteHow strange, I have had it on my to do list for a while to write a post like this one! I completely agree with you about pencil liner - I really don't like it actually. But I also have real trouble with gels... I find them harder to apply than liquids! I've been using the same £3 liquid eyeliner daily since I was about 17 though, so perhaps I've just had a LOT of practice by now ;) x
ReplyDeleteYou have much more practice than I do! I feel like a total idiot with the liquid!
DeleteI personally like the pencil liners for my bottom/ waterline, and a liquid cateye on top (sometimes one of the other, sometimes both)! I have a love/ hate relationship with most of my product too though. I've been really into a navy blue liquid one from sephora' makeup line recently though! It's a little less harsh on me with light hair/ fair skin than black for en everyday look :)
ReplyDeleteNavy sounds really pretty! I've never tried anything other than black or brown. Sounds like I need to be a little more adventurous!
Deletei have been using maybelline's gel line for a few years now, and have no idea how i survived with pencil before that! i agree that it's not super precise, but it is forgiving and allows enough time to clean up the lines. lol, can't believe you had yours for 3 years...i go thru one pot every several months! i make lots of mistakes, haha!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the gel too! To be fair, I don't wear eyeliner everyday so that might be why mine has lasted so long :)
DeleteI've been loving liquid liner on the top for a long time (currently using a MAC one) and pencil on the bottom. I've also been using shadow on the bottom for a more subtle look.
ReplyDeletexo Jackie
Something About That
Shadow as liner sounds interesting! I don't ever wear bottom liner mostly because I'm pretty sure I don't know how to apply it without looking like a raccoon haha!
DeleteGel eye liner is definitely the way to go. The other two have been completely hopeless for me. The Maybelline that you posted here is the one I use and I love it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of people use the same gel liner as we do. I truly love it!
DeleteMy routine is almost the exact same as yours! I draw out the cat eye shape using the same gel eye liner you use, then I go over it with a liquid to get a more jet black color!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike ;)
DeleteThat sounds awesome! I'll have to try it out, thanks for your input!
ReplyDeleteI feel like they all have their uses. For a big cat eye, I usually use gel liner, since I can just kind of stamp it on with an angled brush, but I default to pencil liner for an every day look. The smudginess and diffuse color are great for giving me a little more definition without looking too harsh. I love the recommendations for brands to try, I'll have to give that Nars a shot.
ReplyDeleteEyeliner is one of my favorite makeup go tos. Even if I don't do any of my other makeup the two I usually fall back on is foundation and eyeliner (also because if I don't people often tell me I look sick or tired. Its like wow never knew cat eyeliner can have such an effect) I also stick with liquid Ive found the others to run during the day for me, leaving me streaky and raccoon eyeish. Ive never tried benefits though but I should give it a try!
ReplyDeleteJustine
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