Eyeliner is a basic part of an eye-makeup design because it shapes and defines the eyes and makes the eyelashes look thicker. As with most aspects of makeup, eyeliner presents a host of options.
Applying Eyeliner Assuming you have a steady eye pencils (both traditional and chunky), liquid liners, gel eyeliners, cake eyeliners, and powder eyeliners.
Pencil Eyeliner Vs. Power Eyeliner
Pencil eyeliners are a quick, convenient option, but they do have problems; they tend to smear and unless you are using a twist-up pencil they are tricky to keep sharpened. Another option for applying a line is to use a tiny eyeliner brush with an appropriate color of traditional eyeshadow powder. You can use a dark-toned, matte eyeshadow color (almost any medium to deep eyeshadow color can work) and a tiny brush. Apply the eyeshadow by wetting the brush and using it as "liquid" liner.
The application is more controlled, but once it dries you have the soft look and the staying power of a powder without the hard edge that liquid eyeliners can create. A tiny, thin eyeliner brush allows absolute control over the thickness of the line around the eye. Another benefit to using powder and a brush is that you can use the powder as an eyeshadow just by selecting a different brush size.
Applying Eyeliner
To start, keep the line as thin as possible, and if a thicker line is desired, repeat the process either across the entire lash-line or simply on the outer third of the lid along the lashes. Making the line along the eyelid a solid, even one, starting thin at the front third of the lid and becoming slightly thicker at the back third of the lid can be an attractive classic look.
You can line all the way across the eyelid if you like, from the inside corner to the outer edge, or you can stop the line where the lashes stop and start. Along the lower lashes, line only the outer two-thirds of the eye. Be sure the lower liner is a less-intense color than the upper liner. Also make sure that the two lines meet at the back corner of the eye.
As a general rule, for a classic look, the thickness and intensity of the eyeliner is determined by the size of the lid--the larger the eyelid area, the thicker and softer the eyeliner should be. The smaller the eyelid area, the thinner and more intense the liner should be. If your lid doesn't show at all, forget lining altogether.
