Jesse's Girl Liquid Eyeliner Review

Jesse's Girl Liquid Eyeliner Review

From the Brand:
Our unique Japanese calligraphy-style brush allows for precise, super-fine application that lets you create lines as small as one millimeter thickness! Combined with a formula that dries super-quick (for a waterproof, smudge-proof application), our liquid eyeliner glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling.

.017oz/5ml

BLACK ONLY

Retails for:  $6.99


Where to Buy:  JessesGirlCosmetics.com


My Thoughts:  I got this in an IPSY back forever ago.  I'd never heard of Jesse's Girl products before, and I love trying out new brands.  I'm always a bit skeptical of unknown brands with low price points that show up in these monthly subscription boxes, but half the fun is never knowing what diamonds in the rough you'll discover.  This for me is one of those diamonds.

The liner glides on very smoothly with no tugging, and the tip is the perfect felt pen shape.  Sometimes I think the liner tips are too long, too thick, or too blunt at the end.  This gives me great control over the shape and width of the line to create a variety of looks from very simple to dramatic graphic lines.

The color comes only in black, which is a bummer.  I'd prefer if it came in more options, since I like this so much.  The black is a nice rich color though, and I don't need to layer it for an intense effect like some cheap liners.  I challenge the waterproof claim on this liner though.  It lasts a good 7-8 hours, so it's not slacking in that department, but I'm at the makeup studio for a good 9 hours or more a day, plus two hours total of commute, so I usually reach for waterproof liners to keep my makeup looking fresh from dawn to dusk.  This does come off with water alone, so I wouldn't classify it as waterproof.

The packaging is also very sharp for a drugstore range product.  The sleek silver looks very high end, is good quality, and fits nicely in my makeup bag.

Final Verdict:  A definite must try if you're a fan of liquid eyeliner.

I Want To Know:  What diamonds in the rough have you discovered lately that you think the world needs to know about?  Share your thoughts/blog/reviews below and spread the love!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- LORAC Front of the Line PRO Eyeliner

From the Brand:
This high-performing no-smudge, no-budge, water-resistant liquid eye liner boasts a unique automatic delivery system that provides a clean, precise application. The flexible tip provides ultimate control, accuracy and smooth strokes, so you’ll never miss your lines. From very fine to dramatically bold, this versatile pro will take you to the front of the line every time!

Retails for:  $23.00


Where to Buy:  Loraccosmetics.com, Ulta.com and Ulta stores, Sephora.com and Sephora stores


My Thoughts:  I have this in dark brown, and I picked it up last fall I believe from Ulta during a 21 Days of Beauty event they do occasionally.  I was able to snag this eyeliner for only $10!  It was my first experience with a liquid eyeliner from Lorac.  I've used their eyeshadows, the Pro mascara, and blushes before with varied results.  Their palette products can be a bit hit or miss on quality.  Some are better than others.  Individually packaged items seem to be much higher quality consistently.  Their Pro mascara I can't stand the wand on but love with a disposable wand for clients in the studio. 

The packaging on this is a gorgeous gunmetal that reminds me a bit of Urban Decay's packaging but darker.  It looks and feels very high end, and I love pulling it out of my makeup bag to use.  Just something about luxurious metallic packaging that makes me feel fancy.  Am I the only one with a "thing" for metallic packaging?  If it's a gunmetal, sleek silver, bright gold, or my favorite rose gold, I just feel like I'm so glamorous.

The tip is felt and super silky!  It's not stiff at all and flexes just enough to swipe on the color cleanly without being difficult to control.  It deposits a line of liquid liner that dries quickly and is a tiny bit sheer.  I run it over itself twice to get a truly inky dark color.  It sets fast and doesn't flake or transfer, and I can get all day wear from this easily.  I love that it's a dark brown instead of a black, since I have a ton of black liquid liners already.  When I want a softer look without sacrificing the cat eye look, this is what I reach for. 

Once this sets, it's pretty waterproof.  I can wet my finger (ok, let's be honest I lick it) and run it over the top a few times, and the color doesn't budge.  But if I wet (lick) my finger and sit there and rub it back and forth over the line on the back of my hand, it will eventually wear down cleanly.  But it also doesn't make a big smudgy mess.  It's kind of like the color just disappears.


Final Verdict:  A fantastic long wearing liquid liner that's easy to apply and looks fancy in the tube.  Hits all my major criteria for a winner.


 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Too Faced Natural Rebel Collection

Too Faced Natural Rebel Collection Items- Natural At Night Sexy and Sultry Neutral Eye Shadow Collection (previously released), Perfect Eyes Waterproof and Tearproof Eyeliner in Espresso (previously released), Natural Rebel Neutral Color Lip Collection (new)

From the Brand: An ULTA Exclusive! The three-piece Natural Rebel Collection by Too Faced includes: Natural At Night Eye Shadow Collection with nine sexy, late-night neutrals. Natural Kiss Lip Collection palette with four shades that compliment all skin tones and create a polished "born this way" look to any natural beauty. Perfect Eyes Eye Liner in Espresso which glides on with the ease of liquid liner and locks down for 8+ hours of smudge-proof wear. Cruelty free.


Retails for: $36


Where to Buy: Ulta stores and Ulta.com


My Thoughts: I'll start with the eyeshadow palette.  This is the highlight of the set for me.  I think it's completely worth just buying this palette on its own to have in your makeup collection if you aren't in need (or want) a lip palette or another brown eyeliner.  It's nice a compact to fit in a small makeup bag, and it contains a great variety of neutral shades to give you varying eye makeup looks from super natural to super intense.  And it's newbie-friendly with its convenient grouping of the highlight shades on the left, lid colors in the center row, and the crease colors on the right, and it also groups the colors together into three coordinating looks.  There are two matte shades- Spotlight (highlight color) and Cocoa Star (crease color), three glittery shades- Full Moon and Night Light (highlight colors) and Night Fever (crease/accent color), and four satin shades- Nightcap, After Hours, and Moon Stone (lid colors) and Eclipse (crease color).  The "Night" look is brown based colors, the "Classic" look is pink based colors, and the "Fashion" look is yellow based colors, but they are all neutrals that work beautifully together in any combination.

The Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner is great, and I think I've mentioned it before here on the blog or on my YouTube channel how awesome it is.  It stays incredibly well in the waterline and comes out a very inky color.  It doesn't fade like some can.  The Perfect Espresso color is a very black brown, so it's a great option for people who don't want the starkness of a black but still want a deep intensity that's just a touch softer.  It's a great option for blondes or redheads!

The lip palette is great, because it's so small and compact.  It contains four shades plus a lip brush and generous sized mirror.  The colors don't have names, so I'll just describe them from left to right.  The farthest left color is more of a glittery gloss topcoat than a lipstick.  It's a nice tawny color without too much pink.  More of an irridescent golden color packed down on top of itself to give it an opaque look in the pan but a shimmery colorless effect on the lips. (I'm probably not doing it justice with that description, but hopefully you get the picture- it's a shimmer top coat and not an actual lipstick.)  The next shade over is a nice beige neutral lip color.  It's one step away from a light brown, with just enough natural lip flesh tone to it to keep it not looking so 1990s, and it has no shimmer to it at all.  It's a nice satin finish and a great "nude" color.  The next shade is my favorite- a pinky nude with a shimmery finish that isn't glittery at all.  In the pan it almost looks a tad frosty, but on the lips the shimmer just reflects light very evenly giving it an almost glossy look.  The far right color is the most intense of all, being a nice soft berry color.  It gives the effect almost of having eaten a plate of spaghetti or a popsicle and stained the lips but with an opaque consistency.  It's great for women who want a more pigmented lip color that will wear away to a beautiful natural looking finish rather than looking like you've eaten your lipstick off.


Final Verdict:  If you're interested in just a single piece of the collection, hop on over to TooFaced.com and enjoy their free shipping on orders of $50 or more plus free samples.  If you're loving the whole collection, buy it from Ulta. Either way, I highly recommend any of them for their pigmentation and quality.  They are all a fantastic value!

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

 

Product Review- L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner Review

 

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner Review 

 

From the Brand:    Creamy eyeliner glides on easily for smooth application. Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner by L'Oreal resists smudging and provides up to 16-hour wear. Including a built-in sharpener and smudger to create smokey eye looks.

Retails for:   $8.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:   For years this was my go-to eyeliner pencil because it was so densely pigmented and lasted a pretty long time.  Over time though, I came to find many new "favorites", and this was moved to the organizer bin of eyeliner pencils to only be fished out every once and a while when I was feeling nostalgic.  That's not to say that it isn't a great eyeliner for the price.  But in the many months that I've been writing this blog and experimenting with new brands and formulas of eyeliner pencils on myself, I haven't had the time to really use this one as much as I once did.

The pigmentation of this is an 8 out of 10.  It's not a pure inky black, but it's not sheer either by any stretch of the imagination.  It gives a nice even black line, and it's easy to keep sharp with it's roll up tip.  It glides nicely without tugging, but it's not a gel based formula.  It's slightly more waxy and dry in texture, which gives it a good grip but doesn't set to quickly to smudge out.  I really like the built in silicone smudger on the opposite end, which makes it easy to soften up the line for a smokey look.

I wouldn't give it a full 16 hour wear time however.  I'd say you'll get a solid 8 hours, and then based on how oily your lids are and how well you prime the lids first, you'll get up to another 6 hours out of it, making it a decent 14 hour max wear time.  It's not the best in the waterline, as it fades quickly and doesn't go on very pigmented there.  High humidity can also cause it to creep around the inner and outer corners of the eyes and require a bit of a touch up.  I almost always found myself wearing it in the winter or using a liquid liner pen to draw on my "wings" on the outer edges for a better lasting finish.

Final Verdict: Great eyeliner if you're looking for a drugstore version to keep costs down.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Maybelliner MasterPrecise by Eyestudio Liquid Eyeliner

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner Review

 

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner Review 

 

From the Brand:    Exclusive felt tip. Never dries. Never drips. Master the redefined line. The next generation of liquid liner is here. Master Precise Ink Pen Liner's exclusive, ultra-thin 0.4mm brush tip supplies continuous flow for smooth, even perfect lines. No drying or skipping. No mess or excess. Ink technology keeps pigments super-saturated. Ophthalmologist tested. Safe for sensitive eyes. Contact lens safe.

Retails for:   $7.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:   This is a really fantastic felt tip liner!  It's tapered to be thicker at the bottoms so you can adjust the width of your line by how you lay it against the skin, which I think is fantastic.  We all know how it can go sometimes, when you start with a thin line and think you'll just add another swipe to build up the width and suddenly it's either too thick or the sides don't match so you have to go back and forth.... until you look like a raccoon.  It's ok.  Even us pros have those days.  It takes a little getting used to, but you can adjust how you lay this against the skin (the more flush/parallel to the eyelid the thicker the line) to get a different thickness for different looks with one swipe.

It can get a bit bogged down with eyeshadow (a definite drawback of using felt tips to begin with), so make sure that you wipe it off on a tissue or paper towel between eyes so that you're getting the most liquid into the tip and onto the skin for a clean densely pigmented line.  I also hold it with the tip pointing down for a few seconds in between swipes so that gravity can help pull the liquid into the tip evenly.

The one downside I have with this eyeliner is that it doesn't wear as long as some others I've used.  Don't get me wrong, you aren't going to be looking in the mirror an hour from now and wonder where the heck your eyeliner went, but I personally have pretty stringent guidelines on how long I like to have lasting power to my products before they require a touch up.  I guess it's from working primarily in the bridal industry for the past five years, where I needed the makeup I applied to clients to literally last 18 hours through sweat and tears or on myself for 12+  hours with absolutely no time to grab a bite of food let alone worry about how my makeup looked.  (It's amazing how many photos you end up in the background of when you're a makeup artist on the wedding day.  When representing as a pro makeup artist, you need to always looks perfectly pulled together, even if you're starting at 6 am two hours from home and going until 6 pm on wedding number three!)

Final Verdict:  Great liner for short(er) periods of time, like an average work day.  You'll need to touch it up if you want to last past dinner though.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liquid Eyeliner

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liquid Eyeliner Review

 

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liquid Eyeliner Review

From the Brand:    Lash Boosting complex targets the root of lashes where it is most effective in providing nutrients associated with growing long, thick lashes. Innovative and easy to use eyelining tool delivers effortless definition. High-tech Japanese formula is long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-resistant.

Retails for:   $10.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:   This was the very first liquid eyeliner that I ever used.  I love how the felt tip pen makes it super easy to apply.  It glide across the skin nicely without skipping or tugging, and the formula is neither too thick and shiney nor too thin and watery.  It applies an even black line every time.

I do have one small criticism though.  I didn't find that it helped boost my lash growth at all, and after about 12 hours or so the wings in the corners of my eye were pretty much dissolved.  It's not very water-resistant either, so I make sure to only wear it in the cooler drier months when I don't have to worry about sweating.

You can watch the video I filmed showing how to apply liquid eyeliner perfectly every time here!



Final Verdict: An awesome eyeliner if you won't be sweating a lot.  Great application for beginners!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil

 

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil

From the Brand:  Creamy, forever-lasting, award-winning and waterproof, 24/7 pencils delight you with lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals.

 

The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows!


Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil.


When your 24/7 Eye Pencils start to get dull, use the small barrel of our Grindhouse Double Barrel Sharpener to grind them back to a perfect point.


Fill Weight: 1.2g e 0.04 US oz.

Retails for:  $19.00

Where to Buy: Urbandecay.com, Ulta stores and online, Sephora stores and online

 

My Thoughts: When I went to Hawaii on vacation a few years ago, one of the first things I packed in my makeup bag was my Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Bourbon.  I knew that no matter how hot and humid it got, or how long I spent at the beach, my eyeliner was going to stay in place.  I have three main eyeliner brands in my bridal makeup kit that I know are going to be truly waterproof, and this is one of them.  It was actually the very first waterproof eyeliner I ever bought, and I've been loving it for years.  The fact that it comes in so many gorgeous colors, (52 by my last count online!) makes this one of the best liners for whatever your style.  If you like browns, they have a ton of browns.  If you like blues, they have a ton of blues to choose from.  They also have purples, greys, greens, even pinks!  There are multiple variations on the basic black, and then there are metallics like gold and bronze and silver, even nude and white for opening up your waterline!  My favorite shades are Bourbon, Underground, Zero, Electric, and Binge.

Final Verdict:  I wouldn't be caught doing a bride's makeup without this in my professional kit!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.

Product Review- Tarte emphasEYES Eyeliner

Tarte emphasEYES Gel Eyeliner

 

Tarte Emphaseyes Eyeliner Review

From the Brand:   

Specifically designed for the sensitive inner-rim, this eye pencil imparts a super fine line for a defined, sultry look that lasts all day.

Product Performance: This ultra fine liner easily fills gaps in the lashline and glides perfectly on the inner rims of eyes. Our patented silicone system creates a super creamy, long-wearing formula specifically designed for the sensitive inner rim so it won't fade or run and its dermatologist tested, so it won't irritate the sensitive eye area like traditional wood pencils.


Powered By: Aloe leaf extract: widely-known plant extract with soothing, healing and antiseptic properties that helps maintain moisture balance in the skin

Retails for:   $18.00

Where to Buy:    TarteCosmetics.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   I love that this is made for the inner waterline of the eyes.  I can never find a good mascara that won't fade out to nothing super quickly or end up irritating me eyes.  They have the perfect brightening color, too.  This photo is an old version of the packaging, and they've updated it now.  I haven't used it in forever, and it's time to toss this one, but I figured it was still good enough for a photograph.  I need to purchase a new one in black, as I like to wear color in the waterline a lot more now, and nothing stands up to this formula for that.

Final Verdict:  Like a smokey eye or just some color in your waterline?  This is the formula eyeliner for you!

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains referral links.  As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner

Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner

 

From the Brand: Our waterproof long-wearing liner provides bold definition for up to 8 hours. This creamy, easy-to-apply formula contains vitamin E and jojoba oil to protect. The cap houses a unique built-in sharpener so you'll always have the most precise application.

 

Retails for: $19.00

Where to Buy: Smashbox.com, Sephora stores and online, Ulta stores and online  (Personally, I recommend buying directly from the Smashbox website.  Sign up for their rewards program and earn money off future purchases, bonus samples for your birthday, and a deluxe sample with every order. Shipping is always free, too.  PLUS, if you order on Tuesdays or Thursdays during the designated time, read more here, you'll get a bonus free product. It really doesn't get any better as far as rewards programs go!)

My Thoughts:  I'm a huge fan of the Smashbox liners.  I use them in my professional kit for all my weddings, as I find that the black is a nice deep intense matte black and the brown is a very rich dark brown without being too orange or too black.

 

My favorite feature is the fact that they have a sharpener in the cap!  I mean, in my world that's straight genius.  How many times have you forgotten your sharpener on a trip?  Yeah, me too.  All. The. Time.  Which is why I normally go for the twist up, but with the Smashbox liners you can get the super fine point of a wood pencil with the convenience of easy sharpening.  Win win in my book/blog. haha!

 

They do have a limited color range, but unless you're going for a bright look they cover all the basic necessities.  You have black, brown, navy, a khaki, a deep grey, medium tone purple, netural teal, and deep purple.

 

They go on smoothly without skipping and are very long lasting.  They don't dry too quickly to smudge for a smokey look, but they also aren't dry and waxy either.  I like that they have jojoba oil in the formula, which give it the creamy consistency.  They are waterproof, which makes them perfect for summer or brides!

Final Verdict:  Convenience and effectiveness in one little package.  A definite good buy!

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.

Product Review- Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

 

From the Brand: Finally, a waterproof liquid liner that glides on with ease, won't smudge or run, and stays in place until you say when!

The thin marker-like tip is easy to use even for the least experienced, and delivers a defined thin line to a dramatic bold line with precision.

Goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and lasts all day!

Key Benefits:

• Waterproof and easy-to-use
• Goes on smoothly without skipping
• Lasts all day long!

Shades:

• Intense Black
• Dark Brown
• Indigo
• Alloy
• Moss

 

Retails for: $20.00

 

Where to Buy: Stila Cosmetics, Sephora stores and online, Ulta stores and online

 

My Thoughts: I think I may have found the perfect liquid eyeliner!  I began my search back in May with the Milani eyeliner, and I've been buying up liquid liner pens like they're going out of style.  Which, by the way with the way I have been hoarding them, I hope isn't any time soon!  This one has been my ultimate favorite so far, since it's a felt tip pen style versus the paint on liquid with a brush.  I prefer the pen style as I find that with the brush styles the liquid gets on my lashes and has a more wet/patent look to it.  I like my liner to be nice and pigmented and matte.  And the Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner delivers on both those counts.

 

The claims of waterproof are accurate as well.  With normal day to day activities, I know the eyeliner is going to last all day without budging.  If I'm sweating or crying, it also stays in place very nicely for many hours. 

 

It also doesn't skip along my lash line, which is admittedly becoming more and more crepey as I crawl past the 30 mark.  Years of tugging my lash line super taut to get a perfect line have taken their toll and destroyed a lot of the elastin in my eyelids, making them start to crinkle up at the base of the lashes and slightly droopy towards the ball of the lid.  This liquid eyeliner deposits deeply pigmented color evenly.

 

I think that these types of liquid liners are easier to use, so that claim is inherently true from my opinion.

 

 

Final Verdict: A definite buy!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.  This article contains affiliate links.

Product Review- Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eyeliner

 

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner 

 

From the Brand: Obsessed with Smudge Pots? You'll go crazy for Smudge Sticks! This highly pigmented, waterproof eye liner glides on to deliver intense, vibrant color with staying power. 

These easy-to-apply eye liners have it all:

• Long Lasting
• Waterproof
• Easy to apply
• Several shimmer-intense shades to make eyes stand out
• Vibrant colors
• Propel pencil

Retails for:  $20

 

Where to Buy: Ulta stores and online, Sephora stores and online, Stila Cosmetics Online

My Thoughts:  I've been using these liners for years now, and they are definitely one of my favorites.  I love how they are a twist up, so I don't have to worry about keeping a pencil sharpener on hand.  The formula is super creamy, which means it glides right on without skipping.  The majority of colors are all fairly shimmery, which I like, but there are matte ones for those of you who don't like a shimmery liner.  My favorite colors are peacock, stingray, stargazer, and lionfish.  Maybe it's just me, but I think it's kind of cute how they are all sea creature names (minus peacock, but for this color there's really no other color you can call it!).  As evidenced by the above photo, I own all the standard colors, and I'm sure there's a few in there that are limited edition from holiday sets.  That's usually what I recommend to people, to buy the four color sets they come out with seasonally, or to buy one of their palettes that comes with a liner.  If you have blue eyes, I highly highly recommend the Lionfish color.  It's the perfect chocolatey brown shimmer that makes blue eyes look ah-ma-zing!  I use it on clients at weddings all the time, and without fail the rest of the room is suddenly ooohing and aaahing over how gorgeous their eyes look.

Final Verdict:  One of the best waterproof pencils you can buy!

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.  This article does contain affiliate links.

L'Oreal Lacquer Liner 24Hr Infallible Gel Eyeliner

 

 

From the Brand: A glossy, lacquered eye is now easier than ever to create. Infallible^® Gel Lacquer Liner 24H glides on smoothly for a clean, precise line that keeps an intense, high-shine finish from dawn to dusk. Available in 5 rich, luminous shades.

 

Retails for: $9.95

Where to Buy: Everywhere drugstore cosmetics are sold, such as Ulta.com and Ulta stores, Target, Walmart, grocery stores, and drugstores.

My Thoughts: These are a really great option for someone who can't get their hands on the ones by MAC (or don't want to spend the extra $6).  They glide on really beautifully, and they do last a good long time.  I don't think that any makeup can truly last a full 24 hours on the face, but it does give a solid 12-14 hours even in the humidity, and longer on days where the air is drier or your skin/eyes aren't on the oilier side.  The brush that comes with these is fairly decent.  You can rotate it to achieve varying thicknesses, on its edge for a very crisp line or flat for a thicker line.

  

I have two colors, the brown and the black.  They don't look patent leather shiney, but they also don't dry to a matte black.  More like in between.  I would definitely purchase more of the colors, and I use these on my studio clients for shoots all the time.

Final Verdict: Like I said, these are a great option for those who can't get their hands on the MAC gel liners.  They are very long wearing, come in a variety of shades, come with a handy brush that's actually useable, and have a nice finish.  I recommend looking for a sale somewhere like Ulta that frequently does BOGO half off on L'Oreal products for an even better deal!

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.

Product Review- MAC Fluidline Gel Eyeliner

 

 

From the Brand: Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish.  Goes on "foolproof" with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action.  Long-wearing.  Smudge-proof.

 Ultra

Retails for: $16

Where to Buy: MAC stores or www.maccosmetics.com, or MAC counters in major department stores

 

My Thoughts: For my clients that are looking for a dramatic liquid liner look, I always reach for my MAC Fluidline.  Although personally I'm not a fan of applying a gel liner, it's a hygienic way to give a liquid liner look without using an actual liquid liner.  Those are impossible to sanitize between clients and should only be used on your own eyes.  I've found over the years that MAC's gel liner is a dependable waterproof brand.  Still, I don't recommend using it on the bottom lashline for better longevity against tears.  It's not listed as waterproof, but through experience I've found it to still be quite durable against them on my brides.  The two colors I use are Blacktrack and Rich Ground.  These also make an incredible dense shadow base for dramatic eye looks.  They wear pretty well in the waterline as well, especially when you use a matching eyeshadow to "set".  These don't dry up quickly like other brands can, and you can get a ton of use out of them.  You use so little that it really lasts a long time and makes it a very cost-effective product.

Final Verdict:  Is this a good buy?  You bet!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.

Makeup Tip #6: Whiten your eyes!

Copyright Urban Decay Cosmetics

If you've been sick recently, or have liver issues, or just think the whites of your eyes could look a little brighter, you can use this makeup trick to brighten them up without eye drops!

Just like I talked about in Makeup Tip #4, using blue colors will neutralize the look of yellowish whites, whether it's on your teeth or your eyes.  So to brighten up the whites of your eyes, use a deep navy eyeliner.  Dot it between your upper lashes and watch how much whiter your eyes will appear!

Voila!  It's really just as easy as that.  A deep matte navy will look more natural, but feel free to change it up a bit and go with a shimmery blue color, too.  My favorite blue liners are:

1. Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Deep Navy  (Matte Navy)

Limitless Eye Liner Limitless Eye Liner by Smashbox is waterproof long-wearing liner that provides bold definition that won't smudge or budge for up to 8 hours.

2. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Binge (Shimmery Dark Blue)

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil A waterproof eye pencil formulated with moisturizing Vitamin E and natural oils.

What are your favorite blue eyeliners?

**This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support of this blog.

Makeup Tip #5- Eyeliner Don'ts

Today is my birthday!  Yay!  Happy Birthday to me!  The "Dirty 30" it is now.  Thank goodness for freckles and good skincare, because I never get carded and it feels so nice! haha!  But now, on to today's topic!...

I think one of my biggest pet peeves when meeting clients and doing their makeup for the first time is when they tell me they only wear eyeliner on the bottom.  Either just in the waterline or in the lashline.  Regardless of where on the bottom only you put your eyeliner, I can't tell you how much this bugs the crap out of me.

Why?  Even though I'm a firm believer in the whole makeup philosophy that there are no hard and fast "rules" to makeup, and that everyone has the right to their own opinions and preferences on how it should be worn on their own face, I do still wholeheartedly believe there are general guidelines on what is and is not flattering.  Eyeliner on the bottom only is one of those that falls in the "not" flattering category in my mind.

Using eyeliner on your bottom lashline only can make you look tired.  Dark colors make that area recede, and lining that part of your eye only will cause you to appear as if you have shadows under your eyes- especially if you are outside during daylight when the light is falling directly from above!  It will draw the eye downward and age you as well. (The majority of women I see who wear their eyeliner like this are in their late 40s or older or teenage girls.  And since the bulk of my makeup work in the last five years has been for weddings, these women are typically outside mid-afternoon for portraits.  So yeah, really unflattering.)

It's all about BALANCE.  If you're going to wear eyeliner on the bottom line, you need to wear something on the top line as well.  Even if you are just tightlining the top lashline on the underside to add definition and depth to your lashes.  The top lashline is thicker and darker naturally with your eyelashes, so it makes sense to emphasize this area of the eye for the most natural open look to the eye.

The top liner line should also be thicker than the bottom line.  It makes your eyes appear bigger and more open.  I'm a huge fan of the whole cat eye trend, as it draws emphasis on the top lashline and up and away to give the eyes a lifted look.  A heavy dark line all around the eye will visually close it and make it appear deeper set into the face and smaller.  This is a good trick if you have really large eyes that are set forward in the sockets to balance them with the rest of the features, but for the rest of us it's typically not a great day-to-day look.

If you do want to line your lower lashes, what should you use then?  It all depends on the look you're going for. I already mentioned that darker colors will make the eyes appear recessed into the face, but if you're looking for a dramatic or a smokey look, feel free to use a black or dark brown color on your bottom lashes.  The thickness of the line will determine how much emphasis you give the bottom lashes.  I recommend dotting the liner between the lashes and using a smudger brush to gently blend the color in a diffused line, pulling down every so slightly in the center of the eye for a larger more rounded to the eyes.  You can see the technique in this photo I did for a model a few years back.  The top lashline is thinner, and more from the underside (tightlined) since she has very large eyes.  We wanted a more sultry look, so I chose to soften the bottom line and make it slightly thicker in the center to give it an open look.  This gives her eyes more balance while still emphasizing her bottom lashline.

Also note that this photo was taken at dusk, when the light is almost parallel to her eyes, which keeps the bottom of her eyes from looking dark and sunken in.  If this photo had been taken in the afternoon, she would have had noticeable shadowing under her eyes.

I wanted to show that this technique is useful in some circumstances and not totally bashing those people who do wear their makeup like this.  I just recommend you keep it more for evening and at least do SOMETHING on your top lashline to add balance.  And make sure that you're always using an eyeliner that it waterproof, or you'll be wiping smudges from your undereyes all day long!  I love love love the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.  These super creamy pencils glide on really nicely (good name choice guys!) and set to be budgeproof.  You have enough time to smudge it and smoke it out though without it looking funky.

Where do you draw your eyeliner?  Do you wear it on the top only?  The bottom only?  Or do you wear some on both lashlines?

Makeup Trend- Turqouise Liner

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner in Turquoise. Copyright Stila Cosmetics

It seems like everywhere you look, the makeup companies are adding some pop of teal or turquoise to their spring and summer makeup collections.  You'd think that turquoise was the Pantone "Color of the Year" instead of emerald!

Not that I can complain much though.  I'm a huge fan of the color turquoise, and it typically makes its way into my summer makeup routine every year anyway.  I'm excited to see all the new products to try this year.  Here are my top picks for ways to add this pop of summery blue color to your makeup in the steamy months ahead.

Powder:

Eyeshadows aren't limited to use on the eyelid for color.  You can dampen your brush in some water or for longer wear into some Graftobian Magic Set, load up the brush with the powder shadow, and use it to create a liquid liner look.  Or, you can pat it over pencil eyeliner for a more subtle wash of color.  One of my favorite multi-dimensional tricks is to line the eyes with black or deep matte brown eyeliner pencil then take an angled liner brush and press a bright eyeshadow color over top.  It adds color and depth to the lashline and looks amazing.  You can also start with a turquoise eyeliner and set it for longer wear with a matching turquoise eyeshadow shade.

Graftobian Magic Set. Copyright Graftobian Cosmetics.

I'm totally loving the new Limited Edition Resort Palette by Sigma.  The color Neela is the perfect turquoise eyeshadow for summer.  I've seen videos of it all over YouTube, and I really want to get my hands on it.  The eyeshadow is available now for individual purchase, or you can get the set which also includes a turquoise eyeliner pencil!  I wish I could show you a photo of it, but I don't have it yet and can't pull a photo from the website.  I suggest you check it out for yourself. :)

Liquid:

Back at IBS last month, I got a couple of new eyeliners from Stila, and one of them was this gorgeous turquoise liquid eyeliner- Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Turquoise.  I wore it the other day for an outing with the family, and I got a ton of compliments.  It lasted perfectly all day long and didn't smudge once.  At the end of the night when I went to take it off, it had actually stained my eyelid just a bit, and I had to use some extra eye makeup remover to take it all off.

Pencil:

I've been a huge fan of Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil for years (although my favorite colors of all time still remain Bourbon and Underground), and their shade Deep End is so gorgeous I can't stand it!  I think it will be my next purchase from the cult brand, as everything they make is insanely pigmented and super long wearing.  (Side note: Did you know that they have released their previously limited edition colors for purchase all the time now?!  They now have 40 different shades to make your heart race.  Ahhh... can  you tell how much I love love love these liners?!)

Try pairing turquoise eyeliner with a nude or neutral colored eye to start before building up to a more intense look if you're a newbie.  I like a soft pale gold on my lids with some bronze in the crease and a sharp crisp turquoise liner like the one in my look below.  When I want more drama, I do bronze on the lid (the color Amber Lights by MAC is amaze-balls!), a chocolate matte color in the crease, and pack on the turquoise eyeshadow in the outer V.  I use a pencil to draw it in, then pat powder eyeshadow over the top.  Then, it's dark bronzey brown eyeliner on the top line (Try Bourbon by Urban Decay or Lionfish by Stila) and the turquoise eyeliner on the bottom lashline to pull it all together.  I keep it a matte bone/flesh color above my crease so that it's not too overwhelming for day wear.

I'm wearing the Stila liquid liner here.

What do you think of the turquoise eyeliner trend for the spring/summer?  Will you be sporting it this year?  What are your favorite turquoise eyeliners?

Product Review- Milani Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

For the past few weeks I have been on a quest to find the perfect liquid eyeliner that will last all day long.  It's getting into my heavy wedding season (my last spring season! yay!), and I'm often out doing makeup for people as early as 6 or 7 am.  Being the Washington, DC area means that I have to contend with heavy traffic, even that early on a Saturday morning.  Plus, our company covers such a wide area that without traffic the wedding venue can still be up to two hours away.  That means that almost every Saturday April through June this year I'm awake far before the sun, and I'm a night owl so I don't go to be until almost midnight every evening.

What on Earth does this have to do with makeup though you might be asking?  A LOT!  I need makeup that will stand up to my rigorous schedule.  I'd love to be able to just roll on up out of bed that early and do makeup for weddings with no makeup in my yoga pants.  But that's just not the way us pros roll.  We know that how we appear to our clients leaves a huge impression.  Not only do the bridal party and other family members judge us by our appearance, but we're going to be in the background of their wedding photos.  We can't just be looking all scruffy.  So a properly done face is a must.

I'm usually doing two or three weddings a day, with an hour or more drive time between them, so I barely have time to grab some food at a drive through let alone touch up my makeup.  That's why long wearing products don't just make it in my kit, they make it on my face in a big way.  Hence my search for the perfect liquid eyeliner.  I used to just use a pencil, my favorites being the Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner (in Onyx most of the time) or Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil (in Bourbon for a softer look).  But I've really fallen in love with liquid eyeliner since I learned to perfect my "flick". (Check out my YouTube video on how I do it here!)

I've gotten quite a few different liners to test out from the drugstore, to see if any of them can live up to the challenge of all day wear.  I've looked for waterproof versions, as I think that this usually lends itself to long wear like I need.  Previously, I'd been using the Physician's Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Boosting Eyeliner + Serum.  It's an awesome liner (and supposedly helps your lash health), but it just wasn't quite cutting it on it's own.  It was a lot better when paired over the L'Oreal Infalliable Eyeliner, but I know that with the humidity on the rise it will have creeping issues as the day goes on.

With Flash

Direct Sunlight

Enter- the Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner.  I wore it for one of my long days a few weeks ago, and it did a fairly decent job of keeping up.  The liner over the center of my lids stayed pretty black, but the outside flick did start to fade by late afternoon.  All in all, I think I'll keep it around as a back up while I search for that ultimate "perfect" liquid eyeliner.  I'm headed back to NYC on Monday for The Makeup Show, and I know that Makeup Forever and Stila will be there.  (Stila was all out of their black liquid eyeliner at IBS earlier this month when I was there. Boo!)

Pluses:

• Easy to use slim pencil design
• Affordable
• Nice inky black at the outset
• Lasts a decent amount of time
• Dries quickly
• Long, tapered felt tip applicator for control in the line thickness

Minuses:

• You have to really prime the product into the tip or else much doesn't come out and you have to go over the line a few times
• Tips of the "wings" started to fade after about 8 hours
• Applicator can "skip" sometimes if your lid has some creasing at the lash line
• Not really waterproof at all.  I can lick a fingertip and wipe right through the dried line 

My "flick" disappeared by the end of the day

Overall, I think I rate this a sold 4 out of 5 stars. It's a great liner, but not long wearing enough for my needs.

Do you have a recommendation for the perfect liquid eyeliner for me?  I'd love to hear about it!  Leave your recommendations in the comments section below!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.