For example, applying white eyeliner to the waterline to make your eyes appear larger is one of the oldest tricks in the book. If you were around in the eighties, you’ll remember Princess Diana’s iconic blue eyeliner look. The options really are unlimited when it comes to colourful eyeliner, and experimenting with colour has never been so popular.
If you’re feeling super technical, you can experiment with different colours based on your eye colour. According to colour theory, red-toned eyeliner helps to make green eyes pop, purple eyeliner is meant to compliment brown eyes, and orange-toned brown is best for blue eyes. If you have hazel eyes, choose the most dominant colour and use the complimentary liner colour for that, as above.
Getting the right ‘look’
Pencil eyeliners are an incredibly versatile tool to have in your makeup bag — there are tonnes of different ways to apply them, but getting the application right comes with practice. Here are some tips for applying pencil eyeliner to get some basic looks:
Basic liner: To achieve a basic eyeliner look, apply the liner in short, swift strokes so enough pigment is deposited across the upper lash line. Some people find that pulling on the outer corner of the eye is helpful to flatten out the top of the eyelid and provide some tension before application.
Smoky eye: Start by creating a basic liner look and then use a small fluffy brush or your finger to blend out the liner slightly. You can also use coloured eyeshadow to blend out pencil eyeliner.
Waterline: To apply eyeliner to your waterline, use a cotton swab to dry the waterline carefully and gently. Next, whilst looking directly into the mirror, tilt your head down and gently pull down the lower eyelid. Then, carefully apply the pencil over the lower waterline and let go. To do your upper lash line, repeat the steps, but tilt your head up and instead of pulling the skin, hold your lashes up on your brow bone whilst you apply. You can also apply an eyeshadow over the top to set the liner in place.
Cat eye: To start, create a basic liner look and then follow the line of your lower lash line upwards to create an angle. Some people find that using their fingertips to pull on the outer corner of the eye helps to draw a smooth line.
Graphic liner: Go crazy! There are no rules for applying graphic liner. Popular looks include drawing a line that runs directly between the eye and eyebrow, following the line of the eye – like a basic liner that’s floated off from the lash line. Or, some people like to draw extra wings on their winged liner. If you’re looking for inspiration, there are tonnes of ideas on Pinterest and TikTok.
READ NEXT: Our pick of the best waterproof eyeliners
How we test eyeliner pencils
Eyeliner pencils are finicky makeup products to test because many claim to be smudge-proof, waterproof, transfer-proof and blendable at the same time. Few are actually as all-singing, all-dancing as they claim to be, meaning our testing has to be incredibly thorough.
Thankfully, there are simple tests we can perform to check how an eyeliner performs. We always test the liners side by side by applying the liners onto the back of our hands. Once applied, to test the liner’s longevity and smudge-proof qualities, we wait a few minutes for them to set in place and then use some force to rub over the top of them to see if they’re properly smudge-proof. With waterproof liners, we’ll splash the area with water to see if the liners run at all. To test the blendability, instead of waiting for the liners to set, we blend the liners using our fingertips immediately after application to judge how even the blend is, as well as how quickly, if ever, the liners set in place.
When it comes to doing a wear test, there are, of course, many different eyeliner styles. That means we tested each eyeliner in every style – in the waterline, over the lash line, and in a more graphic, winged style. This also gave us a feeling for how easy and smooth the liners were to apply in different areas, which showed us how well-suited each liner is for each style.
READ NEXT: Best makeup brushes
