Eyeliner Tips

Journey started this discussion · 12/9/2010

I've always avoided wearing eye makeup because I have Trichotillomania and don't want to draw attention to it, but one of my New Year's Resolutions is to break the habit - so that means I can start wearing eye makeup again! 😀 (FYI: Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling compulsion, anything from the hair on your head to eyebrows to eyelashes etc. I've pulled my eyelashes out since I was 5... it's a stress thing.) 😕 😳 I don't wear makeup very often, period, but any time that I had a decent amount of lashes and tried to use eyeliner it was a disaster. I don't do too bad with the eyeshadow, but I think it looks funny with that strip of bare eyelid along the eyelash area. Oh, and I'm not squeamish about touching my eyes (I wear contacts) so it's not that I'm freaking out about that or anything. 😜 Any tips?

12 replies

minicoopergrl · 12/9/2010
My tips for doing eyeliner: 1. DONT PULL YOUR EYELID TO GET A SOLID LINE - this over time will cause your eyelid to start sagging and you have to start using firming eye cream to get it back. To help with that, sit on your hand that isnt applying the eyeliner. 2. Apply the eyeliner in small strokes instead of one long line. Over time and you get more confident with applying, you can do longer strokes. 3. my suggestion is to start w/a pencil/soft crayon. Some still make it with pencil some area softer material. Then work your way to liquid. I just not started working with liquid and love the look of it.
glitterhips · 12/9/2010
Yes Mini is right, never pull your eyelid or any of the skin around your eyes, it's the most delicate skin you have and makes you wrinkle faster, we don't want that! It is easier to connect the lines when you're first starting, it's also a lot easier to hold the pencil flat along your eye so it's parallel to your face instead of perpendicular, if it's flat along your eyelid you will have a much easier time drawing a straight line until you get some practice. Another good trick is to take a q-tip and smudge the line a little, it looks softer and helps if you make mistakes. This way if you make mistakes and smudge it no one will know it wasn't a straight line. I recommend buying a crappy .99 eyeliner pencil to practice with over and over until you get comfortable with it, you will most likely catch on surprisingly fast. You could also buy a cheapy liquid eyeliner too, liquid eyeliner is harder to get the hang on but it does look nicer IMO and if you get the hang of liquid liner then you will definitely be able to use pencil and make it look perfect. 😀
Poleluver · 12/10/2010
Also a Kandee Johnson tip for eyeliner staying power is to follow up the liquid liner or pencil liner with a matching powder and eye liner brush to help it stay put and last longer!
JBStarryEyedGirl · 12/10/2010
I have a few tips for great eyeliner! Try using a small brush or applicator with dry or wet eyeshadow on it to smudge a line along the lashline first, then go over area with pencil or kohl eyeliner. You can get Soo many effects with this technique! Try same color, similar shades, and mix and match! I love gold and pink shadow with bronze liquid liner! An easy way for liquid liner is to first line eyes with a pencil and then use that as a guide to apply liquid liner over. It's much more forgiving and helps set the liquid for hours! And have you ever tried fake eyelashes? They may help you feel kore confident and are Very easy to apply with a little practice 🙂 they just take some patience and careful positioning.
PoleDanceABCs · 7/13/2011
Great product to use for all-day eyeliner is MAC Paintpot as a primer and then for liner I love the Fluidline. It is a solid cream-like eyeliner in a little glass pot and I use brushes to apply it. Nothing else works as well, at least for me because I have oily eyelids. Even Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner doesn't work as well as the Fluidline for me. Of course you always want to top off your "work" with a bit of setting powder.
Chwenny · 7/13/2011
Milani eye tech liquid liner (the little gold pen-looking one) is a great cheap alternative to MAC if you're on a budget. I have the same prob as PoledanceABC's but even between my oily skin, single eyelids and living in Asia where the humidity is always super high, it still lasts all day.
cringirl · 7/14/2011
I like eyeliner. After years of looking for what I wanted in an one I finally found it at Target. The brand is "elf" and it is called a "waterproof eyeliner pen". It is awesome, stays on, doesn't annoy me and I bought it for $1.
Runemist34 · 7/14/2011
Interestingly, I'm actually allergic to eyeliner- it gives me horrible migraines, and trust me, I've tried every type and brand out there. So, I figured I'd tell you how I get the look without making myself feel like I'm gonna die! I use an angle brush, which is a wee little brush, and it's flat, and the end is cut at an angle! I get that wet, and get some black eyeshadow on it. It doesn't have to be too wet, or even wet at all, but I find I get a better line when I do it this way. Starting at the inside corner of my eye, I work my way out on the top. I usually can do half my eye without re-dipping my brush. I don't really line the bottom of my eyelid, because someone once told me it drew attention to the dark circles under my eyes! I never noticed, but I guess she could. Anyways, I've practiced this a long time, and sometimes still get it wrong! However, I find it goes on easier than using a pencil (the few times I've tried), and it's a bit easier to deal with than the liquid liner. Also, if you screw up, just use another brush and smudge till it's gone! Or, you could use remover or whatever. Good luck darling! 😀
PlatinumAni · 7/14/2011
I am totally with poledanceABCs Gel liners are the way to go. Fluidlines are my all time favs but some of the ones from coastal scents aren't too bad for a budget conscious choice. Using a brush is so so much smoother for me.
HyperHorsegirl · 11/30/2011
I just use an eyeliner pencil or sometimes shadow on a flat brush. I only line my top lash line majority of the time. What I really want to say though, is that you're really brave for wanting to confront the discomfort that your Trich causes you. I have it too. My hair and eyebrows. There was a point when I had no hair on the back of my head below my earlobes. Picture a semi-low pony tail with no hair being pulled up at the bottom into the pony tail. That was me. I also made my part (center of my head) about two inches wide at one point. It was bad. BAD. And so embarrassing. I was in a military organization at the time, so I had to wear my hair a certain way and couldn't use scarves or headbands to cover it. It was a really rough time in my life. I still struggle with my eyebrows, but they're slowly growing back and I've been struggling to not undo all my progress with them. I first started pulling almost four years ago and it's been a real struggle. Good news is that I've almost completely stopped pulling my hair in large quantities. I'll still pull a strand or two each day, but that's much better than hundreds. Aside from my "baby hairs" which stick up when they first start growing, you can't tell at all. I blend a brown eyeshadow into what hairs I have on my eyebrows and I feel comfortable as long as I have my eyeshadow on my brows. It's taken me a long time to feel comfortable with myself again. I applaud you for taking this step. You aren't alone in this. I know how much courage it takes to face and overcome Trich. I'll probably never be rid of that urge, especially when stressed, but I know that it doesn't have to feel hopeless anymore. You are an encouragement to me. Thank you.
LopsiJulie · 11/30/2011
Journey, don't beat yourself up if you get stressed and end up pulling again. You can also try some fake lashes for those days when you slip up. Habits are hard to break (not saying this to discourage you but to encourage you! LIke you might pick a bit, but each time you try not to, maybe a little less). Just thought I'd suggest the lashes.. I haven't a clue how to put them on though. I wanted to scream when I tried for the comp. Such a failure. xxx
Crystaljng · 12/1/2011
Journey, Make up is a good skill to discover and enhance your feature. As a make up artist, there are a few tips I can give you here for achieving perfect eyelinners: 1. Product It's important to buy good quality product to suit your purpose. There are pencil and pen type of product, or you can use cake eyeliners + eyeliner brush. It all suit different purpose. Go to the make up store and let them try/ explain to you. 2. Always start from he middle of the eye lid, then extend to the outter corner of the eye. Then go to the inner corner of eye, extend to the other corner. This will minimize the mess at inner eye corner due to excess produce. 3. Search on YouTube there are many good lessons you can learn. Pick a technique that works for you. 4. Practice A lot of practice !