We all know by now that I’m not the most proficient in the use of eyeliners – be it gel, pencil or liquid. Sometimes I even end up with a stripe of black on my shoulder during application, but actually I feel like after a surge in popularity for gel liners (I remember saving up my student pennies for the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner back in the day), that liquids are back out on top. Now kohls are a whole different thing as they tend to lend themselves to a more subtle and smudgey look, but with a liquid you negate the need for the separate brush palaver and can get as precise a finish as you can with gel. For those reasons I’ve realised that liquid is the one for me; not as an everyday thing, but there’s just something about a stripe of black across the lashline and a red lipstick that will forever be chic. There are three that I love that span the whole budget range and today I’m breaking them down…
SAVE: Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen in Carbon Black Extreme – £6 – from Boots. This might be one of the cheapest eyeliners I’ve given a go, but it’s also one of the best. The texture is just right – not too thick, nor liquidy – and the felt nib is nicely tapered at the end which means you can alter the thickness of the line through the pressure you’re applying to the product. The only downside is that it’s not the smoothest in application, but for £6 you can’t argue with that. A little re-drawing over any missed out bits is all that’s needed.
SPEND: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper – $19 – from Sephora. Ah this little nib is a whizz at getting the job done. Now this stuff is black black – like jet black – there ain’t no grey tones to be seen here. Also it’s super long-lasting and when I apply this, it comes with the knowledge that I won’t look in the mirror halfway through the day and look like a panda. It’s different to the Soap & Glory in that instead of a felt tip, the brush is created by the gathering of lots of tiny brush fibres which make for a real fluid action. A toughie to get your hands on, but it’s well worth the faff of a Sephora order.
SPLURGE: Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in Deeper – £42 – from Selfridges. The price of this one makes my eyes water a little, but here’s the justification if you require it. It’s the same set up as the Kat Von D one in that it’s lots of little mini brush fibres bundled into one which means you get a smooth and even line that applies beautifully. It’s also double-ended, so you get a shorter end that good for getting into nooks and crannies and the end that I tend to use when I’m having a wobbly day and then a longer end that’s great for creating flicks and is better for those who have a more steady hand. This is like a liquid eyeliner ‘trainer‘. If you’re already a whizz at creating cat eyes then you don’t need this, but if you’re a noob who loves the look but needs a bit of extra help in getting things neat and balanced then it’s worth the investment.
Time to get(-ting) flicky with it – na, na, na, nana, nana… Sorry, it’s my favourite ’90’s kid joke to pull out at the moment.
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