Here’s something I’ve learnt: Singapore office ladies love eyeliner. And for good reason, too: It’s “eye-catching” but not OTT the way a full-on smoke on the lids can come across.
If you’re a makeup novice, eyeliner can be just a tad tricky. Teary-eyed and wobbly-fingered from fumbling with bespattered bottles of runny fluid? There, there, don’t fret. You only really need a solid workwoman-ready pencil eyeliner; save the new-fangled gel formulas for advanced beauty class.
Here’s how to master three truly “eye-conic” eyeliner looks with one pencil product:
#1 WANT SUBTLE ENHANCEMENT?
For understated amplification of your peepers, “tightlining” is the way to go. Here’s how. With a steady hand, “connect the dots” between your lashes, following your eye’s curvature and getting as close to your upper lash line as possible. (You can use an angled eyeliner brush to pick up the pigments, but straight from the pencil is perfectly fine, too.)
Restraint is of the essence here. Don’t wing it out; rather, stop lining at the farthest end of your natural lash line.
Top tip: Stick to a clean canvas for a super minimalist take: Just a kiss of nude blusher, maybe a little mascara, a slick of gloss on the lips. The beauty is in the perfect little imperfections: Hair that’s mussed up and not too “done”, lips that don’t appear lacquered on. Elegant, easy to pull off, and very “visionary”, in all senses of the word.
#2 WANT BIGGER EYES?
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Most of us with a glancing knowledge of makeup will know that white liner on your waterline, which is the pinkish rim around your eyes, will give the illusion of bigger eyes. Quick note: Selecting a liner with good glide is absolutely essential for waterlining – you don't want painful tugging along this delicate area of your eye.
Got your white liner at the ready? Here’s how to DI your eyes with makeup. As if you were inserting contact lens, use your ring finger to apply the gentlest of pressure to your lower lids. This will cause your lower waterline to protrude ever so slightly for easier application.
Starting from the inner corner and using a decisive hand, deftly trace around the contours of your lower waterline, then blink rapidly to transfer some of the white pigment to your upper waterline. This will create a diffused, more natural appearance. So easy!
#3 WANT A CONVERSATION-STARTING CAT-EYE?
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A fabulous feline flick is my instant pep-me-up: The jaunty tick at the outer edges gives downturned eyes a beguiling Botox-like lift. But instead of the conventional cat eye in blah browns and blacks, think blazing technicolour: That means the brightest hue you can find. Very kawaii, very kitschy, Hello Kitty.
Start by resting the tip of your pencil about two-thirds the way in from the outer corners to trace out the outer wing and where you want the “tick” to end. Now that you’ve got an outline of sorts, run over it with another generous coat, this time going at it on for a robust body.
With a lighter hand, skim the pencil tip over the inner half of the lid near the nose, tracing a whisper-thin line that tapers beautifully to meet the thicker end. Once the twain have met, use a windshield wiping motion to tidy things up so there are no visible breaks in the line. And you’re done. Good luck, and have fun!