I need black eyeliner like most people need oxygen. Melodramatic? Maybe. True? Entirely. I’ve had my bouts with pencil, I used to be a loyalist to the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (and still sometimes use), but I’ve developed a trust in liquid liner.
I’ve tried the array of brands that Sephora carries. Some proved decent but many caved to the normal complaints with liquid liner: it crumbles by the end of the day, it’s too severe-looking, it’s difficult to apply (because if you screw up, you’re screwed), etc.
I read about Tarte’s MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Liquid Liner (silly name, yes) and had a good feeling about it being the one. It glides on smoother than any other liquid liner I’ve ever experienced and it doesn’t clump up your lashes in the process. It claims to “enhance” lashes, and though I haven’t seem any progress, I’m just supremely happy that the liner does not get in the way of my lashes. The applicator makes this liner a champ: it does not drag or skip. It glides on smooth. Easy, like we all wish life could be. Like all of Tarte’s do-good products, this liner is made without parabens and synthetic dyes.
Glorious takeaways:
- Lasts all day
- Liner doesn’t conflict with your lashes
- Flexible applicator (thin tip makes a fine line, but you can also make it medium or thick just by pressing down)
- Smooth as butter (cliche, but yes, just yes)
You don’t know til you try. And trust me, you want to try. I’m really fond of cliches today, if you couldn’t tell. If you’re a slave to liquid liner like I am, this is an investment you’ll want to make.
$22 at Sephora
1) Benefit’s “They’re Real” Mascara — I’ve talked up this product like crazy recently, but it is seriously a must-have mascara. It NEEDS to be in your makeup bag, no if’s, and’s or but’s about it! It’s the best thing since sliced bread…or at least since Diorshow Blackout. For the full review, read on here. ($22)
2) Vera Wang’s Lovestruck Perfume — It’s very romantic and sweet, thus the name. I tried a sample about a week ago and it lingered, borderline sweet floral and kind of vanilla musk. Perfumes need to be tried on before bought, obviously, but if you like Princess by Vera Wang, you’ll like this as well. Consider it Princess’ sophisticated older sister (but only older by about 3 years). ($48)
3) Bobbi Brown Bronze Tortoiseshell Eye Palette — Bobbi’s new eyeshadow palette offers the most perfect neutral shades for autumn (but never dull neutrals, of course)! Think shimmery bronzes, creams, olives, chocolates and golds. Made for layering, not blending. Think of it as a relative to the Naked Palette. ($60)
4) DKNY’s Golden Delicious Perfume — If DKNY’s PR girl was a scent, this would be it. Glam, sophisticated, on-the-go and fun. It smells young without being too young and sweet without being too sweet. With apple, florals and sandalwood, this combination is a winner. ($42)
5) Too Faced Perfectly Pretty Set — I stumbled upon this Too Faced mini set on the Sephora website and realized what a great deal it was. It includes: a mini Lash Injection mascara, a mini Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer, a Primed & Poreless face primer and a cute little cosmetics bag. For about $16, you get all the glam necessities in a cute bag. Too Faced’s makes a great mascara, everyone needs a shadow primer (but not enough people use it) and a pore reducing primer is priceless (say that 5 times fast!). ($16.50 online only)
6) Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color — Tired of lipstick smearing off within an hour? Annoyed with lipgloss that constantly gets stuck to you hair? Urban Decay now makes a remedy in a quaint little pencil. It’s highly pigmented but also glossy, leaving lips nice and smooth but also fully colored in. UD offers pretty pinks, bright fuschias and fun orangey reds. The pencil is made with paraffin, which is used in hand creams as well to keep things smooth. ($19)
Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
Primer + Layers and Layers of Eyeshadow + Eyeliner + Liquid Eyeliner + Waterproof Mascara. Sound like your eye makeup routine?
If it does, then you know how impossible and annoying it is to remove it all. And luckily, Lancome knows too. They take their wonderful understanding and combat the nuisance of eye makeup removal with one easy formula. Dab a little on a cotton ball, swipe over your lids, and voila! (But really.)
Pros: efficient, cleans eye makeup (even waterproof) in a swipe or two, gentle (doesn’t dry out your skin in the process)
Cons: if you put too much of it on the cotton ball you can definitely fall victim to a little excess greasy residue (so be sure to remove eye makeup before washing your face and not after)
$26 for 4.2 oz (at Lancome counters in select department stores)
