When I decided to start my “Beauty Vault” series, I don’t think I actually realized what I was going to find: items I didn’t even remember owning, for one. Liners, both eye and lip, come in so many forms and colours, and can either be exceptionally versatile or ridiculously frivolous, something I learned as I began inventorying my own collection. I was surprised at several that I did own (what-was-I-thinking-moments), and wondering why I didn’t have others (why-don’t-I-have-more-gel/liquid-liner-moments), and so this post became rather informative for me…as well as cathartic! All liner swatches have been applied on foundation primed skin (Guerlain Lingerie de Peau #03 Beige Naturel – not yet reviewed).
Black liners: (left to right)
- CHANEL ‘Ebène’ Stylo Yeux Waterproof
- Giorgio Armani #4 Smooth Silk Eye Pencil
- Urban Decay ‘Zero’ 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
- Stila Onyx ‘Kajal’ Eye Liner
- YSL #1 Long-lasting Eye Pencil
No matter your skin tone and/or eye colour, a black eye liner pencil is an absolute MUST in your makeup arsenal. Its versatility is unquestioned, as it can be used both above and under your lashes, and makes eyes simply stand out when applied to the waterline. A softer version, like the Armani (2nd from left), glides effortlessly on skin without pulling or tugging, and lends itself well to be being smudged, while a waterproof one like the CHANEL (1st from left), is perfect for the waterline, when you want your liner to stay in place. The Urban Decay (middle) turned out to be less dense than I originally believed it to be, while the Stila (2nd to last from right) had unbelievable pigmentation and was almost impossibly soft, although it has a tendency to migrate more as a result of its texture. The YSL was part of a GWP (gift with purchase), and as such, I have yet to use it, but in swatching it, I noticed that it seemed much rougher-feeling than the others and needed more pressure to properly apply – not preferred when dealing with the eye area.
Teal liners: (left to right)
- MAC ‘Float On By’ Eye Khol
- MAC ‘Blue Noon’ Powerpoint Eye Pencil
- MAC ‘So There Jade’ Powerpoint Eye Pencil
- MAC ‘Minted’ Eye Khol
- MAC ‘Out To Sea’ Powerpoint Eye Pencil
- MAC ‘Bankroll’ Pearlglide Eye Liner
- Urban Decay ‘Flipside’ 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils
I confess to having a total weakness for the colour teal, and when it comes in the form of shimmery eye liners, I’m sold. The first two liners (from the left) are from MAC’s excellent 2010 & 2011 summer collections respectively, and while they appear almost identical, there were slight variances in the density of pigment, as well as one leaning slightly bluer than the other. My first teal-ish pencil, was MAC’s ‘Out To Sea’ (5th from the left), and while it’s almost a sky blue by comparison as well as non-metallic, it looks amazing on the waterline, albeit difficult to have it stay in place there. The Urban Decay (last on the right) is once more the softest gliding of them all, as well as the longest-lasting. MAC’s ‘So There Jade’ (3rd from the left) and ‘Bankroll’ (2nd in from the right) were somewhat disappointing, as I found the colour payoff did not meet my expectations with regards to waterline application, and thus better suited to lining over and/or under the eye. MAC’s ‘Minted’ (center) is a simply stunning jewel like jade hue with great versatility, pigmentation and application – a keeper!
Hybrid-coloured & shimmery liners: (left to right)
- MAC ‘Grey Utility’ Powerpoint Eye Pencil
- MAC ‘Mystery’ Khol Power Eye Pencil
- Urban Decay ‘Gunmetal’ 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
- CHANEL #47 ‘Rose Platine’ Stylo Yeux Waterproof
A deep grey pencil such as MAC’s ‘Grey Utility’ (1st from the left) is always been my go-to standard when I want the look of a dark liner, but nothing as harshly stark as black. MAC’s ‘Mystery’ completely intrigued me when it was released (Blue Storm Collection 2007), a deep grey with teal flashes, and while I had forgotten about it, I am positive that I will definitely be putting it to good use now. Urban Decay’s ‘Gunmetal’ was surprisingly not as metallic nor as deep as I wished it to be, and after reading rave reviews about CHANEL’s ‘Rose Platine’, I admit that it’s a lovely shimmery taupe blend, but not as versatile as I was led to believe – yet still an interesting mix of shimmery taupe and rose, excellent for a more jazzed up daytime look, or for lining the inner eye corner.
Purple toned liners: (left to right)
- Sephora #11 ‘Silver Green’
- MAC ‘Iris Accents’ Softsparkle Eye Pencil
- MAC ‘Blue Yonder’ Eye Khol
- MAC ‘Industrial’ Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner
Interestingly enough, though none of the above liners actually qualify as a true “purple”, they all seem to bear hints of that colour just the same. The Sephora liner (1st from left) was part of a birthday gift (a perk of their points program) and while the pencil itself looks rather aqua, it applies more like a muted gunmetal-blue colour, with a very soft formula. I’m actually a touch nervous to use the sparkly MAC (2nd from left) anywhere where the glitter could actually get into my eye (inner corner, near waterline) and so I’ve rarely used it, although I can see it really adding some extra oomph to an eye look, strategically placed on the upper lashline right above the iris. MAC’s ‘Blue Yonder’ (2nd to last) had decent pigmentation, but it was ‘Industrial’ (last on right) that was the true winner of this bunch: a unique & wearable colour, exceptionally creamy application with great staying power.
Blue & brown liners: (left to right)
- Lancome ‘Bleu Bébé’
- Dior ‘Azure Blue’
- Urban Decay ‘Bourbon’ 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils
- YSL Perfecting Eye Pencil
- Lancome Le Crayon-Khol ‘Acajou’
- CHANEL ‘Violet Smoke’ Precision Eye Definer
Apart from Urban Decay’s ‘Bourbon’ (3rd from the left) and CHANEL’s ‘Violet Smoke’ (last on the right), the above liners are all basically a case of “what-was-I-thinking-itis”. Pale blue is not a colour I EVER go for, and I imagine that I must have bought it for a specific look – that’s how long it’s been sitting in one of my makeup drawers. As these are not shades (with the exception of the afore-mentioned) that I prefer for the most part, they will not be with me for much longer…no need to go into more detail about these!
White & neutral liners:
- MAC ‘Fascinating’ (left)
- MAC ‘Chromagraphic’ Pencil NC15/NW20 (right)
Just like a black pencil, white is another shade that comes in handy when it comes to liners, and before I had even heard of MAC’s Chromagraphic line of pencils, I would use the white on the waterline when I wanted a wider and/or brighter eye look. The issue is that white, not being anyone’s natural skin tone, can actually look quite harsh. The Chromagraphic pencil with its wonderfully gliding formula, on the other hand, not only works so much better at achieving a more natural look when placed on the waterline, but used on the inner corner of the eye, does an excellent job of giving a clean, yet totally refreshed look to the entire face. This one has not only replaced the way I used the white pencil, but is one of my new favourites as well.
Lip liners: (left to right)
- MAC ‘Stripdown’
- MAC ‘Oak’
- MAC ‘Cherry’
- MAC ‘Currant’
- MAC ‘Nutmeg’
- Bobbi Brown ‘Chocolate’
- Bobbi Brown ‘Rose’
- LORAC -unnamed
Lipliners can be a scary thing: an image that comes to mind is of lipstick worn off, leaving behind a telltale lipliner ring along your lips…not very attractive! But lipliner can be more than that; to begin with, investing in a nude shade that is close to your natural lip colour, is a good start. If you want to ensure your lipgloss lasts longer, one trick is to line and completely colour your lips with the nude pencil first, then add the gloss on top. When wearing a paler lipstick shade, a nude pencil adds a subtle definition and finishing to your lips. Next, as most women own at least one red lipstick, a great red liner such as MAC’s ‘Cherry’ (3rd from left) as well as one that matches both your chosen lip shade as well as your skin tone, is also mandatory for a classic look – and to prevent your lipstick from feathering and/or bleeding into any fine lines surrounding your lips. I own several dark lipsticks, from highly pigmented to rather sheer ones, and while I don’t wear them all that often, I like to keep a dark liner such as MAC’s Currant (4th from the left) on hand for more precision work. The rest of the liners in the swatch above, are all quite old, and even though pencils don’t really need to be thrown out, I find the shades to be quite dated and so they’ll be culled from the herd as well. It must be noted that the last shade on the right, is so incredibly creamy that it can almost double as a lipstick, but unfortunately, I find it much too soft to be used for precise liner detailing.
Chubby liners: (left to right)
- NARS ‘Roxy’ Glitter Pencil
- YSL Powder Creme Pencil #5
- YSL Powder Creme Pencil #6
I don’t really understand chubby liners; in my opinion, the thicker point of these pencils would actually work against you achieving any kind of detailed work. The NARS liner was definitely a spur of the moment purchase, as I later found out that the colour didn’t work well with my skin tone and as for its glitter, it applied rather sparsely, leaving behind a gritty finish. The YSL pencils, while much creamier in formulation, have been in “cold storage” for many years now (gulp!) and even though their application is smoother, I found the shades themselves rather chalky in appearance. Interesting concept, but not very versatile in my opinion.
MAC Shadestick liners: (left to right)
- ‘Silverbleu’
- ‘Nurture’
- ‘Corn’
I have had these Shadesticks by MAC for quite some time now, and while I have managed to put ‘Nurture’ (center) to good use, the other two remained largely forgotten. I can see ‘Silverbleu’ (left) working well under a similar-toned eye shadow, to add depth and extra staying power, but ‘Corn’, while workable in the same fashion, can look rather gaudy when used on its own. Even still, I do like the smooth formula of these and the fact that they come in a retractable pen style, ensuring the product stays cleaner as well as more protected, makes them a win for me.
MAC Liquidlast liners: (left to right)
- ‘Purple’ (name faded)
- ‘Aqualine’
- ‘Molten Sol’
As the name implies, these liquid liners are meant to last quite a while, but as it’s been probably years since I last wore them long enough to judge, I can’t really say for sure how long they actually do last. One thing I can mention, is that even though they’ve been with me for quite some time, their colours are still as vibrant today as when they were first purchased, and the formula has not thickened with time at all. Their fine-tipped and narrow brush, means you can apply a very precise line if desired, but it can easily be built up for a thicker, more winged look. While not as functional as a dark shade, coloured liquid liners like this are also lovely on their own when paired with a glossy neutral lip and plenty of mascara for a “clean” yet notice-me look.
MAC Glitter Eye liners: (left to right)
- ‘Oxidate’
- ‘Her Glitz’
- ‘Peacocky’
- ‘Pinkphonic’
- ‘Girl Groove’
Obviously, glitter liners are more a novelty/evening item, than something you can use daily, and I began my little collection with MAC’s ‘Peacocky’ (center), primarily because of the colour. It also happens to be the one glitter liner I did use quite a bit of, primarily above the iris for emphasis & along the outer edge of the eye for a different take on a “cat-eye” look, but upon swatching it, to my dismay, I found that it has clumped and dried up – with the same fate having occurred to ‘Oxidate’ (left). ‘Her Glitz’ (2nd from left) and ‘Girl Groove’ (far right) from MAC’s 2009 Hello Kitty Collection, are still very viable and wear exceptionally well; ‘Her Glitz’ looks amazing on its own, while ‘Girl Groove’ has transformative powers when layered over shadow liners, and so they will definitely be sticking around, although I don’t see any more glitter liner additions to my collection in the foreseeable future.
I’ve included this flash shot of the glitter liner swatches, in order to highlight their prismatic reflections – so pretty & festive looking!
MAC Greasepaint Stick: ‘French Quarter’
MAC Superslick Liquid Eye Liner: ‘Treat Me Nice’
MAC ‘Rapidblack’ Penultimate Eye Liner
Liquid eye liners: (left to right) YSL The Black Eyeliner, Dior #174 ‘Sparkling Purple’ Intense Liquid Eyeliner.
Pen & Liquid liners: (left to right)
- MAC Greasepaint Stick ‘French Quarter’
- MAC Superslick Liquid Liner ‘Treat Me Nice’
- MAC ‘Rapidblack’ Penultimate Eye Liner
- YSL The Black Eyeliner
- Dior #174 ‘Sparkling Purple’ Intense Liquid Eyeliner
From the above five swatches, the product that continues to be exceptionally useful to me, is MAC’s ‘Rapidblack’ Penultimate Eyeliner (2nd from left). From its felt-pen like tip, to the comfortable wand, this is the most goof-proof way to apply liquid liner, especially for anyone who fears not having a steady hand. Part of MAC’s permanent range, I highly recommend this pen for its ease of use, great density of pigment and long-lasting wear. The Greasepaint Stick (left) from MAC’s 2010 Venomous Villains Collection, is an item I have yet to make good use of, although I find its finish intriguing; a little dirty-looking, I can see it working well for a smudgy bedroom-eyes look, with its subtle bronze glints adding that extra touch. The deep shimmery emerald green on MAC’s ‘Treat Me Nice’ (center) from MAC’s 2010 Fabulous Felines Collection, with its highly defined pointed felt tip and intense pigmentation, is another creative way to line the eyes with a touch of colour, without ever looking too overdone. The YSL black (2nd in from the right) was my first black liquid liner, and it shows: the formula has thickened somewhat and the brush splays upon application – time to put this one to rest. Finally, Dior’s #174 ‘Sparkling Purple’ from the 2009 Christal Boréale Collection, may have started out life much denser, but upon swatching, I discovered that the formula has not only thinned, but it also looks like the colour has changed. Still, I do like this new shade and so, it may just hang around a bit longer.
Final thoughts: Obviously, I have a large amount of MAC liners in various formats; this used to be my go-to brand for many years, as I found the colours highly innovative and the price point convenient. Now, however, with such an assortment of brands and formulations to choose from, I’m more interested in seeing what else is available. From doing this inventory, I realized several things: A) I had been holding on to many liners that should have been thrown out long ago, B) apart from a very select few, I don’t prefer wearing coloured liners, whether they be pencil or liquid, C) I need to redefine what colours I wish to continue wearing, and finally D) having snubbed gel liners in the past, they are now on my “to try” list. I should also give a special mention to both Latoya of Beauty-Obsessed and Liz of Beauty Reductionista, two completely “real” and amazing ladies, who were my inspiration behind this post; I have you to thank (blame?!) for helping me see things as they really are…and learn about what’s missing! Total tally: 55 assorted liners (with approximately 10 that were thrown out before I even began this post), leaving me with 39 that I will actually hold on to (for now!), and the rest to be retired.
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