Back-to-School Beauty: Colored Eyeliner Three Ways
Photo: Zoltan Tombor / Hair: Tamas Tuzes / Makeup: Deanna Melluso / Stylist: Janelle Olsen / Model: Stacey Grant
Graphic eyeliner was a huge trend on the fall runways. From Chanel to Oscar de la Renta to Thierry Mugler, designers used edgy eyeliner as an accessory of sorts. Off the catwalk, liner can be a quick and creative way to enhance your look, day or night. The latest trend is colorful liner, with brands at all price points selling striking yet astoundingly wearable shades like blue and purple. A quick flick can elevate the most simple outfit to a killer look. We enlisted celebrity makeup artists Vincent Oquendo (he works with Ciara and Gigi & Bella Hadid), and Kristin Hilton (she makes up Elisabeth Moss and BANKS) to share their tips and tricks for using colored eyeliner.
Bold, colorful liner can transform your whole look. (Photo: Zoltan Tombor / Hair: Tamas Tuzes / Makeup: Deanna Melluso / Stylist: Janelle Olsen / Model: Kristina O’Connor)
Dramatic, exaggerated liner
“The thing I love about colored liner is you can be very adventurous with it,” says Oquendo. “The only colors I am cautious with are pinks and reds because those tend to make the eyes look red or irritated. You could easily remedy that by using a black eyeliner under the pink or balance out the look with lots of mascara.” Hilton agrees that experimentation is the way to go. “After all, you’ll never know what works best unless you try it out, right? Try different things but ultimately do what makes you feel your best,” says Hilton. She suggests Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Eyeliner ($24) which come in a variety of colors.
Applying cat-eye liner is easier than you think. (Photo: Zoltan Tombor / Hair: Tamas Tuzes / Makeup: Deanna Melluso / Stylist: Janelle Olsen / Model: Kristina O’Connor)
Perfect your cat eye
“If there is anything I hear from my clients often it’s, ‘I wish I could master a cat eye,’ says Hilton. “I always say that practice makes perfect. If you do it every day for a month I guarantee your skills will improve.” She also has a clever tip. “Place scotch tape in the desired area of where you want your winged liner to angle. Start by going as close to the lash line as possible lining the top of the lashes inner corner to outer corner with your liner pen, and continue to trace the upper line of the tape to create the wing. Thicken the wing little by little till it’s to your desired shape.”
Two lines are better than one. (Photo: Zoltan Tombor / Hair: Tamas Tuzes / Makeup: Deanna Melluso / Stylist: Janelle Olsen / Model: Stacey Grant)
Graphic double liner
A cool twist on the cat eye, try extending both your upper and lower liner. It may seem tricky, but it’s all about picking easy-to-use liners. “I find the Shiseido eyeliner pens make lining easier than a brush for the makeup novice,” says Hilton. To play up your eye color, Hilton says using a shade on the opposite end of the color wheel is great for contrast — like this purple shade on green eyes. “For green eyes, coppers, plums, and reddish tones will really make your eyes sparkle,” says Hilton. “For blue eyes try gold and reddish tones. For brown eyes anything goes: Rich cobalt blue, bronze, reddish, and purples will really add a pop.”
And don’t worry about making mistakes
Oquendo relies on some clever beauty tools to prevent — and clean up — mistakes. “My best tip for creating graphic clean lines are pointed cotton swabs,” he says Oquendo. His secret weapon for touch-ups? Make Up For Ever Sens’Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser ($24). “It is creamy and non-greasy so it doesn’t melt all your hard work.”
Related:
Go for Bold: Try a Colorful Eyeliner
