Eyeliners are one of those products that are notoriously hard to get right. Too watery, too smudgy, too thick, unweildy brushes. The list is so long that many give up altogether, claiming that they don't have the 'steady hand' required to create decent eye definition.
But this autumn, eyes are going to be darker and smokier than ever, so you really do need to get the hang of eyeliner. Fortunately, Urban Decay have released a product that might just help - even for the most reluctant user. Ink for Eyes uses a brush and a solid block of high-pigment liner to achieve its effects, and I found this made application far easier and more precise.
Read on for the full review
Continue reading >>
They say that eyes are the windows to the souls, and it was believed that through peering at your pupils you could read someones true feelings. This makes framing them ever so important, as lashes and brows can really define your face. Years of zealous over plucking had left me with sparse looking brows with little shape, and I relied heavily on my trusty brow pencil. However I was sick of penciling in my brows and was looking for a more permanent solution. The EF Medispa looked like it could be the answer to my problems.
Dunja, their on-site specialist has a a reputation for creating perfectly shaped brows, and her client book includes a list of celebrity fans, including a Slumdog Millionaire beauty! I knew I'd be in good hands with her, and I headed down to Kensington for my first appointment. To start with she assessed the shape of my brows, and asked me what I was looking for. I've previously had my eyebrows tattooed and loved the results, but it had faded and now looked uneven- and I wanted two matching eyebrows that were well defined!
See pictures after the jump.
Continue reading >>
One makeup trend that's really stood out during London and New York fashion week is the revival of smoky, winged eyeshadow styles. The sultry, eighties-influenced look seen here at Marc Jacobs' show is strikingly effective when done right but you'll look like you've been punched in the face if you get it wrong.
To get the look you'll need to use plenty of eye pencil to line the eyes before getting seriously smudgy with some shadow (pale slate grey works best). I'd recommend Elizabeth Arden's smoky eyes powder eye penceil in 'gunmetal' for the liner, accompanied with something smoky yet intense. MAC's grey eyeshadow quad should do the job nicely.
Related: Runway Rundown: Luella S/S 2010 at London Fashion Week | Runway Rundown: Marc Jacobs S/S 2010 at New York Fashion Week
Urban Decay's liquid eyeliners have been around for a while now, but I'm taking mine out of the vault of favourite seasonal products for what I expect will be heavy usage in coming weeks!
I've got the 'honey' liquid liner from this range, which is a must-have at this time of year for creating those golden, shimmery autumn leaf tones. It works either on its own or painted on top of darker shades, it creates a storming rock chick look.
What's best about this product is how tidy and easy it is to use compared with most liquid liners: the brush is so precise you can even use it to draw dots along your eyelids with alternate black ones for a fabulous 'striped' look. Later in the season, the electric blue shade is going to be huge, so get your orders in now to avoid disappointment!
£12 at Debenhams
Ever wanted the stark yet delicate eye definition of the traditional geisha girl? It's not a look we all want to aim for (in fact, I seem to recall being sent back to the bathroom by my mother on more than one occasion for nailing this 'look' a bit too accurately), but for those who can pull it off, sharply contrasted eyeliner can be dramatic and alluring. And if you fall into that category, Jelly Pong Pong may just have a treat for you.
Available from November is their super pointy, 'extreme precision' Geisha eyeliner, which is a thick liquid liner designed for a razor sharp effect. Enriched with date palm which is said to prevent creasing around the eye area, it looks like it's going to be pretty spesh. Look out for it at Jelly Pong Pong [Via British Beauty Blogger]
Related: Nicola Roberts' and Jelly Pong Pong's 'Dainty Doll' range for pale skin | Jelly Pong Pong's new catalogue and deluxe gift bags are to die for
Review: You and Eye 'Eye Perfection' semi-permanent eyeliner
I have to admit that the combination of the words 'semi-permanent' and 'liquid eyeliner' sent a bit of a shiver down my spine before I tried this product. I've not got the steadiest hand in the world and have never quite perfected the fine art of eyeliner application. How would I cope with a product I couldn't instantly remove?
The first thing I noticed about the pen itself was the firmness of its fibre tip: this made application far easier than using a bruch or pencil, so it's actually great for those of us who find it hard to draw a straight line. When I did slip up, a quick dab with some makeup remover got rid of the marks as quickly as with any liner, so I was free to experiment. I was particularly impressed by its ability to draw a tiny, fine line underneath the eyelid - the trickiest area of all!
One done, I really like the effect created by the Eye Perfection pen: it gives a slightly dusky look, which does stay on all day - even withstanding my afternoon swimming session; the colour fading only slightly which made for a pleasantly subtler look afterwards. I'd definitely recommend this as a great everyday liner that's easy to apply, long-lasting and muted enough for daytime wear.
£14.95 at Ideal Beauty
While DivaDerme's Lash Extender may look like an ordinary mascara, it's tagline "Lashes in a Bottle" is in fact the literal truth - open up the tube, and instead of slick black mascara, you'll find millions of tiny hair fibres waiting to be applied to your lashes. The idea is to elongate and add volume, without the need for gluing on false lashes.
The Italian brand have crafted the tiny strands with care - each one is infused with Vitamin E, panthenol, and herbal extracts, and they're safe for contact lens users. One road-test later, have my lashes achieved incredible lengths?
Click through to find out how I fared with Lash Extender...
Continue reading >>
digg this |
del.icio.us this
| 
Stumble It!
