Gel eyeliners are one of the myriad of options available when it comes to applying your eyeliner. Not to say that there aren’t a myriad of options when it comes to pretty much any cosmetic product, but you get my point!
So, why gel as opposed to pencil, powder or liquid eyeliners? Gel liners are a lot more flexible than many other types. Gel eyeliners allow for dramatic looks as well as more subtle, and it’s a tad easier than applying liquid liner. However, there is a trick and here’s how to avoid getting gunky clobs of gel on your lids.
In this breakdown, I’m using a Stila Smudge Pot, which is my favorite because the texture is just right and it doesn’t smudge, ironically speaking! I’m also using MAC’s #210 brush, which is PERFECTION. It may take some practice, but this thin liner brush works wonders and allows you to adjust the size of your liner — you can make it as thin or thick as you like!
Step 1: Dip your brush into the gel eyeliner container. Twirl it around and make sure you load a good amount of the gel onto your brush.
Hello, dry hands.
Step 2: Using the back of your hand as a palette, work the brush so that the product is evenly distributed and apply. If you need tips, check out my tutorial on applying liquid liner.
Step 3: Clean yo’ brush! I use a bit of MAC’s brush cleanser on a tissue, but will deep clean the brush once a week or so.
The cleansing of the brush afterward is the number one reason I avoid using gel liners, to be totally honest. However, I do often use darker colors as a base for smoky eyes. Speaking of smoky eyes, I’ll have to make a future Breaking Down Beauty on a quick and easy way to achieve them.
Do you include a gel eyeliner into your beauty mix?
My taste in makeup tends to revolve in cycles — there are times in my life where I feel the need to paint myself like a peacock and leave no bright color unturned. There are other times when I decide that minimialists win the race and walk out the door with barely anything, even though my undereye circles are crying out for some concealing.
Right now, at this junction of my life, I find myself at a cross between peacock and barely there … a more polished verson of myself with “oomph”, I guess you would say.
My inspiration? That clean, crisp style that often shows up on the red carpet, like Sandra Bullock, Kate Winselt, and Penelope Cruz.
What do these ladies have in common? Their makeup never overwhelms them, it accentuates them perfectly, and that’s what I aspire to right now.
That’s not to say I’m tucking my turquoise shadows away! My need to preen will come along again, soon enough!
I have the privilege of working with a amazing talent: she is the creative, aspiring, kind and very intelligent Tanisha Harper from Models of The Runway.
Recently I did her makeup for a Project Runway segment and had the second to discuss the Painted Ladies blog with her and found out she has a stylish blog titled Wardrobe Wire – check it out!
While working with Tanisha last week, we did a little interview and she shared some fantastic beauty tips. Thank you, Tanisha for helping inspire others with your beauty tips!
Painted Ladies: What is your favorite makeup look and why?
Tanisha: My favorite makeup look is dewy skin (no blush) with a “natural” smokey eye and nude/pink lips!
Painted Ladies: What has been the best experience you have had as a model? ( i.e. the trips, clothing, working with someone you admire?)
Tanisha: The best experience I have had as a model is simply just being one. It’s an amazing career to have. Some days I do photo shoots where I am lounging on the beach and enjoying the sun! Others I am jetting around from Mexico to Miami or New York to London. I smile, I pout, I pose, I walk….I would have to do all of this anyway and I am so thankful everyday that I am actually paid to do it!
Painted Ladies: What beauty item can’t you do without and why?
Tanisha: The beauty item I can’t do without is Aquaphor! It saves the day everytime. I use it on my lips, as a body moisturizer if I am in a bind, it helps to heal scars, is great for extremely dry skin (which I have) and sometimes I dab it on the corners of my eyes if my face is feeling dehydrated.
Painted Ladies: What was your first experience with makeup?
Tanisha: My first experience with makeup was a bad one. My girlfriends and I would pluck all of the hair out of our eyebrows and then draw them in with pencil. We would also wear heavy brown lip liner with frosted purple lipgloss. And yes, we thought we were the bomb!
Painted Ladies: Who are some of the top makeup artists and hairstylists you have had the pleasure of working with on shoots?
Tanisha: I have had the pleasure of working with top makeup artists like Collier Strong from L’oreal, Gregory Arlit from MAC cosmetics, Pat McGrath and hairstylists Warren Tricomi, Frederic Fekkai, and Oribe.
Painted Ladies: Now for a couple of wardrobe questions: what is you favorite shade of clothing?
Tanisha: My favorite shade of clothing is black!!!
Painted Ladies: Who is your favorite designer?
Tanisha: I have several favorite designers/brands: Tom Ford, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander Wang
Painted Ladies: Back to makeup — what would you tell to someone who just started wearing makeup who is to obtain a quick look?
Tanisha: To achieve a quick makeup look, I would advise using a compact powder foundation, mascara, a touch of blush, lipgloss and go!
Painted Ladies: What is your favorite tool in your brush collection?
Tanisha: My favorite tool in my brush collection is the eyebrow groomer. I have wild brows so it tames them down!
Painted Ladies: What tips do you have for aspiring models for their beauty looks?
Tanisha: My beauty tips for aspiring models is that less is more! Accentuate your features versus hiding them. If you have big beautiful eyes, don’t hide them with tons of eyeshadow. If you have great cheekbones, don’t be afraid to add a touch of contour to them to make them stand out more! Work with what you got and love it!
Today is Superbowl Sunday and I have to admit the only reason I know it’s Superbowl Sunday is because of all of the status updates relating to football flying all over Facebook.
While I won’t be watching the game, I’ll be galavanting about with my son, and I hope you all enjoy your Sunday!
After our fabulous April’s product rave, I decided to give this liner a try. After all, who doesn’t like an intense black liner? I also found that I loved the liquid liner from L’oreal as well, so I was excited about the prospect of having found the ultimate black pencil liner.
A couple first thoughts on this product:
-a perfectly dark, intense black (hard to find with drugstore brands)
-insanely smooooooth, easy application
I used this liner to ‘tightline’, which is when you apply liner into your lash line. It looked perfect and I was more than pleased with the pigmentation.
Until, of course, an hour later when I looked in the mirror and I had raccoon eyes. At work. After speaking to a couple of patients about their discharge instructions, the way they watched me speak prompted me to check myself in the mirror. Lo and behold, I had black streaks of the liner under my eyes. *sigh*
But see, that’s my problem when it comes to MY eyes. Is it my asian shaped eyes? Oily skin? Probably both. So it’s probably not the product, but my eyes that are the factor.
So with that, I recommend this to those who want a high quality, very pigmented liner. For those who may be like me, who easily suffer from raccoon eyes (waterproof or not!), keep on searching!
So to our readers– am I alone on this endeavor to find eyeliner that I can tightline with? Is there an eye product that you swear by that you can tightline with AND does not give you raccoon eyes?
Like I mentioned in my UNII Palette review, I really love palettes. Palettes take all the guessing work out of coordinating colors, and saves time from opening and closing multiple products. I bought TheBalm’s Shady Lady Palettelast summer completely on a whim. I was trying to get out of my rut of light brown, dark brown, and occasionally purple eye shadow. This palette had some safe neutral colors, but also some interesting blues and greens. I rarely buy anything from TheBalm, but I thought I’d branch out and give this a try (the animal print packaging didn’t hurt). Not only are the shadows silky and easy to apply, they were some of the most wearable blues and greens I had ever found. It features multiple colors in the same range, making a dimensional eye very accessible. I was so impressed, that when I saw Shady Lady Palette Volume 2, I had to pick it up.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 2 includes nine shades- four are shadows, while five more intense shades are named shadow/liners. While Volume 1 focused more on blue, green, and purple, this palette has a lot more neutral tones with major silver frost. If you like that semi metallic look, this is perfect.
My favorite thing is to use the neutral shadows first:
And then layer an intense color just on the lid:
So easy to use, especially for people afraid of bright color! Every shade has its own Shady Lady name. The most unique shades are Just This Once Jamie, a silvered rose, and Insane Jane, a shimmering gray taupe. I also love the vibrant green, Makeout Mary. The only downside is Caught in the Act Courtney, a rich chocolate brown with gold sparkle, is in Volume 1 as well as Volume 2. A few of these shades are sold separately for $16, but this palette is only $39.50, a $108 value.
On Sephora’s website, Volume 2 has 100% five star reviews. So pick up your palette today, and be your own Shady Lady! Just call me Kissin’ in the Kitchen Kate.
Along with Kathy Ireland Skincare’s body lotion from yesterday, I also tried out the Purifying Mud Cleansing Gel.
Fortified with Dead Sea Minerals, most notably the magnesium-rich MG48, the cleanser is intented to give your skin a little spa-style boost without taking up a lot of your time.
One thing I have to mention about the cleanser is that it does not take off makeup, so I’d recommend using a makeup remover beforehand. However, it did leave my skin feeling … well, great! You know how some cleansers can leave your skin feeling dry and tight? Not this one.
Priced at $15.99, it’s a bit steep for a cleanser, but if you’re looking to incorporate a spa-like treat to boost your skin without spa prices, this is a nice option.
Note: this product was offered as a press sample for us to review. Our reviews will always be 100% honest and upfront with our readers. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at paintedladies2009@gmail.com.
Besame Cosmetics is a rare company in today’s modern age. With colors, and textures, and packaging that call out to “Old Hollywood” style, you won’t find products as luxurious as these.
We rcently had the chance to talk to the company’s founder, Gabriela Hernandez, who happens to hold the distinction of being the first Latina woman to helm a major cosmetic company.
Their website is full of all kinds of interesting tidbits, including a section on the making of lipstick, which I encourage you to visit because it is just that cool!
Painted Ladies: As the first Latina to head a major cosmetics line, you are a groundbreaker. What encouraged you to start Besame in the first place?
Gabriela: I worked for many companies before starting my own because it was there that I gained all the knowledge necessary to do so. I was able to learn from other’s mistakes and set out a strategy that I knew could be successful. It also gave me the time to plan things well, since I still was able to make a living from my employer. I started my own company because I am a driven individual and as an entrepreneur I felt I could do things better, or differently than competitors. My goal was to be independent because I enjoy working for myself, even though it is sometimes harder than working for someone else. I wanted to bring back the glamour that I saw in the way my grandmother used cosmetics and the beautiful items she left me to inspire my designs.
The influence for the design comes from original lines in the 30s and 40s like Richard Hudnut, DuBarry, Harriet Hubbard Ayer, Hazel Bishop and other pioneers in the field of color cosmetics in the U.S. There are also many European influences in the designs, some Russian motifs and Art Deco touches. Femininity and allure were major considerations for the esthetic of the line.
Painted Ladies: Following up with that question, when you were deciding to make a cosmetics line, what encouraged you to develop products that recall that amazing “Old Hollywood” style?
Gabriela: I think women are looking back at the icons that defined femininity and wanting to re-capture that look. I think we have come full circle from the brights of the 80s and the nudes of the 90s to a classic look that never goes out of style. We also have a lot in common with those women, since the economic times, wars and overall instability greatly resembles the period of the great world wars. During these times we look for a simpler life, a simpler routine and a look that is in control.
Painted Ladies: I love (and my readers will love) that your products are paraben-free. How long was the process between coming up with the idea and then developing products that stood up to a high quailty standard?
Gabriela: My work is collaborative because my staff knows that I work as hard as they do and that I would never ask them to do anything I would not do. There is a mutual respect there, which I think is crucial to getting things done.
The process takes from 6 months to 1 year to develop a new item for the line. This all depends on how quickly we arrive at a formula we truly love and can develop original packaging for the product.
Painted Ladies: Do you have any advice for my readers who might be trying to start their own cosmetics line?
Gabriela: Make sure your concept is original, research thoroughly the market you plan to enter, and make sure you have enough capital to make it all happen.
Do your homework- Get as much information as you can about the industry and market you want to enter before you invest any capital.
Be prepared to work hard- Getting anything off the ground requires serious time and effort. If you cannot commit to this don’t start.
Know when to quit- work hard, but don’t be so focused it blinds you, make sure you are enjoying your life along the way. It is a journey, not a destination, so stop to smell the flowers.
Painted Ladies: Finally, some of my readers like the idea of red lipstick, but are a bit afraid of them. Do you have any product suggestion for those who are wanting to start out with red shades?
Gabriela: Red lips are still a sign of sexuality and glamour for women. Red is classic, and if worn well, is sophisticated, powerful and always in style. Powerful women have always worn some form of red on their lips. Just by wearing it, you feel powerful, more confident, and since it is a “look at me” color, more popular. For the office, a mild red is one that is not bright and goes toward a chocolate shade. Brick, or brownish reds are great with a nice suit for daytime. Orange reds are beautiful with print dresses for fun daytime looks. Deep blood reds are best with evening wear and special occasions with a beautiful up-do and simple jewelry. You can also tone down reds by mixing them with lip balm to get a light stain. Wearing reds as sheers is a good way to keep the look more natural and easy to wear.
I am a huge sucker for many cosmetic items, but nothing more so than something that promises any kind of smokiness on the eyes. Sexy smoky eyes? In a supposed flash? Oh, yeah – I am so there!
For that reason, I picked up the double-sided Smoky ShadowBlast in Onyx, which promises to make smoky eyes a cinch with a two-step process.
One side has a rounded silvery white base, aka Step 1, …
…and the other side is a chiseled shimmery black color, aka Step 2. They both have a lot of “slip” to them, which is a concern for my oily skin.
I used my foundation as my base, and did two different looks. One with the dark color all over the lid …
… and the other with the dark shadow in a sideways “v”.
Let me set the record straight now: this product is a piece of crap. I don’t like it and I cannot recommend it to anyone. It might work for people who have less oily skin, but for me, there is no way in Sam Hill that I will ever be able to build up the dark color in to anything resembling a smoky eye. Sorry, CoverGirl. Better luck next time.
Don’t say we don’t love you!
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