By Sheila
Ok, so I bought a fancy dancy new digital SLR camera recently, and one of the greatest things about it is that it allows me to take HD videos. I am so excited about it, and still learning how it works, so to break it in, I figured I’d do a little video tutorial on liquid liner.
Applying liquid liner can be scary; although I use it pretty much every day, there was a time in my life when I was thoroughly intimidated by it and it took quite a while before I became comfortable with it. I STILL make mistakes with it, but that’s the best part about makeup – it washes off!!!
So, here we go. Be kind – I was using a 50 mm lens, which is probably the wrong type of lens to use for this purpose, and taped in my kitchen, aka the Painted Ladies video studio. Hey, you gotta improvise. One day we’ll be fancier, but for now, this will do. 
As long as we get the message across, right? Sorry for the fuzzy product photos, in advance. Meep!
First, the video, and next, some photos to illustrate what I was doing. Enjoy!
Breaking Down Beauty: Liquid Liner
Cast of Characters:
MAC’s Phone Number Eye Kohl, on the right, which is a favorite for two reasons: the charcoal color is gorgeous, and also the pencil is a great consistency and soft enough that you don’t feel like you’re dragging a pencil all over your lid.
MAC’s Boot Black Liquid Liner, on the left, which is my holy grail liquid liner. I’ve been using it for so long and it works so well, mostly because it doesn’t flake off, as many liquid liners tend to do.
Step 1 - you can have lots of fun (sorry, couldn’t help myself): Use a pencil liner to trace out the liner look you’re going for. Really, any liner will work, this is the one I personally prefer. Use small strokes and place the liner as close to the eye as possible.
Step 2: Once you’ve gotten the “stencil” down, take out your liquid liner and slowly but surely trace over the line you’ve just created.
And, voila, you’ve done it!
As always, let me know if you have any questions, or if there’s something else you’d like us to tackle on “Breaking Down Beauty”!
Terrific tutortorial. It will really help people with their liner. I’m much better with liquid liner than a pencil liner! I wear either one. I wear the liquid if I want a darker and more dramatic. I also can find the blackest black liner in liquid.
I’m 33 years old and I’ve never used liquid liner because I really thought it was too scary and I’d find a way to mess it up. Sheila, I think you’ve given me the push I need to try it. Thank you for this tutorial!
I’m glad you like it, Laurie! It does get much easier over time!
Thank you, Lucy! I love, love, love liquid liner!
I would love to see how to apply a very liquid foundation (like MAC’s Face and Body foundation). I’m just now starting to build up my makeup collection. I’ve never worn foundation before, so I wanted to start using a foundation that was very sheer and buildable, but wouldn’t make me feel like I was all “done up”, per say
The best applicator for F & B are your fingers, with a brush coming in second place. I find that sponges absorb too much of the liquid-y foundation, but with the warmth of your fingers you get a smooth application that you can build up.
Great video Sheila! I love it. Another trick is to use a brush w/ whatever liquid liner and get the liquid pigment off of the applicator. I tend to not like the applicators in a lot of liquid liners.