By Sheila Arkee
Kate’s recent videos reminded me that it’s been a long, long while since I’ve made a video tutorial. Whoops! Time just flies by, you know!
What better occasion than a Breaking Down Beauty with a focus on the pencil brush. Here’s a video, and following, a pictoral breakdown.
I’ve discussed my favorite, basic brushes in the past, but what about those other brushes you might run into and aren’t quite sure of how to use?
The pencil brush is one of those mysterious types – it looks interesting, but when you get down to business, how exactly should you use one?
They’re smaller than the average eye makeup brush, somewhat stiff, and shaped, well, like a pencil-tip. I like them for a couple of purposes – for smudging out eyeliner and creating a subtle, smokey eye, and also for getting a really defined crease.
The pencil brush I use is MAC’s #219. It’s made of goat hair and works great. I also own one by Kevyn Aucoin, which is super soft, maybe a little too soft for my liking, as well as a slightly larger and softer generic brush, which is good for blending.
Smudging Your Liner
For smudging out your liner, I suggest starting with a very soft liner. I used MAC’s Teddy Kohl, which is one of my all time favorite liners.
I used MAC’s Corduroy – a dark matte brown – as the blending shadow. I dipped the pencil brush in the powder shadow, and then proceded to blend, blend, blend away, using circular motions. You won’t erase the liner color, so don’t be afraid to get in there and blend!
Voila!
Defining Your Crease
Using the same shadow color, MAC’s Corduroy, I place the brush on the outer corner of my eye, and proceed to use circular motions to blend slightly above my actual crease.
Blend, blend, blend.
The result will be sharper than if you were to use a larger, blending brush. If the final product is a bit too sharp for your taste, you can always go in with a fluffier brush and blend away.
Not bad, eh?
As far as the colors used, wait a couple hours for day 64/365 Days of Eyeshadow. 
Ooo, I’m getting one!
OMG! This is such a cool coincidence. I just bought a 219 today. I was planning to use it for my outer corner/crease, because my brow is really heavy and a lot of brushes typically used for that purpose don’t fit in there. I think it would also work really nicely for applying shadow to the lower lid or inner corner as well.
Miss Boom – You will love yours!
Deb – I was thinking of you when I wrote the post!
Yes, it is great for those purposes, as well!
What a coincidence, I just did a quick look using just a pencil brush
even the lid colour
We all have a psychic connection … lol … you know some say there are no such thing as coincidences! I love your eye looks, btw.
I use mine for applying some shadow under my outer lower lashes. I use a darker brownish color depending on the day, and i line my very inner lower lash line with gold glitter liner and soften it with my finger, to brighten my eyes:)
Sounds gorgeous, Meta!