Dee's Beginners Guide to Mastering Liquid Liner

I can't think of a single eye shape, colour or size that doesn't suit top-liner. It instantly adds depth and definition to your eyes. Ok, "that's great", you're thinking, "but we're not all make-up artists". Pfft! Of course we are! With a little direction and a helping hand with technique, you can be your own make-up artist :)

So here is my step-by-step beginners guide to liquid liner application...

First, my tools...

1. The Body Shop Liquid Liner in black (I love this one as it goes on and stays on! Also a nib instead of a brush makes application so much easier)

2. My hand (what? it counts as a tool!) 

Now for the application. Follow these steps exactly and I guarantee you'll be surprised how easy this is!

1. Tip the end of the liner nib into the corner of your eye and make sure the entire nip sits exactly at the same angle as your eye lid. Press the nib onto your lid gently, using the whole side of the nib and then away. This is your starting point!

2. From this point, mark a tiny dot with the end of the nib a couple of millimeters along from your starting point, right against your lash line. Keep putting these dots every few millimeters along your lid. Mar your very last dot at the exact point your lid ends (By now you'll be getting my 'paint-by-numbers gist ;)

You should have something that looks like this...

3. Ok and you're done! Just kidding - this obviously looks ridiculous! Bare with me! :) Now go back between your starting point and your first dot. Hold the nib sideways along the lid (as we did in step 1) and use one gentle press to link the starting point to the first dot.

4. Do this the whole way along until all of your dots are joined up. Don't worry if its not neat at this point. Just make sure for now that there's no gaps between the dots and no gaps between the complete line and your lashes. If there are, fill them in using gentle presses of the end of the nib.

5. Now to tidy up a bit! Using the same nib pressing technique, go back and fill over any 'bumps'. Avoid sweeping the nib as this can lead to mistakes. So for example if two dots you've joined aren't level, press your nib into the 'bump' to level it out. Now you should have something a little like this...

6. Now for the flick! By now you should have a relatively smooth line and you've gone back and dabbed over it to make it even. Don't worry if its not perfect - this is your first attempt and you're doing awesome!
Now take the nib and instead of pointing it inward toward the eye as we've been doing, point it outward from the very end of your line toward the end of your eyebrow. Press the nib gently down once. Using the nib in this way allows the whole side of the nib to draw you a perfect line and makes things to much easier.

This should look like this...

7. Now you see where we're going. Now all that's left to do is join you 'flick' to the rest of the line. Again, rely on the side of the nib to do this. Start the nib on the flick, and press the side of it between your line and the flick to fill in the gap.

8. Look back over the whole line. If you see any bumps or raises, even them out with the end of the nib. This should roughly be what your line looks like...

You've done it!! Now throw on some concealer under your eye and mascara on your lashes and your look is complete :)

No one ever said that top liner had to be done in one fast swoop or in one go! Take your time and do it all in steps.

As you do this more and more you'll find that instead of 'dabbing' between the dots, you can sweep the nib across your lid. You'll also find that eventually you'll need no dots at all!

Give it a try - be your own liner pro!

Send us your update shots of your new beautifully lined eyes :)

Dee
xxx

P.S. If you want us to write a guide on any hair and make-up hang ups you have give us a shout.