How I Found the Best Liquid Eyeliner
I’m fiercely loyal to the items in my makeup bag (which, in case you’re wondering, is this Rebecca Minkoff monogram pouch). Try as I might to love Diorshow and Maybelline’s Great Lash, I always come back to L’Oreal’s Voluminous mascara (the one with the curved wand). And with the exception of a few dalliances with MAC, Benefit and Laura Mercier foundations, I’ve never strayed too far from Clinique’s Superbalanced Makeup. But the ultimate weapon in my beauty arsenal is my eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. Seriously, guys, you need to try this.
I’ve been sporting a liquid cat-eye for the past few years. Some days, it’s a subtle upturned flick at the edge of my eye; other days, it’s an ultra-mod thick line that extends waaay out. Depends on my mood (and how much time I’ve got on the train, as this is where I apply my makeup every morning).
Over the years, I’ve consulted with several makeup artists on which eyeliner they use, and the results have been varied: One artist uses MAC’s gel pot and brush. I tried this and found it lacked precision—sometimes, the brush would pick up too much gel and my eyes would turn out uneven. Plus, it’s tricky to apply on the fly (er, on the train). Another swore by Make Up For Ever’s bottle version. I wasn’t a fan of the brush, and it was super-hard to fix any mistakes (when that stuff dries, good luck getting it off). And still another sang the praises of Smashbox’s liquid pen. (I found that this one didn’t always have a smooth application.) Then I did the Drug Store Tour: Maybelline, L’Oreal, Covergirl. No, no and no.
Enter: Stila’s Stay All Day pen. It’s very much like using, well, an actual pen—the tip is super-fine and it goes on easily. I find that it’s much easier to wield this than a brush (especially on a bumpy train), and it’s a cinch to control the heaviness of the line. And it’s definitely waterproof: I turned Be Well Philly editor Emily onto it, and she swears it stays on even after a sweatfest (but it washes off pretty easily, too). The only downside is that the tip of the pen can dry out quickly (I get a new one every four months or so, but Emily—who doesn’t rock a cat-eye and wears considerably less than I do—has been using hers for over five months).
I score mine at Sephora and Ulta; they’re $20 and, I promise, well worth it. Now go forth and rock those cat-eyes.
