An Ode to Liquid Liner Pens

I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but I have a couple of post ideas stewing, and I plan to make more regular appearances around these parts.

Liquid liner is a fairly classic cosmetic item. It is classically striking, giving the wearer a solid line and shape to define and attract attention. It is also classically difficult to work with, requiring a steady hand and endless patience. And yet to me, there's nothing quite as striking as a classic cat eye, and nothing as satisfying as doing it yourself.

Enter liquid liner pens.

This particular cosmetic item can be hard to find, and upon discovery, quite finicky. It doesn't provide the pigmentation of a standard liquid liner, but the fact that it is essentially a felt-tip pen means that it is much easier to use/handle.

And today, mostly by accident I have found the most perfect use for it.


(click for larger)

That's my eye make-up from today, kept it simple in the searing heat. UD Yeyo 24/7 liner smudged around the eyes. I wanted to add a little definition, so I lined right against the upper lash line with the Stila black liner pen, curled my lashes and laid on the L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition mascara. Besides the fact that the L'Oreal mascara is amazing, the liner adds just enough definition without being too much for a casual look and manages to extend the lashline. By these powers combined, I look like I'm wearing false lashes, and bigger is better when you are wearing glasses all the time.

There are a few liner pens on the market but my experience is with the following:
Cover Girl Line Exact

I like this pen but it's got super weak pigmentation and it doesn't layer over itself well at all.

Stila Liner Pen

What I currently use. It doesn't have the pigmentation of a liquid liner but sometimes you want something more subtle.

I would like to try this with a pale shimmer on the lid (UD Snow, Sin, or Sellout) and dramatic lips, but it works just as well for a very casual look.

Lorac, Sephora and Kat Von D by Sephora also have liner pens out. I'm hesitant to try anything Sephora brand as I just had a bad reaction to their lip gloss, however the Lorac looks really nice.