If you knew me in real life, you’d know that I smile a lot and, most of the time, have a pretty friendly face.
Like, for instance, I’m one of those people who always get asked for directions in the street. I even got asked for directions in Copenhagen, even though I don’t exactly look like your typical Danish girl, right?
But if you knew me really well, then you’d also know that I’m not always that easy to approach… I mean, if I don’t want to be approached, I know how to make sure no one does it.
Like, at my old job, I was friends (or at least friendly) with most of my colleagues, but there were a couple of fake, toxic people I really couldn’t stand.
Whenever I wanted to be 100% sure they wouldn’t bother me, I’d make my “I’ll-take-no-sh*t” face, and they wouldn’t even dare come near me.
Basically, I’d never take my eyes off the computer screen, and just look like I was very, VERY pissed off. I swear it always worked.
A L W A Y S.
In case the “I’ll-take-no-sh*t” face sounds like something you may want to try, let me suggest the perfect makeup to go with it…
Well, it’s the smudged liner look! Strictly in black.
Listen to me — if you ever need a little help with your “don’t-you-dare-come-near-me” face, put your black kohl to good use, and you’ll instantly feel more bada$$, I promise! 😉
Here’s what I do to make sure I get a perfectly imperfect smudged liner look.
First of all, I grab a black kohl pencil, an unscented lip balm (or Vaseline, or even clear gloss), a couple of Q-tips, and a pencil brush.
Then, I take a tiny bit of lip balm with my finger, rub my thumb and finger together, and twist the Q-tip in between. The Q-tip doesn’t have to be super greasy, but just a little slippery. It’s a trick I learnt from an old Lisa Eldridge tutorial, and it makes smudging the liner pretty effortless.
I start by lining my lower water- and lashline and smudging the line with the Q-tip (I work on one eye at a time to make sure the pencil doesn’t set before I get to smudge it). Sometimes, I repeat the process if I feel like I need it.
Then, I line the upper waterline and, after tracing a thick line along the lashline, I smudge it with the pencil brush, making sure I drag some of the pencil up towards the crease. On my upper lashline I prefer using a pencil brush instead of a Q-tip, but it’s really up to you what you want to use.
To create even more of a gradient, I trace a thin line very close to the lashes and soften it with the brush without overblending.
And there you have it — the perfectly imperfect smudged liner look!
Are you a smudged liner kinda gal? And how do you make sure people leave you alone if for some reason you don’t want to be approached?
People ask me for directions CONSTANTLY. Locals. Tourists. Doesn’t matter where I am. I don’t mind though. They are fortunate that I really do know where I am, and how to get where they are going.
See? we New Yorkers aren’t all that mean!! 😀
It doesn’t just happen to me, then!
Yep, perfect bada$& look. I’ve never tried this & I’m not quite sure I can pull it off. But that won’t stop me from trying! It looks great on you! 🙂
Yeah, do give it a go! One of the good things about makeup is that you can just wash it off if you don’t like it! 😉
I have a resting b*tch face, so no one usually comes near me unasked. Even though I am pretty friendly.
But that look! You are very welcome in my biker gang.
Haha, awesome!
Even my “I hate you” face is not mean enough lol. People still try and talk to me. 😛
Haha, yeah, some people just can’t look mean. I tried to teach this face to one of my ex-colleagues, but he just couldn’t do it. People would always bother him, LOL!
*gasp!* You rock this look!
Haha, thanks Raeanne! I guess it’s because I had years to perfect it. 😉
I, too, suffer from a life-long case of resting bitch face, but GRAZIE INFINITAMENTE for giving us the best makeup look one could ever hope to pair with it. Favorite post of yours so far!
Thank you, A, it’s so good to hear you liked it! 🙂
Omg! I can’t believe that someone across the world thinks the same way.. i wear this exact eye look wenever i feel bold and strong.. it’s like red lipstick or high heels for other ppl.. lol! Strange but true!
Haha, yeah! I really love red lipstick and high heels, too, though. 😉
Ha, love this post! & you totally rock that look!
Hi Susan! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
Working in retail for three years definitely helped me develop my RBF, lol. I go with a strong cat eye, though, smudged eyeliner never seems to work for me. I think it’s from wearing glasses :/
I’m sure working in retail teaches you many life lessons, LOL.
Love!!! Awesome post as others have said (I’m late to the party)! Thanks, I’ve been feeling a bit rock and roll for some time now. I just bought a nice (non-leather) biker jacket to go with my mood. Your tutorial is so good!
Hi Sakura! You should totally sport this look and new jacket together. They’re a perfect pair.
I lived in NYC after college and developed a pretty good resting b-tch face. My husband on the other hand gets asked for directions constantly, even when we’re overseas on holiday. He’s been asked for directions in England, France, Germany, Japan and Korea.
Even though this look is so different from what I’ve come to associate with you, I think you rock it well. It makes you look like an international secret agent. One who knows Krav Maga and can fell an enemy with anything.
Hahaha, you know what, I’d love to know Krav Maga!
I lived in the Bay Area for a year and then spent about 10 days in NYC before coming back to Italy. I got the impression people there were a lot less friendly than in the Bay, but maybe it was just self-defense?
Hahaha, you know what, I’d love to know Krav Maga!
I lived in the Bay Area for a year and then spent about 10 days in NYC before coming back to Italy. I got the impression people there were a lot less friendly than in the Bay, but maybe it was just self-defense?
Love it, you really perfected the technique. You look so sexy and bad-ass 🙂
You always learn things better when you do it out of necessity, LOL!
This looks so good on you! It’s my favorite one of all your looks.
Hi Mylinda, thank you so much. Have an awesome Friday!