I spent an inordinate amount of time this week in stinky workout pants and t-shirts covered in baby food. Or, I dunno…sometimes it’s been my food, to be honest.
No reason in particular. It’s just been one of those weeks.
But, ya know, at least I’ve had elegant eye makeup. 🙂 I’ve been doing this thing where I use eyeshadow and an angled brush instead of pencil liner to line my upper lash lines, and I’ve been doing it because I haven’t been sleeping well, which means Dark Circle City.
When my dark circles are darker than usual, I’ll skip lining my lower lash lines, even though I usually love a little smoke or even a pop of color down there, because man! — when I look tired, if I add anything to that lower lash line area, it just looks worse.
But I will line my upper lash line, and I like doing it with an angled brush and an eyeshadow for a few different reasons.
First, because I love that slightly diffused look, which is easier for me to do with an eyeshadow and a brush than a pencil eyeliner all by itself.
Second, and I don’t know if this is just me, but there’s a process when I use a pencil. It isn’t just grab and go. Most of the time, the one I want to use is dull from the day before, so I have to sharpen it.
Then, I have to really carefully draw a thin line along my upper lash lines with it, because I like those nice, thin liner lines. But then I have to diffuse the edges of the lines with a brush, so…it still involves using a brush, even when I’m using a pencil.
Instead, with an angled brush and an eyeshadow, all I have to do is dip my brush into the shadow, give it a spritz with MAC Fix+, and sort of tap it along my lash lines.
It’s easier to get the kind of look I usually like, and I think it’s even faster than using a pencil.
Plus, you know, with makeup, it’s all about the fine details, like the subtlety of your gradients and the values and colors moving from dark to light, and I think that when you have gradients in subtle places, like in the edge along your lash line, it can really make your overall look more elegant.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!!!!!!
What pallet is pictured, Karen?
I want to know too!
Me three!
Hi Melissa,
It’s the Gravitas palette from the MAC Brooke Shields collection from a while back. Unfortunately it’s limited edition.
Yep, I like this too!
I do this all the time too!
Funny you mention this. I have been using powder shadow and a liner brush for months now but I have only lined my upper lash line for years. Since menopause, my under eyes are really dry and have a greyish-brown coloring. I use eye-brightening concealer, but nothing really lasts that long. I also find shadow easier to buff for a smokey touch without going full smokey eye. The Bobbi Chocolate holiday palette has these intense pigmented powders (3) to use as liner and I am really liking it better than gel or pencil. It is also easier to remove. FYI, during menopause I also have sleeping problems. Another thing to look forward to when you reach your 50’s.
Enjoy and be well!
What palette is that? The colors are beautiful.
It’s a limited edition MAC palette, the Gravitas palette from the Brooke Shields collection. To this day it’s one of my favorite things from MAC.
Yes! I used to this all the time when I went to school and had no time for makeup. It’s so quick and effective!
I’m a big fan of using a wet brush and eyeshadow as liner! I use a spritz of Urban Decay All Nighter and whatever shadow I want on a small eyeliner brush.
I just did this yesterday — matter of fact I used – get this the Urban Decay “Alice in Wonderland” palette — I KNOW it’s old, very old… but I cannot bare to do away with it. The shadows are fine, and it has the greatest sparkly black I’ve EVA seen. I like using it for all sorts of looks. Mostly wet. It gives off the prettiest shine, to the softest sparkle. I know it’s probably past it’s date, but OH WELL!!! I actually have 2-3 angled brushes just for using shadow like this with Fix plus. I don’t know what I’m going to do however, fix+ is no longer offered online. I guess any spritz setting will do, and sometimes, I just used well…. I put it in my mouth – UGH, there I said it!!! I know GROSS!!! But it works too. Call me crazy. Germ city.
I created a really pretty smoky eye yesterday though with that palette.
Hope all is well…. Hope you have a better week this week…aka no baby food covered clothes!!!
Grace and peace!
Gina and Gracie!!!