Category Archives: Eye Liner

NYX Wonder Pencil: Swatches and Review

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A flesh colored pencil is something I think every woman should have. It’s multi-purpose, inexpensive, and beyond helpful as an easy pick-me-up for tired looking eyes. I use mine daily to rim my lower lash line to make my eyes look brighter, but did you know you can also use it as a concealer? NYX’s new Wonder Pencil is especially perfect for this because they understand (finally) that ‘nude’ doesn’t mean the same thing for every skintone which is why they offer light, medium, and dark shades. I took a quick pick (with the baby on my lap) of one of my favorite uses for it, drawing a highlight under the brows. I’m not a fan of a too-white looking highlight on the brow bone so these flesh toned pencils work perfectly to create a stronger brow arch (it can conceal stray hairs pretty well), and give some contrast as well. I also have it rimmed in my waterline too so you can see how it adds brightness. Another great use for it- reverse lining your lips. Use it on the outside of your lips (where the lip technically stops and your skin begins) to help keep lipstick from bleeding and to make your pout look more pronounced.

It’s a good $5 investment and something I think you’ll be surprised how much you will actually end up using.

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Milani Cosmetics

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I’m not on Facebook that often anymore, when I can’t sleep my obsession turns to all things Instagram. I float from stranger to stranger usually starting with a celebrity makeup artist, then bouncing around to all of their friends to see what products they use so I know how closely my kit matches up to theirs. Typically I’d say we’re all using pretty much the same thing, but when I found one artist who posted a huge table loaded with Milani cosmetics boasting about how it’s the only drugstore brand in his kit I was totally stumped. What’s Milani?

Apparently it’s a family owned business focused on producing high quality cosmetics at drugstore prices (I didn’t see anything over $10 online.) They’re rumored to be pigment-rich and long wearing, it’s an under-the-radar cult fave that I’ve somehow missed.

Noted from the artist in the photo was their shadows, including their long-wearing shadow crayon called Shadow Eyes 12 He Wear and their Liquid Eye Liquid-Like which is an eyeliner that gives the look of a liquid but with the ease of using a pencil.

I hear they’re at Sears and Walgreens, but most people just buy online which is what I’ll probably do, then I’ll report back of course and let you know my thoughts.

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Makeup Before and After: Shimmery Beautiful Bridesmaid

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I have my mainstays in my kit, yes, but I also carry rotate out makeup that companies send my way so I can put them to the ultimate test and see how they perform for a professional makeup application. A few weeks back, I gave some Pixi stuff a whirl. I was already sure that I’d like it all because Pixi’s whimsical look with serious product reminds me a bit like Stila in its heyday. It feels like that play makeup I’d tote around as a kid, but don’t let the fun packaging fool you- its girly-chic line hasn’t disappointed me yet. Here’s the before and after:


Before… Gorgeous Kate wanted to amp it up for her friend’s wedding.


…And after. A little smoky with some shimmering touches.

Fairy Dust ($14). Cute name, great product. I used it on Kate’s brow bone and inner corner of her eye for a hint of brightness to offset the depth. The sponge tipped applicator gets the pearl shimmer right where you want it, but you can also sprinkle a little out of the container if you’d like to sweep it on your cheekbones with a loose brush for even more glow.

I’m picky about eye pencils and I can’t use anything that smudges so I carry the best of the best in my kit. I tried Pixi’s beforehand and realized that it stays put as well as my others. Their Endless Eye Pen ($15) is the one I used on Kate, a rich brown with a splash of khaki and a kick of shimmer built right in. It’s a fun way to add drama to the eye when you’re bored of using a flat liner.

Get the Cheaper Stuff: When to to Buy Discount Beauty

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Now that you know where to spend a little extra money, let’s talk about where not to. The divide in quality between drugstore and department store brands isn’t so wide anymore (hello, Olay Pro-X!), so save where you can in these few key categories where I’ve found that it really doesn’t matter.

Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast

I’ve always been a fan of drugstore mascara – it’s what you’d find both in my professional kit and in my bathroom. While the Maybelline pink and green might be a fav of some, I stick with CoverGirl for all things mascara. LashBlast’s fat tubes are all the rage for a reason – they’re great formulas that wear so well you don’t need to get those impossible-to-scrub-off waterproof formulas that should be a measure of last resort purchase. The one in the orange tube is fine, but I like the purple one – Fusion as it’s called – for a really long, defined look that I can layer on over and over without clumping. For around $9 or so, it’s a third of what some department stores mascaras are and every bit as good. If CoverGirl doesn’t light your fire, check out what Maybelline, Revlon, and others have to offer, you’ll find a $10 formula you love guaranteed.

Long Wear Lipstick: L’Oreal Infallible

Brides are always surprised when I tell them to grab a drugstore brand lipstick for touching-up on their big day. L’Oreal Infallible is one of the best long-wearing lip formulas out there. It stays put a crazy long time without fading, feathering, or getting all globby. It isn’t bulletproof, but I’d say only one touch-up during the day is all you need after your first morning application. Not bad for $12.

Eye Liner: NYX

Love M.A.C’s Liquidlast? Grab NYX Studio Liquid Liner for $4 – a big savings over M.A.C’s $17.50 especially because they both stay as long and have vast color selections. A powder shadow is perfect for those who can never seem to draw on a decent liner shape because it’s so simple to use, Smashbox has one for $22, as does NYX for $6. Same packaging, same applicator, and the same great result. NYX has a liner selection that I adore, most priced less than $10 and all stack up big time against higher priced counterparts.

Brow Powder: Any Line Will Do

Right now I’m using a light taupe mineral shadow for my brows just because I have it laying around. Before that it was this $4 Ardell Brow Defining Powder, but it really doesn’t matter. Yes, a brow-specific color is the best bet since color correctness is key, but as long as you get the shade right you can use any powder you have on hand to get the job done.

Laura Mercier Holiday 2011

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When it comes to color, Laura Mercier is hard to beat especially if you’re like me and revel in great quality makeup. Their holiday collection is still available and really worth a look. Just a few new shades and techniques can make for a new updated look for 2012.

Their Baked Eye Colour Palette $48 was probably my favorite offering from all of last year’s holiday collections. Now it’s back with 5 new shades, a double ended brush, and the same rich formula that’s easy to wear and blend.

If a smaller palette is more your speed, check out their Petite Eye Colour Trio $25 in Smoky Neutrals and Smoky Taupes – which is the one I have. It’s a mauve, plum, and neutral pink that compliments most skin tones and gives some fresh options for those who want to escape the ho-hum brown rut we so easily get sucked into.

Their best deal of the bunch, I think, is the Kohl Pencil Set $45 with 5 eyeliners in Stormy Grey, Black Violet, Brown Copper, Black Gold and Black Navy that end up being just $9 a pop. Their creamy formula is so easy to apply because it doesn’t drag on the skin so you can even lay a coat of it down on your lids before you apply shadow for extra dimension to a smokey eye.

And while you’re at it grab a Caviar Stick Eye Colour $24, a creamy liner/shadow hybrid of intense color. They’re pretty unique and way cool for a smudgy, imperfect look which is my favorite for totally sexy morning-after eyes.

All but the Caviar stick (thankfully) are limited, so once they’re gone they’re gone.

Makeup Before and After; It’s all About the Liner

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There aren’t too many of us who wear a full face of makeup every day. In fact, I meet mostly mascara only girls when I’m beautifying brides and their maids for weddings. This particular girl was one such case from a wedding several weeks ago who wasn’t comfortable in a lot of makeup which I’ve learned translates to ‘don’t put a lot of eye shadow on me.’ No problem.

Bringing out the eyes doesn’t require a lot of shadow anyway, it’s icing on the cake once you get a good contrast going by using a rich liner and some lashes. Here’s how it went down;


Before: great skin and a cute smile, she’s already looking good!


After: Some rich black liner all the way around the eyes and a few coats of mascara on a false lash are really all it takes to get the relaxed look she wanted.


A close up of the liner kept neatly in her water line on the bottom. A smudgy look would’ve felt too heavy for a girl who typically keeps it pretty natural.


I used NYX Retractible Eye Liner in Black, a deep black that holds its depth even in the waterline.


She loved Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss in Fortune, just enough color and shine.

If you’ve never gotten into shadow (or just don’t understand how to apply it), ditch it altogether and focus on liner and lashes. Getting that combo down will give beautiful contrast and make all the difference.