When it comes to eyeliner, I’ve always been a bit of a traditionalist, i.e. basic black on the upper and lower lash lines. Maybe I watch too many Rani Mukherjee movies and unwittingly try to model my look after hers, or it could be I’m simply too lazy to experiment most mornings (I think it’s more the lazy factor – as much as I love Rani and her enchanting kohl-rimmed eyes, she’s seriously got to change it up a little at times). So, in my quest to diversify, I have recently been observing friends and family members for different colors and techniques. I apologize to those of you that have found my nose pressed up against yours as I analyze your eyeliner from up close, but as you can tell, it was for a good cause!
Last month at Mother’s Day brunch, a very good family friend was sporting a look I absolutely fell in love with – she was wearing colored eyeliner only on her bottom lashes with her top lash line completely bare. It was so simple yet gorgeous, I’m actually surprised I don’t see more girls wearing their liner this way. Weeks later, I spotted
Drew Barrymore with a very similar style and was further intrigued, although I have to admit the color she chose and her method of application left her looking a little frightening. She had the right idea but the end result was too stark against her skin tone. After some research, it seems quite a few celebs seem to be adopting this style as a staple mostly in the teal color, including Kate Hudson and Blake Lively from Gossip Girl. I’m curious, why aren’t any of the brunette girls trying this out? If anything our darker coloring will make the shadow/liner pop even more.
How to wear the look:
Step 1) First prep the eye area. Don’t forget to use eye cream under your concealer – it will help it adhere to your skin and prevent it from becoming cakey.
Step 2) Dampen a liner brush and dip into your favorite teal eye shadow. Then, starting on the outer or inner corner of your eye depending on your preference, begin to draw a line very close to your lashes, while wiggling the brush in between the hairs to create a fuller, uniform look. When you have completed your lash line, make sure you also line your inner rims (waterline). (Pictured here are the 209 brush and Teal pigment, both by MAC)
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Step 3) Once the lash area is complete, take your brush and pull the line slightly out and upward at a slant from the outer corner of your eye.
Step 4) Take the liner brush and now dip into a black liner and wiggle the brush under the upper lashes to make your top lash line look dark and fuller. If you really feel your upper lash line is too bare, you can apply a little black only on the outer corners and then smudge it with a q-tip so it is not too harsh and is still minimalistic against the teal.
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Step 5) I actually prefer this look without mascara (as pictured in step 3) because it emphasizes the teal. But, if you feel your look is not complete without mascara, go ahead and apply – it still looks great. Finally, remember to use this teal with a nude lip gloss, any other color will make you look more clown than fashionista.
An important point to remember is to not match your eyes to your clothes. I make this blunder often and am trying to outgrow it. The matchy-matchy look is very dated. Instead of wearing clothing of the same color, pick an article that complements rather than duplicates the hue on your lids. I personally love wearing teal liner with a white or yellow shirt and jeans.
This look is simple enough to wear to dinner and dressed up enough for a bar. The next time I apply it, I may go a little darker or thicker and see what kind of response I get. You can substitute the liner for any color you prefer. If you are low-key and like your makeup to be the same, don’t worry, you don’t have to go as heavy handed as Drew or Kate, just apply a thin layer of liner and you will still make an impression.
Photo Credits:
http://www.shinygloss.tv/2007/10/
http://www.thefrisky.com/tag/drew+barrymore/
http://www.bellasugar.com/1000820
I LOVE this blog. LOVE it.
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your eyes look really beautiful.
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oh awesome! love this look. did this one yesterday with my guerlain teal khol liner – that stuff’s amazing. so nice to have a teeny weeny pop of colour on the eyes in the summer.
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oh, yeah, the matchy-matchy look is definitely dated, it’s all about contrasts and complementing shades – you said it girl!
ps. what mascara are you susing – looks amazing!
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i love ur tutorials and high def pictures.
teal looks great on you!!!
LOVE IT
xxx
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
do you recognize the teal pigment? ahem ahem ahem
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Great post:this is exactly the way to work the new brights that are around at the moment. Your application tips are superb: I hadn’t tried something bright on the inside, but I’m going to follow your instructions & I reckon I’ll have go at it with a gorge new Dior palette featuring some beautiful blues. These work much better on a brunette than a blond like me, but I’m still working on it.
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ya i def love the bright color on the bottom lashes look. try NARS eyeliner in Kaliste, its a beautiful dark teal, that looks great with our medium skin tone!
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Thanks for therecommendation: I’ll try that. I have ‘electrric lights’ it’s lovely. I’ll twitpic it to you
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What a lovely look, I used to do something like that in the 70’s but in blue or brown.
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nabila Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
i got the iridescent lights for the summer and the rich purple is also great to use on the bottom lashes as well, and the lighter silver right below the brow line!
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I’m definitely going to buy a green or the teal! Will you tell me if I look stupid? Not sure it’ll suit me…
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Thanks for the tip, will definitely try it. I’m sure you already know from reading the posts, but I’m a huge huge fan of Nars! Have been dying to get the Dior palette, but I just feel silverish colors look awful on me. Maybe I’ll get it just for the darker teal and the purple
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Thank you so much. And not, at all! Blues would look gorgeous with your blonde hair, like on Kate Hudson. Dior has a stunning new palette called Iridescent lights – has blue as well as a rich purple. Will try to get my sister to buy it for me
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i’m really bad at matching complementary colors and just end up wearing black liner by default, what are some other good color combinations besides teal eyeliner with yellow and white?
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Wow! I love the look. Okay LP, here’s a challenge. I know I’m not the same age as so many lovely people that you show on your lovely blog (i think it’s a lovely day)……so what are your suggestions for some of us who are considered “over the hill”. Love and hugs, Sadia
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The great thing about the 80s being back is that you can match whatever color you want. I also love teal with hot pink and purple – even orange!
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Thank you! I love deeper blues as well, I use royal blue quite often as a staple.
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This is beautiful! Is it ’safe’ to wear eyeliner on your waterline, though?
Must get myself some teal eyeshadow!
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There is no such thing as over the hill! But, if you’re feeling self conscious, you can line with a deeper teal the outer third of your bottom (or top) lashline – you still get a little color but it’s not over the top.
*Hugs*
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sos Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
try Mac Steamy Kals, will suit you loads.
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:57 am
sos, you and i are on the same wavelength! was just going to recommend a seagreenish color to kalsoom.
kals, remember that pigment you bought from mac to use one halloween? it was very similar to steamy. do you still have it? if so, you should definitely use it!
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Oh yes, yes, that’s the one I meant, sorry. I would love to see a twitpic of it applied on your eyes
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
sjp, we would love to see a tutorial from you – you are the guru, after all!
Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I use Rimmel’s Volumizing Mascara – there are two versions, I use the one with the thicker brush. Ooo and of course, Clinique’s lash building primer – always a must!
Lipstick Masala Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I’m so glad! *hugs*
Thanks Leia!
As far as I’ve been told, it’s safe. Just be sure to regularly clean your brushes and your pencils, the eye area is sensitive so you don’t want to transfer any bacteria. Also, try not to share anyone else’s eye makeup! Most of us desis line our waterlines with kajal anyway, so I guess we’re all in trouble if it isn’t
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love this look!!! I have brown eyes with tanned skin and the teal looked amazing – thanks for the blog and my new look!!
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hey LM…i did this style on my eyes last weekend when i went out for Father’s day! Everyone loved it. And also I did it with the turquoise eyeshadow from the eyeshadow palette u suggested from Sephora.
I plan on using the gold one this saturday at a party. Will keep u posted.
Unfortunately I didnt take a close up picture of the turq eyeshadow..but if i take one this weekend…i will send you!
Love!
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Hi Marilyn, I’m glad you liked it! You should also try out a grape colored shadow as a liner – looks great with brown eyes
Welcome to the site!
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I’m so glad you liked it, I would love to see a photo! Thanks for the tip on the Stila sale, I went out and picked myself up a palette!
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This also looks really good with purple – I have medium brown eyes and it really makes them pop
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Yes, it really does! I’m still looking for a purple I like. Do you have one that you can recommend?
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There’s a purple shadow in one of the Urban Decay palettes that I’ve used a few times but then I found Smashbox jet set eyeliner in midnight purple and now I’m hooked on that
PS- sorry I’m commenting so much today, I am clearly avoiding the large pile of work in front of me
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Ohhhh I have been on the lookout for a great purple liner. It seems smashbox has a lot of gems I haven’t discovered yet. Off to Sephora I go!
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