Tip: Using dark shadow as eyeliner

Ever since I started using Bobbi Brown’s long wearing gel eyeliner, I haven’t looked back. However, there are days when I prefer something less severe as gel eyeliners can take on a rather severe lined look. So, on those days, I use dark eyeshadow as eyeliner.

What you need is a dark eyeshadow in any brand. An example is Bobbi Brown’s Espresso eyeshadow which is a dark brown. Or you can use black for more contrast. Matt colours work better, but I sometimes use a shimmery colour for something different and unexpected.

Using powder eyeshadows as liner, you will find that the line drawn is less severe and the best part is that if you make a mistake, you can easily smudge it and blend it, and end up with a pretty little smokey eye look. So, this is a good way for anyone who is just learning to use eyeliner, to experiment, because if you plan to graduate to gel eyeliners, the concept is pretty much the same.

Bobbi Brown recommends using an eyeliner brush to apply the dark eyeshadow, rather like this one on the right. However, having experimented with it, I find that I don’t particularly like this shape of brush for lining the eyes.

I prefer something along the lines of this shape as seen in the MAC Cosmetics #266 Small Angle brush. I have something similar in a cheap little brand that I picked up from a beauty store and it works very well.

Applying the eyeshadow is easy. Just dip your brush into the eyeshadow powder, and apply it close to your lash line. If you prefer the colour a little more intense, lightly mist your brush with some water until it is slightly damp, then use it to pick up the colour. You’ll find that the colour applies darker and like an ink.

However, be warned that not all eyeshadows take kindly to being used wet. Some eyeshadows won’t work well after they are wet. However, Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadows are made to be used wet and dry so they are ok. MAC too can be used wet and dry, but make sure you only wet a little corner of it so as not to affect the texture of the rest of the shadow.

So, this is something you might like to experiment with. If you travel a lot, this is a good tip to learn because you end up carrying one item less. All you need is a brush which is small and light.

Happy experimenting!