The last few seasons have seen an emphasis on barely there makeup and fresh-faced beauty. And we're not going to lie, the low-key approach to beauty is one of our faves. But this season we've also begun to see a bit of a heavier hand when it comes to makeup and beauty. Sparkle is making a comeback. Neon-bright eyeliner and shadow have been spotted. And very noticeable swipes of black around the eyes are on our radar.
If, like me, you grew up in a time where black eyeliner was the only makeup trick you knew (many thanks to X-tina), you're familiar with rimming your eyes in black. In fact, black eyeliner was my "going out look" for years. But it's been awhile since I've done it, having learned to use lipstick and highlighter a bit more efficiently. But, eyeliner is back, and I'm on board.
To make sure that I'm a bit more modern than my Christina Aguilera-inspired makeup days of yore, I got in touch with celebrity makeup artist and CoverGirl makeup pro, Veronica Chu, to share her tips and tricks for keeping this look on point. Chu is no stranger to black eyeliner. "My mom always wore a classic cat eye, and I would always wake up early before school and ask her to apply it on me," says Chu. "She eventually made me learn on my own, and I've been doing this look ever since!"
Veronica's tips for black eyeliner application
Black can be unforgiving”especially if you're a fan of liquid liner. So Chu's main tip is to not be afraid to remove the excess liner and touch up your work. No one expects you to get it right on your first try! Also, make sure you're working with good lighting and a good mirror. Finally, "don't worry about making the eye look identical on both sides," says Chu. Your eyes aren't perfectly symmetrical, so likely your makeup won't be either.
Things you shouldn't do when applying black eyeliner
"Don't pull on your eye or stretch on the skin when applying!" says Chu. "Let your eye sit naturally." That way you have more control with how the finished product will look. Also, the biggest thing you can do is practice, practice, practice”but only when you have the time. Trying out a new look isn't going to go over well when you're running out the door, so perfect this look when you have some time to devote to it.
Look #2: A dark smoky eye
The most forgiving of the bunch, this look is lived-in, smudged and pairs really well with a leather jacket. The key here is imperfection, so don’t get too type-A on this look. Try it with: Sephora Collection Easy Smoky Eye ($17)
Step 1: Pick up a pencil liner and create a thick line across the top and bottom lashes using small strokes.
Step 2: Add some to the top and bottom water line to make sure you get super close to the eye.
Step 3: Smudge it out using a sponge (most eyeliners come with them) or a Q-tip. “Use small strokes going back and forth to smudge the line,” says Chu.
