[PerfectMistake]

*This was not writen by me. See bottom for a link to the original.*

If there is one makeup item I thought I can live without, it’s eyeliner. Whether it’s a powder, liquid, or pencil, eyeliner is such a hassle to put on. It tugs your eye when you apply it, smudges when you wear it, and reddens your eyes when you remove it. I thought I’d be lucky switching from traditional eyeliner to mineral eyeliner the same way I converted from traditional foundation to mineral foundation. Girl, I was wrong.
Mineral eyeliner is harder to apply, because it’s loose and powdery. Applying it dry leaves excess liner all over your face, while applying it wet requires very precise application. Don’t forget about applying liner with different brushes. Whether the brush is a fine, square, or angled tip, made of natural or synthetic hair, I can’t get the precise line that I want. My hands are not steady, so my eyes looked like a seismograph chart after applying eyeliner. Don’t forget about wet application. Adding water makes it runny, and sealants dry up quickly. I lost hope in applying eyeliners altogether, or so I thought.

It took me three tutorials and days of practice before I got the hang of it. I was surprised the first time I correctly applied mineral eyeliner. I couldn’t believe my eyes looked perfectly lined! Now I can proudly say that I’m a true mineral makeup convert. I don’t just use mineral foundations, blushes, and shadows, but mineral liners too. What’s next? I’m eyeing the Bare Escentuals Liner Quads, but that’s too ambitious for a beginner like me. I’ll order samples first, then see if I do get the Liner Quad.

Here are some tips on getting the perfect line every time:
1. Find the perfect brush – Achieve the perfect line by using an angled brow brush, square push, or fine tip brush. Fellow MMU addict Aileen even uses craft store taklon brushes. Try different brushes and see what works for you.
2. Wash the liner brush after every use – Washing your brushes every time ensures a clean brush with every application and prevents eye irritation. Shape the brush while drying, so the hairs don’t stray and the brush head retains its shape.
3. Place your elbow on a flat, steady surface – If you’re applying eyeliner with your right hand, prop your right elbow on a flat, steady surface to avoid jittery hands.
4. Raise your eyebrows – I got this tip from the Mineral Makeup Girl herself. Look down while you raise your brows, though. This may sound crazy, but this tip really helps.
5. Use eyeliner sealant sparingly – One drop is already a lot for lining the upper and lower lashes of your eyes.
Don’t fret if you don’t get it the first time. It takes a lot of practice to master the technique. You will get better after every eyeliner application (remember the economic term Learning Curve? ) I guarantee you that you will line your eyes with ease in no time.

Found at The Mineral Makeup Blog

[magosienne]

nice tips, thanks Alex. "wash the liner brush after every use". i second that, a MAC makeup artist told me to do so, or your eyeliner brush will harden and it will be impossible to work with it.

[PerfectMistake]

Plus, eyes are icky! HAHA!

[magosienne]

Originally Posted by PerfectMistake

Plus, eyes are icky! HAHA!

lol, that too, yes.

[Kristines]

Thanks for the info

[jeansguyokc]

Thanks for sharing

[glamouramababy]

Yes, it took me FOREVER to get used to using powder eyeliner. Finding the right brush is key. I think people who are uncomfortable using liquid liner are intimidated by it because it does give you that look when you first apply it...BUT!! Great news. Remember that it is a powder. Once it's on, if you don't want that very precise line that you get from a liquid liner, just use a dry, empty brush over top of it after it dries and it will blend out perfectly!

If you're using it dry and you're getting powder dropping onto your face, just put a generous bit of loose powder on your cheek bones first, then when you're done applying the liner and other powder eyeshadow, you can just brush away the loose powder and the color powder that dropped down will go away with it!

[smithpyz]

I still can't use mineral e/l

[yuzuBunny]

wow, that was helpful. I just got some MMU eyeliner and was struggling to use it

[Zarbon]

I remember the first time I opened my Bare Escentuals powder liner in Onyx...lets just say my newly made up bed with light cream sheets had to be thoroughly cleaned and washed :P