Oh, my hooded lid ladies… I know you can feel me on this. There are days when my upper lash liner turns out perfectly…but then there are those other days when it does not. 😬
And those days are baaaaad.
You know how it is. One minute, you’re applying your liner, oblivious to the disaster about to strike. Next thing you know, your liner has taken over half your lid. If you have hooded lids like I do, it also makes your eyes look smaller.
So, that’s what initially happened with this particular look here. Started out, I was in the mood for black cat eyeliner, but I was rushing, and things got out of hand quickly.
My liner was too thick, and the wings didn’t match. My eyes looked teeny, tiny.
Because I didn’t have enough time to remove everything and start again from scratch, I recalled the trick I’ve been using lately with light pencil liner to make my lids look less hooded, and I employed a similar technique to fix this mishap.
Here’s what I did.
I dipped a flat angled brush into a sparkly bronze eyeshadow, wet that brush head with a setting spray, and blended it directly on top of the black liner from the inner corner to about three fourths of the way out.
Why?
Well, just like how applying a light-colored liner on the upper lash line opens up the eye, layering a bronze on top of black also makes lids look more pronounced and larger than they really are.
Next, I cleaned the brush I used, dipped it into a dark brown, and blended that on the outer corner of the black liner to soften it and create the illusion of a little more lift.
I didn’t fully appreciate just how much larger it made my lids look until I got to Costco and started trying on prospective eyeglasses…
I took a pic of my face without frames so I could compare it to pics of myself wearing some of the new frames I was interested in (because I’m nerdy like that), and when I saw my makeup in the harsh overhead Costco lighting, I realized — OH, SNAP! — this eye makeup was actually working for me.
Yeah…I’m definitely gonna do this again, but, like, on purpose. LOL! 🙂
Key makeup worn in this look
Eyes: Pixi Endless Sikly Eye Pen in Black Noir, Pixi Eye Reflection Shadow Palette in Natural Beauty, MAC Omega and Brun (eyebrows), Chanel Dimensions de Chanel, MAC Brow Gel
Base: Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in Honey Bronze, MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklight, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow in Fair-Medium, MAC Sur Blush
Lips: MAC Boldly Bare lip pencil, MAC Candy Box Lipglass
This made me laugh so hard!
I gotta give a shout-out to my buddy Jennifer who mentioned this commercial for Pandora in the comments.
THIS GUY! He’s my hero.
If he were mowing a lawn on my block, I’d totally be watching and cheering for him.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rachel says
January 14th, 2020 at 8:30 amI have hooded lids as well so I will definitely be trying this trick! I think it will work well with the Urban Decay smoky eye palette. Tell me about that jacket you are wearing! Love the color and fit and how toasty it looks!
Eileen says
January 14th, 2020 at 8:57 amI’ve used eyeshadow over eyeliner for years. When eyeliner pencils were first introduced, they tended to be greasy and they “bled” into every tiny nook and cranny. And because of their formulation, they didn’t last long. Makeup artists started layering a powder eyeshadow over the liner (invariably black over black). I believe it was Malle who really popularized the technique and called it “bulletproof “ eyeliner—liner, eyeshadow, liner, eyeshadow. Remember ladies, this was before long wear and waterproof formulas were ubiquitous. As time moved forward, women and MA’s discovered the beauty and versatility of using eyeshadow over eyeliner to create deep jewel toned effects along the lash line, to smoke out a liner, to soften the look of a liner, to act as a gradient merging the liner into the eyeshadow on the lid, and yes, to correct a line that was less than perfect 😃
Rachel Runyan says
January 14th, 2020 at 10:17 amClever trick. It looks great!
FaeFrau says
January 14th, 2020 at 10:36 amOH MY WORD. It’s waaaaay better than the lawnmower scene in “She’s Having a Baby” and I gotta say, totally jels of his twerking (white male privilege even over twerking!!! lol).
I can see how this works in the same vein as the shimmer shadow on the lid. It’s a great light-refracting “eraser” for the eyeliner-gone-wild. With my increasing hoodiness and unevenness, the wonk is so real. 🙁
Aww, I was hoping to see some of the frame choices! 😀
Karen says
January 14th, 2020 at 6:15 pmThe wonk is SO REAL. I feel you!
Jennifer Emmett says
January 14th, 2020 at 11:45 amHaha yay!!!
Awesome eye makeup effect and super cute coat too!
Karen says
January 14th, 2020 at 6:14 pmThank you! I got it from Eddie Bauer in the fall (on sale for 50% off!).
Linda says
January 14th, 2020 at 11:50 amWow, that’s a great idea – I’m definitely going to be trying liner over liner!
Karen says
January 14th, 2020 at 6:14 pmI hope it works for ya, Linda! 🙂
Leigh says
January 14th, 2020 at 3:10 pmKipling bag?
L
❤️
Karen says
January 14th, 2020 at 6:13 pmYes, it’s my mom purse! Holds everything and I can keep my hands free!
Chelsea says
January 14th, 2020 at 3:42 pmLove this look and the Pandora ad!
Karen says
January 14th, 2020 at 6:13 pmThanks Chelsea! Hope you had a wonderful Tuesday.
Lydia says
January 15th, 2020 at 7:10 amOmg this is what I always do when my eyeliner doesn’t come out as planned! Looks so cute!
Lora says
January 15th, 2020 at 2:02 pmI would love to know what lipstick/liner Retta uses.