Not that I ever figured it out, but to even get where I had a modicum of slight confidence in my ability to use it.
A big part of it has to do with my lid shape. Mine are slightly hooded (and they’re getting even more hooded as I get older), so I have to be *really* mindful of 1) the thickness of the line along my lash line and 2) the angle it extends upward and outward. I also have to start thickening the line midway along my lash line.
And if I don’t stick to the game plan and don’t do all of the above, my eyes end up looking smaller and more hooded than usual.
It took me a while to figure this out. Seriously, like years. But winged liner and I are now at a really good place in our relationship, LOL! I love wearing it, especially in colors other than black.
Ooh! I love me some taupe, bronze and gold winged liner!
Makeup-wise, what took you a lot of trial and error to figure out? Was it disguising dark circles? How to do your base? Smoky eyes? Nail art? Subtle shimmer? Inquiring minds want to know.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Good morning! 🙂 I hope you’re having a good one so far. I’m chugging along, but I’ve got a sick toddler at home. 🙁 I’m pretty sure it’s a cold, but her colds always turn into bad coughs, which gets a little scary and worrisome sometimes…
She’s on the mend now, but the cough is still lingering, and she isn’t sleeping well because it keeps waking her up.
Tabs has been a doting caregiver though. He checks on her all the time, as if to say, “Can I get you anything? Catnip tea? Tuna melt? Turkey egg omelet?”
Stefanie says
November 7th, 2018 at 9:10 amIt took me a while to figure out how to prevent my under eye concealer from creasing! I realized that you have to blend out the concealer, keep looking up, and put on a layer of setting powder to bake for a few mins. But now I’m still trying to figure out how to prevent my setting powder from settling into my fine lines and enhancing my under eye wrinkles!! Any tips?
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Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 4:01 pmI do! Try adjusting the amount of powder. I don’t believe in baking myself because I find the more powder I pack on my skin, the more textured/wrinkled that area appears. I use the minimum amount of powder that I can get away with, or I skip it completely.
Katie says
November 7th, 2018 at 9:30 amWinged liner for me too! I have fairly round, close-set eyes and it took me *years* to find a style of winged liner that was flattering on my eye shape. Plus, most liquid liners transferred and pooled in the crease where the upper and lower lids meet. A few weeks ago though, I tried the Stila micro-tip liner and the tiny tip and formula are working great for me! On the other hand, I’m turned off by them photoshopping a model darker for swatch purposes like it seems they’ve done on their new collection, so I’m not sure if I’ll repurchase. Sephora Collection also has a micro-tip liner so I’ll check that out as well.
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Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 4:00 pmHi Katie,
I have had the same issue with liquid liners transferring. I find it helps to keep my eye closed until the liner’s completely dry. It takes longer but at least I know it won’t move.
Katie says
November 9th, 2018 at 2:23 pmThanks for the tip! I’ll try it next time!
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Jane says
November 7th, 2018 at 9:44 amAs I’ve gotten older, there are many things I just don’t bother with when it comes to my makeup routine. I try and keep it as simple as possible. My admit that I am still on the learning curve with blending. I did buy some Morphe blending brushes and have gotten better at it. I also haven’t mastered the smokey eye. It always seems to be a big mess. I am working on it!
I have to say, and I know I know I have said it before, I am soooo in love with the Chanel Clair Obscur palette. For me it is so versatile that I even use it on my brows. the only addition for me would be to have an ivory or bone base shadow.
Anyway, feeling good about yesterday’s election results. very exciting for women!
Be well!
Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:59 pmHi Jane,
Blending takes a while to figure out. Best advice I can give you is to not press too hard as you’re moving the brush around (you want it to skim the skin… use a light touch!), and to anticipate how far out and up the product is going to move. That’s because whatever you blend will keep moving across the surface of the skin, much like wet paint does when you push it out with a brush, so you need to anticipate where you want it to end.
Nyxx says
November 7th, 2018 at 11:09 amI’ve never mastered the cut crease. I think I have only attempted it once or twice. I really have a hard time finding the crease in my eyes so I just don’t bother anymore. Even though I love, like LOVE eye shadow I keep my eye looks pretty simple. Inner corner highlight, shimmer on the lid and a darker color on the outer v that I buff into/ above my lid color. If I am feeling adventurous I will add a really warm orangey transition color before putting down my outer v color and buffing. Sometimes I will do a halo eye and on those busy mornings it’s one wash of color but I think it always looks nice so I gave up on even trying those complex 5 or 6 color looks.
Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:55 pmHi Nyxx,
I’ve had the same issue! It took a long time to find the crease because my eyes aren’t very deep set. I go just a bit above where my eye folds, but not too high up otherwise it looks funky. I feel your pain though, it’s not an easy thing to do…
Brandee says
November 7th, 2018 at 1:02 pmHope baby girl is feeling much better. So I couldn’t even focus on the topic because your skin looks soooo good!!! Is it your makeup or new skincare or combo? I need details if your willing to share . Thanks
Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:54 pmHi Brandee,
Thanks! It’s an old combo. 🙂 MAC Face and Body topped with MAC Mineralize Foundation/Loose.
Denise S says
November 7th, 2018 at 2:00 pmConcealer for my dark under eye circles! I’m med-deep WOC and I don’t wear foundation so finding the correct concealer color match has been a challenge! My mature under eyes don’t need any extra lines and poor color choices. I own a makeup bag of concealers, color correctors and setting powders. Karen gave me a great tip when using Tarte Shape Tape to only use a small amount and that really made a big difference, so thanks Karen! Winged liner is a close 2nd but I just make do with frequent mismatched eye liner ,lol
Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:38 pmHi Denise,
I’m so happy that adjusting the amount of Shape Tape helped you. As I get older I find that wearing less makeup on the under eye area is totally key.
Nicola Parker says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:20 pmHi Karen
Shimmers migrating to my crease frustrates me every time,wing liner as my eyes are round /protruding and for extra fun now getting hooded ?. Hope Conor bounces back soon,poor thing those seasonal coughs can linger and cause distress, stoked that Tabs is a very attentive nurse, love him even more now .Kisses for him xxx
Karen says
November 7th, 2018 at 3:36 pmHi Nicola,
I feel you with the winged liner frustration! Try tightlining your upper lash line, then draw the thinnest line along the outer third of your lash line, and then do a wing at the end. My eyes are getting more and more hooded this method works for me!
Jaclyn Levy says
November 7th, 2018 at 4:02 pmHow to rock dark lips. The line has to be super precise and I am NOT good with precision! I’ve learned to be patient and to make sure I start with super smooth lips and a primer.
Savannah says
November 7th, 2018 at 4:48 pmI struggled with applying black gel liner on my upper lash line for years, but it’s pretty essential for me as I am not blessed with long, luscious lashes and this makes my eyes stand out at least. I’ve also learned that less is more when it comes to my crease. I used to put so many different shadows in there and attempted gradients… But it’s just easier to throw soft brown or texture in there and call it a day. Quicker and more flattering with my eye shape. For skin, I’ve come to the conclusion that all liquid foundations clog my pores and make me break out so I’ll stick with my powder foundation until the end of time 🙂
Chelsea says
November 7th, 2018 at 5:15 pmDitto winged liner. Granted I’ve been doing it regularly since like 2010 but it took a long time in the first decade of the 2000s to get there!
Rachel Runyan says
November 7th, 2018 at 7:41 pmFilling in my brows. I never did anything to them for 40 years, then only waxing until a couple years ago. But they are not as thick as they used to be, and I’ve had some catching up to do! I swear it took a good year to even become decent at doing them.
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Christine says
November 8th, 2018 at 12:21 amFor me, it was absolutely the winged eyeliner. I love the look of winged liner with a classic red lip. I struggled with it for quite some time because I have ONE, yes one, slightly hooded eye. If I do both eyes exactly the same, they look totally different! Weird, huh? But I think I finally have it down!
I hope your daughter is feel better and well!
Karen says
November 8th, 2018 at 7:07 amHi Christine,
Totally not weird at all. Most people don’t have symmetrical features. My eyes are totally different; my right eye is bigger and it’s lower than my left, and it’s more downturned. My left eye is less hooded. The cool thing about makeup is you can learn about these unique aspects of your face and work with them!
Funky's Mama says
November 9th, 2018 at 1:43 pmMy eyes are both hooded & downturned, and I never got winged liner to work, BUT I did accidentally stumble on a technique that gives a similar lifted effect: I tightline from the inner corner but stop a couple millimeters from the outside corner, right before the lid begins its final descent.
BOOM! Instant Liz Taylor eyes!
Also, a particular shade of blueish violet liner is the very best color to enhance my blue-green-gray eyes.