Good morning, ladies! 🙂 Can we tawk happy accidents for a moment? Remember my mini-nervous breakdown on Tuesday? Well, I think I got a pretty good makeup tip out of it.
Because I cried buckets that day, I woke up on Wednesday with a pair of seriously puffy eyes. My usual tricks (a cold compress and chamomile tea bags), unfortunately, weren’t working well enough, so I went fiddling through my makeup stash for something else to try.
When I saw my favorite black pen liner, LORAC Front of the Line Pro, I got an idea.
I applied a thick cat line along my upper lash line, and wouldn’t ya know it? It worked! Not to reduce the puffiness itself, of course, but to draw attention away from it.
Give it a try the next time you wake up with severely puffy eyes. Coupled with some concealer and a cold compress, it just might work for you too. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kelly says
December 17th, 2009 at 8:41 amGood tip!
I have such a hard time with the cat eye “flick”. My eyes are very round and naturally kind of go downwards at the edge so if I don’t do the flick just right when my eye is open, it looks curled not winged out. It’s bizarre!
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… Vampy Varnish Fav’s Featuring: Green =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:00 amI hear ya. It took me a long time to figure that one out.
Have you tried this LORAC pen? I swear it’s the key to the cat eye mystery.
Also, you can try following the natural curve of your waterline… or draw the flicks in first on both eyes (so that they’re even) and then line the upper lash line.
Kelly says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:19 amI haven’t tried Lorac’s yet, but maybe I will! Thx!
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… Vampy Varnish Fav’s Featuring: Green =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:21 amIt’s really good. I’ve tried others and this one is the easiest to use.
jess says
December 17th, 2009 at 8:43 amHey Karen! That’s a good idea, I think I’ve done that before but it really ended up just looking weird b/c my lids were super puffy, but it settled down by the end of the day. I’m glad you’re feeling better. I hope everything works out for you. =))
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:00 amHi Jess!
Did you do a super thick line? That’s what I did…
Anyway, how’s your week going?
jess says
December 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pmI did, but it was the more traditional kind of liq liner so it didn’t turn out so hot. Oh well… My week has been busier than I anticipated. I hope you have a good holiday. ^.^
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:38 pmYou and me both, girl.
You have a good holiday too! Will you be going anywhere?
Indi says
December 17th, 2009 at 8:59 amI’ve been doing that for quite some time now. A think black line of eyeliner on the top lid always helps to look a little more awake and refreshed. I also feel a bit more glam about myself as well which helps.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:38 pmSo true. A little glam goes a long way, especially when you’re feeling kinda blah.
Sonja says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:16 amThat’s my almost everyday look, cat eye and patina eyeshadow by MAC. It’s easy (unless I’m so sleepy that I miss my eye, and it’s been known to happen;) and always looks great! Add a bit of shimmery blush and you are good to go!
I love your eyeshadow here btw!
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:39 pmMAC Patina is my homegirl!
You just reminded me to take her out… it’s been a while since I’ve seen her. 🙂
And LOL about missing the eye. I’ve done that more than once!
diane says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:20 am😉 Got this figured out a while ago, also from crying the day before 😛
Anyway, I use an eye liner pencil everyday, I like it better that kohl pencil, it’s more elegant.
kiss!
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pmWhich eye liner is your fave?
Marina says
December 17th, 2009 at 9:32 amI was playing with cat eyes today , too. Instead of working 😀
But I have the other problem, my eyes were red (well, almost) because I was sitting too long in front of PC and unfortunatelly this trick doesn’t work in this case.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pmI have that problem all the time!!!
Gotta bust out the eye drops, girl. 🙂
diana says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:04 amThat’s a pretty neat trick to camouflage puffy eyes. I’ve played around with the cat eye look but I could never get it right. Do you have a tutorial on it?
.-= diana’s last blog post… Balmain Pop-Up Sale at The Outnet =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pmI don’t! But hopefully when I have a bit more time after the holidays I’ll be able to do a simple one that breaks down the steps. Am putting it on my “to do” list!
diana says
December 18th, 2009 at 11:13 amThanks. I truly appreciate it. I can’t wait to see the tutorial!
.-= diana’s last blog post… MAC All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Collection =-.
Trude says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:20 amGlad to see you got a silver lining out of it! 🙂
.-= Trude’s last blog post… I Heart Faces Photo Challenge =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:49 pmThere is always one if you look for it!
shontay says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:40 amHey Karen, I’m interested in buy this Lorac liner, but I want to know if the brush is kinda stiff. I work better with that kind of pen. I have Mac’s Penultimate (and I LOVE it) and it’s pretty sturdy and easy to control. So I just want to know if the Lorac pen is stiff or soft. Thanks.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:50 pmHey Shontay,
The brush is half way in between. It’s not as hard as a marker felt tip (like the one from Hourglass Cosmetics), but it’s not as soft as the flexible brushes from the MAC Liquidlast liners. They are firm, but they do have enough “give” to allow the tip to glide easily along the skin.
amy says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:53 amGood tip and I love a good classic winged out liner.
.-= amy’s last blog post… FOTD Have a Shadow Lady Christmas: Classic Golden Eyes and Red Lips =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:52 pmMe too! With red lips — ooh la la!
NINA says
December 17th, 2009 at 11:01 amIn every cloud Is a silver lining!!! This little discovery is yours, and it is awesome!!!!
Great tip, Karen! 😉
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:52 pm🙂 Glad you like this one!
Christina says
December 17th, 2009 at 11:27 amSo smart, Karen! I kind of swipe at my eyes those days and hope for the best… I’m sure that looks fantastic. I’ll be trying this next time. 😉
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:53 pmIt’s good to have a plan for those post-freak out days, right?
How are you? Are you all moved yet?
Solé says
December 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pmOoh, I haven’t done a cat eye in yeeeears. Thick black liquid liner used to be my daily look about ten years ago so I got the technique down pretty well. I know I bought a MAC liquid liner at some point last year. I think I’ll dig it up today and see if I can still do a perfect line. 😀
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:53 pmI bet you’ll be able to — muscle memory and all!
Hey, have you finished your exams?
Kate & Zena says
December 17th, 2009 at 12:25 pmKaren,
Have you tried Anatomical’s No Old Bags Allowed eye gel? I received that eye gel in my package when Zena won PotM on WHT and I cannot tell you how happy I am that I have it now. I get very puffy eyes when my allergies are nasty, I’ve been crying nonstop for hours or I got zero sleep and No Old Bags Allowed killed all the puffiness…on my hyper-sensitive skin
It doesn’t help it instantly lifts my mood from the cheeky British captions they put on the box and tube! It literally makes me giggle everytime. You only need a teeny itty bitty bit for each eye too so it lasts a wickedly long time.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 5:54 pmNope, I haven’t… but it sounds like something I need ASAP, LOL!
Kate & Zena says
December 17th, 2009 at 7:02 pmIt’s so good, I love it.
The only place I see where you can buy it currently, is from their online shop (which is all in GBP), which stinks. International shipping charges for the world. I’d buy from there just because of all the cheeky descriptions. They’re regular site is fun to go to when you’re having an absolutely shitty day. It’s that funny.
Anatomical’s Online Store
Sara says
December 17th, 2009 at 1:09 pmHey Karen! What color eyeshadow are you wearing in that picture? It looks great!
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 6:02 pmThat’s the taupe shade from the LORAC Red Carpet Reveal Palette!
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/lorac-red-carpet-reveal-collection-swatches-aka-morning-makeup-therapy/
Tammy says
December 17th, 2009 at 4:26 pmGreat tip! I’ll be trying it out next time my eyes are puffy. I’m not that great at making the lines even on both eyes, though. Usually, the wing on one eye is higher than the other, or just angled differently. Any tips on how to get symmetrical lines?
.-= Tammy’s last blog post… Norah Jones On Jimmy Kimmel Live =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 6:04 pmDo the wing part first on both eyes, then fill in the line along the upper lash line. 🙂
Celine says
December 17th, 2009 at 4:29 pmYou know what works great for puffy crying eyes? That Garnier caffeine roll on for the eyes! Works wonders for unusual puff. I use that, my Olay eye cream with concealer in it, and shimmery shadow. I’ll be sure to try the thick liner next time too!
.-= Celine’s last blog post… maravi: My pill box opened up in my purse. I don’t know why I feel like a drug addict fishing around the bottom of my bag for an Excederin Migraine. =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 6:03 pmOkay, I need to get on that ASAP! I think I constitute “unusual puff” on most days!
Glosslizard says
December 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pmI was just about to recommend the Garnier roller-thingie too! It really soothes! I like to roll it under the eyes and use my ring finger to pat a little on the lids!
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 6:03 pmHave you seen the Chanel version of it? I tried it once and it felt really good!
Glosslizard says
December 18th, 2009 at 9:18 amI haven’t seen it… but I’d sure like to! 🙂
Nora says
December 17th, 2009 at 8:07 pmOh wow. Wish I’d read about this trick this morning after my own night/morning of crying. Thanks for the future tip and hope your week/life gets much, much, much better. Here, to help: Q – What do you call a fortune-telling midget who just escaped from prison? A – A small medium at-large!
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:07 pmLOL Nora!!! 🙂 Thanks for the giggle!
Toni says
December 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pmPretty, pretty, pretty! I have been wanting to try liquid eye liner for a while. I bought an ELF one from Target, and was not impressed. I have seen some fairly good reviews for the L’Oreal Lineur Intense liners, but this Lorac liner sounds like it might be just the right one for me to try. I didn’t like the stiffness of the felt tip on the ELF and I haven’t tried either of the L’Oreal ones. Thanks for sharing with us!
Off to the Sephora website to see if they have the liner and eye shadow there!
Take care!
.-= Toni’s last blog post… 2nd Menu Monday =-.
Karen says
December 17th, 2009 at 10:08 pmToni,
Before I met this liner I COULD NOT for the life of me do liquid liner. This pen makes it really, REALLY easy! It’s probably one of my favorite things of 2009. 🙂
Toni says
December 18th, 2009 at 8:46 amKaren, that is good to know that it’s so user friendly. I really, really want to do liquid liner and a cat eye, but I am very klutzy and need something that’s pretty foolproof. I’ll stop by Sephora today when I go shopping for my new winter coat (they’re calling for sleet/snow later today and I don’t have a coat!) and look at it.
.-= Toni’s last blog post… 2nd Menu Monday =-.
Yelena says
November 17th, 2011 at 8:36 amawww sorry you had a break down. glad u were able to get through it. ((hugs))