Heavy on the Eyeliner

There’s something effortlessly timeless about eyeliner. Whether you’re drawn to the subtle sophistication of a thin flick or the bold drama of a smoky eye, eyeliner remains one of the simplest yet most transformative items of makeup. It has the ability to balance and shape the eyes, working with your natural contours rather than against them. A soft, smudged edge can evoke romance and mystery, while more defined eyeliner feels bold and glamorous.

The effect? I think it’s mysterious, romantic, and incredibly flattering for every eye colour. Browns bring out green and hazel tones, while deep blacks make blue eyes appear more dramatic and add definition. The smoky eye, when balanced with minimal lips and fresh skin, can easily shift from day to night. Even something as simple as switching to hoop earrings and lining the corners of your eyes can instantly turn your look from daytime to evening.

Here are some examples of eyeliner looks I’ve found memorable, ones that have influenced my love for soft, romantic, yet dramatic makeup, and might inspire you in a similar way as well as only needing one if not two products.

Images:

Lily Rose Depp photo by Georges Biard, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.

Penélope Cruz photo by Adam Mark Barwick, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike (CC BY-SA), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.

Mila Kunis speaking at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International Photo by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.