Thread: Play With Your Pencils!!

In my quest to become the most efficient MUA evar, I've resorted to using the least amount of brushes and products on myself and in my kit.

I have recently been playing with pencils and wanted to share how awesome they are! They last, take up such a small amount of space, and are extremely accurate.

Different textures (soft to hard) makes for super duper variety.

I'll post some pics when I'm proficient at taking decent ones of myself, I rely too much on 'togs. ..cr.:

But try this:

Line your waterline (UPPER as well as lower) with a dark pencil, I use black. Try black, charcoal, or brown. This is the base/darkening color.
[This is Technique #11 in the PDF booklet to the DVD].

Then use a soft pencil in any other color of your choice and line around the eyes; you can overlap with the base/darkening color. Smudge with fingers to smoke it. You can reline the waterline with black to further intensify.

Keep layering and widening your circle of the colored pencil to the desired intensity/smokiness. I've been using MAC's "Minted" lately. Try dark, light, or metallic varieties.

You can also smudge the colored pencil up onto the eyelids in place of eyeshadow.

With pencil you get depth, intensity, and staying power. Be sure to prime for extra durability and smooth application.

Speaking of pencils, I would like to hear which brands you like to use for your eyelining tricks. I am hunting for a better one than the one I currently use, something bolder.

Originally Posted by Mayliz

Speaking of pencils, I would like to hear which brands you like to use for your eyelining tricks. I am hunting for a better one than the one I currently use, something bolder.

Softest & most intense I've used: Aveda, MAC, Makeup Forever. I would use these brands (or other softer, higher quality ones) for the color.

Hardest but tried and true: Wet 'n' Wild for $.99!! A former goth wouldn't lie to you about this one.

Ha, why didn't I think of Wet N' Wild? I do want to try out a few different kinds because mine wash out very fast. I don't even know if that's an accurate description. It blends into my eye makeup too fast. I've got eyelids that make the eye shadow look non-existant (oh man - I'm not making sense today!). Anyway, I need something that won't fade too quickly or make me cry because of the contacts.

Originally Posted by Mayliz

Ha, why didn't I think of Wet N' Wild? I do want to try out a few different kinds because mine wash out very fast. I don't even know if that's an accurate description. It blends into my eye makeup too fast. I've got eyelids that make the eye shadow look non-existant (oh man - I'm not making sense today!). Anyway, I need something that won't fade too quickly or make me cry because of the contacts.

I understood you sweety!

Try primer on the lids and under the eye (basically anywhere you would put an eye product). Lots of threads on here about primers and I'm sure you can find something that does not irritate the lenses. This will help prevent the blending/absorption (which is what's happening).

For starters, you can try Urban Decay's "Potion" or MAC Paints. :0)

I love tightlining and I am a great fan of a good pencil. MAC's Eye Kohls are my ultimate faves, but I'm also a lover of Bourjois' pencils, Benefit Bad Gal for the ultra smudginess, and Mally Beauty makes some good ones, too.

Ah, thank you.

Doesn't the wet & wild stuff hurt when you try to put it on cause you have to grind it into your eyelid to make it actually make a mark? I want to play with new colors, especially purples & cranberries against my green eyes, but geez, I can't afford 20 colors of mac!!!

Originally Posted by Sonja2

Doesn't the wet & wild stuff hurt when you try to put it on cause you have to grind it into your eyelid to make it actually make a mark? I want to play with new colors, especially purples & cranberries against my green eyes, but geez, I can't afford 20 colors of mac!!!

It can if it's super hard (b/c it contains a lot of wax). Try softening it first by rolling b/t your fingers. DON'T do the old trick of a lighter or match underneath, you'll just get a nasty eye-ful of carbon. ..c::

I heard of softening eyeliner pencils with a hot air blowdryer. Would that be a no-no also? I always found that the eyeliner gets darker and stays on much much longer. I haven't done this a lot, because I forgot about it and lately I've been using MAC liners (forget the brand) but I just remembered :)

When I try to line the waterline, liner just won't stick. I've tried various pencils and smashbox pots. Any suggestions?

When I line the waterline, I use tarte emphaseyes, MAC Eye Kohl or MAC Fluidline.

My Walgreens carries a cheapie brand called Jordana that has some incredibly gorgeous eye liners in various shades of blue, turquoise, green, and teal. If those colors looked better on me than what they do, I'd be all over them.

Ditto on the Wet n' Wild--I use black with black shadow over to set for day wear (hey, I'm a bellydancer, after all) and I do the waterline for evening (no shadow there, lol). There is another cheapie brand called NYC that seems to have a softer formulation. I have a charcoal gray pencil of theirs that I like.

I prefer Milani. Right now there are three fab screamin' neon pencils in purple, green, and blue. Nice texture, goes on smooth.

They also have great shadows, and around the holidays glitter liners in blue, white, purple, green, and black.

And they're available at CVS. What's not to love?

Marianna, I don't see why a blow dryer wouldn't work! I find it quicker to just roll the tip in my hands, though (my hair dryer is not easily within my reach).

LauraLevana, there are some good recommendations here you can try! ;0) I find the softer pencils have more staying power. Try Bobbi Brown's cream liner, too.

I love wet and wild, their pencil eyeliners and nail polish colors.

Alrana

thank you as always Azhia.

I just bought some HIP metallic pencils, the bright blue one is AWESOME. So far it seems like the go on easily and stay in place pretty well, and the color is intense.

My favorite of all time is a Prestige self-sharpening pencil, but they're getting hard to find.

Originally Posted by mehndidancer

I love wet and wild, their pencil eyeliners and nail polish colors.

Alrana

I love $.99!!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by Lauren_

thank you as always Azhia.

I just bought some HIP metallic pencils, the bright blue one is AWESOME. So far it seems like the go on easily and stay in place pretty well, and the color is intense.

My favorite of all time is a Prestige self-sharpening pencil, but they're getting hard to find.

It is my pleasure!

I would think that the HIP pencils would be awesome!!

I use a blow dryer on my wet n wild pencils.
Azhia how does being a MUA come in to play with using pencils, how you you keep them sanitized from one person to the next? would you throw them out each time? I like when MUA use the cheap little disposable make up brushes, that way i know they are clean

Originally Posted by Azhia

It is my pleasure!

I would think that the HIP pencils would be awesome!!

You inspired me to play with my new HIP pencils. Today I lined with the metallic blue (not waterline, but lashline) then with gold.

BOTH my kids specifically complimented me on my eyeliner today. By both kids, I mean even my 14 year old son. I think he was a little jealous of the fun I get to have with makeup, he said 'That would look awesome on ME!" I'll have to dig him up some pics of Boy George, Little Richard, Alice Cooper, Tarkan, and other eyelined men!

I recently started lining my waterline every day. I'd avoided it in the past because I was under the impression that it made my eyes look smaller - which it does - BUT I find that now I really love the way it looks. It defines my eyes even when I'm wearing a smoky, soft eyeshadow look, and it brings a whole new level of intensity to my face. I use MAC blacktrack fluidline and it doesn't budge. I'm not a big fan of pencils, except for Urban Decay's

Originally Posted by Lauren_

You inspired me to play with my new HIP pencils. Today I lined with the metallic blue (not waterline, but lashline) then with gold.

BOTH my kids specifically complimented me on my eyeliner today. By both kids, I mean even my 14 year old son. I think he was a little jealous of the fun I get to have with makeup, he said 'That would look awesome on ME!" I'll have to dig him up some pics of Boy George, Little Richard, Alice Cooper, Tarkan, and other eyelined men!

Eyelined men are hot! (like the eyeliner dude from Lost).
Paul Weller's son and everyone from Depeche Mode!

*having a myocardial infarction*

PLAY WITH ME. Make Up Forever Celebrates 25 Years by Offering this Bad Boy...

Originally Posted by LauraLevana

When I try to line the waterline, liner just won't stick. I've tried various pencils and smashbox pots. Any suggestions?

Have you tried Estee Lauder's Artists eye pencil in soft smudge black? It sticks to my waterline better than any other brand. And I don't usually tout dept store brands (I'm a drugstore girl).

PS I am off to look at HIP and Milani eye pencils tomorrow.

Excuse my ignorance ladies, but what is a "waterline"? I've never heard that term...c::

its the pinkish watery part just above your lower lashes :)

Waterline, I see...I wouldn't dare put cosmetics there, with my allergic sensitivities and contact lenses. Plus, my eyes are small, so it would not help them look bigger.

But I do admire that lined look in photos, on someone with big eyes.

Originally Posted by Azhia

It can if it's super hard (b/c it contains a lot of wax). Try softening it first by rolling b/t your fingers. DON'T do the old trick of a lighter or match underneath, you'll just get a nasty eye-ful of carbon. ..c::

I used to do the lighter thing & I agree- but you can use other kinds of warmers too- like the side of your tea mug, or, if I'm traveling, I put my pencil bag right next to the heater in the car- the bag insulates enough that nothing actually melts- or I carry my pencil case under my jacket for body heat- Umm, can you tell I live in Alaska? 10 minutes in a car at 40 below can screw up make up big time! Those little chemical, emergency hand warmer pillows work well too (pick up at the sporting goods store)