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If you want to draw attention to your eyes, using a bold eye shadow paired with dark eyeliner will make your eyes the focal point of your face. Along with choosing an eyeliner shade that complements your eye color, you need to decide whether you prefer a pencil or retractable eyeliner. Either way, you’ll be able to accentuate your eyes, and update your look with non-traditional eyeliner shades like teal or purple.
Components
Eyeliner pencils have a stick of pigment encased in a traditional wooden pencil shape. The circumferences of eyeliner pencils vary, allowing you to choose how thick or thin you want the liner to appear around your eyes. Retractable eyeliner contains a stick of pigment within a twistable base. As the pigment stick wears down due to repeated application, you twist the base to expose more of the liner. Retractable eyeliners typically have a thinner circumference than pencil eyeliners, so you may need to practice a few times before you become comfortable with the thinner design.
Maintenance
To maintain a sharp point on eyeliner pencils, you’ll need to sharpen once your point starts looking dull. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a wider line than you might like if you’re going for a more natural makeup look. You don’t need to sharpen retractable eyeliners. However, if you only use one side of the liner to line your eyes, the stick may start to wear unevenly. Try to rotate the liner when applying it to avoid this.
Application
Using a pencil or retractable eyeliner takes less time and concentration than applying liquid eyeliner. Lining the very outside of your lash line frames your eyes, and decreases the chances of you poking yourself. You can smudge both styles of eyeliner, for a smokier look. A sharpened pencil eyeliner will create a more defined line than retractable eyeliner. Retractable eyeliners may make it easier for you to create a cat-eye effect.
Portability
You may want to carry eyeliner in your purse for quick touch-ups. If you tote around a traditional eye pencil, you run the risk of having the cap slip off and having your perfectly chiseled point break off. If you use a retractable eyeliner, it’s possible that the base may unintentionally get jostled, causing your eyeliner to extend upward. This could cause the eyeliner to break off, giving your clothing an unwelcome smudge the next time you remove the cap. To prevent either scenario, stash your eyeliner in a makeup case so it’s secure.
