Eyeliner phenomenology is serious science, and waking up in the morning and deciding to do your makeup is serious business. In my case, it’s a bit of a ritual, just like setting the table for breakfast, or deciding what I will wear the next day before I go to bed. But we are all different, everyone has a daily routine that they repeat over and over to become the best possible version of themselves, ready to fend for themselves in modern life. Seriously, though, I find that the most interesting detail of any makeup ritual is the way people wear their eyeliner. First, because it requires boldness: think about it, sitting down near your mirror, and placing sharp objects anywhere near your eyeballs early in the morning does require a tad of courage – really. Why do we bother? I don’t know, but the eyeliner tradition is ancient, it was already found in ancient Egypt, so eyeliner has been fascinating women worldwide for a long time. Apart from the way we apply it, I think the kind of eyeliner people choose is very telling. So, tell me how you wear your eyeliner, and I’ll tell you who you are.
Pencil
Minimum effort, maximum result. If you have a sharpener lying around, good, otherwise, never mind. You don’t care about looking impeccable, but you also know your gaze is your strength, and you want that to be clear at every moment. You might be one of those people who bring their pencil with them in their bag, coupled with a cute pocket mirror to check that it’s not smudged down all the way to your cheek during the day.
Gel liner applied with a brush
Surely you must be the friend who is asked beauty-related questions all the time. You know this fantastic, slightly mystical product, the sort that makes many ask, “excuse me, but, how do you apply it, exactly?” You are precise and methodical, you’re not afraid to think outside the box, and make little changes, turning your eyeliner into a smokey eye with just one stroke of your brush.
Liquid liner
I shall bow before you. You are a species that is on the brink of extinction — due to stress, and to be honest, due to the strain we all feel whenever we grab that object. You are a fan of precision, you like jobs well done, and you’re not afraid to take your time, to attain your idea of perfection. Just remember that not everyone has 45 minutes to wait until you’re done with your makeup, and all will be fine.
Kohl
You are nostalgic for a faraway land, and a bygone era. You love playing with makeup to try to rewind it all and dive into the past. Makeup gestures are like little moments of love for yourself, to let you momentarily disconnect from the world around you. Did you know that you can make your own kohl at home? You just need a few ingredients, and a bit of patience: have a look here.
Panda
Welcome to the club: don’t worry, it’s a big one. We are all part of it sometimes, including yours truly. It’s our club for bad days, for the days our product is about to expire, or the days we drop our brush — and that sets the mood for the entire day, week, month or life. Don’t worry: it’s temporary. Just get practicing and you will be okay.
P.S. Whichever category you are a part of – even if you are part of none – keep this in mind: you can always learn, play with brushes and pencils. And remember: if you just believe in yourself, today’s eyeliner can be tomorrow’s smoky-eye! 😉
