Eye of the Tigress

Raise your hand if liquid eyeliner is or was ever a scary prospect. Nearly everyone? Yes? Let me qualm your fears and lead you into the land of Cleopatra with ease.

 RIP Liz ~ Image courtesy of SelectSpecs.com

Now, let it be known, I can take z-e-r-o credit here.  The ever-fashionable and intrepid makeup guinea pig LBD turned me on to this, and even gifted me my first one. I'll kill the suspense: It's InColor FauLiner. A liquid eyeliner contained in a FELT TIP MARKER. I cannot make this up. Genius.

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I was nervous about liquid eyeliner for years before trying it out, but once the spell was cast I could never go back to a regular pencil. I was fairly adept at my mini-cat-eye swipe*, but the trouble was the inconsistency. Sometimes thicker, sometimes thinner, a q-tip fix often took up some of my precious morning getting ready time.

At $1.99 - seriously - FabuLiner is a steal and a half. It comes in your basic brown and black online, and I've seen it in navy and dark green in Walgreens. Quick tip: Find it almost always at the cosmetics counter. It's not on the wall or down an aisle like a major brand (Cover Girl, etc.), and the only thing sold under the brand name is eyeliner. Period.

Image courtesy of AccordingToNoes.com

I do wish they would come out with a waterproof version, but at a price of under $2, I can afford to reapply if needed (actually haven't really had to ever - fab staying power on the upper lid!)

Walk like an Egyptian.

*My fave pre-FabuLiner find was always Almay. If your a traditionalist when lit comes to liquid liner, try it out. Optional waterproof formula, soft brush, and easy on the eyes (literally and figuratively).

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

If M.A.C Fix+ is my perfect finish to putting on my face, Almay Bright Eyes is my perfect beginning.

Photo courtesy of Drugstore.com

Technically an eye base, it's true use is to slap it on your eyelids pre-shadow for all day staying power. It fulfills it's intended purpose like a champ, but I've found it to be versatile in ways Almay doesn't advertise.

*Brighten under-eye circles
*Stipple on for redness coverage
*The single best blemish concealer I have found. Ever. Anywhere.

That last one is what keeps me coming back, and why I pass on this product to so many pals.

I can actually say I've shopped everywhere - Europe included - for the magic elixir of flesh colored goo that will hide a nasty blemish of any sort. Sore and red? Covered. Dry and flaky? Gone. Irritated and blotchy? Where? The combo of micro-fine highlighting powder, and swelling/redness-reducing marine compounds, white tea and peptides is the dream combo.

$8.99 for a tube with the ease of squeeze, a stiff-but-soft brush, and mornings filled with the feeling that you can, indeed, face the day.