Five Ways of Using Eyeliner to Enhance Your Expressions

Eyeliner - probably the most indispensible cosmetic I can think of. I don't wear makeup every day, but I sure do love to play with it when I put it on, and I can't count the number of times a black automatic eyeliner pencil has come in handy. It can help you look younger, or older; it can be an instantaneous costume. Here are some basics of selecting your eyeliner:

Color. When in doubt, basic black always gives a bold and defined look. Brown is subtler - for when you're creating a simple daywear look, makeup that doesn't look like makeup. Different colors like green and violet can be coordinated with your outfits, or with your complexion.

Type. Personally, I find the standard, sharpenable pencil to be clunky, though I know it has its devotees. Liquid eyeliner can create the strongest lines for a makeup user with skill. But my favorite is ultimately the automatic pencil. Prestige makes a particularly long-lasting, inexpensive one. Automatic eyeliners are creamy enough to apply easily, without running the way that liquid eyeliner can.

Now, read up on some techniques for using your eyeliner, and some different looks you can try. Remember, these are guidelines. Eye makeup can be the most creative of your cosmetics.

The ingenue. You can take years off your face by applying eyeliner to the outside line of your upper eyelid, furthest away from the nose. Draw a thick line that tapers off toward the middle of the lid, and don't touch the other part of the lids, towards the middle of the face. You might add a light line on the outermost part of the lower lid, as well, but don't overdo it. This trick makes your eyelashes look longer, and takes attention away from any fine lines you might have in the area. It's a very feminine look. It works best with a bold dark color, or a color matching your eyelashes!

Adding depth. The reverse of the above: students might want to try this technique on job interviews. Believe it or not, it's been one of my standbys; for years people would always tell me I looked too young, and this was one way I'd add age and depth to my face. Run the eyeliner along the inner section of your upper eyelid, closest to the nose. You can also add a dash of eyeshadow out where the nose meets the brow. Draw along the entire lower lid lightly. A brown or charcoal shade is best for this.

The coquette. Line the bottom lid lightly, and the top lid strongly. Make the line thicker at the outside edge, but keep it continuous across the eyelid. Try a bright color for this, green, blue or purple, and add eyeshadow and mascara.

The street goth. A unisex alternative look. Paint it black! Emphasize the lower lids with a thick line of black. This works best with liquid eyeliner or automatic eyeliner pencil. Give the upper lids a narrow coating if you want to - upper lids give more of a feminine look, while lining the lower lid only creates a polished alternative look for both genders.

The club goth. A unisex alternative look. Line both lids with a thick line of automatic pencil or liquid eyeliner, then continue at the corner. Make sure you have a thick connecting line from the upper eyelid to the corner of the eye, then draw designs: a basic outward point, a curlicue, even a complicated network of spirals, swirls and spiderwebs.