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ELLE Edit: 12 Of The Best Liquid Eyeliners For The Ultimate Cat Eye
For the foolproof feline flick.
From Sophia Loren to Alexa Chung, some of the world's great beauties will be remembered for their timeless but bold cat-eye flick. And to create that look, the key tool is a good liquid eyeliner.
Giving more precision and punchier pigment that a kohl liner, liquid liner is an easy win to frame an eye look, or create a simple, graphic look all of its own. Well, in theory it's easy. But the application still evades some (read: most) of us. Make-up Artist James Molloy recommends the 'slide and glide' technique. 'Hold the tip towards the inner eye, and slide the wand or pen with a bit of pressure along the lash line. Painting it on with the full brush and not just the tip of it means more control.' When the shape is there, 'use the very tip to lightly create the flick at the outer corners.'
Of course the liquid eyeliner you choose makes a difference too. A brush might give a smoother line, but can be more fiddly. A felt-tip is often neater, but some can drag. Check out ELLE's top eyeliner picks below: highly pigmented, long-lasting, almost foolproof...
NARS Climax Liquid Eyeliner - £22
This liner did not come to play. Highly pigmented, it gives an instant shock of inky and matte drama to any look. The tip is cleverly shaped so the sides can be used to create a thicker line than the tip.
KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner - £19
You only have to peek at the product reviews for this to know it's a must-have for any liquid liner lovers. No patchiness, no flooding pens, no smudging.
Glossier Pro Tip Liquid Eyeliner - £15
Glossier may be known for the ultra natural look, but who doesn't look a touch of eyeliner to finish things off? This vegan formula has a really flexible tip that hugs the curves of your eye, so things won't go wayward when applying.
Benefit Roller Liner - £19.50
A great option for newbies to the liquid liner game, this felt-tip style nib is one of the neatest there is. It does dry quickly, which means you need to act fast, but also stops any transfer.
Byredo Technical Black Eyeliner - £31
This inky black liner was designed with make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench, who put her years of expertise into the product. 'It has the longest tip possible that can still create a straight line', she told ELLE. 'From a technical point of view, that was really important to me.'
Chanel Le Liner De Chanel - £31
The small brush on this liner means application can be precise, but its flexibility allows for a smooth sweep at the same time. The longwear formula leaves an almost latex-like, stretchable finish so it won't crease through the day.
Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner - £16
With its sharp tip but wider nib, this eyeliner pen is perfect for creating a dramatic but neat feline flick in one go. It also contains Eyeko's signature lash boosting formula, as a nice added bonus.
Rimmel Wonder'Ink Liquid Eyeliner Black - £6.99
Some felt-tipped liners can tend to drag, but this stays saturated with product so glides on seamlessly. Make-up artist James Molloy suggests 'stamping along the lash line, them gently flicking away from the eye.'
Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner - £25
Pat 'Mother' McGrath apparently trusts the precision and staying power of this liner so much, she uses it to sign autographs. The formula is more velvety than wet, so is easy to control and dries quickly.
Shiseido ArchLiner Ink Shibui Black - £22
This ergonomically designed pen has an angled, teeny-tiny tip, that means you can get close to the lash-line with more control and less wrist-bending. The ink is lightweight and buildable, so once you've got the line drawn you can easily boost the thickness.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen - £47
A super fine calligraphy nib on one end, a thicker nib for bolder, graphic looks on the other, this double-ended eyeliner is spenny, but you do get two for the price of one! As with all Tom Ford Beauty, the formula and staying power is second to none.
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Liquid Liner Black Waterproof - £24
A staple inside many a make-up artist's beauty arsenal, this onyx black liner is waterproof, weather proof, almost make-up remover proof. Perfect for those with hooded eyes that struggle with transfer.
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