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How to make a splash on your waterline!

by Martha Adams

There are so many brilliant tips and tricks in the make-up world for a keen student (although ‘keen’ is somewhat of an understatement in my particular case - I’m more like a mad fiend.) Up until 18 months ago, I thought a waterline was a stain on my carpet after a plumbing accident. However ,my personal definition dictionary expanded another notch after stumbling upon a tutorial by make-up guru Wayne Goss, who alerted me to the fact that there was an extra millimetre of previously unutilised eye-space (yay!) where I could indulge even more of my colour passion, or simply make my eyes look more fresh and youthful. I experimented in two stages.

Stage 1 - Neutrals:

I started with a pale fleshy coloured crayon – Benefit Eye Bright actually. It’s a soft pastel pink highlighter that doesn’t irritate in the slightest, and true to its name, it freshens up tired eyes and miraculously disguises the after effects of late nights. Even after a good night’s sleep, my waterlines can be a bit patchy and unevenly toned - not sure why, probably something to do with the ageing process. But after running the pencil along the inner rim of my eyes, I was delighted at the difference it made, and how much brighter my eyes looked.

Next I tried out Inglot #44 , a pale yellowish pencil that also didn’t make my eyes water, and turned out to be a delightfully subtle complement when paired with olive green, brown or orangey shadows.

Forever on the lookout for a bargain, I then discovered essence white kajal – my ultimate eye youthing secret. Not the slightest bit of stinging, and a steal at $1.75. I use this crayon almost every day. It’s not as intense as some other whites, has an almost pearly finish, and I’m amazed at its power to give my eyes a crisp definition and freshness.

Below are some comparison pictures to demonstrate what I’m talking about. The photos on the left were taken with a bare waterline, whereas the ones on the right show the difference the white crayon makes, and I only have to reapply once or twice during the day.  The effect from a distance is actually more apparent than in these close-ups – I definitely look more wide-awake.

Tip: Always wipe your waterline with a fresh cotton bud prior to applying your crayon – this helps the product adhere better, and gives you a crisper finish.

Stage 2 – Colours:

Hmmm…I admit even I was somewhat hesitant to try a colour in this very up-close-and-personal space, but encouraged by the bh EOTD lovelies, experiment I did, and now I’m unrestrainable! Pastel or bold hue, sheer or solid texture, matte or shimmer finish, gel or crayon, I’m loving the fact that I can give my eyes some extra whoa-factor without having to take coloured shadows up onto my hoods, which nowadays ends up making the crinkles and creases even more obvious. Coloured waterliners do take a little more maintenance throughout the day, and I’m yet to find one that lasts more than four hours or so, but I don’t mind reapplying as it only takes a few seconds.

Below is a two minute slideshow of some of the looks I’ve created in the last six months incorporating coloured liners on my waterline. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them, and who knows, it might inspire you to explore your little bit of splash-space.

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Take care of you, kats xxx

Have you discovered the joys of waterlining?  Have you found a liner that doesn’t irritate your eyes, AND lasts all day?

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