The Beauty Blog: Color Play

Usually when it comes to daily makeup routines, you don’t have much time in the mornings to play around with colors or color-coordinate your eye makeup with your outfits. You stick to what you know — maybe just mascara and liner or a brown smokey eye. You’re too busy to try a shimmery olive eye shadow, because chances are it might not look good and then you’ll have to start your makeup all over again — not exactly ideal during rushed mornings.

So what’s the best way to brighten up your typical makeup while still playing on the safe side? The answer lies in what some beauty gurus call “a pop of color.” You stick with your typical makeup, but switch things up with your choice of eyeliner for your bottom waterline. Maybe a dark blue shimmery eyeliner one day and a light teal another, but no matter the color you’ll still be able to match your makeup with your outfits without being too risky or investing too much time.

When it comes to quality, rich colored eyeliners, some of the best can be found in drugstores.

If you prefer liquid or gel liner, brands like L’Oréal H.I.P., Physician’s Formula and Maybelline have cost-effective substitutes for gel liners by Stila, Shu Uemura, MAC and Bobbi Brown.

For pencil liners, your favorite brands (drugstore or high-end) usually will have different colors and textures for you to pick and choose from. If you don’t have any makeup knowledge or preferences, check out Avon, Nars, Rimmel London, Mac’s Pearlglide Intense and Kohl liners, Urban Decay or L’Oréal.

Eyeliner Recommendations:

MAC’s “Eye Kohl” in “Minted” or “Tarnish”

Bobbi Brown’s “Long Wear Gel Eyeliner” in “Chocolate Shimmer”’

Maybelline’s “Unstoppable Eyeliner” in “Jade” and “Sapphire”

Avon’s “SuperSHOCK Gel Eyeliner Pencil” in “Plumful” and “Steel”

L’Oréal’s “Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner” in grey

Rimmel London’s “Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer” in “Deep Ocean,” “Emerald Sparkle” and “Precious Gold”