Both myself and my makeup artist friend Katy Sanford (www.katysanford.com) use L'Oreal Line Intensifique Liquid Eyeliner, found pretty much anywhere (I buy mine at Freddy's for about $7 a bottle). Katy has worked for a bunch of fancy cosmetics companies in the past, but always swears by the L'Oreal liner. I've been using it since high school and love it. Stay away from Maybelline and Cover Girl. That shit flakes off when it dries.

Also, brush-style is easier for me to apply than pen-style. I don't know if that's just because I'm used to it, though. I hate the pens.

hey marjorie,
pick up the latest lucky mag. there is a great "pen" that works with any powder eyeshadow and turns it into a lovely liner. plus you get to use it over and over with any shadows you have. that way you get a little bit of both worlds and the chance to line in any color palette you so choose! I believe its from urban decay, but not sure...its in the beauty section of the mag:)

I just picked up this new liner from MAC that is a gel. You apply it with a brush and it dries in two minutes. It allows you to do thick or thin lines and comes in several colors. I freakin love it!

I know you say you aren't a fan and truly neither am I, but when I lived in PDX I had to have something even out and brighten up the old dull skin tone in the fall (aka 10 months of the year). I swear by Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer in Nude. It has SPF so wear it under a good moisturizer and you are set. It made a huge difference.

I used to do the tinted moisturizer too, but I used Stila (ok, so maybe I had a very good friend who used to work for Stila and that's why they've been my go-to), which was great, but if I wear anything besides an oil-free moisturizer on my face it ups the frequency of breakouts. Trust me I've lived both lifestyles, and my skin is much better without any cover. For dullness, I find that vigorous exercise, microdermabrasion, and the occasional cleanse can do the trick.

I can't stand the pens...they seem to go on too thick or too thin, never just right. Like the first person, I swear by the L'Oreal Line Intensifique, but it can sometimes be hard to find. I think they've taken it on and off the market for repackaging from time to time.

And I don't know if this is the one in Lucky, but Too Faced makes a liner (Liquif-eye) where you can use your existing powder eyeshadow. The problem (or at least what USED to be a problem) was that it didn't stay on well enough.

P.S. Just double-checked mine and the liner I have is actually called "Lineur Intense." See what I mean about repackaging?

Hey, I hear you on the "natural" face. That is all I do here, but it only makes sense as it would all dissolve in 2 seconds anyway and I hate when I see women powdering their face in public (almost as unattractive as chewing gum).

What do you reccomend, however, for someone who would like to try the eyeliner look for the first time? Keep in mind I have a tanned fresh face and don't wanna overdo anything and I need to keep it easy.

For the "liquid" liner look I actually prefer a cake liner applied with a brush. It works like a little cake of watercolor paint where you add water with the brush. I find it easier to work with because you can control the consistency depending on how much water you use. The other benefit is that you can then use a really high-quality brush instead of the crappy ones that come in the eyeliner tubes. Not many companies make it, but MAC has an excellent 'creme' cake liner that I swear by. It goes on really smooth and once you get the hang of it it truly is the best.

It's hard to know without seeing the face in question, but I feel like the liner would look fine against a tan, bare face, as long as your brows are groomed and you add some complimenting mascara. My other thought would be to try a lighter liner than black. Just nothing sparkly.

Maybe I should go to Neiman's or Saks or Nordstrom and have someone oblige me by putting different ones on and showing how it is done?

I have dark features (eyes and thick and yes, groomed brows)but salt n pepper hair. Maybe the lighter eyeliner would be more fitting? Hmmm...

I just don't wanna look too Priscilla Beaulieu.

Like yourself, I have tried so many liners over the years. Liquid has normally beaten out the other options, as it definitely stays on better than gel or pencil. Recently though I found the best thing ever: L'oreal Voluminous Eyeliner pen. This really looks like a pen, in size and shape. Even the applicator is shaped like a highlighter, as opposed the thin point found with most liquid liners. Surprisingly easy to use, I think it was the fastest I have ever applied eyeliner. And best of all, it doesn't smudge or flake at all, even against my extremely squidgy eyes and oily eyelids. It comes in black, brown, green, plum, and grey. I found mine at Walgreens for 5.99.

ding ding ding, it sounds like we have a winner. After my incredibly successful self-application of false eyelashes on Friday night, I am emboldened. I'm going to make liquid liner my bitch.