Can't apply liquid liner? I have SO got you covered!

If you love the look of black liquid liner but you have some issues with applying it, read on!

A traditional liquid eyeliner can take a LOT of precision to get just right. Especially if you're using a liquid liner that has a traditional (bristle) brush. Not only do you need a very steady hand, but the brush itself can hamper your chances of getting a nice, clean line. Also, with traditional liquid liners, you are dipping the brush into a pot of liquid (kind of like when you paint your nails) so the challenge is knowing how much product to put on your brush in order to make a clean, straight line. Sound like too much work? I agree, and it's not something I like to mess with if I'm in a rush to get ready in the morning, that's for sure.

Which is why I am currently loving eyeliner pens. Think of an eyeliner pen as a miniature version of a Sharpie pen. The tip is made of felt, and depending on the brand, it can be VERY forgiving (on first swipe, most eyeliner pens don't deposit as much color as a traditional liquid liner, thus allowing you to build for more intensity and, also, you can easily go over any mistakes to create a clean, smooth line).

So any of you who are reading this, and have eyeliner application issues, might be saying to yourselves, "Cool! I should pick up an eyeliner pen!" And that's where I'm hoping this post might come in handy, because you should know that not all eyeliner pens are created equal, and one might fit your needs better than another.

Today I'm going to show you three of my current favorite black eyeliner pens: Palladio Eye Ink (retail: $6), Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Defining Marker (retail: $3.99), and e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (retail: $1):

Top: Palladio Eye Ink, Middle: Wet n Wild MegaEyes Defining Marker, Bottom: e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (all in Black)

As you can see, the tips on each of these pens is different--here are some close-up shots:

Top: Palladio Eye Ink, Middle: Wet n Wild MegaEyes Defining Marker, Bottom: e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

And here are some swatches of each pen, taken after ONE swipe of each on my hand:

Left: Palladio Eye Ink, Middle: Wet n Wild MegaEyes Defining Marker, Right: e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

Now here's where the true differences really show! For me, it's as simple as this:

If you are a master of black liquid liner or even just consider yourself "pretty good", the Palladio Eye Ink is the way to go. One swipe and you've got a deep, true black color that lasts. The felt tip is firm but not too firm, and it's easy to control and get a very thin, precise liner. You can also build for more intensity but it's pretty darn intense to begin with. If you already love your traditional black liquid liners, this pen will be a welcome addition to your eyeliner stash. Trust me, I think you'll love it. As far as eyeliner pens go, this is the truest black out there.

If you're OK but not great at applying liquid liner, I suggest going with the e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. The felt tip on this pen is softer than the Palladio and it has little bit more forgiveness if you need to re-trace your line. The color is not as pigmented as the Palladio pen, so you're going to be left with a softer black, which is also more forgiving if you're not yet a master of the clean line. You can also build for more intensity but no matter how much you apply, you're not going to get the deep, intense black of the Palladio, so it's perfect if you're looking for a slightly softer look.

If you're a beginner in the world of liquid liner and if just the thought of drawing a perfect black line on your lids makes you nervous, get the Wet n Wild MegaEyes Defining Marker ASAP. This pen was made for you, my lovelies! The felt tip is extremely soft and easy to work with, and here's the best part: the color of this liner is such a soft black that even if you mess up (I mean really mess up and make a huge mistake) you can easily go over your mistake to correct it. Because it's such a soft, almost dark-gray black, it's the most forgiving eyeliner pen I've ever used. You literally NEED to go over your line a few times in order to make it dark, so not only are you going to get in a lot of practice with this pen, but you're also going to get better and and better every time you use it.

So there you have it! Three black eyeliner pens for three different levels of skill. Oh, I almost forgot: the staying power of each of these pens is excellent and your liner will last all day if you choose either of them.

You can purchase Palladio products online or at your local Ulta or Sally Beauty. For e.l.f. products, Toma at the MakeupMixShop always has a terrific assortment, and you can also purchase them at your local Target or directly through the e.l.f. website. Wet n Wild products are available at almost every drugstore and big box store across the nation.

So tell me, are you a black liquid liner girl? If so, what's your favorite liner?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

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