Trying to craft the perfect liquid liner flick can often feel like mission impossible.
But there's a new beauty trend bubbling away on instagram and it's going to make getting ready in the mornings a little easier/quicker.
Yep, gone are the endless hours of struggling to draw on a smooth liquid liner flick... (pause for a moment for a min while we all let out a collective sigh of relief).
Enter, blurred eyeliner.
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/BFL3GWPqhuG/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
So what is it?
You start by drawing on a regular feline flick, and but then soften the top of the flick with a pencil brush and a touch of black eyeshadow, to give a soft, blurry, effect, but keep the underside a clean, sharp line.
We know, rocking a smoky liner is no new thing, but keeping the base smooth whilst smudging out the top gives it that cool-girl twist.
Plus, it means you don't have to worry about keeping your liner mega-straight, as you're going to smudge it out anyway, win, win.
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/BEurnz7J63v/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/86DK-pREeX/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/BEBzvUZHGUL/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
The best thing about this look is that most of the products you need to do it are probably already sitting in your makeup bag.
A black eyeliner - gel works best, but tbh, most formulas can be adapted to suit. If you're using pencil liner you'll need a concealer and an angled brush to tidy up underneath the flick and keep it looking sharp. You'll also need a smudger brush and a matte black eyeshadow on hand, to soften up the top of the liner.
[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/BB26cjFnGZ5/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/BCMYLYxJ60e/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
Our favourites have to be the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, £18.50, Zoeva's Luxe Precise Shader, £8.50, and Luxe Petit Pencil, £7.50, and finally the Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Blackout, £14.
[instagram ]http://instagram.com/p/BF-OS5uJ6xx/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/BCMYLYxJ60e/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >
Yep we're obsessed with blurred eyeliner, and it seems instagram is too.