What is the purpose of black eyeliner?

Black eyeliner is classic. For thousands of years, people have been lining, defining, and accentuating the eyes with black. The most well-documented early use was by the ancient Egyptians who used kohl powder mixed with oil or animal fats to line their eyes.* Silent movie actress Theda Bara was famous for her sultry, dark-rimmed eyes, and her iconic look still influences fashion today. Then, there’s the bewitching doe eyes of the ’50s, the mod lines of the ’60s, and the punk rock extremes of the ’80s.

Fast forward to 2020: after weeks of wearing a mask, thanks to a global pandemic, the eyes have become the focal point of self-expression. That means black eyeliner is our best friend all over again! And personally, I couldn’t be happier! After all, who can deny the alluring confidence exuded by a person wearing it? So, if you’re asking how to turn up the volume on your eyes, there’s no easier way than with this cosmetic classic. Here are some fantastic products for creating everything from a perfect tightline to the darkest rock n’ roll rims.

BLACK EYELINER IN POTS

Top: Alcone Company Luxe Gel Eyeliner Bottom: Ben Nye MediaPro Eye Definer, Danessa Myricks Waterproof Cushion Color

Alcone Company Luxe Gel Eyeliner delivers intense pigment in a gel formula that goes on creamy and dries down for extended wear. Use it with your favorite brush to draw a precise Cat Eye or smudge it out quickly before the product sets for a softer look that won’t budge. $12

Ben Nye MediaPro Eye Definer is a cream for enhancing the lash line, contouring the eye, or creating a smoky diffusion. It’s also great for intentionally imperfect “guyliner” looks. Set with a pressed eyeshadow for more intensity. $10

Danessa Myricks Waterproof Cushion Color is a liquid formula saturated into a cushion for delivering the right amount of product to the brush that comes with it. Perfect for creating elongated Fox Eyes! $15

BLACK PENCIL EYELINERS

Ben Nye
Eye Liner Pencil in Onyx
$10Kyrolan
Faceliner in 10 Black
$20.95

Ben Nye Eye Liner Pencil provides intense black pigment in a traditional formula that applies smoothly-no tugging necessary. It’s removed easily with regular makeup remover making it an excellent choice for when multiple makeup looks or quick changes are part of your day.

Kryolan Faceliner Pencil in 10 Black applies smoothly for creating bold lines with ease. For a smoky look, soften the line with a brush like the Alcone Company Precision Smoke, but work fast because it sets in seconds. If you prefer a touch of sparkle, try it in Diamond Black for rocker chic with a twist!

BLACK LIQUID LINERS

Left to Right: Ben Nye Liquid Eye Liner, Eve Pearl Smudgeproof Liquid Eyeliner, Mehron 1927 Liquid Vinyl Makeup.

Ben Nye Liquid Eye Liner is perfect for creating authentic-looking period makeups or for anytime sharp definition is the key to your makeup design. The brush-in-cap packaging also provides convenience when you’re on the go. $10

Eve Pearl Smudgeproof Liquid Eyeliner is a cult favorite for its ultra-dark color and finely tapered tip that allows you to control the application through pressure and angle. It’s also a must-have for lash application to fill in gaps or cover any visible glue with targeted precision. $29

Mehron 1927 Liquid Vinyl Makeup is a modern take on the classic liquid but has a high-shine finish even after it dries, and comes with a liner brush for painting details with precision. Try it for updated Twiggy-inspired looks. $17.95

Visit Alcone Company to shop more eyeliner brands and colors!

Looking for beautiful eyeshadow colors to add to your look? Read Jewel Tones for Majestic Eyes.

Makeup illustration by MUA Louis Braun using MyKitCo.™ My Facecharts.

*Source: “Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup” by Gabriela Hernandez

Product availability and prices are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit alconemakeup.com.

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Cosmetic applied around the eyes

"Eyeliner" redirects here. For other uses, see Eyeliner (disambiguation)

"Guyliner" redirects here. For the song by Dorian Electra, see Flamboyant (album)

Dark teal eye liner along the rim of the eye

Eye liner or eyeliner is a cosmetic used to define the eyes. It is applied around the contours of the eye(s). It is often used to create various aesthetic effects.

History

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Ancient Egyptian women and men wearing kohl eye liner, from the tomb of Nakht in Thebes (15th century BC).

Eye liner was first used in ancient India, ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as a dark black line around the eyes. As early as 10,000 BC, Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore eye liner not only for aesthetics but to protect the skin from the desert sun. Research has also speculated that eye liner was worn to protect the wearer from the evil eye. The characteristic of having heavily lined eyes has been frequently depicted in ancient Egyptian art. They produced eye liner with a variety of materials, including copper ore and antimony. Ancient Egyptian kohl contained galena, which was imported from nearby regions in the Land of Punt, Coptos and Western Asia.[1]

In the 1960s, liquid eye liner was used to create thick black and white lines around the eyes in the make-up fashion associated with designers like Mary Quant. The '60s and '70s also saw new fashion trends which made use of eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara in new ways. As goth and punk fashion developed, they employed eyeliner for a dark and dramatic effect.

Modern usage

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A girl wearing eye liner.

In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, heavy eye liner use has been associated with Goth fashion and Punk fashion. Eye liner of varying degrees of thickness has also become associated with the emo subculture and various alternative lifestyles. Guy liner is also a special style the emo subculture tend to use after being popularized from Pete Wentz, bassist of the pop-punk band Fall Out Boy.

An eye with brown eye liner under the bottom lashes.

Eye liner is commonly used in a daily make-up routine to define the eye or create the look of a wider or smaller eye. Eye liner can be used as a tool to create various looks as well as highlighting different features of the eyes. Eye liner can be placed in various parts of the eye to create different looks with a winged eye liner or tight lined at the waterline. Eye liner can be drawn above upper lashes or below lower lashes or both, even on the water lines of the eyes. Its primary purpose is to make the lashes look lush, but it also draws attention to the eye and can enhance or even change the eye's shape. Eye liner is available in a wide range of hues, from the common black, brown and grey to more adventurous shades such as bright primary colors, pastels, frosty silvers and golds, white and even glitter-flecked colors.

Eye liner can also be used for showing depression in photographs, such as the famous "Bleeding Mascara"[clarification needed].

Winged eye liner

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Winged eye liner defines the shape of the top eyelid and extends to a point or ‘wing’ about halfway toward the end of the eyebrow.

Cat eye

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A cat eye looks similar to a winged liner. It has a thicker wing than a winged liner that involves the bottom and the top lash line.

Tight lining

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Tight lining is the use of eye liner tight against the waterline under the lashes of the upper lid, and above the lashes of the lower lid. Due to the proximity to the membranes, and the surface of the eye itself, waterproof eye liner is preferred. Tight lining is a technique which makes the eyelashes appear to start farther back on the eyelid, thus making them look longer. Gel eye liner and a small angled brush may be used to create this look.[2]

Permanent Eyeliner

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Permanent eyeliner is a permanent makeup technique that uses tattooing to apply ink pigment along the eyelids, creating the appearance of eyeliner.

Application

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Advice on application varies. Harper's Bazaar recommends applying line in short strokes.[3]

Types

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Woman with turquoise eye liner

Depending on its texture, eye liner can be softly smudged or clearly defined. There are six main types of eye liner available on the market: each produces a different effect.

• Liquid eye liner is an opaque liquid that usually comes in a small bottle and is typically applied with a small sharp-tipped brush. It creates a clean, precise line. This type of eye liner is best used to create sharp, winged eyeliner. Because liquid eye liner gives a much heavier appearance, it is often only applied to the upper lash-line.
• Powder-based eye pencil is eye liner in a wood pencil. It is generally available in dark, matted shades.
• Wax-based eye pencils are softer pencils and contain waxes that ease application. They come in a wide variety of intense colours as well as paler shades such as white or beige. Wax-based eye liners can also come in a cone or a compact with brush applicator. These are the cheapest and most ubiquitous eyeliner form
• Kohl eye liner is a soft powder available in dark matte shades. It is most often used in black to outline the eyes. It comes in pencil, pressed powder, or loose powder form. This type of eye liner is easy to smudge.
• Gel eye liner, which is a softer gel liner, that can be easily applied with an eye liner brush. It can be precisely applied and is much softer than Kohl.
• Cake eyeliner, a eyeliner formula that is dry until wetted with water or setting spray, that is used with a brush. Cake eyeliners are offered in many colours and finishes, and is often used for graphic eyeliner looks.
• Shimmer Liner, which is available in different bright colors applied on the upper as well as lower eyelid.

Chemical composition

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Traditional wax-based eye liners are made from about 20 components. About 50% by weight are waxes (e.g., Japan wax, fats, or related soft materials that easily glide on to the skin. Stearyl heptanoate is found in most cosmetic eyeliner. Typical pigments include black iron oxides, as well as smaller amounts of titanium dioxide and Prussian blue.[4]

See also

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References

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Notes

Further reading

• Hankir, Zahra (2023). Eyeliner: A Cultural History. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780143137092. OCLC 1371013801.

• Eye liner at Wikimedia Commons