Dave J Hogan/Getty Images"May the odds be ever in your favor," has said every girl to herself as she attempted to apply a cat-eye.
About five years ago, I came across an article that described how to get the perfect winged eyeliner. Like any naïve makeup newbie, I really believed I could mimic those perfect wings with ease. How hard could two black lines that extend from your lids be to recreate anyway? I was convinced I could master this look.
It was that very day that I purchased my first felt-tip liquid eyeliner—and so, my liner journey began.
Flash forward to present day, when I've tried almost every felt-tip liner on the market (seriously, I've tried at least 20 this month). Needless to say, makeup application does not always go as flawlessly as one might hope. Luckily, there does exist a product so wonderful, so perfect that it deserves to be called the best of the best.
The Holy Grail: Flawless eyeliner comes down to the best combination of product and applicator. A steady hand is definitely a part of the practice but, too often, eyeliners are too watery, are not dark enough, do not apply smooth or tend to create fuzzy rather than strong, bold lines. But look no further: Clinique's Pretty Easy Eyelining Pen is ideal for achieving eyeliner perfection.
The Application: When they say "pretty easy" they aren't messing around. We've all used liners that create uneven lines, as if you were doing your makeup in the car, but this one glides on smooth like new cement.
The Color: Also devastating to cat-eye connoisseurs? A product that is supposed to be noir black but dries gray, making you look as though you slept in yesterday's makeup. You won't get that with this product. With no fading and opaque color, no one will know what last night's shenanigans entailed. Also, don't expect any kind of smudge or budge—this eyeliner stands its ground.
The Quality: Where this product really hits its stride is the tip of the eyeliner. Rather than a traditional felt tip, the applicator is a pliable, waxy, almost-plastic brush. Layer away as you fill in your wings because the applicator can run for miles without taking or pushing.
Feel the need for some extra drama? Enter: Tom Ford Defining Liquid Eyeliner Pen. It's not quite the holy grail but it's close. With double-sided and sized pen tips, you can go from baby wing to Adele status in a matter of seconds. And if you are like me and your eyes tend to NEVER mirror each other, having a smaller, fine tip allows for small touch ups to help them look a little bit more like twins.
On a budget? L'Oréal Lineur Intense is your best go to. Though it doesn't come in pen form, the formula mimics those of the top-selling products and goes on bold and smooth. This liner also is a bit thicker in product and applies evenly over shadows and can help camouflage your false lashes with ease.