In contrast, I feel the debilitating, borderline anxiety that stains any attempt to look good and feel good. Luckily, my roommate inadvertently found a way for me to rock an edgy makeup look that relaxes me when I create it: Painting my eyelids with colorful eyeliner.
On one of our recent trips to Ulta, my room lined up on NYX’s Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Eyeliner ($9), saying it was perfect for #hotgirlsummer. I love looking at bright colors, and I felt this was an easy way to incorporate vibrant colors into my everyday life, so I got the shade Lilac Link – a light purple.
Since then, i’ve spent six weeks experimenting with tinted eyeliner. In that time frame, I’ve realized that my new makeup practice has boosted my confidence in my creativity, my social skills, and myself.
Makeup artists and psychologists agree: Colorful eyeliner is a dopamine trick
I’m not saying I’m lazy, but I’m not no say so. To save time, I prefer to keep my basic routine as it comes. Basically, I drink water, put on sunscreen, and mind my business. That’s it.
Because of that, I am usually a very cheerful and cheerful person. However, there are times when news makes me sad or life brings me down in other ways. With my new makeup routine, I’ve noticed I’ve smiled more at myself in the mirror—even on the toughest days. Seeing those colors on my face made me feel happier than I would have without eyeliner.
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“Colorful eyeliner is my go-to for summer,” says Tara KP Troszak, a California-based makeup artist and writer. “It’s a fun and easy way to create a flattering look for any eye.” As far as her tips for creating a show-stopping cover look? “The best way to wear colored eyeliner is in an aqualiner in a neutral shade. I also love a bright graphic wing when I’m feeling a bit more creative,” she says.
Makeup artists don’t just think there are perks to having your face painted. According to a qualitative study conducted in 2020 entitled Paint a better mood? The effects of makeup use on the self-esteem of YouTube beauty influencers“Makeup use may have a more direct effect on self-esteem if intrinsic motivation is driven and seen as a mechanism for creativity, mastery, agency, and human connection.”
And that’s exactly what I’ve been using – as a creative expression and an icebreaker.
“[Creating looks with colorful] Eyeliner can establish a mood that is more lighthearted, casual, lighthearted, or lighthearted, says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind. [corporate] Work because it kind of gives you that effect or the feeling that you’re ready to party.”
I’ve actually worn a certain sparkly look for multiple work jobs—as a lifestyle writer, nanny, to my cousin’s wedding, a compliment no matter the occasion. The compliments are great, of course, but there are other, more tricky benefits of using my eyelids as a canvas.
“The brain gets a lot more stimulation, more pleasure, from brighter colors,” says psychotherapist Amy Daramos, PsyD. “In fact, sometimes in therapy, bright colors can be used to help someone who is having trouble being present in the moment.” This technique is called color therapy, which can be helpful in treating anxiety and depression.
Even though i just used the eyeliner instead of the light therapy, i still feel the benefits of adding color to my daily life.
How (And why) wearing colored eyeliner helps boost my mood and confidence
1. It allows me to explore my art
I can’t paint, paint, or draw to save my life, so I’ve always thought I’m not artistic. Once I started doing different looks with my vibrant pads, I started to see and appreciate my artistic side. Where I used to go out in style before, I now try to match my makeup to my outfit—which I did at two launch parties, Mother’s Day, and my cousin’s wedding.
2. It’s a great win for not having a lot of work
I like to spend my time running, dancing, hiking, on the beach and with my family and friends. Honestly, I don’t like spending time getting ready. For this reason, I maintain my own skincare, haircare, and makeup routine excellent Basic — like, I don’t wear any makeup most days. However, since liner usually takes me down in one stroke of the brush, I found the perfect way to boost my beauty mood, even when nothing else was on my face. I timed myself for the Celopatra-esque look below (which I did on my collectors, by the way), and it only took about three minutes.
3 persons always supplement
People can’t stop telling me how cute this colorful eyeliner is – my roommate loves it, my mom loves it, my sister loves it, my uncle loves it… pretty much everyone he likes it. And honestly, as a sun Leo, I live for applause.
Compliments are also a fertile ground for connecting with others, which is something I love to do when I get the chance. Even if i didn’t feel empowered to get close to someone, i could probably make them approach me if i was wearing super eyeliner.
Colored eyeliners I’ve tried and ones that makeup artists love
NYX, Vivid Brights – $9.00
While I’m not a makeup girl, I’m well aware of NYX’s reputation as a long-lasting, affordable drugstore brand, so I was excited to try these out when my co-worker and I picked four shades to play with. We have white, purple, light pink, and dark pink, but the line comes in nine colors. Honestly, the pigmentation of these liquid liners is second to none.
My only complaint about this tinted eyeliner is that it can flake if you don’t apply two coats first. However, if you apply two coats, you will see your vibrant reflection in the mirror and smile like I did.
Haus Labs, Optic Intensity Eco Eyeliner – $22.00
Although i have not tried this myself, i am very comfortable saying that this tinted eyeliner is a heavy hitter. I’m not a huge fan of celebrity beauty brands, but Lady Gaga definitely caters here. Over 1,500 reviewers gave this liner 4.5 stars and said this liner “stays in place and the pigmentation is incredible.”
It’s created a bit more of an innovative design, too. Most of the eyeliners on this list come in a regular tube, but this Haus Labs pick has a smudge brush on the bottom. It’s available in 18 shades, which you can get in a matte or glossy finish, and it contains vitamin E and argan oil to help support your lashes.
All Over Face Liquid Eyeliner – $16.00
Hilario and Troszak give rave reviews of Halsey’s About-Face Fluid Eye Paint. Hilario says these little ones are “really pigmented and great quality. Some of the liquid liners tend to look chapped and dry, but it was smooth.” This is even more impressive once you consider that this formula has a matte finish.
Eye paint around the face also brings all the colors of the rainbow to life, considering it has over 30 shades available. You can choose pink, blue, green, purple—seriously, any color you can dream up. For me, applying this way was tricky because the brush is relatively thick. If i wanted a thinner contour, i would probably have to buy a brush to help with that.
Sheglam, Color Crush-Insta-Gratification Liquid Eyeliner – $3.00
If you’re a fan of Shein, allow us to introduce you to their makeup brand: Sheglam. At just $3, Shein’s Colored Eyeliner is the least expensive in this roundup. I haven’t tested this, but I have other Sheglam products and have formed some opinions based on that. For example, while makeup provides beautiful pigmentation, it won’t last all day or night. I will say, at best, it will last four hours. According to the brand, this liner is sweat and smudge resistant, but my experience with other SheGlam products tells me this may not be the case.
If you opt for this liquid eyeliner, you’ll have six colors to choose from: dark green, bright red, sky blue, pink, light purple, and yellow. No matter what color you get, you’ll get a matte finish.
Makeup Forever, Artist Color Pencil – $22.00
If Makeup Forever had a fan club, Joshua Hilario, a makeup artist based in New York and New Jersey, would be the boss. “I fell in love with Makeup Forever Artist Color Pencils,” says Hilario. “These pencils are the most versatile, easy-to-use pencils I’ve ever worked with. Glide easily over the waterline. You don’t have to work on it or rub it hard to get the reward you want.”
Hilario adds that there are 19 shades, and you can create a graphic look in the same way you can sport a smokey eye. I will say, though, that there don’t seem to be any bright colors—think yellow and lime green—on this list, likely because the formula serves double duty as a lip liner. However, there are some gorgeous pinks and reds in the line that would make a great pop of color on your eyelids.
LA Girl Glide Eyeliner Pencil – $5.00
“This is the best affordable gel eyeliner pencil for waterline,” says Troszak. “Bring on warm summer nights, festivals, and smudge-proof eyeliner. I’m here for it.” I haven’t experienced this myself either (since I’m not one for tight deadlines usually), but I’ll stick to Troszak’s word. “It’s good and cheap,” she says. And reviewers agree.
Out of over 60 reviews, 57 people have given this product five stars. Says one user, “The formula goes on so smooth, doesn’t tug on my hag eyes, and stayed on all night! No smudging, no breaking up, no disappearance on my oily eyelids.” While this pencil may look like it’s twisting to deliver more product, note that it needs sharpening.
19/99, Precision Colored Pencil – $26.00
I’ve always been a fan of liquid liner for formulas that sit on top of my eyelids. I find they’re easier to apply and more pigmented, so I usually don’t even bother with colored pencils. However, the Precision Color Pencil from 19/99 has earned its spot on my list of color eyeliners.
Not only is it highly pigmented, but it glides on easily and you don’t have to keep applying it for it to show up on your skin. Like NYX Vivid Brights, this pencil is available in nine shades. Unlike the NYX product, those shades are primarily reds, pinks, oranges, and a couple of blues. So if you want to create a rainbow look, you’d be better off shopping elsewhere.
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