Makeup Monday: Your Makeup Questions Answered
November 26, 2007 by Shannon Nelson
Filed under Makeup Questions Answered, Our Beauty Tips, beauty, makeup
“Hi, I hope that my question isn’t too silly. I’m almost embarassed to ask. I’m 15 and just started wearing makeup. I noticed that some people wear eyeliner on the inside of their eyelid and some wear it out. Is it safe to wear inside your lid? Does it irritate your eye or wash away quickly when your eye waters? Thank you.” Kiley T.
Readers, please lend Kiley your opinion on wearing eyeliner.
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Please send your makeup questions to Shannon at b5media dot com.
I always line the inside of my lower-lid with a crayon pencil from Lancome (Le Crayon Khol), with a liquid liner (Artliner) on the outside of my upper lid. In fact, although I get compliments on my eye liner frequently, I don’t quite understand how to apply it on the outside of the lower lid. I wear contacts and I don’t find it to irritate at all — it does fade a little bit over the course of the day but nothing a second application can’t fix.
I’ve read many split opinions on this, and eye doctors will generally advise against lining the inner rims. However, considering that women in the Middle East and South Asia have been using kohl for centuries, it shouldn’t be that huge of an issue. In fact, I use a bit of kohl kajal from Pakistan to line the inner rims. I wouldn’t recommend using a liquid because that can just go every which way and irritate the eyes, but a pencil (ideally cleaned or sharpened regularly) or above-mentioned kohl are fine. I wear contacts as well, and the only time my eyes get irritated is if I forget to take off my eye makeup.
I feel that eyeliner on the inside rim of the eye is key to getting that thick, lush lash look. It usually makes its way to the roots of my eyelashes, right where eyeliner is supposed to be. I have never had any trouble with eye infection. The truth is, if it is your pencil and you don’t share it with others, only your own “eye germs” are on the pencil anyway. So, you can’t infect yourself with your own pencil – granted, you can’t drop the pencil into the garbage disposal with impunity :-)
Also, I have never found that white liner opens up the eye as opposed to black eyeliner closing up the eye. That is a bunch of hooey.
Enjoy lining the inside rims of eye. Make the pencil isn’t too, too sharp and make sure to brush off bits of wood shavings if you’ve just sharpened it.
I do both, lining the inside makes your eyes ‘pop’ out more but I find that by the end of the morning or halfway through my night out, the colour has faded completely so both makes my makeup foolproof! :oP
I see a lot women wearing eyeliner on the inside part of their eyelid, too.This is a little bit more risky because your eyes are going to be more prone to infection or irritation. Despite that warning however, it does not seem to bother many of them. If you can do w/o it, you probably should, especially if you have sensitive eyes.
I forgot to mention, you may find waterproof eyeliner, but if you don’t start crying you should be fine.
I’ve read that liner on your waterline isn’t good for your eyes, but i still do it. As long as you don’t lend it out to your other friends you should be ok and avoid an infection. I think liner makes eyes pop so much more. I only wear it when i go out and i ususally have to reapply it again during the night since it does tend to fade. And when that happens it doesn’t look good.
Hi Kiley!
First off, don’t ever be embarrassed about asking a makeup question; a lot of us here are makeup addicts and yet we still ask each other questions all the time!
Welcome to the wonderful world of makeup… where rules are made to be broken and your individuality can really shine through.
I personally line on the outer lash line most of the time, because I am using either powder as a liner, or MAC’s Fluidline. I just got fluidline about three weeks ago, and tried to line my lower lash. I got too close to the waterline, though, and it got all messed up. Plus, since the fluidline is super hardcore, it got onto my contact, and I had to wash out my contacts and start ALL over again. Boo.
So, my advice to you, is that if you’re going to line on the inner rim, follow everyone else’s advice (check out all the above posts) on using Kohl pencils to line. Make sure they’re clean, sharp but not too sharp, and line away!
Hope it’s helpful, girl!
Most products will come with a warning if they aren’t safe for use on a specific part of the face. Also, there are smudge proof and waterproof liners that won’t budge at all with watery eyes. You just have to dig for what you’re looking for!
only use products that are safe & recommended to use that way… otherwise it might just hurt ;-)
I’ve been told by a lot of makeup artists that you should only use it on the outside and never on the inside rim. It can irritate your eyes and it can even be dangerous if you don’t have a steady hand. Sometimes it does look good though, so I guess I’m torn!
I would recommend Guerlain’s loose powder kohl. It comes in a jeweled vial with a stylus (stick). The best way to apply it is the eastern method. Resistant to perspiration, tears, etc. No lead in it as in some Pakistani kohls. Wonderful wearing power, yes, even on the waterline.
Good luck!
most girls wear eyliner on the inside but it depends on your eye for example if you have big eyes u should put it on the outside but if ur eye is small then put it in the inside so it can stand out and dont worry your eye wont get infected as long as the eyeliner is yours because if u have used it from another person then you might get a eye infection