I have a love-hate relationship with winged liner. It is a hard one to pull off on yourself and especially so when you are a little bit older than the models you see rocking it on the catwalk. However, if you can nail it, it can be an instant eye lift ... not to mention an instant mood enhancer.
I have dabbled with many forms. When i'm doing makeup for someone else you just cannot go past gel liner and an angled brush. When i'm doing it on myself, I find it easier to use a thin pen-liner. Lately i've been using two, at vastly different price points.
The Skinny by Eyeko was a freebie which came with a magazine a few months ago and I was impressed at first use. Yes you do still need a steady hand, but the pen is a lot easier to manage than a brush. This one is thinner than the normal Eyeko pen which means you can get an even finer line. Fine is key when starting out because you can build up as you go along. The Skinny costs £10.00 in the UK. If you are based in Australia you can buy it here with free international shipping.
I recently invested is a more luxe version, Le Stylo Penliner by Chantecaille. At £25.00 a pop it is a a lot pricier than the Eyeko, so is the extra spend worth it? For me, it absolutely is. The fine point that you can get with this liner is pretty unbelievable, as is the intensity of the black. The intensity of colour was a little lacking in the Eyeko, and a lot lacking the longer it had been opened.
I think the side by side comparison (above) tells you a lot. If you are someone that loves this look and has the patience and capability at applying it, then the Chantecaille is the one for you. If you want to have a dabble without a full commitment, then the Eyeko is a fun and frugal way to try it out.
Le Stylo has just been released in the UK and will be hitting Australian shores soon so keep your eyes peeled. Chantecaille is sold through Mecca Cosmetica and I can honestly say that every product I have tried from the brand is brilliant.
UPDATE: Le Stylo has arrived. It is $39 and you can buy it here.