Black Eyeliner Comparisons

Are there shades of black? Indeed there are! Not every black eyeliner is the same. There are soft blacks, medium blacks, and deep blacks (and of course, variations within those categories). To try and make some sense of it all, I’m going to assign numerical ratings based on how black each liner is, with 10 being deep, dark black, 1 meaning so light that it’s almost no longer black, and 5 meaning a medium black.

• Shiseido Black Noir (BK 901) Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil has an amazing creaminess to it, and it is almost a true, deep black. (Review) 9
• MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil some creaminess but has some hardness (but not in a bad way–it’s not rough on eyes at all), and it is a true dark black — leans on the warm side. (Review) 10
• MAC Feline Kohl Power is a rich, deep dark black that’s easy to smudge. It is a limited edition product, so it’s not currently available but is often repromoted. (Review) 10
• Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Liner is a rich, deep dark black–creamy without being runny. (Review) 10
• Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner is a softened, medium black. It is a slightly warmer black on me. (Review) 4
• MAC Engraved Powerpoint Eye Pencil is a darkened medium black. 6
• MAC Smolder Eye Kohl is a dark black with cool leanings. 8
• MAC Graphblack Technakohl is a medium black. 5
• Milani Black Liquif’Eye Liner is a dark black with a cool pull. (Review) 8
• Stila Stingray Smudge Stick is a dark black with neutral to cool undertones. (Review) 8
• YSL #1 Eye Pencil is a rich black, almost ultra black, with a very matte finish.  (Review) 9
• Bobbi Brown Black Kohl Eye Liner is a rich, glossy black. The glossiness makes it look less inky, though. (Review) 8
• Benefit BADgal Liner is a creamy, dark black with warm leanings. (Review) 8

I included review links when I had them to share, but I had some wear issues with YSL’s #1 Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown’s Black Kohl Eyeliner, and Benefit’s BADgal.

The darkest: MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil, MAC Feline Kohl Power, Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Liner

Dark: Shiseido Black Noir Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil, YSL #1 Eye Pencil

Medium-dark: MAC Smolder Eye Kohl, Milani Black Liquif’Eye Liner, Stila Stingray Smudge Stick, Bobbi Brown Black Kohl Eye Liner, Benefit BADgal Liner

Medium: MAC Engraved Powerpoint Eye Pencil, MAC Graphblack Technakohl

The lightest: Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner

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Row 1: Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion, Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved
Row 2: MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black, Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion,
Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved, MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black,
Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion, Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved

MAC Engraved, MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black, Stila Stingray

Milani Black, Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

This is probably one of my favorite looks that I’ve ever done. MAC’s C-Shock Collection was also likely one of my favorite launches, too. For those unfamiliar with the collection, it consisted of all the usual candidates, but the eyeshadows were the stars. They were bright, pigmented, smooth, and just right. From bright yellow to purple to green. While MAC doesn’t seem bent on repromoting it any time soon, MAC PRO did release extremely similar permanent (but PRO only) shadows. They’re just as good, so if you’re jonesin’ for brights, be sure to check those out. But boy, these photos make me really miss my long hair. It’s currently in that “I grew out really fast, but now I’m slow growing” stage.

Used:

I used Golden Lemon pigment on lid, Goin’ Bananas eyeshadow on inner lid, Eyepopping eyeshadow on middle of lid, Wondergrass eyeshadow on outer lid, Big T eyeshadow on outer lid, Bang On Blue eyeshadow in outer crease, Eyepopping eyeshadow above crease, White Tie eyeshadow on brow, Bang On Blue eyeshadow on outer lower lash line, Wondergrass eyeshadow on inner lower lash line, and Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line. I wore Margin blush with Taupe blush to contour on cheeks. I had Overrich lipstick with Lil’ Sizzler lip gelee on my lips.

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How-to: Smokey Eyes

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral base), Electra eyeshadow (bright silver), Silver Ring (dark silver), Carbon eyeshadow (matte black), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Graphblack technakohl (black), Blacktrack fluidline (black), Zoomlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Well Dressed blush (soft cool pink), Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (pink highlighter)
• Lips: Sandy B lipstick (pinky nude), C-Thru lipglass (nude)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)

Quick Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Electra eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Silver Ring eyeshadow to the middle of the lid, extending to the outer lid. Darken the outer lid with Carbon eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Carbon eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Smudge Silver Ring eyeshadow on the lower lash line using the 219 brush. Finish with Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, Blacktrack fluidline on upper lash line, and Zoomlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Well Dressed blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Sandy B lipstick to lips, and then top with C-Thru lipglass for color and shine.

See step-by-step directions…

1. Start with a clean eye space.

2. With your 249 brush, apply a thin layer of Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid, from lash line to brow bone.

3. Make sure you apply the paint pot to your brow bone area.

4. Brush out the base color to the outer lid.

5. This is what it should look like.

6. Pick up a good amount of Electra eyeshadow with your 239 brush. Apply it to the inner half of your lid.

7. This is what it will look like.

8. Using the same 239 brush, pick up Silver Ring eyeshadow. Apply it to the outer half of the eye lid.

9. This is how it should look like.

10. With the 239 brush, pick up just a little bit of Carbon eyeshadow. Hold the brush horizontally and begin applying it to the outer third of the crease.

11. Blend it into the crease by moving side-to-side.

12. Make sure you blend it enough so that the line isn’t too visible.

13. This is what you should have.

14. Repeat the same method with more Carbon eyeshadow.

15. Blend Carbon into the crease.

16. This is what it should look like.

17. Apply Shroom eyeshadow with the 239 brush on your brow bone to highlight.

18. Brush out the highlight color so it applies evenly to the entire brow bone.

19. This is what it should look like.

20. Gently apply a dusting of Silver Ring eyeshadow to the lower portion of the crease, just to add more dimension.

21. This is what you should have.

22. Apply intense black liner on your lower lash line if desired.

23. Use a firm smudging brush or a pointed pencil brush (like the 219) to smudge the black liner with Silver Ring eyeshadow.

24. This is how it should look.

25. With the 266 brush, pick up Blacktrack fluidline. Begin applying it to the inner portion of your upper lash line.

26. In either quick, short strokes or one fluid stroke, move the brush towards the outer upper lash line.

27. Take the 266 brush and create a diagonal line on your outer lid for the “wing” of the liner. You want it to be a continuation of your lower lash line, extending towards the end of your brow. (It’s like you were drawing a line to connect the two, but you don’t actually do so.)

28. This is how it would look. (Albeit, mine is not quite perfect here.)

29. From the tip of the winged line, draw a curved line back to the middle of the lid — it should look something like the above image.

30. Fill it in with Blacktrack fluidline.

31. This is how it should look like. Add mascara and/or false lashes as desired to finish the eye.

Quick look using Hello Kitty products! I really like the way this look looks from afar, because it’s not quite as flawless as I’d like it to be up-close so definitely make sure you see the full face photo before you judge! I do like the way black liner and Glamourpuss glitter liner look together, too.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Milk pigment (light lilac base), Yogurt eyeshadow (pale, pastel pink), Paradisco eyeshadow (melon-orange), Romping eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Stylin’ eyeshadow (dark purple), Creme Royale eyeshadow (golden highlighter), Kitty Power glitter eyeliner (pink), Glamourpuss glitter eyeliner (copper), Graphblack technakohl (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Tippy blush (bright pink)
• Lips: Most Popular lipstick (raspberry-pink), She Loves Candy lipglass (shimmery pink-gold)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Milk = Kitschmas; Romping = Hepcat; Stylin’ = Parfait Amour; Creme Royale = Nylon;

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Milk pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Yogurt eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Paradisco eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Romping eyeshadow with the 239. Darken crease with Stylin’ eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Creme Royale eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Graphblack technakohl on lower waterline and Glamourpuss glitter eyeliner on lower lash line. Line upper lash line with Kitty Power glitter liner, and finish with Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Tippy blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond. Apply Most Popular lipstick to lips, and then top with She Loves Candy lipglass for color and shine.

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Happy holidays to those who have had or will have them to celebrate this season! I hope everyone has gotten a chance to spend some quality time with their loved ones and friends. My boyfriend, Mellan, and I head up to see my parents and sister in an hour or two (basically… as soon as start and finish getting ready, LOL) for the day. We’ll be back there for Christmas, as well.

Today is Magellan’s 1st birthday — he is exactly one year old today. He doesn’t seem like he’s an “adult”, but most lab owners say lab puppyhood lasts at least two years, sometimes all their lives My mom has lots of treats and goodies baked for him, I’m sure, plus he has several gifts under the tree with his paw on it, so I think he’ll have a good birthday and make out like a bandit! My mom completely adores and utterly *spoils* him everytime he visits! I thought I’d share a little timeline of Magellan over the past year along with the look — I can’t be the only one who loves cute puppies, LOL!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Your Ladyship pigment (neutral base), Wintersky eyeshadow (medium, subdued pink), Mont Black eyeshadow (black), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Graphblack technakohl (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (soft pink)
• Lips: YSL Romantic Pink Lipstick (medium pink), YSL #4 Gloss Pur (bright pink), Naked Frost lipglass (taupe)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Your Ladyship = Vanilla; Wintersky = Pink Venus; Naked Frost = Chai

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Your Ladyship pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. Apply Wintersky eyeshadow all over the lid with the 239 brush. Darken the outer crease with Mont Black eyeshadow with the 239, gently tugging and blending so it also darkens the outermost portion of the lid to a gray-black. Finish with Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Rose Diamond shimmer using the 129. Apply YSL Romantic Pink lipstick to lips, and then top with YSL #4 Gloss Pur for color and shine, then tone it down with Naked Frost lipglass.

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8 months or so

10 months

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Ricepaper eyeshadow (soft highlighter), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner, Graphblack technakhol (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Givenchy Euphoric Orange blush (soft peach)
• Lips: Queen’s Sin lipstick (red), Cult of Cherry lipglass (red)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Queen’s Sin = Russian Red; Cult of Cherry = Russian Red

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Lightly sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow all over lid.  Apply Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner on lower lash line and mix a little Graphblack technakohl with it. Add Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Euphoric Orange blush using the 129. Apply Queen’s Sin lipstick to lips, and then top with Cult of Cherry lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!