I know that eyeliner can be used as mascara with careful application, but is the same true for mascara? Can you use mascara as an eyeliner? Why would I want to do that when I can have both products and use them for different purposes? You might want to ask.
Well, ask a young mother of a toddler who opens her makeup kit to apply some makeup on her face, and in the next minute, she cannot find her eyeliner or mascara brush because one chubby hand has grabbed it and misplaced it, she has to make do with what she can find.
Or a young lady rushing out to keep an appointment if she can find a mascara brush, why not use it to line her eyes instead of searching for her eyeliner and running late?
Even if you don’t belong to these categories, this knowledge will come in handy. Read on!
Can you use mascara as eyeliner? [Watch Video Tutorial]
Yes, you can. You’d be surprised to know that your mascara is one very versatile makeup product. So if your liquid eyeliner has dried up or you don’t have a sharpener handy for your broken eye pencil tip, mascara is a ready solution for you.
You know, mascara is just as much color as your eyeliner, and even though they are of a thicker consistency, they provide more of a gel eyeliner look. This tool is a game-changer and one life hack every person needs handy.
How can I use eyeliner as mascara?
Essentially, you’d do this the same way you apply gel eyeliner. To properly apply your eyeliner as mascara, follow the steps provided below;
Step 1: take an angled eyeshadow brush and swab your mascara wand along with the brush.
Step 2: use the angled brush to apply the mascara on your eyelids from the inner corner to the outer corners and fill it up.
Step 3: Flaunt your eyeliner looks cause you’re good to go.
Pros of Using Mascara as eyeliner
- It is cost-effective having a product that can serve two purposes. So you do not need to rush to your local beauty shop just because you need eyeliner or you need to replace your sharpener. Mascara is just enough to do the trick.
- It is darker and if I must say, better than your regular eyeliner. The best part is that it doesn’t smudge at all. So you can go on with your daily activities without being conscious about your eyeliner smudging.
- When applied to your bottom lash, it helps give it that definition and would not smear.
Cons of using mascara as eyeliner
- Mascara generally has more texture than your regular eyeliner, making it quite obvious when you apply too much.
- Although using mascara as eyeliner is a top beauty hack, its application might be quite a hassle, especially if you don’t know how to use an angle brush to apply your eyeliner.
Top 10 tips about eyeliners that you need to know
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Set your eyeliner with a matching eyeshadow to make it last longer.
After lining your eyes with your pencil eyeliner, dusting slightly with eyeshadow would help keep it in place for a more extended period.
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Use a pencil eyeliner as a guide for your liquid eyeliner.
Perhaps you’re a beginner, or your hands are not steady enough, start by lining your eyes with pencil eyeliner and trace it with your liquid eyeliner. There you have it; your perfect eyeliner looks.
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Feel free to create your own with a wet Eyeliner brush and eyeshadow.
If you want a more customized cover that eyeliners do not provide, you can always create one more suitable for you. Wet your eyeliner brush with fixing spray, take some eyeshadow, and apply just like you do with your regular eyeliner.
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Perhaps you have monolid eyes; use either a gel or liquid eyeliner to draw an arch to create the perfect line.
If you have monolids, it is normal for your eyelids to hide your eyeliners. To make your line obvious, draw a thick arched line above your lashes, and there you have your perfect eyeliner look.
- If you’re finding it hard to draw a perfect line, don’t be too hard on yourself. You can start by drawing a rough line and then sharpen it with a cotton swab.
- If your hands are not steady enough, start by dotting along your eyelids and connecting the dots to form a straight line.
Note: your dots should generally be the same size as the width of the eyeliner that you’re trying to create.
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Use the edges and curve of a spoon to get the perfect cat-eye shape.
Start by using the spoon’s handle to draw a straight line, and then use the curve of your spoon to create the shape.
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Use a skin-colored eyeliner to fix your smudges.
Honestly, you do not have to clean your eyeliner and start over when you smudge your liner a bit too much. You can correct this by simply drawing over the smudged part with a skin-colored eyeliner.
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Add glitters to make your look stand out.
Perhaps you’re not a fan of eyeshadow; simply applying glitters over your eyeliner would take your eye look to the next level.
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Use the tape to achieve the perfect cat eyeliner look
Apply tape on the edges of your eyes and draw out your line. Then, angle the edge towards the end of your eyebrows. Once you remove the tape, you’d be left with that perfect eyeliner look.
Can I use eyeshadow as eyeliner?
Yes, you can. Eyeshadow is another versatile makeup product and can be used as a substitute for eyeliner. To use, apply spritz fixing spray on your eyeliner brush and dip it into your eyeshadow palette. Then apply like you would with a gel eyeliner.
If you don’t have a spritz fixing spray nearby, you can easily dap your angled brush in a bit of water. Then use the damp brush to pick your eyeshadow shade. It will turn it into a paste-like form that you can apply like a liquid eyeliner.
Is it wrong to put mascara in your eyes?
Although mascaras are designed for use around your eyes and therefore are safe for use. However, this does not mean you should put it in your eyes. You should note that mascara can be a breeding space for bacteria. Therefore, putting you at the risk of pink eye or other eyes infections. It is advised that you dispose of your mascara after three months.
How do you make homemade eyeliner?
Eyeliners is one makeup product that you can always make with natural ingredients from the comfort of your home. You can also convert your old and cracked eyeshadows into eyeliners. Yes, you heard right. You don’t have to dispose of your cracked eyeshadows when you can create something out of them.
To create an eyeliner out of your eyeshadow:
- Start by putting the cracked eyeshadow into a small container.
- Crush further into powder form.
- Add a little quantity of water, natural oils, or aloe Vera to mix into a gel-like consistency.
Besides using your cracked eyeshadow, you can also use DIY recipes to create an eyeliner from scratch. All your need is a few essential ingredients. Such as activated charcoal for color, distilled water, and coconut oil or almond oil. The only disadvantage with this DIY recipe is that there are no preservatives in the homemade eyeliners. Thus, they would need to be kept refrigerated. Keeping them longer can encourage the growth of bacteria and molds.
What ingredients are harmful in eyeliner?
Despite how good your eyeliners can make your looks, there are several ingredients used in making Eyeliners that you need to stay away from to avoid irritations and allergic reactions. Some of these harmful ingredients are;
- Carbon black
This ingredient is made from petroleum jelly and is commonly used in eyeliners and mascaras. It provides dark pigments to your cosmetics products and is a cheaper alternative to black coloring. Although the health effects are still being tested, it is not approved for cosmetic use around the eyes in the USA.
- Parabens
Paraben is a form of preservative that is commonly used in makeup products. You should avoid it because it is an endocrine disruptor. In other words, it messes with your hormones band increases the chances for breast cancer.
- Lead
Although this is banned in most countries, its use is restricted in the US to 10ppm. They can cause reproductive and organ toxicity as well as cancer.
- BAK (BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE)
BAK is another preservative used in mascaras and eyeliners to prevent bacteria and mold growth. However, it would be best to avoid it because of its high human immune toxicant or allergen.
- PRIME YELLOW CARNAUBA WAX
This ingredient is usually used to stiffen products to make them waterproof. However, they tend to create plugs in your eye region and cause dry eye diseases and other infections.
FAQ
Is it ok to use a lip liner as eyeliner?
No, you should not use lip liners as eyeliners. Although the ingredients used in making lip liners and eye pencils are similar, they differ in the color additives and pigments used to create each product. Also, cosmetic companies did not create lip liners for the eyes and should not be anywhere close to your eyes. It is therefore not a safe substitute for your eyeliner.
Can I do my makeup without eyeliner?
Yes, you can. Although it is common for most people to use eyeliner in every makeup look, it is not compulsory. In the end, it is solely dependent on the look you’re trying to achieve.
Conclusion
Many people have their preferences when it comes to mascara and eyeliners. Whether you choose to use mascara or eyeliners, there’s no adverse effect on the quality of your makeup. What matters is your application process to your eyes. Having both your mascara and eyeliner handy makes the makeup burden lesser. The tip is to know how to apply to them to give you a sharp look.
In essence, your preference is most important when it comes to makeup. However, you can try using either eyeliner or mascara and see which one works best for you.
