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3 min read
Whether you’re looking for a fast route to high-impact make-up or simply fancy shaking things up for spring, this is the best way to add a slick of colour to your beauty routine.
PSA: black, winged liner isn’t the only way to create graphic shapes on the eye – this season, things are skewing bright. From Prabal Gurung to Paul & Joe, spring/summer 2023 catwalks were awash with bold, colourful liner, swiped onto the lid in definitive, statement shapes.
Loved by the likes of Zendaya and Janelle Monáe, it’s a fast-track route to high-impact make-up that takes as much (or as little) time and effort as you can afford to spare. Pushed for time and want to do something make-up-wise that will immediately make an impact? A single swipe of liner above the lid is the way to do it. If you have a few more minutes to spare, there’s a slew of experimental styles to test-drive, from exaggerated wings to abstract shapes.
Learning directly from the ‘sisters, not twins’ school of eyebrows, we’re moving forward with the philosophy that perfection and mirror-like symmetry are not the aim here. What is the goal is a pleasingly bold swipe of colour to brighten up spring mornings. Gel-like formulas are key for helping your liner last all day and, whether you choose a pot or pencil, there’s a colourful take on the trend to suit everyone. Want to give it a try? Here are the best colourful liners for perfecting your bright, graphic eye…
Glossier No. 1 Pencil
From orange-toned rust and mustard yellow to brilliantly powdery lavender and white, this gel-like pencil glides smoothly over the lid to create shapes as bold or as lowkey as you like.
Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner
Felt tip liners are ideal for the thinnest and most precise lines. Use this sage green pen to create a double wing for a dose of minimalist drama.
Mac Chromaline
This pot of waterproof, gel-like paint sets matte, and when used with brushes, it can create lines in a variety of weights – whether you plan on covering your lid in peacock blue or slicking a very thin line onto otherwise bare eyes.
Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
Metallic shimmer is the mission here. Perfect for nights out when glitter is on the agenda, the long-lasting formula comes in 20 vibrant shades – from bright gold to deep olive green.
Shop Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner at Boots, £18
Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel
Vivid but not out there, this cobalt shade is the ideal next step from plain black liner – use an angled brush to create a quick-drying, smudge-proof line.
Shiseido Kajal InkArtist
This all-day formula can be used as a liner or eyeshadow – make a point using the detachable sharpener to draw precisely or colour in your lid and smudge the edges for a 10-second option that’ll look like it took 10 minutes.
Stila Stay All Day Artistix Graphic Liner
Designed to last all day (or night), this shimmery, forest green liner comes with a thin tip that doesn’t need sharpening, so you can keep it in your bag for moments when you want to dial things up.
Shop Stila Stay All Day Artistix Graphic Liner at Space NK, £19
Patrick Ta Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner
If you’re used to brown liner, burgundy adds warmth without feeling like a total departure from your current routine. This creamy version will create graphic lines with ease but, if you prefer something less precise, it smudges perfectly, too.
Shop Patrick Ta Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner at Cult Beauty, £24
Glisten Cosmetics Circle Split Liner
Can’t decide which colour is for you? This gel liner palette combines purple, pink, red and blue so you’ll never have to narrow it down.
Shop Glisten Cosmetics Circle Split Liner at Jecca Blac, £20
About-Face Line Artist Longwear Gel Eyeliner
The built-in sharpener will ensure this liner remains thin enough for the daintiest lines – use it to create abstract wiggly patterns or stick with a classic winged shape.
Shop About-Face Line Artist Longwear Gel Eyeliner at Beauty Bay, £16
Images: courtesy of brands
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