Every summer, my makeup routine is whittled down to the bare minimum. As much as I love makeup - the application, the colors, the fun - I just don't want to deal with the whole shebang June-August. I swap out foundation for tinted moisturizer, rely on just a touch of bronzer, and forego eyeshadow almost entirely. Instead of sweeping, shading and contouring the eyes, I reach for mascara and eyeliner. And my liner of choice these days has been Almay Liquid Liner. I've never really given Almay as a brand much thought. A few of my friends who have allergies and sensitive skin use Almay because their products are all hypoallergenic. But I kept flipping past the ad that's in every magazine right now, the one featuring Leslie Bibb looking natural and pretty, with seriously knock-out eyes.
And I started thinking, "Hmmm...Almay." Score one for their marketing team. I headed to Target, on a mission to pick up the products I'd need to recreate her look: Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Petal and Lavender. On a whim, I tossed a bottle of Black Liquid Liner in my basket too. The eye shadows were a total bust - not only do they have zero staying power, the colors weren't as dark and true as the effect pictured on Leslie. I almost didn't even bother with the liquid liner. But holy cats am I glad I did!
Liquid liner isn't easy to apply - and I'm not going to pretend like I was able to draw a perfect line the first (or fourth) time I tried. There's really nothing Almay can do about a shaky hand - but they've done what they can to help in other ways.
The applicator fits perfectly in my hand - it's not too long or short so as to be awkward. The nub that holds the color is pliant enough to give just a bit so, I never felt like I was about to stab myself in the eye. Notice I said "nub," not brush. It's kind of like a felt tip marker, but a little softer. Very easy to maneuver around the eye. And finally, the right amount of product is attached to the nub. I never got halfway across my lip only to start sputtering and run out of color. This made it easy to draw one continuous line.
The real kicker with Almay's liquid liner is that it lasts forever. I've worn it in hundred degree heat, I've worn it through sweaty workouts at the gym, I've slept in it - and the color doesn't drip away or fade. I was hugely surprised by this. Surprised enough to look at Almay a little differently...
Photo credits: Almay.com







