Frequently used by professional makeup artists, cake eyeliner delivers a dynamic, defined look to any eye makeup. Worn thin, the liner looks chic and classy. Worn thick, cake eyeliner adds instant drama and flirty sex appeal. The best cake eyeliner should not only be easy to apply, but also maintain its precise perfection throughout the day.
Brand
As with any beauty product, what works best for one fashionista might be a fashion disaster for another. Typically, the more expensive a product, the better the quality. While that statement might ring true with certain luxury beauty brands, you’ll certainly be able to find plenty of budget-friendly options that give you a perfect eyeliner look. If there’s a particular brand of eye makeup you always use, you might find that their cake eyeliner works best for you. If you’re not loyal to any specific brand, test a few different brands to find your perfect match. Many beauty stores and departments allow you to test products before you buy.
Texture
Cake eyeliner has a thick, dense texture and a rich, bold color. If the term “cake” conjures up images of soft, fluffy birthday cake, you might be confused on the texture. The texture of cake eyeliner is more like the texture of the dirt that’s caked onto your favorite riding boots. The texture is similar to eyeshadow, yet slightly smoother and denser. The best cake eyeliner has a soft, velvety texture. When mixed with a liquid, it should turn into a thick gel for easy application.
Application
Apply cake eyeliner with a thin eyeliner brush. While some cake eyeliners can only be worn wet, the best cake eyeliners allow two main options for wear. For a subtle smoky look, apply the liner dry. For a cleaner, more sophisticated look, apply it wet. The instructions guide you to use either water or a specialized sealing liquid. Add just a small amount of liquid to the liner on the back of your hand and swirl around until you get a smooth gel. Look for a liner that requires very little liquid to achieve the perfect consistency -- this saves you valuable time and money.
Wear
There’s not much worse than glancing into the mirror at work or during your date to find that your eyeliner has turned into an awful mess. As with all beauty products, there will be some cake eyeliners that stay perfect on your pretty little lids -- and some that don’t seem to stay put for longer than five minutes. Unfortunately, it takes a bit of trial and error to find your perfect match. Look for a cake eyeliner that stays in place throughout the day without smudging, smearing, running, collecting in the corner of your eyes or completely wearing off. When testing out cake eyeliners before you buy, don’t simply test out the ease of application and the immediate look. Instead, spend the whole day in the eyeliner and re-assess before you wash your face for the night. If you still love the look, a quick trip back to the store is all you need to acquire the newest item in your beauty arsenal.
