Which is better, liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner?

Which is better, liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner? it honestly depends on what look you are going for.  pencil eyeliner is nice for soft smudgy bedroom-eye effects [a la johnny depp's eyes in pirates of the caribbean] http://movies.israel.net/pirates/01.jpg whereas liquid eyeliners are very crisp and leave a distinct line with visible edges; that look is very popular with people who like crisp, theatrical [not natural-looking] eye makeup http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/2.html http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/3.html http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/4.html or the retro cat-points look (which i wore myself for most of the last two years, varying between both top & bottom and top-only).   neither one is better.  they're just different, and each can be used equally well for different results. dyf [whose shift keys have packed it in; sorry, i do not fancy myself the next e.e. cummings, but am temporarily 'disabled,' textually speaking]

Which is better, liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner? it honestly depends on what look you are going for.  pencil eyeliner is nice for soft smudgy bedroom-eye effects [a la johnny depp's eyes in pirates of the caribbean] http://movies.israel.net/pirates/01.jpg whereas liquid eyeliners are very crisp and leave a distinct line with visible edges; that look is very popular with people who like crisp, theatrical [not natural-looking] eye makeup http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/2.html http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/3.html http://www.indiracesarine.com/mceyeliner/4.html or the retro cat-points look (which i wore myself for most of the last two years, varying between both top & bottom and top-only). neither one is better.  they're just different, and each can be used equally well for different results. dyf [whose shift keys have packed it in; sorry, i do not fancy myself the next e.e. cummings, but am temporarily 'disabled,' textually speaking] Great _link_s I have always found it hard to use pencil eyeliner, as I don't get the colour I want.. I find that I have to press on my skin hard to get a good colour. I recently found a chunky black pencil eyeliner that works really well, but it's unbranded. Talking of liquid eyeliner, does anyone know where I can find a cheap source of multi colour eyeliner? Preferably one with a long thin brush (like a very long, thick eyelash!) rather than one with a little nib end (like a felt tip pen). Cheers, Rachel.

it honestly depends on what look you are going for.  pencil eyeliner is nice for soft smudgy bedroom-eye effects whereas liquid eyeliners are very crisp and leave a distinct line with visible edges neither one is better.  they're just different, and each can be used equally well for different results. While I agree completely, I'll add that I find liquid eyeliner much harder to use; a slight shiver in your hand which would be negligible with pencil can produce a rather nasty gloop with liquid, and I find it much harder to make it symmetrical. Liquid can be used equally well, it's just more difficult to learn how to do so.   Torrain

I find liquid eyeliner much harder to use; a slight shiver in your hand which would be negligible with pencil can produce a rather nasty gloop with liquid, and I find it much harder to make it symmetrical. Liquid can be used equally well, it's just more difficult to learn how to do so.   Torrain Also, after you reach a certain age (cough, cough), liquid liner follows every bloody line & crease in your eye lids, while nice, smudgey pencil is very forgiving to the older eye. My fav is Revlon Colorstay Black; it's soft, but doesn't smear all over, gives nice deep color without having to hammer it into your eye. I also set it with black shadow.

Which is better, liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner? I use pencil for smoky-eyed look (in other words when I can't be bothered to make much effort) and liquid for more presicion. I add a couple of small swirls here and there. Mmmmm, intricate eye makeup.