You want to try at least some of the makeup trends out for the season. But is basic black liner really doing your eyes justice? Fortunately, we have perfect eyeliner picks for every eye color, eye shape, and skin tone.

Every girl has at least one black eyeliner in her beauty arsenal. It is ideal for creating a smoky eye or glam winged look.

Now are you ready to up your eye game? There are practically as many eyeliner color options as shadows. As with most things beauty, it is important to remember this color choice is super personal. Certain shades enhance some eye colors and skin types more than others.

Stumped on which would look best on your peepers? Read on for tips on choosing the perfect eyeliner for your lovely eyes.

Perfect Eyeliner by Eye Color

Blue: Sure, deeper blue eyeliners bring out the best in blue eyes. But if you want some serious wow factor, go for gold, copper, or emerald. Try Lavera Soft Eyeliner Green.

Green: Sporting some gorgeous green peepers? Make the most of those babies by using deep plum and mahogany shades. Try Ilia Beauty Pure Eyeliner My Generation.

Brown: Brown can totally handle brown shades. Why not go for something completely different and wear navy or cobalt? Try Ilia Beauty Pure Eyeliner Nightclubbing.

Hazel: Hazel hues are as varied as they come. One universal eyeliner hue for this lovely shade is bronze, which can either lean toward olive or gold. Try Benecos Natural Eyeliner Olive.

Perfect Eyeliner by Skin Tone

Black eyeliner can be too harsh on fair skin. Opt for a more natural look by using a muted neutral in brown, grey or dark green. Try Ilia Beauty Pure Eyeliner Sweet Jane.

Medium skin tones can handle black eyeliner well, but also look great in other, more daring dark tones. Give bronze or deep purple a try. Try Inika Eyeliner Purple Minx.

Darker skin tones can go for the bold with more intense color and metallics. Go for gold, silver, or royal blue. Try Benecos Natural Eyeliner Bright Blue.

Now that you’ve chosen the best shade (or two, or three) for your eyes and skin tone, learn how to play them up. If your eyes are more round, accentuate outer edges with a bit thicker line to make eyes appear longer. For small eyes, don’t drown your eyes with thick liner. To make eyes appear larger, apply a thin line to upper and lower lash line. And if eyes are close set, use the same trick as for round eyes in color, anything but black or brown will do.

Add these tips to your holiday party look and get ready for a stellar season. Cheers!

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman applying eyeliner via Shutterstock

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Fall is all about that sexy cat eye makeup, from winged liner to metallic to pops of color.

Although I tend to gravitate towards a strong lip I must admit that a beautiful eye, artfully embellished, does catch my attention. Cat eye makeup may seem like a lot more work than simply swiping on some lip color, but in fact, dramatic results can be achieved rather easily. With so many fabulous products and a little know-how you’ll be wondering why you’ve hesitated to try something new. Let’s begin with eyeliner.

A perfectly applied winged liner is, in a way, the eye version of a classic red lip; simple but dramatic. And even though it may seems intimidating, with a little practice it’s quite do-able

All you need is the right product, and good technique. Liquid eyeliner has come a long way from its original cake version.

With so many options at so many price points there is sure to be some thing for everyone.

Here are my 2 top picks for cat eye makeup products and tips on how to use them.

For the beginner, the product:

NYX Two Timer Dual Ended Eyeliner

This liner has three great things going for it: price, versatility and convenience.

Did I mention price? At $10,  it’s an inexpensive way to try out stand-out cat eye makeup with out having to break the bank.

NYX Two Timer Dual Ended Eyeliner has two sides, a twist up pencil and a liquid liner, and for a novice this combination makes for a wonderful tool to achieve the illusive the liquid liner look.

The technique:

Start by using the pencil side and applying it along the upper lash line. Take your time getting the shape just right (follow the lashline and make sure not to make the line too thick). When you get to the outer corner of the lid, open the eyes and follow the upward curve of the lower lash line to create the most flattering “wing” for your individual eye shape (you need not extend the line too far). Repeat on the other eye and adjust as needed.

Pro tip: I keep Hollywood Fashion Secrets’ eye makeup remover swabs on hand when creating liner looks to adjust and balance the “wings”. Once the shape has been perfected use the liquid liner over the guide you’ve created with the pencil to finish the purrfect cat eye look.

Another option is a more smudged rock and roll version. Line the eyes as above with the pencil this time making the line a bit thicker. With your finger or a small synthetic brush smudge the edge of the line furthest from the lashline. Once blended apply liquid liner along the lash line to intensify the look, a bit of black mascara and Voilá, Kate Moss has NOTHING on you!

For the expert, the product:

Benefits’ They’re Real Push Up Liner

This intense black gel liner also has three great features (One of which is revolutionary as far as liquid liners go). Long wear, creamy application and the convenience of a pen. And not just a pen but a very different angled applicator tip that makes the formula glide on smoother and easier than a brush.

I have always used a flat angle brush to apply liquid liner. I feel there is so much more control with it than with a long narrow brush. Because of this, for me there wasn’t much of a learning curve. However, for those of you used to a traditional liner brush it may take a couple of tries. Once you make the transition the ease of application is well worth the adjustment. You may find you don’t ever want to go back to a brush. As for formula I was pleasantly surprised at the long wear of the formula. In my experience using the product I found the only touchup I needed before dinner (after a long day of working on location) was at the inner corners of the eyes.

Remember; the thicker the line and longer the wing the more dramatic the look. With this product it’s easy to go from subtle to super dramatic.

The technique:

Start by turning the end of the pen a few times until product appears at the tip of the applicator. Point the small end of the applicator towards the nose and use a continuous flowing movement along the upper lash line towards the outer edge of the eyes. Take your time getting the shape just right (and make sure not to make the line too thick unless you are trying to achieve a very dramatic look). When you get to the outer corner of the lid, open the eyes and follow the upward curve of the lower lash line to create the most flattering “wing” for your individual eye shape (you need not extend the line too far if you are attempting a more subtle version of the look). Repeat on the other eye and adjust as needed. (Even with this gel formula the Hollywood Fashion Secrets’ eye makeup remover swabs really help adjust any imperfections both along the lashline as well as balance the “wings”.) Once the shape has been perfected, apply 2 coats of mascara to finish the purrrfect cat eye look.

Double the fun!

For a simple day to evening transition when wearing liner try adding a second line of gold right above the black. It adds drama with minimal work and the flash of gold every time you blink is sure to attract attention.

Splurge $19 Urban Decay Heavy Metal Liner in Midnight Cowboy (gold) or Steal $5 SRP NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Gold.

Find Fatima on Twitter @fatimaolive

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Top image: Sonny Vandevelde; Dolce & Gabana Fall 2014 RTW

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Don’t believe the hype.

These days, big brands are falling over themselves to prove they are toeing the planet-friendly line and sticking to wholesome products – and that’s good for everyone (when it’s not a lie, of course). Over the last 4 years we’ve been keen to champion the companies choosing the natural and sustainable over the artificial & toxic. Here are 6 posts from our archives where we ask – is it natural?

I purposely put all of the prominent, still-independent brands in this list because I want to tell their stories. But this isn’t a story about small vs. big, small being good and big being bad.

All the independents listed below are big companies, but they have the ability to uphold higher standards and work within their missions because they aren’t beholden to the intense scrutiny of the money managers.

Just for fun, can you guess which ones they are?

The Stories (And Money) Behind 10 Of Your Favorite Organic And Natural Brands

We use conditioners to keep our hair healthy, sleek and shiny. Or just to avoid looking like the Scarecrow from Oz.  Whether you’re a daily conditionista or someone who simply smooths it on once or twice a week, you’re going to want to keep it organic.

Why? To avoid the common ingredient in conventional conditioners called Lauramide DEA. It strips away important amino acids like serine, histamine and other hair and skin proteins. This can leave hair feeling dry and unmanageable – creating the need to use more conditioner. Who knew hair conditioner could be so conspiracy-theory! While the debate continues to rage about how conditioners will eventually destroy us all, we’ve got you covered with products that won’t.

6 Best Organic Hair Conditioners

Greenpeace recently reported that clothing items bearing the logos of 14 global brands – including Adidas, H&M, Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch – have been found to contain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), chemicals that can break down to form the hormone-disrupting substance nonylphenol (NP). Just this morning, Reuters released the news that Nearly 300 Cambodian workers fell sick this week at a garment factory producing goods for Swedish fashion brand H&M.

14 Fashion Brands Test Positive For Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

A Perfume Organic offers four scents, each for $65: Green, Urban Organic, Perfumed Wine-Rose and White Magik. Green is rose with hint of chamomile; Urban Organic is lemon with ginger and grapefruit; White Magik has white flowers with spearmint; and Perfumed Wine-Rose is berry, crisp apple and peppers. I have to be honest – with my history of fragrance headaches, I approached these perfumes as one might approach a root canal. You know you gotta do it, but you just want it to be over with. Commence crushing headache, right?

Cue the ringing of church bells and throwing of confetti! Nary a headache did I have with these scents. They smelled fresh and botanical. If you want to smell like fruit, you smell like fruit. If you want a hint of floral, it’s there. My favorite was White Magik for its sage and spearmint “aftersmell.”

A Fragrance Without The Fragrance: Organic Perfume Review

There are a lot of eyeliners on the market, with pencil, liquid and cake eyeliners being the most popular. The only true skill you need is a steady hand, and what I mean by that is the steadiness it takes to make your eyes look superbly lined and cat-like, without appearing like something The Joker may have applied!

The trick to lining your eyes is to start small. Do little dashes along your lid and then blend with a brush to avoid that weird eyeliner strip of flesh – you know, when there is a space of flesh between your eyeliner and your actual eye. Start from the middle and do small strokes, front to back. Short strokes, small dots even, can help you look more Catwoman than Scary Makeup Clown.

Five Of The Best Natural And Organic Eyeliners

Take a stroll through the cereal aisle and you’ll see box after box of sugary confections that look more like desserts than breakfast. Of course, all of those glazed mini cinna-buns and marshmallows are clearly not healthy, but what about the whole grain oats, shredded wheat and flax flakes? General Mills’ Oatmeal Crisp Crunchy Almond is “whole grain guaranteed,” but the ingredients include brown sugar, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and honey, making it 27% sugar. Kellogg’s Raisin Bran may be mostly wheat flakes, but it still has just as much sugar as Lucky Charms at 19 grams. In contrast, Kashi 7 Grain Whole Puffs has zero grams of sugar, and Cheerios have just 1. Check out this chart at Harvard School of Public Health to compare dozens of varieties.

10 Health Foods With More Sugar Than A Coke

Images: stublog, kaibara, kaibara87 and

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The latest trends in eye makeup start with eco-friendly products.

Delicious, creamery eggnog in a frosted glass. Pumpkin pies baked from scratch. Spiced rum cakes served next to a crackling fire. Oh, those holidays will soon be upon us. For many of us, this means a whirlwind of feted parties spent in stacked heels and vintage cocktail dresses. And what will be splashed across our faces this holiday season? The latest trends in eye makeup with lots of drama and shimmer.

The key to a spectacular eye can be an excellent eyeliner. Accordingly, we’ve picked three of our favorite eye enhancers to help us all through the holiday season.

Alima Pure Luminous Eye Shimmer ($11.00)
This rich, intense eyeliner brings a smoky shimmer to your lids and lashes. From husky blue to oceanic gray to simmering purple, it’s a mineral-based makeup which invokes some of the most romantic Earth hues around. Also available in matte colors, this eyeliner easily fills in for a shadow if you’re so inclined.

Alima Pure offers a BDIH-certified product, which means it has been deemed safe and natural by the rigorous European standard of beauty care. Cruelty-free, Alima Pure donate 1% of all profits for the planet and offsets 100% of corporate carbon emissions through Carbonfund.org. Skin Deep gives it a highly-coveted rating of 2.

Living Nature Eye Pencil ($20.00)
Want to get the job done with an old-school pencil? Living Nature offers this vegetable wax based product to provide a smooth line in smoldering hues. The pencil-like application allows for a sharp line or a broader smudge if desired.

Living Nature offers up the native botanicals of New Zealand. They are free of parabens, phthalates, and any genetically-modified ingredients. This product receives an excellent rating of 1 from Skin Deep.

Jane Iredale Mystikol Eyeliners ($20.00)
These innovative eyeliners can easily become the star performer in your makeup bag. On one side, we have powdered eyeliner ending in a pointed wand. On the other, a powdered highlighter doing the same. What this means for us, the users without the steadiest of hands, is that we can easily outline our lash lines or lids with professional-looking end results. From bright blues and dusky purples to deep greens, these eyeliners enhance your eyes under holiday lights.

Offered up by mineral makeup guru Jane Iredale, this product scores an excellent rating of 1 from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.

Want more information on great, green eyeliners? Check out some of our past picks.

Image: liquene

FTC Compliance

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What the mall makeup-counter ladies say isn’t always right.

Come closer. We need to share something but we don’t want the Internet to hear. Ready? Okay. Sometimes our makeup looks bad. Okay, really bad. Like, eighth-grade picture bad, when you’re combining braces, big-framed glasses, and hair you haven’t figured out quite how to tame yet.

How does this happen into our adult years? We’re not quite sure. Maybe we’re swayed by catchy magazine layouts that promise the latest trends that don’t translate off-page. (Or they do translate, but they read: clown.) Maybe we’re influenced by a makeup artist who sits us in a department store chair and plies us with powders that look great under fluorescent lighting, but look fluorescent under the light of the sun.

Or maybe, it’s time for all of us to just take a stand and say NO MORE to certain makeup trends and tap into what feels right to us. Regardless, here’s a few combos we advise you steer 100 miles clear of.

Blue eye shadow and red lipstick
Blue was once the glory of all eye shadow. We plied it across our Barbie’s lids, convinced it was the most fabulous accessory short of the silver saddle jauntily sitting across a My Little Pony. Now, blue eye shadow, especially when matched to red lipstick, is like the Sasquatch of makeup. It sounds interesting in theory, but we have yet to see it work in person.

Matchy-match eye shadow and lipstick
Pink and pink? You look like you’ve escaped from your hospital bed and are about to start a zombie plague. Blue and blue? You’ve already started the zombie plague. There’s not a color match on planet Earth that can work on any complexion without completely washing it out. Seriously, Stephen Hawking would back me up on this. It’s a law of physics.

Black eyeliner and nude lips
This is perhaps the most controversial of our bad color combos. Black eyeliner, artfully applied, is the ultimate tool to make eyes pop. But combined with a too-pale lip? Your eyes are popping while the rest of your face looks like it’s given up and gone to bed early with a glass of warm milk.

Image: soundfromwayout, xlordash

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Tips for nailing your makeup like a pro.

Let’s be blunt. Sometimes applying makeup can be an utter pain in the ass. Why? First, you have to master the art of eyes. For a non-professional, drawing the perfect eye line requires a steady hand and nerves of steel. (See: Screams of frustration after several smudged applications.) And once you’ve got your eyes all set, you’re supposed to top it off with a perfectly-accentuating lipstick. Mess this up and your face explodes in a mess of clown color reminiscent of someone you might see juggling cats at a second-rate circus.

But when you nail your makeup? Break out the runway, because you’re strutting down it more confident than any Gisele or Heidi. So here are three makeup combos that will keep you pout perfect and proud.

Black eyeliner and red lips
Coco Chanel said that “Elegance does not consist of putting on a new dress.” She might have also said “Artful black eyeliner with an eye-popping red lip is the ultimate in class.” (Okay, she didn’t, but can’t you see it?) This classic look travels well across all skin tones, bringing style and grace to anyone who can wield a liquid liner.

Shimmery eyes and fruity lips
A bright shimmery powder can bring out the deep, rich color in your eyes. Pair it with a plum or raspberry lip and you’ll light up like a spring blossom on a sunny morning. This works for both light and dark complexions.

Smokey eyes and pink lip

Smokey eyes are big right now, but pairing them with a dark lip can lead to too much makeup for one face. So consider combining your dark eyes with a lighter lip. Be sure to add a little bit of pink or peach undertones to your mouth to avoid a washed-out pucker. You want to make a pretty impression with your peeps while making your pout a supporting power player.

Image: melloveschallah

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For me, a successful application of makeup is all about the eyeliner. If I manage to get it on straight and properly shaped, I’ll strut through the rest of the evening winking at everyone who looks me in my perfectly-lined eyes. Or do so in my sassy dreams, since this actually almost never happens. It’s more likely I’ll apply some eyeliner, smudge it around until it’s acceptable, and slink out of the house heading for dim lighting and Audrey Hepburn dreams of the perfect cat eye.

For others, applying makeup is a burden they wish to be rid of for good. Permanent makeup ensures some will never have to buy makeup remover again. But what makes a person decide they want their lips permanently redden, or eyes lined for good? Does it come from a desire to diminish one’s time in front of the mirror each day? Or is it about something a little darker, like an inherent disbelief about natural beauty?

Permanent makeup, also known as micro pigmentation and cosmetic tattooing, is actually manipulating tattoos on the eyes, lips and eyebrows to look like makeup. The procedure is supposed to use the same FDA-approved inks that are in licensed tattoo parlors, though some reports have been filed of users employing printer’s ink or car paint. And while a knee-jerk reaction might regulate this procedure to the Land of Botox and Fillers, some have it done who have lost their eyebrows or skin pigmentation to disease, chemotherapy, alopecia, old age and scarring. It can even be used to help breast reconstruction in which the areola has been removed.

And yes, others have it done who want to simply wake up in makeup or feel confident in the pool. You see it advertised in doctor’s offices, day spas, and nail salons. Be advised that cosmetic tattooing often requires separate certifications from the state, so just because a salon has certification for general beauty procedures does not mean they are licensed to draw permanent eyeliner on your lids.

There are several problems that can arise as a result of permanent tattooing. First, if you are not satisfied with your initial procedure, you are virtually stuck with it. Permanent makeup is extremely expensive to undo, as well as difficult to actually reverse. The industry is largely unregulated, and Consumer Reports Health notes that by 2003 the FDA had identified so many patients with negative reactions that it advised “the application of permanent makeup can result in serious, long-term, disfiguring reactions.”

Further, there are reports linking permanent makeup to unwanted tissue growth. Needle slips into eyes have been reported, and even skin cancer might be connected to it. But most of the time, an undesired outcome of cosmetic tattooing is that the color simply degrades with time.

So is it worth it? Obviously it’s a personal choice – but a choice someone should make well-informed. In the meantime, I’m going to go practice steadying my eyeliner hand.

Image: pumpkincat210

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