Liner is sort of my thing. I've got big, googly eyes and dark hair, so for whatever reason my face really benefits from a smudge of kohl or a slick of liquid liner that frames the old peepers. That's not to say I haven't changed my look over the years. My first foray into liner arrived when I was still at school, probably during sixth form as I was fairly late to the makeup game. I nipped into Boots and watched excitedly as the cashier buzzed Rimmel's black liner pencil – that beloved high school mainstay – through the checkout.
Back home, I hovered it over my lash line in front of the mirror, hands shaking, as I tried to get my first attempt just right. Caution worked in my favour. I was too scared to try for a full blunt line (that was 'the look' at school, usually matched with a particularly satsuma-esque shade of Clinique foundation) so I dotted it on and smudged it to diffused degrees with my fingers, a tactic I employ to this day. I wandered down into the kitchen and my Aunt (visiting for her daily tea round and chat with my mother) exclaimed 'You look pretty!'. Sold. Thus began my love affair with liner.
Of course, as makeup tech progressed, ranges expanded and trends evolved, the liner options on offer duly increased. My university days saw the advent of liquid liner into my beauty routine. I realised that leaving my lower lash line alone and swiping on a slick of the good stuff on my top lash line only, perked up my eyes no end, eradicating any evidence of a hangover pre-early morning lectures (yes I actually attended them - geek at heart and all that).
Cat-eye flick attempts peppered the three years I spent there, before I abandoned any hope of mimicking the Kate Moss look altogether. My eyes are very round, and adding a flick to a couple of saucers and making it look decent is harder than you might think.
Today sees another milestone in my liner evolution. Millennial brand of the decade Glossier (whom we have to thank for the likes of Boy Brow, Cloud Paint and Balm.com) has hopped into the liquid liner arena with its latest launch, Pro Tip, £15.
Glossier, Pro Tip Liner, £15
1 of 1Glossier, Pro Tip Liner, £15
All You Need To Know About Glossier Pro Tip, £15.
Housed in that classic frills-free and yet entirely Instagram-able packaging, this liner does what it says on the tin. The nib is long, thin and tapered to a precision point, giving you ultimate control and ensuring you can apply anything from a barely-there lash boost to a chunky 60s worthy flick. The colour is a true black that packs a pigment punch from the first application. Oh, and it's budge proof for up to 12 hours.
The Beauty Editor's Verdict
If you think a liquid liner is just a liquid liner and you can't spot a good one from a bad one, think again. I've tested out enough in my time to know when there's a lack of pigment, a blunt nib end that eradicates any possibility of a slick 'n sassy flick, and when there's so little formula flowing through that you end up with skin-tugging drag. This iteration, however? What a crowd-pleaser.
My current liner look is comprised of kohl on my waterline, so I want the only merest hint of definition on my top lash line - enough to make my lashes look thicker, but not enough to look like a graphic liner attempt - this requirement is the ultimate test when it comes to a liquid liner, and Glossier's Pro Tip, £15 passed with flying colours.
I barely had to touch my lid with the pin-small nib before it applied a smooth line of black, and the length of the tip ensured I wasn't blindly applying through my lashes either. I achieved a flawless look at my desk in seconds, and that was with a very small, very murkly eyeshadow misted mirror of an old compact. It's safe to say that this bad boy's due to occupy space in my makeup bag for a good long while. Go forth and try. It's a good'un.
Shop: Glossier's Biggest Hero Buys
The Best Products From Glossier UK 2022
1 of 14Boy Brow, £14
For anyone spending lots of time using multiple products on their eyebrows, this may just change your life (or at least your morning routine). Boy Brow fills in sparse spaces, thickens thin brows and holds them in place like a gel would. It is, in essence, the ultimate multi-tasker.
2 of 14Priming Moisturizer Balance, £23
As if in answer to our lockdown skin fatigue, Glossier has recently launched a new product that it's calling Priming Moisturizer Balance. Designed primarily for oily and combination skin, it promises to moisturise, control shine and refine the look of pores in one easy step.
3 of 14Glossier Pro-Retinol Nightly Renewing Complex, £30
Meet Glossier's new skincare launch, a nightly retinoid formulated with 0.5% pro-retinol in the form of Retinyl Sunflowerate. That's a mix of pure retinol and sunflower seed fatty acids to you and me. The nourishing properties of the sunflower seed fatty acids work to counterbalance the less desirable effects often associated with using retinol products, we're talking dryness, itching and occasionally peeling. What's not to love about a new Glossier launch? At £30 this is a retinol product worth looking into - retinol buys are usually quite pricey and we rate £30 for a 35ml bottle of this one as reasonable.
4 of 14Cloud Paint, £15
Available in six different shades, once you try Cloud Paint you may find it difficult to go back to any other blusher. It's a silky gel-cream formula that's easy to dab onto your cheeks, although you can also use it on lips or even eyes if you so wish. This tends to be one of the more hyped products from Glossier but let me tell you – the hype is fully justified.
5 of 14Milky Oil Cleanser, £10
The Milky Oil Cleanser follows on from the cult success of the brand's Milky Jelly Cleanser - and despite being the new(er) kid on the block, its smooth and softening formula has had nothing but rave reviews. It's like a mix between micellar water and a face oil but isn't greasy and leaves skin feeling fresh and clean. It also removes even the most stubborn of mascaras in an instant.
6 of 14Balm Dotcom, £10
If you only buy one product, make it this. The crème de la crème of balms, this hydrating skin salve does almost everything. Slick over eyelids or on lips for a dewy, natural look and apply to any patches of dry skin for instant hydration. It's a wonder, and available in seven different flavours.
7 of 14Crème de Glossier, £29
This is just as good as the packaging might suggest. It's luxurious, creamy and dreamy – basically everything you want in a night-time moisturiser. Plus, you only need the smallest amount, so while this is one of Glossier's more expensive products (around £30) it will last a really long time.
8 of 14Generation G, £14
Generation G adapts to the colour of your lips, meaning each shade looks different on everyone. The texture is more like a balm than a traditional lipstick, too, so you can wear it all day without worrying about dry lips or a too-matte finish.
9 of 14Super Bounce, £24
If you have dry skin by nature, or if you feel like your skin is just in desperate need of a moisture injection, this is for you. It's a hyaluronic acid combined with vitamin b5 making it a lightweight, non-sticky serum that leaves skin feeling softer almost immediately. Ideal during or after flights and a genuine dream to slather on skin on mornings after the nights before. It also provides the perfect base for make-up.
10 of 14Lip Gloss, £11
Just when you thought lip gloss couldn't shake off its early noughties image, along comes Glossier's version to prove us all wrong. Available in three shades – clear, holographic and red – this really is a game-changer in every sense of the phrase. Wear on its own for low-key days or layer over lipstick to up the ante.
11 of 14Lidstar, £15
Not one to do things by halves, Glossier launched Lidstar at the Grammy Awards in 2018 on the eyelids of Beyoncé, no less. There are now six shades on offer, all of which lend a shimmery, pearly, fairly irresistible glow when applied to eyelids. In fact, it's pretty addictive stuff.
12 of 14Haloscope, £18
This might just be the ultimate highlighter, given that it provides all the glow plus a hit of hydration thanks to vitamin-rich moisturisers included in the formula. There's three shades to choose from, all as delicious as the other. It's cruelty-free, too.
13 of 14Glossier You, £45
Glossier's first perfume really does smell differently on everyone's skin. But if you're a fan of musky, lightly woody fragrances, you'll like this. A lot. The base notes (those woody scents) are the main attraction but the top notes that do feature are spicy and peppery, as opposed to anything floral.
14 of 14Moisturising Moon Mask, £18
With almond oil, plant-based squalane, and hyaluronic acid, this is one seriously hydrating mask. But more than that, it includes liquorice root and lemon extract to help brighten skin, while honey and aloe work to soothe any redness. It's a lovely treat for your skin.
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