Mascara or Eyeliner: Which is the Better Choice for You?

Deciding Whether to Use Mascara or Eyeliner

Even with years of experience, it’s still easy to go overboard or underdo it when selecting eye makeup. Piling on shadow and liner will leave you with goth-like dark eyes that look dreary and a little scary. Not using enough product can make the rest of your face stand out more than your eyes, resulting in less attention being drawn to them.

As the old saying goes, “the eyes are the windows to the soul.” This means that it’s important to focus on our eyes when doing our makeup. By making our eyes stand out, we help people see the real us and set the tone for the rest of our makeup.

In this article, we’ll discuss two important eye makeup tools: mascara and eyeliner. We’ll discuss what they are, how to use them, and whether you should use them together or separately.

Mascara: What Should I Know About It?

Anyone who has seen a naked mole rat knows that their small, beady eyes can make them look quite unappealing. In fact, their appearance is often compared to that of a human eye without mascara.

Mascara is one of the most important makeup products as it helps lengthen and thicken lashes, making the eyes appear larger and more open. It also adds darkness to the lashes, which can help give your whole face a more polished look.

What is Mascara? 

Mascara is usually made of four key components: 

• A pigment for coloring the lashes
• A polymer to coat and preserve them 
• A thickening agent or oil to make them appear fuller

These ingredients work together in order to achieve luscious, voluminous eyelashes.

How To Use Mascara

Mascara is primarily used to give the appearance of longer, dramatic eyelashes. When applied correctly, it will not clump or stick lashes together; however, some mascaras have been known to cause “spider legs” which resemble that of a tarantula. 

Depending on the look you are going for, there are different ways to apply mascara. For example, if you want a more natural lash look- classic black or brown colors work best and gives off the effect of lengthened lashes and an overall noticeability in your eye area. However, if looking for something with a little more pizazz- colored mascara creates quite the statement!

Different Types of Mascara

There are several types of mascara that focus on specific lash needs. 

• Volumizing Mascara is created to add volume to lashes that are a little sparse, and it adds thickness while maintaining individual lash definition.

100% Pure’s Limitless Mascara provides a natural way to volumize and strengthen lashes. With nutrients like propeptides, your lashes will look healthy and revived for up to 12 hours!

• Defining Mascara. Most people long for naturally thick and defined eyelashes, but it can be a difficult goal to achieve. Mascara is often the obstacle, as most formulas cause clumping.

100% Pure’s Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara is perfect for those who want longer, more defined lashes without the weight or clumps. With a specialized spoolie and formula, you can create the definition you want with ease.

Important Ingredients 

Many mascaras on the market today are made with unsafe and toxic ingredients. At 100% Pure, we pride ourselves on formulating products with only clean, safe ingredients. Here’s how we do it:

• Instead of using carbon black, which is a byproduct of coal mining and can be harmful to your health, we use safe, natural iron oxides that help keep lashes dark without any negative side effects.
• We use plant-based ingredients like candelilla wax and shea butter instead of synthetic thickening agents such as petroleum or mineral oil.
• We never use preservatives, such as parabens, in any of our products.

We not only include hydrating, eyelash nourishing ingredients–we use specific ingredients so that you can be confident knowing every component inside our formula benefits your lashes.

Facts About Eyeliner

Eyeliner may seem unimportant in comparison to mascara, however it plays a big role in any eye look. Though application can be difficult, by learning from professional makeup artists you can perfect the technique.

What Is Eyeliner? 

Though it may not appear as significant as mascara, eyeliner plays a vital role in any eye look. Application can be challenging to master, but by following professional makeup tutorial videos you’ll get the hang of it quickly.

How to Use Eyeliner

The best place to apply eyeliner is along your outer lash line. If you put it inside your waterline (the space between your eye and lashes), you could end up with irritated eyes that look smaller.

Different Types Of Eyeliner

Eyeliner comes in many different formulas, such as:

• Liquid Eyeliner. If you’re looking to up your beauty game, liquid eyeliner is a great place to start. Liquid liner precise application and deep color make it perfect for an alluring cat eye.
• Gel Eyeliner. Start with gel eyeliner if you want a product that is slightly thicker than liquid but still soft. You can apply it with a brush to get the same look as liquid liner, but it will be easier to use.
• Eye Pencil. Pencil eyeliner is probably the easiest type of liner to apply. You can use it for a smokey eye look or go for something more subtle.

Use formulas containing cleaner, safer ingredients that won’t cause irritation when applied near your eyes, whether you prefer liquid or kohl pencil form.

Important Ingredients 

We understand that it can be difficult to find an eyeliner that is safe for your eyes and also works well. At 100% Pure, we only use non-toxic ingredients so you can feel confident about the product you’re using.

• To create our unique, dark color, we use iron oxides rather than carbon black. Not only is this more beautiful, but it’s also safe and non-irritating.
• Our eyeliner is made of plant-based ingredients like Organic Aloe and Organic Micronized Black Tea, instead of the harsh chemicals found in other products. This allows our product to glide easily along your lash line for a natural look.

Out of all the various types of eye makeup, eyeliner is the best at both defining your eyes and making them appear larger. So then should you only use eyeliner, mascara, or a combination of both?

How to Choose Between Mascara and Eyeliner

If you can’t figure out if you need mascara, eyeliner, or both to finish your look, these tips will come in handy.

When is it Appropriate to Use Mascara Only?

Mascara is a great solution for those who want to keep their appearance simple and effortless. You can quickly use mascara and lip balm to get a natural look that emphasizes clear skin. The secret to getting skin that looks radiant without make-up? Better skincare products! 

When is it Appropriate to Use Eyeliner Only?

Wearing eyeliner by itself can appear too harsh, making lashes look stubby and sparse. If you have lash extensions, though, lining your upper lid is an option. Don’t sole line the lower lid, though; this makes eyes seem fatigued and can even produce the appearance of dark circles under them.

When to Use Both

Try using both mascara and eyeliner together for a classic look that will bring out your eyeshadow and make it complete. If you’re not great at doing a cat eye or smudging, don’t worry. A medium-thin layer of liner on both the upper and lower lashes can help give definition and create depth without being too heavy-handed. 

Mascara applied last can also take any harshness away from an improperly done liner job.

Can You Use One As the Other? 

No, you cannot use mascara as eyeliner or vice versa. The formulas of each make them virtually impossible to attempt to use interchangeably. 

Obviously, in an emergency situation where you have no other options, you can try using liquid mascara as eyeliner, provided you have a thin, precision-style brush on hand; however, be aware that not all mascaras are created equal. Waterproof formulas often contain irritating ingredients that could harm your delicate lids if used as liner.

Attain the Perfect Eye Style

Mascara and eyeliner are two products that work great together to give you a noticeable, dramatic eye. 

When using both mascara and eyeliner, it is important to make sure that the products you are using are the cleanest and safest possible. 100% Pure provides a wide range of green makeup options along with helpful tools to find the perfect shades to complete any look.

With 100% Pure, you can makeup your eyes to look bigger and more awake. Fuller lashes are only a few products away!