Runway to Everyday: Bottom Lid Eyeliner From London Fashion Week

We look to the runway not only for ideas on what clothes to wear in the coming seasons, but also for hair and makeup tips. One trend that was hot on the runway at this year’s London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 shows—under-eye eyeliner. While we’re not suggesting you copy the look exactly (unless you want to turn a few heads), you can get a look that’s inspired by the trend by smudging liner or eyeshadow under your bottom lash line.

The key is not to go overboard when applying eyeliner to your lower lids. “Applying heavy color under the eye can emphasize sagging and deep lines in eyes if not applied properly,” says celebrity makeup artist Lusine Galadjian.

“Under-eye eyeliner can sometimes be tricky,” adds celebrity makeup artist Aura Schwartz. “If you use a heavy hand and do not blend it well, it can look like you have eyeliner on from the night before and forgot to wash it off. This look may work if you are a rock star onstage, but for most of us, this only makes us look tired.”

To get the look, you need to be conscious of creating a clean and youthful appearance. Galadjian suggests that you only apply it to the lower one-third of the lid from the outside in, and blend it in well with a clean brush or a cotton swab.

Stick to neutral colors like brown, gray and maroon. Be aware that dark colors can make your eyes look smaller. A great tip is to keep the color you use on the lower lid one shade lighter than the one on the upper lid. This helps keep the focus on the upper lid and creates a more lifted appearance.

“One of my favorite tips is to take a little shadow that has a bit of sparkle to it and with a small brush apply it over the pencil eyeliner,” says Schwartz. “This will give you a finished look and still keep the intensity of the color you are using.”

Galadjian loves Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($22) because it has lasting power and is easy to blend. If your eyeliner tends to smudge or run easily, try Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner ($22). 

While Galadjian says to avoid colors all together, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, Schwartz says to try using a color pencil. A popular color at the moment is teal, she adds. “I love Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil ($24) in Heat. It can be used as a shadow as well as a liner, so it’s an awesome two-in-one product!”