Almost one year ago, for some reason I thought it was a good idea to purchase a champagne/flesh toned metallic eyeliner from a brand I wasn't that familiar with. A lot of my friends rave about this particular brand, so I trusted their effusive tweets in support of my decision and placed my order.

The moment the Sephora box arrived, I tore the box open to discover that upon first impression, the liner was everything that I wanted and more. Naturally, I removed the plastic wrapper and applied it immediately. At some point during my work day, my eye itched and I must have rubbed it, because the next thing I knew, my eye became so irritated it looked like it was bleeding.

To make matters worse, I was attending a MAC event with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper IN PERSON. Needless to say, there was no way I was going to have my photo taken with Lady Gaga, much less meet her with this crazy looking eye. Instead, I downed glasses of champagne like a wallflower. I'm still traumatized.

Fast forward to last September. Backstage at NYFW, all of the MAC artists were raving about an upcoming collection full of shimmering highlighters and gorgeous shadows. Little did I know that this mysterious collection, Cham Pale, would include a metallic eyeliner similar to the one that will forever hold the blame for coming between me and Lady Gaga.

My history with MAC is rich - I've loved the brand for as long as I could remember, so naturally their products are the only ones who can heal my emotional scars. The special, limited edition eyeliner, I Get No Kick, is everything you'd expect from a flesh- toned metallic pencil. Wearing this color on your lower lashline is perfect for opening your eyes, especially when paired with MAC's Chromagraphic pencils.

After wearing I Get No Kick several times, I can safely say that it has not come between me and any celebrity encounters or ruined my night. All's well that ends well - but someone, somewhere still owes me a picture with Lady Gaga. ;)

Gwen Stefani was a wise woman when she sang "The magic's in the makeup..." and these lyrics could not be more true when used in context with MAC's Chromagraphic Pencil, debuting with the Pret-a-Papier Collection.

How many times have you looked for the perfect pencil to line your waterline  (that doesn't look blaringly obvious)? I've tried everything, from white pencils, to black pencils (for that rock & roll vibe), to concealer pencils (which almost did the trick, but wore off soon after application) and nothing seemed to be a perfect fit. Once I tried the Chromagraphic Pencil, I knew I had found a product as close to perfect as I was going to get.

The Chromagraphic Pencil comes in two near-flesh toned shades, NC 15/NW 20 and NW 25/NC 30. Ideally, the shade that falls closest to your skintone makes an ideal match. If you're looking to open your eyes, try running the pencil over your lower waterline. For an even wider-eyed look, try tightlining your upper waterline. If you're going for a more natural look, use the pencil to line your lower lash line.

A flesh-toned pencil doesn't seem like the most obvious product to have in your collection, but it can come in super handy (even if you aren't an advanced makeup artist).

Have you tried flesh-toned pencils? Which are your favorite?

Benefit Cosmetics Eyeliner Gilded

$20.00 by Benefit at Sephora

There are so many things to say and love about Benefit's Gilded pencil, that I wouldn't have been able to say if I weren't given it as a gift.  To be honest, I wouldn't have given this product a second chance.  It's a big, gold pencil....sometimes it's good to have friends lift you out of life's makeup rut.

My favorite way to wear Gilded is as a liner on my lower lashline, with mascara as my only other eye product, and a punchy blue-red lip (of course I still can't put down my Ruffian Red).  The instant you sweep the pencil around your lash line, your whole face brightens, your eyes look bigger, and you look like you've just had a nap.  I promise - there are witnesses.

If you're not the type of gal to give Gilded a second look either, than allow me to be the friend to pull you out of your makeup rut - you just might be surprised.

With the release of the Chill collection, MAC also released the Penultimate eyeliner.  As the name suggests, the liner is created to look and act just like a pen, or in this case, a felt-tipped marker.  I consider myself a liquid eyeliner aficionado, so of course I was thrilled to test out the product.  Also around the same time I received the Penultimate liner, I also purchased Sephora Professionnel's Bent Eyeliner brush.  I guess you could say I had a fit of liner mania!

The photo above is what application looks like with the Pennultimate liner in Rapidblack.  Admittedly it was a tough adjustment from L'Oreal's Lineur Intense, which features a much longer and more flexible felt-tipped applicator.  What I appreciated about the Penultimate design was that it allowed me to much thinner lines and details vs the Lineur Intense (which is a dupe of Lancome's Art Liner).

No matter how good I might feel about my liquid liner skills, I also love gel/cream-based liners.  They are offered in a wider variety than liquid liners, and they glide on much smoother.  My biggest obstacle was the application.  I'd always mess up and the line would end up twice as thick as my initial intention.  After much debate over which brush would be the best for me, I settled on Sephora Professionnel's Bent Eyeliner brush, based on my delight with the Smokey Eye Kit brushes. I am so glad I purchased this brush.  I love that the brush hairs actually stay together and help to create a thin line instead of fraying everywhere. The line is much softer and smoother, and the angled detail of the brush allows me to line in places I previously deemed difficult. In the photo I used MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack.

I couldn't choose over either type of eyeliner if asked - they both have their place.  I appreciate them for their commonalities and differences.

Selecting a liquid liner that is appropriate for your skill level can be tricky.  Brushes range from thin and flexible to broad and felt tipped.  The market is crowded and confusing, so which do you choose?

The design of Borghese's Linea Precisa Liquid Eyeliner ($18) offers several compelling reasons to select their product over the competition.  The pen-like casing and felt tip allows handling the liner to feel as comfortable as your favorite office accessory. Plus the easy to apply water resistant formula glides smoothly.

Our favorite way to wear Linea Precisa is with a neutral eye and a bold lip for day.  Is there a better way to feel glamorous than look like a Hollywood starlet?  We sure don't think so.