This eye makeup trend is going to be the next big thing
Up the drama on your usual eye look
A sharp contour and a well-executed cut-crease are probably the first techniques you turn to when you want to up the drama on your beauty look. However, there’s a new eye makeup trick hailing from Eastern Europe that you need to add to your repertoire. Currently trending on Reddit, it is known as the pencil technique or 3D eye shaping, and it focuses on using eyeshadow shades along the natural lines of your eye to cast shadows and manipulate the shape to create the illusion of big eyes.
The pencil technique was invented by an Ukrainian makeup artist, and is quickly gaining momentum with many European makeup fans already embracing the method. It uses a brow pencil or eyeliner pencil in addition to eyeshadow to create the effect of lifted, big eyes that are perfectly shaped. Reddit user Letitialorga posted this image, showing the finished results, crediting her eye makeup look to the pencil technique.
Reddit user: Letitialorga
The technique involves identifying and following the natural lines of your eye (don’t worry it’s not as hard as it sounds) and drawing soft pencil lines as guides, before strategically applying and blending pencil strokes to manipulate the shape of the eye. The pencil acts as a base and guide for your eyeshadow application to go over the top, while also allowing a level of precision and control that fans of this technique absolutely love.
It can be done with any brow or eye pencil, given it has the right consistency. The pencil needs to glide over the skin, so it can easily be smudged with a flat makeup brush.
For a full rundown on how to master the pencil technique, check out our step-by-step guide.
While effective and a definite must-try, it’s worth noting this is not the sort of technique you’re going to master overnight: “It takes some time to master but once [you] get the hang of it you'll see how easy everything gets once you do it this way,” said Reddit user Letitialorga.
Another benefit of using an eyeliner pencil or brow pencil is that it is long-lasting, especially when you apply eyeshadow over the top. Who knew our beloved eyeliner and brow pencils would turn into such good multitaskers?
If you’re happy to stick with the tried and tested cut-crease technique, here’s one blogger’s sneaky hack to nailing the trend.
Image credit: Getty; Reddit
