Why I'm not mad at Nicole Ritchie

SYB BABE: Rae
QUESTION: "Please help me find the best liquid eyeliner that doesn't smudge or run BUT easily glides over the lids without the fuss. I beg of you, please don't name MAC or Makeup Forever!"
TIA'S 2 CENTS: No need to beg, sugar. I totally feel your pain. As an obsessive lover of mid-60's, Edie Sedgwick/Ann Margret/Barbarella-style, sex-kitten eyes, I LIVE for liquid eyeliner. So does Nicole Ritchie. Say what you will about the knocked-up con artist, but you must appreciate the level of glamour-commitment it took to recreate Ms. Hepburn's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" eyeliner at her recent court appearance (I SWOONED at the drawings). That said, I understand why some people get nervous around liquid eyeliner. If you're inexperienced, the line can come out all spazzy and spidery...especially when you're working with a bendy brush. Which is precisely why Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black ($4.99) is so brilliant. It comes with a firm, pointy brush that makes application a thousand times easier. And the line stays put until you take it off--absolutely zero smudging or smearing. But even with a brilliant liner, you're one swoop away from Tammy Faye (may she rest) if you're not careful. Here are some incredibly easy tips:

1.) It's all about keeping your hand steady, and here's how. First, prop a mirror up on a desk or table. Rest your elbow on the table and place the palm of your hand against your jawline. Hold the liner between your index finger and thumb, and apply.
2.) DON'T drag the liner across your lid in one fell swoop. Instead, use short, feather-like strokes to apply, starting at the inside corner and working your way across.
3.) Finally, stay as close to your lashline as possible. You never want to see skin between your lashes and the liner...so trashy.
4.) Unleash the sexy on an unsuspecting world.

Kisses,
Your Tia