Eye pencil / shadow

[monkeysmama]

I want a smudgy line above my top lashes. I have a Nars smudging brush I've been using with a Bare Minerals powder but the line is often quite thick and smudging it makes me look a lot more made up that I'd like.

I want something to frame my eye that stays on (I have some of the Bare Minerals liquid to make eye shadow last and loathe it) and looks discrete.

Have brown hair, light olive skin and green/grey eyes if that matters.

TIA.

I like the felt tip style liners (currently using bourjois). They last all day and can be smudged a little too but in a quite subtle way. They take a bit of practice though.

I just use an eye pencil (a really cheap one that I got online from Makeupgeek.com think brand is Palladio??) I 'colour in' the gaps between my eyelashes and then smudge with a really ancient Ruby & Millie smudger. I think if you use a powder liner it will always be quite a thick line.

If you're quite good at eyeliner you could think about using a gel or liquid and not smudging the line. I can't do gel at all, I always make a proper mess of it. The Palladio liquid eyeliner is quite easy to use as the applicator is a sort of solid rubber point, which I find easier to 'draw' with than a brush. A coloured liner might be nice - I like purple against my blonde hair and fair skin (looks more natural than black) - you could try a dark green?

You might also find (as I do) that if you put a little liner under your eye (to about 1/3 of the way along from the outer corner) that your top line will appear less heavy. You might already do under eye lining but just as your post says you want a line above your top lashes thought it was worth saying in case you don't put it underneath too.

I'm in love with Chanel eye pencils - both Stylo Waterproof and Crayon Yeux. They stay on all day long and the shade range is incredible. In addition to the classic blacks and browns, I'm particularly impressed with the silvery, golden and platinum shades - they look much more sophisticated. Next time I'm going to a duty free, I'll also get them in khaki and denim.

I've got a Clinique black kohl which smudges nicely so it's a good cross between eye liner/shadow. They also do a platinum shade which is on my wish list

I do this every day with various different pencils - I usually go for ones that claim to be long-lasting. Currently rotating - Chanel Le Crayon Yeux in Khaki Platine (birthday present ), Estee Lauder Doublewear pencil in a dark brown shade, Chanel Stylo Waterproof in Marine and an Avon Supershock gel pencil liner in a purple shade (perfect plum maybe?).

In the past I have used (and used up) Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Underground and MAC Eyeliner pencil in Industry (charcoal grey).

I find these can all be worn so they are subtle rather than heavy, and last. In particular the Chanel Khaki Platine and the UD Underground are lovely neutral shades that give definition without looking too made up.

Brilliant suggestions - thank you.