I’m sure I’m not the only one who was glued to the hit BBC series Ridley Road, not just for the gripping storyline and the important issues it raises, but also (without sounding too flippant), for the mesmerising vintage hair and beauty looks, bringing 60s eyeliner back on the beauty radar. One of its stars, Tracy-Ann Oberman sported it with aplomb, so much so that I was mesmerised whenever she appeared on the screen. (When I wasn’t fielding texts from my mother insisting that Oberman’s co-star, Eddie Marsan is Jewish. As far as I know, he isn’t.)
I think one of the quintessential traits of Jewish beauty is eyeliner. With many of us having dark hair and olive skin, a flash of black liner just brings everything together and makes sense. Give me a bold Amy Winehouse-inspired liner look over a red lip any day of the week.
A few things with eyeliner: it smudges and can be fiddly to apply. There are several formats to choose from: felt tip, pen and ink, gel paint and crayon. For those looking for a smudge-proof version, I have to hold my hands up and say, I’ve yet to find one. My beloved Bourjois Liner Pinceau was the closest I got to it, but as the brand is no longer available in the UK, I’ve had to go back to the drawing board. Instead, I prep the eyelid first with a neutral-coloured eyeshadow or a bit of powder – and then my liner usually doesn’t budge all day.
There’s a British brand called Delilah whose award-winning Gel Line Eye & Brow (£20) I’ve recently tried and loved. Coming in a little pot – you apply it with their angled line brush – it has a vibrant glossy texture that glides over the lids, creating a clean, crisp line that stays put. While Tropic Skincare’s Silk Gel Liner (£16) is a crayon format that’s great for beginners and can be blended into the lash line for a more subtle touch of smoke. Applying eyeliner is just trial and error, really. I just make sure my elbow is on a flat surface, go slowly and gently lift up the pen or pencil once you get to the ‘tail’.
For correcting any mistakes, a blob of foundation on the end of a cotton bud is your best friend. (You can get non-plastic cotton buds from Bower Collective, which are better for the planet.) One thing with eyeliner, is that you don’t need to spend money to get a decent one. Rimmel’s felt-tip Exaggerate Eyeliner (£4.99) does a decent job and is easy to apply on the go. (I can create a perfect cat’s eye flick in the time it takes to get from Highbury & Islington to Kings Cross on the tube.)
Whether you’re a seasoned liner lover or a complete beginner, it’s definitely a look worth exploring. And incidentally, if anyone can verify that Eddie Marsan is or isn’t Jewish, so Mum and I can settle the argument once and for all, I would appreciate it.
