Q Are liquid liners better than pencil liners? And are they the same as gel liners?

A Next to powder shadows, pencil liners are the easiest to use for defining eyes.

They are especially good for novices as you have more control over the make-up tool. They also give a softer, more natural lid definition. You can smudge it for a smoky effect.

The drawback of pencils and shadows is that the colour tends to migrate, especially in our humid weather and if you have oily lids. So you can find yourself with triple eyelids at the end of the day.

Liquid and gel liners give longer wear. The latter is more budge-proof and thus better for oilier lids. Once the make-up has set, you need an oil-based make-up remover to clean everything off.

A steady hand is required for liquid and gel liners, although the trick is to do a dot-and-dash movement along the lash line, then go over the definition again to perfect it. The reward is finer eye definition, like the classic 1960s wing-tips.

What I like to do is to combine the use of a liquid or gel liner, then top it off with a shadow to soften the effect. That way, you get both the long-lasting definition and a smoky, sultry finish.