Exotic Eyes: The top black Eyeliners for smodering stare

Kohl-accented eyes create a smoldering effect perfect for hot summer nights. Find out how to get the look, and which eyeliners are best.

Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Kristen Stewart have been seen wearing rimmed eyeliner, and it’s no wonder—the exotic look has been making waves on the runway and in stores. This spring, Dolce & Gabbana released its Khol Collection, L’Oréal debuted its kajal-inspired Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner, and Physicians Formula launched shimmering Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Trios; next month, Chanel will re-promote two popular black liners with its highly anticipated Bombay Express collection.

Clockwise from top: At Chanel’s pre-fall show, global creative director Peter Philips created almond-shaped eyes using kohl eyeliner and gel eye shadow, calling the look “a graphic interpretation of an iconic Indian beauty ideal”; Revlon global artistic director Gucci Westman went with multi-dimensional black-rimmed eyes using different eyeliner textures—liquid, gel, and kohl—at Rag & Bone’s Indian-influenced fall 2012 show; for Emilo Pucci’s spring catwalk, makeup lead Lisa Butler used M.A.C Smolder Eye Kohl along the upper lashline, waterline, and lower lashline for a “gypsy feeling.”

“I’ve been using kohl on my eyes forever—it’s a traditional Indian practice,” says Indian runway model Lakshmi Menon. “I think I must have been a baby when my mom first started putting it on me. It’s supposed to prevent you from getting the ‘evil eye’ and falling sick. It also cools your eyes when you’re in a hot climate.” These days, however, Menon wears kohl eyeliner for cosmetic purposes. “If I want to go out and look more glamorous, I put a little kohl on my eyes—it’s the easiest thing to do. You just put on the liner and rub it in for a smudged effect. It looks very sexy,” she says, adding, “I’m a big fan of Aveda eyeliner and this Pakistani kohl pencil by Hashmi. They’re both nice and dark.”

Photos: courtesy of Chanel, Revlon, and Imaxtree Getty Images