[Laurie2]

I cannot answer any questions about permanent eyeliner, but I would like to offer a suggestion that might help those of you who waiver on the idea.

Maybe give Le Crayon Poudre by Lancôme a try. This is actually a powder pencil for eyebrows but it works great for me as an eyeliner. The tip is soft but not too soft. It is easy to control.

You can smudge it a little if you so choose to soften the line for a more natural look. You know that old rule about accenting the eye not the eye makeup. If I get too much on, I just dab at it with my trusty Almay Eye-Makeup Remover Pads. You can find those in the Almay section at the drugstore.

I can line my eyes in less than a minute and that's for both eyes.

Of course, because it is a department store line, or maybe because of the French name, Le Crayon Poudre costs a silly amount of money. I think about 26 bucks, maybe more. I have been using it since it was 20 bucks and I remember thinking that was ridiculous. But I keep showing up at that Lancôme counter from time to time for another one.

The other thing to know about this pencil is that somehow the sharpener is proprietary. It looks exactly like those pencil sharpeners we all had in our school supplies, but I am convinced that the Lancôme sharpener does not chew up the pencil as fast. The Lancôme sharpener used to cost 5 dollars but it is probably more now.

The color I use is sable which works fine for me. In fact, when you look at the colors, it might be that sable is the only one dark enough to work as an eyeliner. Remember this is officially an eyebrow pencil so I think the other colors are lighter.

Anyway, if you want to try this pencil, there is a Lancôme counter at Belk in the stripmall near Spanish Springs.

Even if you do not try one, it's fun to say, "Le Crayon Poudre."