Oriental kohl in black, brown or coloured kajal pencils from Kiko Milano, Essence, Rimmel and Maybelline. An intense, defined look all day long.
Oriental kohl is a black product that defines the outline of the eyes. It has been used since ancient Egypt, where men and women adorned their eyelids with it. In the Maghreb and the Middle East, it is still worn for celebrations, weddings and every day. The word comes from the Arabic “kohl”.
Traditional kohl is a powder kept in a small bottle and applied with a little stick. Some powders sold without a label contain lead, a toxic metal banned in cosmetics in France. Health authorities warn against these powders, especially for children. Always prefer a product whose composition is written on the packaging.
Kajal comes from India and refers to the same gesture. Today, the two words mainly name soft pencils with a creamy lead, which draw right along the lash line. This is the format we offer, made by well-known cosmetic brands. A pencil can be sharpened and closed with its cap, which protects it from dust.
A line of kohl makes the eye look bigger, intensifies its colour and gives that doe-eyed look associated with the East. It can be worn on its own, without eyeshadow or mascara. A fine line, applied only on top, gives a natural look for the day. For a wedding, it is often paired with a gold-tone eyeshadow on the lid.
First look at the texture of the lead. A soft lead glides without pulling on the eyelid and gives an intense line. A firmer lead draws a precise line, useful for a fine stroke. A lead that is too hard catches on the skin, one that is too creamy smudges into the crease of the eyelid.
For long wear, choose a waterproof pencil, which resists tears and heat. Rimmel’s ScandalEyes comes in a waterproof version. Maybelline’s Tattoo Liner is a gel pencil that sets once dry and stays put all day.
Black remains the classic, but pencils also come in brown, midnight blue, green or khaki. Kiko Milano’s Colour Kajal and Essence’s kajal come in several colours. Brown gives a softer look on light eyes; midnight blue brings out brown eyes. Green and khaki add sparkle to hazel eyes.
If your eyes are sensitive or you wear contact lenses, look for the words ophthalmologist-tested on the packaging. A pencil with a built-in sharpener or a retractable lead saves you from having to buy a sharpener. Contact lens wearers do better to apply the pencil right along the lash line rather than on the inner rim.
Sharpen the pencil before each use to have a clean lead. Pull the eyelid outwards and draw along the lash line, from the inner corner to the outer corner. For the oriental look, kohl is also applied on the inner rim, the inside edge of the lower lid. If the lead is too hard, warm it for a few seconds between your fingers.
For a line that stretches towards the temple, extend the lower line upwards at a slight angle. Blur it with a finger or a brush to get a smoky effect, called smoky. A clean cotton bud corrects a line that goes over. For a party look, double the line on the top and bottom, then join them at the outer corner.
Remove it in the evening with a two-phase make-up remover, necessary for waterproof formulas. Do not lend your pencil: it touches the eye and can pass on germs. Replace it after the period shown by the open jar symbol on the packaging, often 12 months. Wipe the lead with a clean tissue after each use.
To complete your beauty routine, discover tahara musk or a colouring with natural henna. The rest of our beauty care awaits you in our oriental beauty care section.
