KEY POINTS:
Pencils are makeup's version of convenience food. They're no-mess packaging, are eminently transportable and - provided you've got a relatively steady hand and ready access to a sharpener - are absurdly easy to use.
1. Lancome Noir Le Crayon Khol
$42 for 1.8g
Khol sounds like the stuff favoured by doe-eyed beauties in Arabian Nights. They should have been so lucky to have such an easy time lining eyes. This black pencil outlines well and blends easily, as you'll want to soften the line.
From selected department stores and pharmacies.
2. Laura Mercier Spice Lip Sheer Pencil
$45 for 1g
For when you want to make like it's all you, this emollient lip pencil will never dry lips. It glides on, giving a sheer look that could easily be worn on its own, or used as part of a two-step method with the addition of gloss or lipstick. Spice is a warm neutral brown that would suit most.
From Smith & Caughey's.
3. Maybelline Pure.Concealer Blemish Treatment Stick
$21.49 for 280mg
For acne conditions, this wind-up pencil administers salicylic acid to get rid of blemishes and conceal at the same time. The aloe, vitamin E and chamomile then move in to soothe skin.
From selected supermarkets, pharmacies and variety stores.
4. M.A.C Out to Sea Powerpoint Eye Pencil
$33 for 1.2g
As fabulously bright as a child's colouring-in pencil, this is one way of bringing a hit of vivid marine blue to the face - face-changing in a good way. Powerpoint pencils are waterproof, long-wearing, a joy to apply and don't smudge.
From Smith & Caughey's Newmarket and M.A.C Chancery and St Lukes.
5. Clarins Gris Eye Pencil
$38 for 1.2g
This gentle pencil is easy to work with and, once you've drawn a line, you've got the option of using the sponge tip at the other end to blend. The intense dark grey looks amazing when it's been smudged up for a smoky eye effect.
From selected department stores, pharmacies and beauty therapists.
