Alexa Chung Talks Eyeliner Tips, Converse, And Bad Habits

There's a part of us that feels kind of bad for Alexa Chung. Don't get us wrong: We love her, from the top of her perfectly tousled coiff to the tips of her ladylike flats, but we have to imagine she's getting kind of sick of answering reporters who ask her for the secret to her artfully awesome eyeliner. There's only so many times you can hear that question before snapping and chucking liquid liners at people. Or, maybe that's just us.

Thankfully, Chung is a good sport about it, as we heard her answer the question quite a few times last night at an event to celebrate her much-heralded collaboration with Eyeko. As the brand's new creative director, Chung lends her eyeliner skills, plus her illustrative and photographic talent, to the brand. The first fruit of this union is a limited-edition collection set, Alexa for Eyeko, which features the Eye Do Liquid Liner and Eye Do Mascara, two of her favorite products from the brand. The products come in a tube adorned with a poster designed by Alexa herself.

When asked about the collection, Chung said, "I felt a bit like Tom Hanks in Big — like, wait, you're really going to let me do all this? It was my chance to put my stamp on a product I loved, and do more design and directing."

And, for those of you who are wondering, she did spill on her eyeliner secret: "I do the flick first, that outside line, then I fill in the rest of my eye. Since everyone's eye shape is different [there's no real universal trick]. It's about working out which shape is best. It took me 30 years to perfect mine," she joked.

Chung told us she prefers liquid liner to gel or crayon because it "creates a more graphic shape — you can do more illustration with it and it won't smudge like kohl." As to how the cat-eye became a part of her signature makeup look? "A cat-eye goes with every outfit. That's why I like things like the cat-eye and Converse — it's a good foundation for every look." Preach, sister.

One thing we adore about Chung (besides her impeccable style, of course) is that she is refreshingly upfront and candid, unlike many of the super-groomed and PR-coached starlets we've come across in our red-carpet days. When asked about her beauty bad habits, she responded, "I don't take my makeup off before bed and I smoke." The topic changed to New Year's resolutions, and Chung, with her characteristic charm, replied, "My resolutions are to wash my makeup off before bed, and to stop smoking." Don't go changing, Alexa.

Eyeko Alexa For Eyeko Set, $39.00, available at Sephora.