Essence 15 Behind the Scenes Kajal Pencil Eyeliner

Okay, I truly am a sucker for grey these days.  When I saw this eyeliner, like the brush, I couldn't resist because I was looking for a grey eyeliner.  This truly stood out for me along with the brush... man, I have it bad, ain't I?  I am not one that is suited for pencil eyeliner because I have oily lids and they tend to smudge on me within the hour I wore them.  Hence, it is rarely that I do reach out for pencil eyeliner.  I've even given some away because they smudge within minutes of me applying it *shudder*

However, for this darling grey, I couldn't resist.  Plus, I think the price helps to seal the deal for me as it was selling for only RM4.90.  Such a bargain item and it’s cheaper than some of our drugstore items.

I'd say this is dark grey.  I tend to avoid black eyeliner these days because not only I look like a panda when they smudge, black eyeliner tends to dull my skin and makes me look sickish.  Dark grey seems to suit me just fine, even if I were to do smokey eyes, it suits me well.  I tend to line my eyes thickly, instead of a tightlining or lining my eyes as near to my lashes as possible.  This does help to make my eyes pop and I love it for doing so.  But like I said, I don’t have high expectation on it.  It does smudge, but it’s not too bad as long as I remember to layer my eyelids with a bit of powder to keep the oiliness at bay.  As I am in the office most of the time, it does last me at least 4 hours before smudging slightly.  That is wayyy good de for me.  Also, it tends to fade off slightly but  tends to stay on till the evening. 

For the price, it’s good.  Nonetheless, I'm on the lookout for something that can last me longer.

Picture: from ebay as I can't seem to snap a nice pic of this eyeliner.

Beautilicious Magic Spell Auto Eyeliner

About a year ago, when I started to really explore on eyeliner, I grabbed this at Parkson.  I think they were clearing stocks as this was going for 50% off.  I tried the color and found that it was nice, just the way I like it to be and grabbed it.  

I'd have to say, this a cream eyeliner pencil.  If you don't have oily lids, I think this would be quite a wonderful item for you.   In terms of application, one draw and you have a dark brown eyeliner sitting nicely on your eyelids.    Like what's written there, it comes with a smudger (a rubber type.. still figuring it out) as well as a mini integrated sharpener.  Great if you want to get that waterline drawn.  

Sadly though, I do have oily lids and this is something that was thrown aside for a fair while.  

Nonetheless, I came back to using it much, much later.. like a year or so and I found that it works well for me!  I guess the cream has dried up a fair bit and now it sits well on my eyelids even without needing any primer.  

It glides on easily on my lids (creamy but not very) and it stays smooth.  No pulling necessary.  Love the brown, love the texture and love the ease of application.

I don't know about you, but I don't seem to see this brand anywhere now.  Any idea what happened to it?

I don't mind buying it again and keeping it aside before using it.  

Binnings for the Last 3 Months

Been ages since I've done this.  I'm growing ever more in my binnings and I'm quite happy about it.  I'm currently on cosmetic shopping ban and will be so till June this year.  Trust me, I have ample of things to blog about with my huge collection of skincare and cosmetics that's about to spill out from my cupboard.

*Sorry about the pic, had to rely on my iPhone for now as there's some issue with my camera's SD card.  It looks like it's time for me to buy a new one @.@

Here's the items:

• Body Shop Liquid Eyeliner: This was my very first liquid eyeliner gifted to me by a friend.  I like it cause it doesn't smear and it stayed on my eyelids for the longest time.  However, after a few months, it was giving me a bit of a weird feeling, where my eyelids seemed heavy when I have it on.  I stopped using it for a while now but somehow in all my binnings, this seemed to be hidden well till now.
• SiklyGirl Duo Eye Shadow 10 Gold Emerald: Again, another one of my very first beauty purchase.  I remember buying this as I was wanting to try putting on make up for a wedding dinner.  Works well, but because of my oily eyelids, the colors fades off quite quickly.  This was chucked aside and I stopped using it.  Time for me to say goodbye to it now.

(crazy it seems, I'm chucking them one by one as I'm writing this post =D)

•  ianti Luxe Jewelry Pact Powder (Dark Beige): Oh, the horror! I just realised that I've never blogged about this pact powder.  Lovely item for it's price (less than Rm20 if I remember correctly).  I was quite taken aback when I first tried it because the SA recommended me Dark Beige.  I'm actually quite fair and so usually I go for something lighter.  However, the colour matches my skin well and it works well as a foundation powder.  I tend to reach out for it because I'm lazy like that =P.  I'm not sure if ianti is still around because I don't really see it anywhere.  The branch in Times Square which I used to frequent has closed down since last year.  
• ianti Luxe Jewelry Blusher (#04 - Sexy Pink):  What can I say, love the colour and the softness of it when applied on my cheeks.  Downside of this is, the colour fades off rather quickly, around 2 hours.  I had to throw it away because the packaging was plastic and the cover broke.  
• Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Instant Skin Perfecting Cream with Micro-Minerals (BB cream): Man, what a mouthful.
• L'oreal Derma Genesis  Cellular-Youth Creator Pore Minimising Smoother Gel Cream: There goes another one.
• b.liv by cellniq Off with Those Heads Pro Sebum Gel: This took me forever to finish because I slack in between wayyy too much.  However, it still works well even though I stopped using it  for a period of time. 
• Etude Sun Guard Natural Covering Color Case SPF 42
• Skin79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream and Super + Beblesh Balm Trip Function: Lovely when applied on the skin but it's quite thick.  Does get oily after about 6 hours.  Nonetheless, the skin continue to look good after blotting.  It's said to have whitening effect but I could not see any effects from using it.  I tend to use my BB Cream as foundation and not on its own.
• Empro Diamond Black Eyeliner
• Vaseline Healthy Sunblock: Am now using my second one!  
• Etude House Collagen Moistfull Emulson: Nice on the skin.  Not sure of its efficacy as this is just a test tube.  Wish the bottle would be made in a way where it's easier to be poured out as the liquid is slightly thicker than water and tends to bunch (can they do that?) at the top.  I had to tap it onto my palm for the liquid to come out (sometimes it gushes out and I would end up having too much).  Then again, this is a free sample.

Benefit Strut

Have I ever told you that I love Benefit products?  However, I find them too expensive here due to the mark up.   Hence after reading Paris B's blog about Strawberrynet.com, I decided to explore it and on my first few checking of it, I landed myself with two Benefit's Creaseless cream Eyeshadows/Liners: Strut and Flatter Me.

 I've mentioned before that I find pencil eyeliners and even sometimes gel liners run on me.  It's quite  pain because it really does look terrible to look like a panda!  Guess what, I use Strut as my eyeliner and it stays perfectly for the whole day.  I think I just found the best eyeliner that suits me.  Woo hoo! Of course, that is, besides the Empro Diamond Black Eyeliner.

I don't have to worry about it smudging throughout the day.  Granted, there it does fade a little after about 6-7 hours of wearing, but it's quite minimal, given that I do have oily lids and most eyeliners don't last me even 2 hours before turning me into a panda @.@

Strut is described as smokey denim at Benefit's website.  Some described it as Charcoal Black.  I'm not sure if it fits the bill totally, but when you open it up, it looks dark grey in the bottle and when applied, it is dark grey with blueish tint.  Since I work it as an eyeliner, it does seem a little light for night use.  I tend to use this for day time because it just sits nicely on my lids and makes my eyes pop still =D

There are days where I wish Benefit does have a black creaseless cream eyeshadow/ liner because they really do work wonders for me.  I am definitely eyeing Benefit's Skinny Jeans.  However, I find that it's overpriced here (at RM85) and am not exactly keen to pay so much for an eyeshadow/ liner that isn't black.

Maybe when I go a bit crazy I might do some ordering.  In the meanwhile, I am still on the lookout at Strawberrynet.com in hopes for good deals for Benefit Creaseless Eyeshadow/ Liner.

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer

I've always been trying to get a good pencil eye liner that wouldn't run and make me look like a panda everytime I use it, however it is quite tough.  

Nonetheless, during one of my escapades, or my shopping trip, I was simply caught by this eyeliner by Rimmel.  The name is called Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer.

"Exaggerate" in capital letters!

Here's what I like about it:

It's creamy in texture.  Reminds me of crayon, although it's not as hard as crayons.  It does glide easily on my eye and it's really black!  I like that cause I don't have to keep lining my eyes just to make sure it's dark.  However, because it's creamy, if I do line my eyes a few times, it makes me feel like there's a chunk of things on my eye lid.  I try to minimise the number of lining by using a eye liner brush.  It works to ensure that the color is deposited nicely and evenly.  

The left side is only one layer whereas the right side is 2 layers.  If you look to build it up, this is quite a good black eyeliner.

However, much to my chagrine, it often makes me look like a panda. Sigh, once again, the smudges are much stronger than I wish it to be.  I don't doubt that it's the eyeliner's fault, as much as it is my own oily lids' issue here.  Because it is really black (I love the black!) it literally made my eyes look bad with all its smudging.  I look like a sick person most of the time.

I'm trying to use it all up by making sure I put layers of eye base/ powder, yada yada... but looking at it, it might take a smite longer than I intend to.

Oh well, no re-purchase for me on this, and not recommended to those who has oily eye lids like me too! 

Empro Diamond Black Eyeliner

I've been meaning to blog about this but I kept missing out on it.  Can't remember if I've mentioned it before, but I have oily lids and most pencil liners smudges on me rather quickly.  I was using Red Earth's Perfect Line liquid eyeliner previously, until it started to make my eyelids heavy and I had to chuck it away.  I started looking around and came across Empro's Diamond Black Eyeliner.  I know Empro first hot item is actually their eyebrow pencil, so when I saw this Diamond Black Eyeliner, I decided to give it a try.

From Empro's website:

BLACK DIAMOND LINER

Introducing Empro’s new Diamond Black Liner in a jet black shade.

This smudge-proof and waterproof liner is soft enough to glide on smoothly, but not so soft that it slips right off. The aerodynamic brush with firm bristles allows smooth and controlled application. Just shake and apply!

Gentle on eyes. No irritation. More importantly, it lasts the whole day giving depth and character to those beautiful peepers of yours. Empro’s Diamond Black Liner is easy to remove and does not require the use of harsh makeup removers.

The ergonomic shape makes the liner easy to hold, fitting conveniently into tiny purses or makeup pouches.

' Empro Diamond Black Liner - time to let those eyes shine!

Made in Japan

Result?  I think I've found my Holy Grail eyeliner.

1.  It doesn't smudge.  I have oily lids, so any pencil liners will smear rather quickly and I hate it cause I will end up looking like a panda.  I can use this and it lasts the whole day for me.  I don't actually have to worry about it smudging at all.  I wear this to work everyday and typically, we spend at least 10 to 12 hours away from home and this safely lasts me that long.

2. Easy to use.  I can hold it like a pencil and start drawing.  I can draw it thinly or I can draw it thicker.  Easy peasy.

3. Pigmented.  It is very pigmented.  One draw and the colour stands out.  I don't have to keep over-lining my eye lids to ensure that the colour could be seen.

It's not the cheapest in the market, but I think the price is decent.  It ranges from RM40 to RM44 depending on offers.  Easily available at any Watsons, Guardian as well as Empro outlets.

Nonetheless, I've been reading about K-Palette that's supposedly works well for oily lids, and that's the other that I want to get my hands on.  However, only when I'm done with this =D

p/s: a bit lazy to take the actual item's picture, but it just looks the same as in the pic!

January 2011 Pan Out Session

Like I said earlier, I'm on a mission to finish!  Hehe... so here's some of the stuff that I've binned for the month of January 2011:

Daiso Cleansing Make Up Remover Sheet
Red Earth Perfect Liner
In2It Liquid Eye Liner
Red Earth Lip Gloss
Ianti Green Shimmer Eye Shadow
Sunplay SPF 130
Johnson's Body Care 24H Lasting Moisture Body Lotion (mini size)

Daiso Aloe Vera Facial Scrub - Simple, non-abrasive type of facial scrub.  Don't expect too much out of it. I think my natural mung bean powder paste I use as scrub works better than it.  

Loreal Total Repair Shampoo - A re-buy item for me.  My hair is quite sensitive, as is my skin.  If I use the wrong shampoo, I literally am shedding hair!  Utterly scary to see the amount of hair coming off when I use the wrong product.  With this, I don't, and that is enough to make me want to rebuy it.  Best part of it is, it doesn't trigger a bout of acne spree for my face. Hehe... so this is good.

As for total repair, I don't think it works as much as it claims.  But it does well to keep my hair clean and well maintained for a short while.

Will continue my binning habit for the coming months to make sure that I finish what I used.

So what have you binned thus far?

Cosmetic Decluttering!

Taking the cue from Evening Lavender, I decided to scout through my little make up pack to declutter some of the old stuff.  To be honest, I don't make up a whole lot in the past so there isn't much, but there were still that few little counts.

I know she did hers nearing year end, but I'm doing mine beginning of the year, so that I can clear away those unwanted stuff.  Will probably be posting more of my decluttering these coming weeks.

the first few items to hit my rubbish bin!

Red Earth Perfect Line - I love this eye liner! It stays put on top of my eye shadows throughout the day.  It's quite rare given that I have oily eyelids.  I got it in brown and love it.  I had to bin it because it's been with me for more than one year and the last few times I had it on, my lids felt heavy and uncomfortable =(  Off it goes.

In2It Liquid Eye Liner - This is one of the first few liquid eyeliner that I bought when I first wanting to give a try on it.  It failed miserably because I always end up looking like a panda after a couple of hours.  It's been in my drawer for eons so I guess it's high time I bin it.

Red Earth lip gloss - I got this many, many years ago and somehow it stayed hidden in my drawer without me noticing it.  I love how it just stays on my lips, giving it a slight hint of shimmer.  Goes perfectly on days when I am feeling lazy and wanting simplicity.  Well, I had to bin it cause it's been years since I've last used it and make up, as you know, can't last that long.

Ianti Green Shimmer eye shadow - This is also one of my first few eye make up items.  I like the light shimmer it gave, but I hated how it's so hard to apply on! It's hard and because the colour doesn't melt onto your eye lids, it does get quite painful at times when I try to apply it directly.  After a while, I gave up and it was sitting at that little corner of my drawer.

It's not a whole lot, but then again, it's a start!