review | bobbi brown long-wear gel eyeliner - espresso ink

This product has been sitting in my drawer unopened and unused for about 2 years now but as I'm being a bit more adventurous with bold eyeliner, I decided to finally break the seal. 

The shade in question is 'Espresso Ink' which is a brown shade. I find black is a very harsh colour for me and I prefer to use black for evenings or for bold eye makeup looks. The brown shade is perfect for every day wear and has a more gentle feel to it. 

The product itself is very easy to use. I use the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner brush and off I go. It's got a smooth application and very long wearing as I can go a full 9 hour shift at work and it's still there. The pigmentation however is something I need to touch on...

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not using more of a heavy hand to apply it or because the brown shade really doesn't come out unless you really build it up. Therefore, I must be bolder and be not afraid to really concentrate and get a fluid line!

At £17.00 a pop (ouch!), it's really more of a splurge than anything. I believe I bought this on QVC where I got Black Ink and Espresso Ink with the brush in a set so it was slightly cheaper than buying it indivdually. I don't think I would have bought it had it not been for the deal. 

I think there are more affordable and better gel eyeliners on the market. The drugstore brands have really up their game in regards to gel eyeliners and Maybelline does a fantastic one for half the price. 

In saying that, Bobbi Brown does a brilliant range of colours and if you're looking for something a little extra special then this may be for you. You can click here to view their range.

What did you think of this product? Have you got any holy grail eyeliners that you can't fault?

Vanessa

x

Review: Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Back when I first started this blog, I mentioned in my 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty post that I have a love/hate relationship with gel eyeliner. I think it mainly has to do with the fact that I have weird Asian eyelids that prevent me from experiencing gel eyeliner to all its potential. The only gel eyeliner I have invested in is Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner.

As you can tell, I've used it quite a lot! I bought this back when QVC had a great deal where you get a duo of gel eyeliners and a Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush as well for a steal! Cue my frustrations in making it work! The formulation itself is creamy, glides on really well and comes very black (although I don't know if it's because I've had it for a while but the colour pay-off isn't as great as when it was new). I go through really odd phases of wearing gel-eyeliner, hating it then moving into liquid eyeliner. This process repeats itself. Practice makes perfect with these kind of make-up products and to be honest, I'm still learning the technique so that's why I'm always dipping in and out of it.

As it states on the packaging, it is very long wearing. I worked through an entire restaurant shift with it on and it doesn't stray. Getting it off your eyes is another task in itself! I would recommend a really good eye make-up remover as I've often woken up the next day with traces of the eyeliner still on my eyes!

I also have the colour in Espresso which is a lovely coffee brown which I haven't had the opportunity to use it! But I will make my way around to it as I'm feeling the black eyeliner might be a bit too much for every day wear. This is the only gel eyeliner I've tried but I've heard the Maybelline one is also fantastic!

This retails for £16.50 which is very pricey compared to the Maybelline gel eyeliner (but it is available in a wide range of colours), but I feel you do get what you pay for and Bobbi Brown is such a brilliant brand you can't really go wrong!

Have you tried this product before? Any other Bobbi Brown products that you recommend?

Vanessa

x