ELLIS FAAS: ELLIS EYES Eyeliner Review


It's been a year since I started using the eyeshadows from ELLIS FAAS. The discovery of the wonders of Creamy Eyes, E104 to be exact, was a moment of epiphany for me. For those who do not yet know about ELLIS FAAS’ eyeshadows: Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes = durable and crease-resistant.

In many of the ELLIS FAAS Eye Looks that I have shown so far, my Creamy Eyes E103 (black) and Creamy Eyes E104 (dark brown) have been doubling up as eyeliners. I’ve been quite happy with them doing double duty but now it’s time to give the ELLIS FAAS Eyeliner a try. I must thank the folks at ELLIS FAAS for providing me with the Eyeliner E501 (Black) to review.

The Basics
Product
Name: Ellis Faas Eyeliner
Colours: Black (E501) and Chocolate Brown (E502)
Net weight and Price: 2.8ml / 0.095 US fl oz for €26

According to Ellis Faas
Like ELLIS FAAS eye shadow, ELLIS FAAS eyeliner transforms from a liquid into a powder, but with an extra matte finish. With a perfectly shaped brush that ensures precision lines with each application, ELLIS FAAS eyeliner defines the eye with intense colour.

Ingredients
Please click to enlarge.


Packaging
Housed in the sleek, signature ELLIS FAAS pens.


My Thoughts
The Brush
I’ve been using this eyeliner for close to a month. When brand new, the brush had a nice sharp tip. The bristles were at first quite stiff, but after some use, they softened to a certain degree. I’ve also found that my brush splayed a bit over time, making it less easy to draw that single precise fine line. I suspect the slight splaying may have to do with how the liquid emerges from the pen. The liquid comes out mainly through the center of the brush, thus pushing the bristles apart. This issue can be temporarily fixed by 'shaping' the tip with your (clean) fingers.


If the eyeliner is not used for about a week, there is a chance that the brush will harden due to the eyeliner liquid drying up on the bristles. Just gently stroke the brush on a piece of damp cotton pad to get rid of the dried up bits and the brush will work fine after that.

The Liquid Eyeliner
As usual, you click-turn the base of the pen to get the liquid to emerge through the brush.

As you would have noticed from the eye images here, the E501 is a jet black colour. Yes, it applies liquid and dries matte. It has a thick consistency, but perhaps not as thick as the Creamy Eyes eyeshadows.

Having been so used to using the dark shades of the longlasting Creamy Eyes as eyeliner, I was surprised to find that this liquid eyeliner didn’t have the same characteristics. While the Eyeliner doesn’t fade over the hours of wear, it will smudge in the rain and it will smudge if, for example, you have watery eyes due to an allergy (speaking from experience here).

I had wondered if applying the liquid eyeliner on top of, say, a Creamy Eyes eyeshadow would render it more longlasting. No, there was no difference. Creamy Eyes stayed put like there was no tomorrow but the Eyeliner smudged when made wet.

One advantage though about it not being waterproof is that it’s very easy to correct any mistakes. Just go over the mistake with a damp cotton bud and nobody would ever know that you had drawn a crooked line (also speaking from experience).

In line with what I've said, the Eyeliner is super easy to remove with any normal eye makeup remover.


Conclusion
I think I’ve been too spoiled by ELLIS FAAS’ Creamy Eyes eyeshadows doubling up as eyeliners. So, you can’t blame me for expecting the same level of durability from the Eyeliner. For the price of €26, one would expect the Eyeliner to be smudge-proof and waterproof.

A quick comparison between the lists of ingredients of the two products tells me that the Eyeliner is perhaps intended to be a totally different liquid with very different ingredients. So, why is that, ELLIS FAAS? There must be a rationale for it.

More information:
My reviews on Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes, and the ELLIS FAAS website.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow expensive! Well it seems expensive, I'm not sure what it is in sterling.
It dries up after a week? That's not good. But thanks for the tip. If I ever come across that sort of eyeliner, I'll remember to brush it onto a damp cottom pad :}

Anonymous said...

Beautiful winged liner. Give me some lessons, please! Gorgeous :)

albastrikmik said...

nice,you look very pretty with the eyeliner.

Witoxicity said...

@London's beauty
In the UK, it's priced at £20. When I mentioned about it drying it up, I meant the excess liquid that was still on the brush. The remaining liquid that is inside the pen is fine. :)

@The Diva's Polish
Thanks! Haha! Lessons? There are more than enough tutorials to be found on Youtube, my dear. Trust me, you wouldn't want lessons from one with shakey hands and who's half-blind. :D

@albastrikmik
Thank you for your kind words. :)

Content Director - Strong Female Leaders said...

Good review! You did a good job with it though. Looks so nice!

BellasUnhaseCia said...

Que Linda!
A maquiagem dos seus olhos ficou perfeita.
beijos
.....
How beautiful!
the makeup of his eyes were perfect.
kisses

Anonymous said...

Again a great review. You always give relevant information in your posts and I can tell you are very dedicated.

The winged liner looks beautiful.

Take care, Nicole

makeup merriment said...

WOW! That is one perfect precise wing! I could never, ever do that! I have tried but it's impossible for me. Love it! x jeanie

DinaXYYan said...

I love how you draw the liner, very precise :D

immarafrancesca said...

The matte part sounded so promising though! Well, that was a disappointment. And with brush not having the same tip, It happens to every eyeliner pen. Chanel and Shu Uemura has the same problem. I also want to suggest that maybe you should still set it with a black eyeshadow, like Carbon or typographic by mac? It might help to lessen the smudging. I too have the same problem. I always had oily lids.

Witoxicity said...

@The Girlie Blog
Thank you! :)

@BellasUnhaseCia
Thank you very much for your kind words! :D

@Nicole
Thanks, Nicole, for your very encouraging words. I do my best. I'm pleased you enjoyed reading this. :)

@jv
Don't give up! It takes a lot of practice. I didn't get it right the first dozen times! :D Thanks, Jeanie.

@Dina
Thanks so much, Dina. :)

@Mara
Thanks for the tip. I'll try that with a black eyeshadow. However, it smudges not so much because of oily lids, but more from getting wet. :)

Raey said...

the pen eyeliners r sooo much better than those bottled ones..much more convenient to apply!! but a bit on the expensive side they are..

Witoxicity said...

@raey
Hi, raey! I guess it's a matter of personal preference, but yes, I agree. I too find eyeliner pens handier. :)

Anonymous said...

I like this....And you put your liner perfectly.....I know someday with more practice I can also perfect mine.....I appreciate looking at others perfects though....

Witoxicity said...

@cheannetoday
You're so sweet for saying that, cheanne. Thank you. Yes, all it takes is practice. Lots of practice. I'm sure you'll do fine! :)

Lucy said...

I like how black this is. Some blacks are so light they look charcoal. The matte is nice also. I love eyeliner. I'd feel naked without it.

Witoxicity said...

@Lucy
Hi, Lucy! This one is indeed super black. I know what you mean about some eyeliners 'pretending' to be black. Oh, I've had such disappointments before. :)