Note: If you are looking for ELLIS FAAS swatches, it would be best to go through my Brand: ELLIS FAAS posts (there are several pages). I have written a lot about this brand - reviews and eye looks - and you will find swatches of many (but not all) of the ELLIS FAAS eye and lip products there.
It’s been two months since I’ve had some of the ELLIS FAAS products. I just thought it’s time to do an update. Note: Coincidentally, Grace London of London Makeup Girl had written an excellent piece today rounding up her thoughts on the ELLIS FAAS product range, so be sure to read her post too!Some time after I had written my review on the Creamy Eyes E104, I received a little surprise from the folks at ELLIS FAAS. In the little package were Creamy Eyes E103 and a card from Ms Faas herself thanking me for doing a review on the E104. Well, thank you, Ms Faas!
So, that’s the disclosure obligation fulfilled! Just so we’re clear, all my other ELLIS FAAS products were my own purchases.....okay, okay, some were gifts from hubby!
Swatches – swipe, swipe, swipe
I was at Skins Cosmetics some time back to buy another ELLIS FAAS pen. The personnel were very busy at that time, so I was pretty much left to my own devices for a good twenty minutes before I was served. To kill time, I decided to swatch some ELLIS FAAS colours on my hand. After making the necessary purchase and leaving the store, I tried to take some photos of the swatches. Unfortunately, the conditions were difficult. It was freezing cold, my hands were shaking and I didn’t have my better camera with me. The photos of my swatches of the Milky Eyes shades weren’t fantastic but passable (please excuse the bony hand and the icky veins!) and so I will be showing them here. However, the photos of the Creamy Eyes swatches were a no-go. Instead, I will show swatches of the two darkest shades of the Creamy Eyes that I have. All swatches are in daylight.
These are only two, but Creamy Eyes colours are in general earthy, opaque, matte and intense.
Top row L-R: E203 (dark blue), E204 (state green), E205 (khaki green), E206 (medium brown)
Bottom row L-R: E207 (terracotta orange), E208 (coral pink), E209 (beige)
I also managed to squeeze in another row of swatches, this time of the Ellis Red.
L-R: Creamy Lips L101, Milky Lips L201, Glazed Lips L301
They are in descending order of opacity, left to right. Glazed Lips is the most translucent of the three textures.
I did get to try Ellis Red on my lips. I tried the Milky Lips L201 thinking that perhaps this red would look less intense than what I would imagine Creamy Lips L101 to be. My gosh, I was wrong. The texture may be lighter with some gloss, but the colour is still very intense. I have to say that Ellis Red is not for the faint-hearted. I mean, I love it but I don’t think I have the guts to wear it. Not with my full lips in daytime. I think it would be perfect for an evening out though.
The Pens – clicks and nozzles
It has become quite a guessing game with the clicking. How many clicks are needed before the liquid emerges from the nozzles? Sometimes, two or three. Sometimes:
A few cautious turns. Wait. Nothing.
A few more turns. Wait. Still nothing.
(Losing patience) Another few more reckless turns. Pffftt, out it springs, like a worm!
And now there’s too much product on the applicator (sometimes beyond). Then I’d be desperately trying to salvage the product from the applicator, applying more on the eyes than intended. Well, it’s either on the eyes or on a piece of tissue! You’re free to choose.
When I was swatching away at Skins, just about every single pen was acting that way. So, it wasn’t only with the ones that I have.
So, what do you do? Be patient and wait for the liquid to emerge after a few clicks. It isn’t ideal if you’re applying makeup in a hurry in the morning though. I used to think that having the pen stand pointed down would help speed up the process but I’ve had mixed results with the different pens. What I find does help in saving time is that sometimes there is leftover from a previous click from say, the day before, which you can still use (the liquid isn’t dried up, in my experience). Often times, it is enough for one application. So, it’s like having the product all ready for use in the morning just because you clicked too many times the day before. Did that make sense?
There has been much talk about the applicators, especially the slanted sponge-tip ones, called showerheads by ELLIS FAAS. Those are the applicators for Creamy Lips and Milky Eyes. I have been reading of complaints that some nozzles are not dispensing any product and that the liquid comes out of only one or two nozzles.
Well, I’m facing the same issues too in varying degrees. There must be about six or more nozzles in the applicator. From my earlier photos of the applicator, I can see that there were no problems at the beginning. Pictured right is what I have now.
The applicator on the left is still fairing quite well. The applicator on the right is dispensing through only one nozzle. Point made.
Drying time – hurry, hurry
Back in November, the drying time of Creamy Eyes E104 wasn’t too bad. It gave me enough time to play around with fading the edges and smudging. However, now in the dead of winter and with all the dryness indoors from the internal heating, I’ve found that my E104 dries much quicker, thus allowing me less time to toggle with the shadow. I’ve had to learn to speed up my application and sometimes, it ain't easy.
Application - dirty fingers, lots of tissues
From my own experience, finger work is very important when using the ELLIS FAAS eye products. I always use my fingers to feather out the edges. I have yet to try that out with a brush. The only brush I’ve used with these products are an eyeliner brush and the brush applicator that comes with the Creamy Eyes.
So, I always end up with messy fingers. My advice would be to wipe off quickly before it dries on your fingers. I honestly hate to see the liquid shadow wasted on the fingers and the tissues but hey, c’est la vie!
Final Words
Great products in sleek, gorgeous pens. My hubby says it’s a pity that the sleek pens would be of no more use when the product is used up. It’s quite scandalous to throw away the gorgeous pens, really. So, how about refills, Ms Faas?
With so much said, would I still re-purchase? Err, ye-es!! The staying power of the shadows is astounding. I have photos from the Creamy Eyes E104 to prove that.
Now, if only the clicking were an exact science.
To find out if ELLIS FAAS is available where you are, please check the Ellis Faas website. For readers in Australia, ELLIS FAAS is available in Mecca Cosmetica, for those in the US, it is sold in Bergdorf Goodman and for those in the UK, it is now available in Liberty.
That’s actually how KOH names its nail polishes on the website! You see, the names all end with exclamation marks! It’s as if KOH exclaims with joy each time a new colour is christened and given a seal of approval for release!
a tad less red than the Ellis Red lipstick of ELLIS FAAS but still very out there. I thought that its consistency was less thick than the one of 
to use the Jane Iredale one more often. Having 28 shades is fun but these 5 are really all that I need.
Sadly, my days with this lipbalm are coming to an end. Today, I had to accept the fact that I wouldn’t be able to get to that last bit of the lipbalm anymore. Not unless I scrape out the remains like a desperate junkie.
Vaseline in cute little tins like this one. I had to buy those huge ugly tubs and transfer some into a tiny jar for in my handbag. Almost everywhere I went, Vaseline was there with me. The times when I did forget to bring it along, my lips suffered badly. At one point, I even mixed it with crushed bits of red lipstick for a two-in-one. But we all know the consequences. It simply became a vicious cycle of dependency.
