ELLIS FAAS: ELLIS EYES Lights Review


ELLIS FAAS’ Human Colours concept is built around the idea that makeup created using colours that naturally exist in our body (think blood, a bruise, veins, etc) would go well with any skin tone, no matter who you are. When I first saw the colours of the five newly launched Lights (in ELLIS FAAS’ words: warm silver, greenish gold, bronze, lilac and holographic Bordeaux), I was stumped as to how these five high shimmer shades fit into the Human Colours concept.

Well, they don’t.

The Lights are, in a sense, a departure from the Human Colours. They are meant to complement the existing eyeshadow collection of ELLIS FAAS and can be used to build drama with a play of shadow and light.

You’ve seen the swatches of two of the Lights – E301 (warm silver) and E305 (holographic Bordeaux). Here’re my thoughts on them.


Product
Name: ELLIS FAAS – ELLIS EYES Light No. E301 & E305
Description: Liquid eyeshadow with heavy shimmer
Weight and Price: 2.5ml / 0.085 US fl oz for €32.00 / £25 / USD42


According to ELLIS FAAS (excerpts)
Ellis created Lights that are more than merely highlighters. Like practically all ELLIS FAAS products, these are liquid, but they dry upon application, and then the Lights give the illusion of having a small metallic sheet on the eyelid. Because the particles in the product are so fine, it will appear from a distance that the shiny texture is oily or wet – even though it is perfectly dry with a smooth finish, so you won’t feel any stickiness on the eyelids, and they will not build up in eyelid creases.

....To apply, use the brush to paint on the Light over any ELLIS FAAS eye shadow – although it can also be used on its own. For the strongest effect of metallic intensity, let the Light dry where you have painted it on the eyelid. For a more subtle effect, dab it with your finger before the Light has dried completely.


Ingredients
Please click on the image to enlarge.



Packaging
Comes delivered in a silver box.
The pens are basically the same as the Creamy Eyes pens. It has a pull-out pen cover and the twist-click mechanism at the bottom of the pen. The Lights pens have a flat-ish brush applicator, just like Creamy Eyes.

Contents
Description: Heavy shimmer fluid eyeshadow with a thick consistency. The shimmer particles are indeed very fine. I thought a blob emerging from the pen rather resembled a drop of mercury.

Colour E301 has been described as a warm silver by ELLIS FAAS. It’s like metallic light beige.




Colour E305, described by ELLIS FAAS as holographic Bordeaux, has two tones: a base of matte burgundy with a shimmery turquoise green layer.




Swatch on tissue paper


The colour of E305 changes depending on the angle from which you’re looking at. When viewed upfront, you can see the burgundy and the metallic turquoise green simultaneously. It’s as if the turquoise green is a layer on top of the burgundy. Moreover, at some angles, you see the metallic turquoise green and at other angles, it is a matte burgundy shade, or half-and-half.




My thoughts
Packaging
Same pens, same twist-click mechanism. You would need to turn the bottom portion a few times before the fluid emerges through the bristles.

Application
How you apply would depend on how shimmery you would want your eyelids to be:

• Intense and heavy shimmer, covering a wide area of the lid: directly apply on the lids using the brush applicator. Using your fingertip to apply and build intensity is also an option.
• Subtle shimmer, only a small section of the lid: use finger to dab the fluid bit by bit on the lid.

In my opinion, the finger method allows better control of the shimmer intensity and helps to fade out the edges.

Pigmentation
Super-pigmented, just like how we’ve come to expect from ELLIS FAAS.

Texture
Like the Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes, the Lights come out liquid but it dries on the skin. Because the Lights are high shimmers, it’s like having a layer of metallic paint on the eyelids. Once dried, it feels a teeny tiny bit sandy to the touch but other than that, it just feels lightweight, non-sticky and the eyelids don’t feel stiff at all.

Durability
Compared to the Creamy Eyes and the Milky Eyes, the Lights are easier to wash off. A normal eye makeup remover (or even soap) would do.

I tried rubbing a swatch with my finger and found lots of super-fine shimmer particles on my finger. The swatch however is still as shimmery as ever.

When I discovered these two facts, I began to have doubts that it would be as longlasting as Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes. Well, the strange thing is, the Lights are surprisingly lasting! And there is no creasing at the end of the day. I do find though that if you rubbed your eye a lot, some bits of the Lights (if it was only thinly applied) would fade or get rubbed off. If just left alone, the Lights should stay put for many hours. The photos below were taken eight hours apart. I decided to use E305 to demonstrate how longlasting it is. Please note that I did not use any eyeshadow primer as a base. E305 was applied on bare lids.


Eight hours later


Products used:
Ellis Faas Light E305 on lid
Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes E104 to lightly line the eyes
Ellis Faas Mascara E401


Uses
In coming weeks, I will be showing different eye looks using this E301 and/or E305 combined with other Ellis Faas eyeshadows. There are different possibilities, anything from creating a wash of colour to lining the eyes.

Conclusion
Another amazing creation by Ellis Faas! I know, it's pricey, but let's look at the pros:

• heavy pigmentation
• quick application, needs no eyeshadow primer
• it’s liquid, so no mess with pigment powders
• E305 – cool 3D effect (it's obviously my favourite!)
• no creasing
• long-lasting
• easy to wash off

I think all the five colours are gorgeous and I'm aware that colour preference is a personal thing. However, if you have budget constraints but would still like to get yourself a Light, I would certainly recommend going for the funky E305.

The Lights range should be making its debut in Europe (outside London) this week. If you’d like to find out more, please have a look at the ELLIS FAAS Facebook page. In September, the Lights will be launched in Australia and Bergdorf Goodman (during New York Fashion Week) and in October, the rest of the US.

New tip gleaned from its Facebook: To welcome summer, ELLIS FAAS is currently offering temporary free worldwide shipping for purchases through its
online shop!

You may view all my ELLIS FAAS articles here. More to come soon!

21 comments:

Vonvon said...

E305 is super gorgeous! Really lemming for them all now....

Looking forward to more EOTDs from you using the Lights and other Ellis Faas shadows. You are getting me more and more interested in this brand. :)

Caramel Diva said...

Beautiful colors and application! I love the pigmentation!

DinaXYYan said...

I really love the shade, it's really versatile :)

Marisa Álvarez said...

I do like the E305 too! It's so pretty and different to any other colour. I love the swatches on your fingers because we can understand perfectly what you are talking about. I also like the packaging of Ellis Faas products but I don't own anything of this brand... great review! xx

Mademoiselle C. said...

I'm quite impressed by this product, the colors are so pretty, wow !
I'd really like to give it a try :)

Content Director - Strong Female Leaders said...

Very sexy, metallic color. Love the way you put it on.

Witoxicity said...

@Vonvon
You know, with the free worldwide shipping that ELLIS FAAS is offering at the moment, this would be an opportune time to get yourself some of its pens. No need to keep lemming, nor wait for your hubby to swing by the Netherlands. :D

@Caramel Diva
The Lights are very cool and have certainly exceeded my expectations! :)

@Dina
Well, I think the other three colours (which I haven't seen in person yet) are gorgeous too. :)

@Naoko
Oh, a fellow fan of E305! :D Well, when you do finally get yourself some ELLIS FAAS pens, be sure to share your thoughts with us on your blog. I'd love to read it! :)

@Mademoiselle C.
I think you will have loads of fun with the Lights. :)

@tris1978ton
Thanks!:)

immarafrancesca said...

one of these days, i'll summon up the courage and walk to barney's and get some of those beautiful shadows. I have to say I'm in love with the E301!

How are you Witoxicity? :) I haven't been on blogger for MONTHS. I'm just so preoccupied with the new house and music.

Shop N' Chomp said...

The pigment on this is amazing. Great EOTD! :)

Amanda said...

oh great haul, I been always afraid of creamy eyeshadow, but they do not look bad at all =)

Witoxicity said...

@Mara
Oh, I know you will work your magic using any of the Lights. E301 would look fab on your eyes for sure.

I'm fine, thanks. I've been wondering about you as you've been silent for a long time. It's certainly good to hear from you! I hope all's going well with the house and with your music career. :)

@Shop N' Chomp
Thank you! :)

@Amandita
These shadows, including those from the existing collection (Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes) are very long-lasting and they don't crease. Amazing is what I would call them. :)

Amy said...

That is so pretty. I think E301 looks stunning too but I'm not sure I could pull that off.

Witoxicity said...

@Amy
I had my doubts at first too. I think if you used E301 in moderation, it would work great! :)

Cynthia Z said...

I'm liking the finish...n it's great that they don't crease! That shade u have on is so lovely n unique

♥xx♥

Witoxicity said...

@Cynthia
Yes, E305 is really something. You gotta love it! :)

Anonymous said...

Very interesting how different angles produce different results! It's like wearing many different eyeshadow looks in one (which I never thought would be possible haha)

Witoxicity said...

@Natalie
I see you are just as intrigued as I was with this shade. :D

The Beautifier said...

Hey hunny! Visiting your blog after a long time...

Hope you are fine :)
Fantastic review as always! Love the packaging of it and the colors are oh so pretty, especially the E305 shade! xoxo

Witoxicity said...

@The Beautifier
Hello! It's good to have you back! :) Yes, E305 is gorgeous. I would certainly recommend getting that one. :D

Lolipop said...

It looked a little weird on the tissue paper xD but it's so beautiful once applied!!! It really looks good on you

Witoxicity said...

@Lolipop
Well, I was just trying to show the two tones on the tissue paper. :D Anyway, thanks, I'm pleased you like the popular E305. :)