Sue Devitt Victoria Falls Eye Intensifier Pencil

The chubby Eye Intensifier pencils from Sue Devitt have been part of my makeup arsenal long before starting this blog. They are wickedly efficient multitaskers that require very little skill or effort to give one a pretty look. They work both as an eyeliner (medium to thick line) and an eye shadow, can be smudged, sheered and create the perfect smoky eye. The Eye Intensifier pencils are also my go-to item for a simple casual look (aka "just dropping at the dry cleaners/post office/corner store before getting back into jammies and slippers") that still gives my eyes depth and definition. So, yes, Sue Devitt has earned her place in my shortlist with this one.

Victoria Falls is a gorgeous rich almost navy blue. It's one of the colors I find most flattering on me, both for my skin tone and eye color. It's not too bright and doesn't look age inappropriate (I keep everything else nude/neutral), but definitely noticeable in a very good way. I've been playing with Victoria Falls in several combinations and looks- top lashes, bottom lashes, paired with nothing but a black mascara or smoked out with some Chanel Bois Bleu eye shadow. The pencil always works and looks much more sophisticated that the 30 seconds per eye it actually takes.

I use a primer, of course, and the Eye Intensifier stays put without creasing or fading for about 8-10 hours (depending on weather and activity). Topping the pencil with an eye shadow cements it in place until I bring on the makeup remover. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is using this product on the waterline. Not that it's meant for that in the first place- the Eye Intensifier is many things but it's not a kohl, as I've learned the hard way- it made my eyes water and sting when I tried. It was my fault, though, so I now keep it on the outer side of my lashes and all is well.

Bottom Line: highly recommended.

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22) is available from Barneys, Bloomigdale's and Ulta, as well as through the company's website (suedevittbeauty.com), which right now offers a 20% discount for the holiday weekend (no code needed).

All photos are mine.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics Eye Definer Beech Tree

Rosie Jane Johnston is an Australian makeup artist with a small line of products based around the idea of an effortless, beachy glowing look. I like the idea in theory, even if my twisted brain connects it to Australian surfing soaps such as Home and Away and everything blonde.

Rosie Jane's Eye Definer in Beech Tree was part of a previous BeautyFix kit. I liked the faceted rectangular shape of the pencil and the fact it allows for drawing a thin or a thick line. I admit I have yet to figure out how to get it close enough to the lash line- even using the thin edge is still not as efficient as a thin brush or pointy pencil, so this is a major issue. However Beech Tree is a medium bronzed brown that's too light for me to use as a liner anyway, so I have to supplement with black or espresso brown at the lash line.

The texture of Rosie Jane's liner is soft and pliable. If you're pale/blonde/blue eyed it would make a very flattering bronze smoky eye. It requires serious cementing with a primer underneath and a powder eye shadow over it, because it's almost as soft as a cream eye shadow, so while the look might be effortless it doesn't cut corners in application.

Bottom Line: Not my color, but has potential.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics Eye Definer ($15) is available from beautyhabit, b-glowing and rosiejanecosmetics.com. Mine came with a free BeautyFix press kit.

All photos are mine

NARS Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil Fall 2010

Ever since last year when Nars released the Soft Touch Shadow Pencil I wanted more colors in this range. The three original pencils became frequently used items in my rotation and I've come to rely on them when looking for a quick and reliable look. So the release of Palladium, a turquoise loaded with silver shimmer, as part of the fall 2010 collection was very welcome. Not that I get why this bright turquoise is a fall color or how exactly it works with the rest of the collection, but that's Nars for you. The secret for using most of their seasonal items is by combining them with neutrals from the permanent line.

Palladium is bright and fun. I started using it right away, since I love turquoise in summer. I wear it as an eye shadow on the lid blended well into a beige base or as a pop of color on the lash line. I also experimented with applying it into my bottom lashes and smudging it a little. The result was pretty and worked even better than I expected.

I've heard complaints about the Soft Touch pencils' staying power from people with oily skin, but since I don't have this issue the color stays put on me until I go after it with Bi-Facil. I've actually found that Palladium requires even more effort to remove, so I do a second cleansing with Almay wipes.

Bottom Line: Probably not an essential color, but lots of fun.
Bottom Line 2: Dear Francois, can we get a navy and a taupe next?

NARS Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil for Fall 2010 ($24) is available from Sephora, many department stores and narscosmetics.com.

All photos are mine.

Shiseido Ocean Summer Collection- Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil Black Sand (BK904)

The limited edition Ocean Summer collection is the most exciting release we had from Shiseido in quite some time. Makeup Artistic Director Dick Page has put together a line of deceivingly low-key colors that create an almost sheer summery look that accentuate lips and eyes with just the right amount of drama. While I passed on the gold eye shadow (I already have enough of them) and the bronzer (ditto), I had to have Black Sand (BK 904), the limited edition eyeliner pencil and also the lip products that I'll show you tomorrow.

A quick rummage through my makeup drawers revealed I don't own any other Shiseido eyeliner, and that's going to change soon because I'm very happy and impressed with the Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil's performance. It's soft enough to glide easily without pulling the lid, which is a major consideration for me. The line can be drawn thin or thick and smudged with the sponge tip on the other end of the pencil. Smudging doesn't dilute or fade the rich pigment which stays in place over a lid primer for as long as you need it. I've worn the eyeliner throughout a couple of hot and humid days with several outdoor forays and it didn't budge until I removed it at night. An accidental eye rubbing didn't do much damage, either.

Black Sand is a gorgeous almost black color with a hint of dark olive green and fine gold shimmer. It can be the focus of a dramatic evening look if applied heavily and smudged into a smoky look, but the mellow not-quite black is also very daytime appropriate because it lacks the harshness of a true black. I can't think of anyone who can't pull it off, it's really that easy and flattering.

Bottom line: I wish Black Sand would become part of the regular line.

Shiseido Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil ($20) and the rest of the 2010 Ocean Summer Collection is available from Sephora and most decent department stores, including online.

All photos are mine.

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil (5L, 20L)

The Make Up Forever display at Sephora is so big and engaging it makes me forget and ignore how much the store itself annoys me. It's all about the colors, and I've been in the mood for some interesting eyeliners. Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils come in 24 shades, from the classics to some that are really out there (metallic fuschia and yellow, if that's your thing).

The pencils are, indeed, waterfoof. Still, they glide on very smoothly without tugging or pulling and can be nicely smudged to shade the lid (see swatch). They maintain their texture in heat and humidity, don't melt even after a hot shower and require a good makeup remover when you want to take them off. I'd predict these Make Up Forever crayons are going to be my summer staple, especially for long days spent outdoors.

20L is a blue based dark green. I've been after this color for a while and this is perfect (use with sand or beige eyeshadows and blend with a little taupe or mocha color on the lid to keep it from looking too 80s). 5L is a golden khaki with a metallic finish. It's easy to wear and would look flattering on many a skin tone, tan (fake, please!) or not.

Bottom line: As good as it gets.

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils ($17 each) are a Sephora exclusive, also available online.

Photos by me.

Chantecaille Shine Eye Shadow (Jungle) and Kohl Pencil (Green)

These two Chantecaille items, the Shine Eye Shadow in Jungle and Kohl Pencil in Green, were part of a recent Neiman Marcus GWP event. Both colors are part of he regular Chantecaille line, which makes the gift feel very nice.

The Shine eye shadows pack both shimmer and pigment. Jungle is a fantastic evening khaki-green color that brightens up the eyes, gives a pop of color and blends beautifully with neutrals like ivory or champagne for an elegant look. It can be used in the crease or along the lashes and also create a modern smoky eye. The texture is silky and applies as flawlessly as every Chantecaille eye shadow I've tried so far. The color is intense and requires a light hand and a good brush. Lasting power is excellent- used over a primer nothing can make it crease, flake or budge, and there's no shimmer fallout.

I'm loving kohl pencils and pigments lately. Nothing beats their intensity and dramatic effect. I avoid black, though, because it tends to look too much- my eyes and lashes are dark enough as it is, so I prefer to soften the look with other colors. Green is perfect for most people with brown eyes- it brings out any hazel or gold flecks we might have. This Kohl Pencil from Chantecaille is especially lovely. I find that it's a bit lighter than Chanel Black Jade, so I'm happy to have them both. The texture is soft and creamy, so application is easy with no tugging and pulling and the result is a dark line in a rich shade that can be smudged a little or blended with an eye shadow.

Chantecaille Shine Eye Shadows ($28) and Kohl Pencils ($22) are available from Saks, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. As I've mentioned above, I received both as a GWP.

All photos by me with the help of my sweet Thomas.

Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil Black Jade (66)

When I bought several items from Chanel spring collection last month, the SA who did my makeup recommended that I use a green eye pencil with the Kaska Beige eye shadows. She first offered me the Stylo Yeux in Celadon, but I already have it and despite adoring the color, I don't use it often enough because the texture isn't as creamy as I like (I have this issue with most Chanel pencils). Instead, the SA produced Le Crayon Khol in Black Jade and applied it to my top and bottom lash lines.

I don't know why I've never tried the Le Crayon Khol before. It's considerably softer than any of the other Chanel pencils and applies perfectly without pulling. The pigment is intense and it stays put without smudging (as long as you don't rub your eyes) until you take it off. And then some. My one and only complaint is the amount of work it took me to remove the color. It wasn't much of a problem on the upper lid, but that first time when the SA lined my lower lashes (something I never do) was a real pain. Maybe it's my eyes, I don't know. My bottom lashes are very thick and full so they hold onto liners for dear life. I used quite a bit of Bi-Facil and Almay pads, and while eventually things looked clean, the next morning there were still traces of green.Since then I've kept the crayon on my upper lids (a much better look for me), which eliminated the problem.

The color Black Jade is exactly what the name implies. It's a very dark, almost black (looks black in dinner date light) with flecks of rich green. And as the SA predicted, it looks very pretty with brown, beige and other neutral eye shadows. I also tried it with the Murano quad from fall and created some intense green drama.

Bottom line: Better than other Chanel eye pencils and worth it for the unique color.

Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil ($27) is available from most department stores and Chanel's website. I bought it at my local Saks.

All photos are mine.