An Overview of Topshop Kohl Eyeliner Pencils

One of my favourite high-street guilty pleasures is Topshop Makeup. I first discovered them early last year and at that time, they only had the makeup line available at the KLCC Topshop store. They have recently expanded to carry their makeup range in more Topshop stores.

Some time mid of last year, I picked up four of the Topshop Kohl Eyeliners in the colours Bolt, Saddle, Juniper and Slate. They were having a promotion at that time, which was why I purchased four different shades at one go.

The Topshop Kohl Eyeliner has excellent application. The pencil glides on easily without tugging and the pigment applies very smoothly. I usually apply pencil eyeliners on my top lash line and create a little flick at the end. These pencils perform really well without issues.

The staying-power is also pretty good. It lasts a full working day on me with slight fading towards the end of the day. Just bear in mind that I normally have my makeup on for more than 12 hours and anything that stays is quite good in my books. It does smudge a little as my lids are oily but it definitely lasts longer when used with an eye primer.

Pros:

• Smooth application.

• Pigmented.

• Long lasting.

• Good variety of colour selections.

• Very affordable.

Cons:

• May not be available widely across Malaysia.

Topshop Kohl Eyeliners are sold at most Topshop stores in Klang Valley. Each pencil costs RM23. The makeup range is available at KLCC, Pavilion, One Utama and Sunway Pyramid stores. The sales assistant mentioned a few more outlets but I cannot recall them.

Have you tried any Topshop Makeup before and do you like them? Do share and let me know what else is worth checking out :-)

Oh, Paul & Joe, You Make My Heart Sing New York, New York

Paul & Joe Fall 2011 makeup collection called Manhattan took inspiration from the glamorous New York City and launched a gorgeous range that was released in two parts. This collection recently reached our local shores and I have been anticipating its arrival for more than a month. There is a special set on offer with selected items from both parts of the series, so of course I had to get it.

I won't go into too much detail on the entire collection and you can refer to their website instead. This has to be one of the nicest Fall makeup releases in a while and I absolutely adore everything, which is quite rare because I tend to only like one or two items (or none at all) in most seasonal releases.

Face & Eye Color CS in Empire State (074) comprises of shimmery yellow-gold and dark grey strips that can be used alone or together. The combination is really pretty!

The Pencil Eye Liner WP is a shade called Upper East Side (001) and it's a steely charcoal with gold glitter. It is meant to be smudge-resistant and waterproof.

I am so happy the Nail Enamel that came with the set is the one I had intended to purchase as well. The City Never Sleeps (018) is a gorgeous, bold purple with flecks of gold and navy shimmer. I'd like to think that the colour was inspired by the inky night sky, illuminated by dazzling lights of New York City.

Paul & Joe introduces the newly formulated Lipstick M in this series and the colour NYC (002) is a brilliant jelly fuschia pink with bits of shimmer strewn through. It looks scary and bright but actually applies very sheerly and the finish is a pretty subdued pink that is slightly glossy and glittery. It is surprisingly easy to wear.

Influenced by the art deco designs of the city, the Color Palette in Chelsea (002) with shades for eyes and cheeks is a lovely combination of feminine yet daring colours. The brushes included are actually usable and quite good quality although I find the cheek brush rather small.

Overall, this promotional set does not disappoint and is very limited so I'd recommend that you hurry to your nearest Paul & Joe if you're interested. The set retails at RM360 and it comes with full-sized items.

Note:
I will try doing swatches and individual reviews soon!

At the time of writing, the SA has not received the full product pricing yet and the list below is based on her estimates. I will continue updating the price list as and when I receive more information.

Product Pricing (Updated 20th Nov 2011):
• Color Palette - RM154
• Face & Eye Color CS - RM117
• Pencil Eye Liner WP - RM60 ++ (price to be confirmed)
• Lipstick M - RM87
• Nail Enamel - RM52

My Favourite Eye Brushes

Eye makeup may be one of the trickiest cosmetics to apply and it certainly helps when you have the right tools at hand. I honestly never knew the importance of makeup brushes until I started working. As a student, I used to just dab on stuff with my fingers and call it a day. That was many, many moons ago.

Today, I will take you through several of my current favourite eye brushes.

From left to right:

1. Stila Brush #15 (Double-Sided Crease & Liner Brush)

This is one of my older brushes and I got it when Stila was available locally. I normally use the tapered end to create a "v" on the outer corner of my eye. It can double up as a liner brush by either using it damp or dry to smudge along the upper and lower lash line. The flat or paddle head is mostly used to lay colours on certain parts of my lid or to apply an allover wash. I like to take this along when I travel because it is essentially two brushes in one. Just remember to keep the little round plastic sleeve if you plan to store it upright because you wouldn't want one end to get smooshed.

2. MAC 213SE (Fluff Brush)

I cannot remember which limited edition set I got this brush from. I like using this to apply an allover shade across the lid. It is soft and feels really nice. The head is quite dense so you can also use this to pack on eyeshadows.

3. MAC 239 (Eye Shader Brush)

I think this is one of MAC's bestseller brushes and rightly so. It has a dense, rounded head and is perfect for patting on colours in specific areas of the lid. I also use this to smudge darker shades along my upper and lower lash line. I have a few eyeshadows with poor colour pay-off and this brush allows me to build the colours more intensely. The fibers are fine but dense. You can also use this with emollient or cream-based products.

4. MAC 217 (Blending Brush)

This is an all-rounder brush that can be used to pat on colours or to blend. You can probably complete a whole look with this brush alone. Like the MAC 239, it can be used with cream-based products. You can use it damp to pick up pigment powders as well. The bristles are firm and can get a little scratchy but I have no complaints otherwise.

5. MAC 219 (Pencil Brush)

I use this to smudge or blend dark shades on my upper and lower lash line. The tip is pointed and it allows more precise application. It can be scratchy if used directly on the waterline so I wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. I also use this to highlight the inner corner of my eye with a pearly or shimmery pale shade.

6. Urban Decay 24/7 Brush (Shadow Pencil Blending Brush)

This is a recent purchase and it's already one of my favourites. It is designed to be used with UD's 24/7 Shadow Liners but I find it to be the perfect brush to smudge or blend any eyeliner. It is soft yet stiff enough to feather out colours. The synthetic fibers are made from PET (recycled plastic bottles). I like the fat purple handle too because it is less boring than the usual black.

7. Laura Mercier Pony Tail Brush (Blender Brush)

This brush is very soft and feels incredibly nice on the eye. I use it to blend, blend and blend. It doesn't matter if you use circular or wiping motions as it works beautifully with any type of blending you do. I use this to apply a wash of colour over the eyelid quite often and also to highlight below the brow. This is another brush I'd bring along when travelling. This brush is 3 years old and it still looks good.

8. T. LeClerc Brush #5 (Large Crease Brush)

I have had this brush for nearly ten years and it still looks new! It is my favourite blending brush because the hairs are super soft and it fits into my crease perfectly. Besides blending, I can use it to lay on colours, highlight and swipe. I also like the fact that it's held up well over the years and I don't think I've seen this thing shed before.

9. NARS Brush (Angled Eye Shader)

This is a recent acquisition and is a really lovely brush. The fibers are made from pony hair and are very soft. I use this to shade the crease area and to line my upper or lower lash line. It can also be used as a highlighter around the inner corner of the eye. Creating smoky looks with the brush is quite simple too.

10. Shu Uumura 6oB (Natural Badger Angled Brush)

I use this as an eyebrow brush and it is quite precisely angled for that purpose. The bristles are firm but not scratchy. I use it with a powder colour to fill in and define my eyebrows. It can also be used to smudge harsh pencil brow liners to create a more natural look.

11. Inglot 30T (Bent Eyeliner Brush)

This is one of the best brushes for gel liners. The bent edge lets me see my eye better so I can draw a more precise line closer to my lashes. The tip is fine and pointed so creating a wing or flick at the end is fairly easy. You can go as thick or thin as you want with this brush.

12. MAC 209SE (Eye Liner Brush)

I have waxed lyrical about this brush before and I absolutely love using gel liners with it. It is quite an idiot-proof brush and I think it would be suitable for newbies to eyelining. The fibers are firm enough but do not feel hard or uncomfortable. I could never use gel liners until I discovered this and I have actually improved in applying eyeliners all thanks to this little brush. You can use it with liquid or ink liners that come in a pot. I have even used it damp with powder eyeshadows to intensify the colour and to draw along the lash line.

Acquiring good brushes can get expensive but if you care for them well, they will last a long time. Over the past thirteen years or so, I have collected a number of wonderful brushes as well as duds. My recommendation would be to try them out in person. But if you are not able to, do your research and read reviews because there are resources online that can help you make a decision. These days, there are many fantastic and affordable options out there so it's not necessary to plonk money down on expensive brushes. Just look around and shop wisely :-)

Sephora Eyeliners - Electro and Nano

Electro and Nano... both names sound rather superhero-ish. I must have X-Men on my brain because I just watched the movie last night. It was my first movie at the cinema this year and I'm glad le hubby dragged me to it because X-Men rocks!

Anyway, back to the beauty segment. I was completely hopeless at applying eyeliners until I discovered the right brush to use (with gel liners). Over the years, I have tried a few but they usually resulted in wonky lines or very messy application. So I gave up on them altogether. Just a month ago, I unearthed a MAC 209 brush and began to experiment with eyeliners again. I started to get a little better as I tried to use them more frequently.

My sister and I made a trip to Sephora KL over the weekend and we played around with lots of eyeliners (amongst other things). I kept fluffing about with a couple of Urban Decay 24/7 ones because I couldn't make up my mind. Then we started testing out the Sephora liners because they had a wide selection of interesting colours too.

I chose the Sephora Liner Electro in Marine and Choc whilst Sis picked the Nano liners in Precious Silver and Lagoon (along with the same Electro liner shades I selected).

We were both very impressed with how smooth and creamy these liners were. The Electro liner contains micro glitter that is not gritty or suffer from any fall out, whilst the Nano liner has the added benefits of shea butter and rosemary extracts.

Both Marine and Choc are very modern and wearable colours. They add an interesting dimension to one's eye makeup and can be used as a pop of colour. They can also be smudged quite easily to be used as a base colour or for a smoky / hazy look. I opted for these two shades because I usually wear neutrals to work and thought they are just a bit more fun than the regular black or dark brown liner. I put on Choc this morning and it lasted the whole day. I did use a primer first though, so that may account for its longevity.

Availability:

The Sephora eyeliners featured in this post are available at Sephora KL. The Electro liner costs RM29 each and the Nano liner is RM21 each. Both are relatively reasonable options since the Urban Decay liner costs 3 times more.

Using Stuff I Hardly Use and Liking Them

I like having days off during weekdays, especially when it's a public holiday. But le hubby and I usually have some form of errand to run during such days and this means going out under the hot mid-day sun. Knowing that I'll be out and about in the terrible heat, I decided to go for a minimal makeup look that is less prone to meltdown.

Since getting the Shu Uemura mousse base in BB Beige (limited edition shade), I have only used it a total of 2 times. That was because I was using my fingers to apply and it went on really heavy and streaky. I could never get it to blend out properly.

Today, I decided to whip out my trusty Beauty Blender sponge and the mousse went on like a dream. Just ignore the slightly discoloured bottom as I had not washed the sponge at the time the photo was taken.

I Can Finally Use Gel Liners!

I am so freakin' excited that I just had to take photos and blog about this. You see, I am absolutely useless at applying eye liners, even pencils which are supposed to be the easiest. I purchased Maybelline's gel liner last year after reading a number of good reviews because I've always loved the winged liner look but could never get it right. Never. It was bloody hopeless and I gave up after a few tries.

Anyway, I was rooting through my brush collection this evening and came across a MAC brush I never knew I had. I think it came with the Tartan limited edition brush set I purchased around Christmas time. I was in an experimentative mood and thought, oh, what the heck... I might as well give it a shot.

And am I glad I did.