You know, when you’re immersed in beauty and seeing the newest and latest come out in the beauty scene week after week, you quite often get … for want of a better word… jaded. Let’s be honest. It takes A LOT to wow me these days. Otherwise it’s usually “Yes, that’s pretty but haven’t we already seen something similar?”
So, when I tell you that here’s a product that made me sit up and pay attention about 2 months ago, you betcha it’s something quite impressive. And it’s coming out of left field for me because it’s coming from Bobbi Brown, a brand from which I never quite expected a product that leaves me absolutely BURSTING to tell you all about it! :D
Even better when it’s a product that isn’t all that revolutionary – eyeliner. How much more revolutionary can you get?! Ah but these Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliners are so good!
Imagine if you will, the smoothness and lasting power of the iconic Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Liners but in a pencil form. No more faffing about with brushes and little tiny pots. Just twist, swipe and go! Not new right? True. But these stay on all day long, all through a vigorous house cleaning session and a quick yoga workout. Now how many eyeliners can boast that? :D
The Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner is new from the Bobbi Brown stables and I was first introduced to it in a preview by BB Makeup Artist, Kai Vinson a few months back. He showed me this new product and used Pitch Black to line my eyes. The colour is truly, as the name implies, a pitch black! If you’re looking for a true black liner, this is it! I have been waiting for these to launch since then because I just knew, I was going to go crazy!
There are 6 colours available, of which I was sent 2 by the lovely folks at Bobbi Brown Malaysia, and the minute I knew they were out at counters, I ran off to buy another 2. I couldn’t decide on the balance 2 which is why I only have 4 for now, but they are permanent so I have time to decide :D
This operates like a retractable pencil liner. Twist it up to expose enough product to draw a line and then twist it back to avoid breaking. My advise is not to twist up too much, because it can and will break off and that will be heart breaking because they are rather pricey.
When they come brand new as you see from Pitch Black and Sapphire, the tip is fairly sharp so you can draw a thin line very easily. Scotch and Violet Night are used and have been sharpened (a little more on that below) so you don’t get as precise an appearance.
Bobbi Brown calls these Gel Eyeliners, and if you can imagine, they are rather like the gel liners but in pencil form as opposed to being in a pot. The product is very creamy and very pigmented and it draws a line very smoothly on skin, without skipping or tugging at your lid.
The best part is their lasting power. I’m serious, it’s incredible! After Kai used it on me, I went home, cleaned my house (yes, with a full face on makeup on – you mean you don’t do that? :P ) and then did a quick half an hour session of yoga. When I went to clean off my makeup, I was quite stunned that after all the vigorous activity, I only have the mildest of smudges under my eyes. For the most part, the eyeliner was intact. That takes a hell of a lot of doing!
If you apply it on your hand (though I’m not sure why you will) you will realise just how hard it is to remove it. You do need a waterproof eye makeup remover or cleansing oil for this one so take note of that!
Here are the swatches of the colour I own in relative natural light drawn with just 1 swipe down my hand. I’ll describe it for you thus:-
- Pitch Black – a matte deep black
- Violet Night – a deep violet with some shimmer
- Sapphire – a matte deep dark sapphire blue
- Scotch – a medium toned brown with shimmer
Scotch and Sapphire are colours you can wear on their own without any eye makeup and with Scotch, if you apply a thick line and blend out the edges, you can even wear it like a cream eyeshadow. It makes the colour very versatile and I like wearing it that way. On its own.
Violet Night looks like a black when you draw it on, except that there is some shimmer (not as much as in Scotch) and gives a softer appearance as opposed to black. Pitch Black is as the name implies, a deep dark black. As you can see, the pigment is very strong and the texture is very smooth and creamy. Absolutely freaking fabulous!
Here are some swatches I took in store under store lighting. The other 2 colours are:-
- Steel Grey – a medium toned matte dark grey
- Chocolate Truffle – a matte dark brown
I may pass on Steel Grey but I may go back and get Chocolate Truffle. The reason I didn’t was that I wasn’t sure if I already had it or Scotch but it turned out I had Scotch! Chocolate Truffle reminds me of the pot gel liner in Sepia, which is a colour I used to the last bits. The reason I stopped using them was mostly due to the hassle having to use a proper brush etc etc. But now with this, it’s just a twist, swipe and go!
I must say however that although it is pretty much budge proof, I do get some shadow on my lower lid when I use it on my lower lash line, to tightline and when I squeeze my eyes shut when I sneeze or laugh a lot. If I don’t do all that, I’m pretty much smudge free for most of the day.
The thin nib allows you to apply the product very close to your lash line so tightlining isn’t quite necessary, and the tip also allows you to do a cat eye flick if you like that. I will say however, that for a more precise line, the pot gel liner and a brush does a smoother, cleaner job but this pencil gel liner version makes it more convenient.
I do find that it blunts very easily and I only found out in store that the back end hides a mini sharpener! So if you want a sharp tip, you can sharpen it quite easily. This explains how I got the Scotch and Violet Night to have the tip again, in the picture above. They were already flat :D
The other down side to the price is that I forsee it to finish quickly if you use it often. The texture is so soft that drawing on your liner results in this being used up fairly quickly. Of course, if you just draw a thin line and not thickly line to define it’ll last longer than someone who does, but it’s a point to note.
Otherwise, this my friends, has me bouncing up and down in my seat with glee at its arrival. If Bobbi Brown discontinues this, I think I’ll cry. And my eyeliner wouldn’t budge even then ;)
In a nutshell
The Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner is a pencil version of the pot gel liners that the brand is famous for. I like how creamy they are and how easy they are to use. It is thin enough that you can get close to your lash line and draw in a nice strong line and there is a hidden sharpener at the back to allow you to get a sharp nib if you want. The colours are fairly dark and incredibly pigmented and opaque. One pass is all you really need especially with colours like Pitch Black or Violet Night. For me, they last and last through sweat and tears and thus far, have been the only product to have truly wowed me. Absolutely worth trying, if dark, pigmented, budgeproof liners are your thing!
Pros: Longlasting, Deep dark pigmented colours, Creamy and soft, No tugging or skipping on skin, Easy to use, Mini sharpener allows you to get a fresh sharp tip if you want, Budge-proof
Cons: Pricey, Soft texture results in you using up more product more quickly
Who will like this: Anyone who has trouble using pencil eyeliner, Anyone who wants a deep dark black liner, Anyone who likes using gel liner but wants something in a more convenient packaging
Here’s an idea of what it might look like when worn. I wore Violet Night here (you can’t even see the shimmer although you can in Scotch) and this is the same look in this post if you want to get an idea of an overall look. If the nib is blunt, it’s harder to get a defined cat eye flick, so for that, the pot gel version might be a better way to go.
Am I raving too much? I am aren’t I? I’m all *flaps hands* “Oh gawd! These are like, you know, the bestest liners everrrrr!!” Ok I’ll shut up now :P
Does this product interest you? Do you like the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner?
I used to have Sepia, Cobalt and Hunter. The one I used up eventually was Sepia but I found having to use brush daily was a hassle so I never repurchased. It might interest you to note that I’ve replaced my old HG pencil liner (Guerlain Kohl pencil liner) with this one, and I tightline with the Wayne Goss Brush 8. Yes, it’s that good! :D
Paris B
Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner comes in 6 shades: Pitch Black, Sapphire, Violet Night, Scotch, Chocolate Truffle and Steel Grey Price: RM90 Availability: Bobbi Brown counters and stores
I really enjoyed this post. I’ve not used eyeliner in a while because it just smudges and it annoys me. If I want an everyday look, no fuss and an eyeliner n00b like me, would you recommend Violet Night/Chocolate Truffle (name alone is enough to make me want it. YUM!)/Steel Grey/Scotch? Bear in mind, I’m extremely hopeless with eyeliners and I think having some helps define the eyes a little. :)
I think Chocolate Truffle is the way to go for an everyday look. It’s not as harsh as a dark colour like Pitch Black or Violet Night and for some reason, brown works well with our colouring and eyes. So that’s the one to go with!
I still cannot find one that I can tightline between my lashes without smudges by the end of the day. All the waterproof, smudge proof gel eyeliners out there all migrate to my lower lids :( How’s the smudge proof and water proof power of this liner?
My short answer will be pretty smudge/budge proof when worn on upper lids. But the review and summary pretty much says it all :)
This is what I’ve been waiting for ever since I saw the products on the international website, finally available in Malaysia :D
I like the Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (I nicknamed it eyeliner in pot) but I always get frustrated on how long it last that I’m not sure if it’s still good to use or should I just throw them away. I know, that sounds weird but my makeup usually last too long (except foundation and face powder which finished around 3 to 6 months), maybe because I don’t apply them too often or too much, haha.
Bobbi Brown also have another product launched years ago, Long-Wear Eye Pencil, that also implies similar with Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner so I wonder what’s the difference. I guess this one is better version?
Hmm not familiar with the Long Wear Eye pencil but I hated the Smokey Kohl ones :P This MAY be an upgrade of the pencil but I don’t know for sure. All I know is that this one’s awesome and I don’t dole out praises like that lightly :D I know how you feel about the pot liner. I just threw out a bunch over the weekend not because they were dry but I couldn’t remember how old they were and they smelled weird!
What a great review! I love retractable pencil liners, and if there’s a gel version…I’ll be popping by the Bobbi Brown counter to check out Scotch. It looks gorgeous!
Thanks Wendy! Scotch is an awesome colour and you can wear it on its own like a light wash of colour! I’ve done it a few times :D
Hello!! *waves* I’ve recently started tight lining and have been struggling to find an eyeliner that doesn’t smudge on me! The only product that has worked for me are the Nars Larger Than Life eyeliners, which also retail at RM90. Need to check these ones out when I’m a little more mobile! :)
Hello there Sukie! How have you been? Haven’t seen you around in a while :) I wouldn’t peg these for excellent tightliners because I tried and they do transfer. But if you draw very close to your upper lashline on the upper portion, not the lower portion, it stays on very well! I haven’t tried the Nars one but it’s great to know they work for you :D Hope you’re keeping well!
Hey Paris, sorry about the late reply, I couldn’t reply you via my phone and I’m a little immobile at the moment.. Just managed to switch on the laptop and type you a reply! Yes I’ve been MIA quite a bit, mostly due to working odd hours and struggling to adapt a little. I’m getting better at it (I hope)! I will still drop by a BB counter and give it a go before purchasing as almost every eyeliner smudges, no thanks to my oily lids. It’s lovely chatting with you again! =) xxx
Hey Sukie, hope you recuperate well! Rest up and when you’re well, the BB counter awaits! ;)
I am have been using almost exclusively Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliner daily. I find it easier to apply than the pencils. But now, BB’s gel eyeliner in an easier to manage pencil? (and 1 brush less to not have to wash/clean so regularly?) oh yes… I am so going to get this..
In many ways, I tend to agree with you JK. The gel liners, once you get the hang of them are very fast and stay put. But as you have also pointed out, having one brush less to wash (and the gel liner brushes get REALLY gunky) is a huge plus factor! I hope you’ll like this one as much as I do :D
Die die – I dragged my other half with the bribe of buying us dinner at The Gardens and got it last night. Despite my shopping list of either Pitch Black or Chocolate Truffle – I ended up with Scotch for something different since I am already and always using black. You are right about the potential to break – a very little bit of it broke off when I was lining my lid. But guess that’s my heavy hand. Note to self – be gentle.
Now when is the next voucher period.. I hear pitch black still calling my name. Or is that violet night?
Goodness, you’re quick! I hope you like it (do you?) It is quite soft so don’t twist it up too much or it can and will break off. These days I just twist up enough for it to draw a line and then twist it back down before it breaks. Oh and because it’s so pigmented, I find a light hand draws a thinner line and a heavier hand draws a thicker line :)
Looks like my eyeliners will have some new friends really soon! This sounds amazing, Paris! Thanks for the review!
Haha most welcome Hani :D I do hope these will work out well for you :)
Hi Paris! Great review! But at the price of RM 90 a piece, and I use eyeliner daily to tightline and for my lower-waterline, I’m not sure if I’ll be getting this :( I’m using the Clio gelpresso waterproof pencil gel liner – which actually work and perform in a very similar way to this, and the same caveat with smudging applies (sneeze, squeeze eyes etc). At half the price! Have u tried it before?
I tried using these to tightline and on my lower waterline and I didn’t find them as budge proof that way because they would transfer. But on the upper lash line, it stayed put. I haven’t tried Clio yet but it sounds promising!
I want! I want!
Time to go shopping! ;)
Have not seen you this excited about a product in a long time. LOL. Looks so tempting and I am currently looking for a new eyeliner. I am such a noob at applying eyeliner and this one from Bobbi Brown sounds good to have. If I only want to buy one colour, which one would you recommend? You mentioned that it is pretty difficult to remove the eyeliner, so can you use any brand of water proof eye makeup remover?
Haha I know right? I haven’t been this excited about a product in a long time :D Depending on how dark you like your liner to be I’d go for either Pitch Black (which is really BLACK) or Chocolate Truffle which is a dark chocolate. The latter works well for a more natural, less harsh line while defining your eyes. The black one works if you like your eyeliner going on BLACK :) It removes very easily with most eye makeup removers. I’m using one from Kate at the moment (not 100% in love with it but finishing up crap :P ) and it removes it quite easily so I reckon any remover will, or even just cleansing oil if that’s your thing ;)
Hey Paris, so I saw a photo on your Instagram the other day and I started looking frantically for these! The great news is they just became available here in Belgium. I’ll have to swatch all 6 and take one or two home this week. This looks like the best of both worlds, and here’s to hoping they’ll survive my somehow oily monolids! I’ll keep you posted!
Yay for them being already available in Belgium! I’d love to know how they fare on you. I’m usually quite wary about these creamy textured liners but these were great and still are! Considering our heat and humidity and all :) I hope it will work out for you.
Have you seen the ones by Clio? I’m not sure if you get it in Malaysia but it’s a Korean brand that’s famous for their gel eyeliner pencils and liquid liners. Would be a more affordable dupe and their colours seem more intense, if I recall correctly.
Nope, afraid I haven’t tried the Clio ones but so many people have asked me about them in this post, I think it’s time I hunt them down haha
i might go and get the chocolate truffle seeing i have enough of black eyeliners already. so thanks and no thanks :P
Most welcome! ;)
Thanks for the review! I really love the look of Chocolate Truffle and Sapphire!
I love Sapphire for that interesting pop of blue!
LOL PB, these must be very good :-) I love my Bobbi Brown gel liners, so I’m sure these will be awesome too. Haven’t seen you so excited in a while, it’s fun to read!
Haha thanks Lily :) Yes, these are pretty awesome! Hope you get the chance to try them :)
Scotch is so pretty shade! I want!
It makes for a very pretty shadow shade too!
As good as gel liner? I’m so intrigued! I love the look of it applied on your lash line, Paris! I admit I didn’t even know these existed but I need to take a look next time I’m close to a Bobbi counter. :) Great review!
Thanks Arianne! I’d love to know if you like it too because it’s so smooth. I don’t think they were hyped a lot which is a pity because they deserve to be :)
Hey Paris,
I am SOLD! i swear i have the oiliest lid in the whole of Spore (haha), and nothing lasted on me for more than 2 hrs! I have tried all the high end brands like Chanel, YSL, Three, Givenchy, Shiseido, makeup forever, Urban Decay, Benefits etc and nothing, absolutely not a single one can stay matt and intact on my lid! Im going to buy this over the weekend and give it a try…another long and expensive journey of finding the HG eyeliner! haha
Hiya Anne! Have you tried them already? I’m just curious to know how they hold up on you because I don’t really have oily lids so I was hoping I’m not sending out false hopes to everyone haha! I can’t use UD pencils or even MUFE ones despite all the raves. Smudge like crazy on me! I do hope these work for you *fingers crossed*
wow, its very rare I get to see you raving about something Paris! :) And I have read ALL your posts, so I know how rare your rave is! These gel liners look like they can get the job well done, and for an eyeliner fetish freak like me, your rave certainly got me itching to get my hands on these babies!
I actually really fancy the Steel Grey, the colour looks very subtle for my darker skin! I really shouldn’t be getting any more liners, but your enabling is here for a reason LOL! =D Will be sure to give these liners a go the next time I pop round Bobbi Brown ;)
Haha You’re right Shasha, I am rarely very effusive about things unless I absolutely LOVE them :D I love these but I don’t deny that they are quite pricey. I do hope it works out for everyone who’s tried it though. I love them but I don’t expect everyone to :D
Geez Paris! Thanks! No, really! I’ve been holding out and searching high and low for an eyeliner that does what it’s supposed to do and don’t smudge on me. I am literally going to run out and buy 2 or 3 of these now….Pitch Black and either Scotch or Sapphire. You know Paris, not only have you not been this excited for a long time – I have not been enabled by you for a long time!
LOL Oh dear now I’m scared Honey >.< What if they don't work out for you?! :P That said I really do hope you do like it. I love Pitch Black because it's so black but Sapphire is interesting for that little bit of colour too. Do let me know how it goes for you!