Thursday, December 12, 2013

Eye Drawing

I tend to go through major makeup phases: matte eyeshadows, cream blushes, deep berry lips, bronzer, and now my latest fad, eyeshadow crayons. It started innocently enough with the casual purchase of the KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06, then quickly escalated with several new acquisitions in a short period of time. I've long recognised the ease and efficiency of cream eyeshadows, but packaging them in a jumbo pencil has only elevated their convenience factor. If you're after quick + minimal effort, look no further.




The only downside to eye crayons is the need to constantly sharpen them, which is the price you pay for the product not being contained in a pot (like the Maybelline Color Tattoos, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners, MAC Paint Pots or Face of Australia Budge Proof Eyeshadows) or squeezable tube (BECCA Eye Tints). The only one of the 5 eyeshadow crayons I have that comes in a twist-up mechanism reminiscent of the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks is the KIKO. The others require sharpening whenever the tip starts to become blunt, which I find wasteful as quite a bit of product is discarded with the shavings.


l-r: KIKO 06, Max Factor Caramel Rage, Rimmel Bad Girl Bronze, Models Prefer Down to Earth, Models Prefer Oh Fudge!

In direct sunlight

My pick of the bunch is the KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 and not just because it's the one that never requires sharpening. It excels every other way: from the bronzy, slightly old gold shade, to the vibrant metallic finish, to the lasting power, to the ease of application and blending, to its versatility as both an all-over lid colour and to add definition to the lower lash line. What I love about all these pencils, especially the darker shades, is that a single product can double up as both eyeshadow and eyeliner to create a whole look sans mascara (and possibly a flick of black eyeliner on the upper lash line if so inclined). And no brushes required — just draw onto your lid straight from the stick and blend the edges out with your fingers.

The Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil 2-in-1 Gel Shadow + Liner in Caramel Rage (05) has a bit of a harder texture to the KIKO and isn't as pigmented or metallic. It doesn't glide on as smoothly or have as rich colour payoff. I also don't love the colour alone on my lids — I find it comes off as overly cool, greyish/muddy and dull, so I liven it up with a warm, coppery/peachy shade on top, usually Max Factor Wild Shadow Pot in Auburn Envy (35) which otherwise would be too orange by itself.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze is basically a fatter version of the multitude of bronze eyeliners I use mainly to define my lower lash line. It's also fairly close to Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal, except not as dark and in stick form. For those reasons, it's a completely superfluous purchase (what isn't at this stage), but when I needed to touch up my makeup for the office Christmas party after work, popping this pencil into my makeup bag made it possible to apply eyeshadow using only my fingers on a moving, peak hour train. Somehow I don't see that happening with a pot.

The two Models Prefer Infinite Colour Shadow Pencils in Down to Earth (greyed lilac with silver shimmer and bronze base) and Oh Fudge! (dark, muddy brown with frost finish) were recent purchases made during Priceline's 40% off cosmetics sale. I was unexpectedly impressed at how glide-on smooth and richly pigmented these swatched in the store. They're on the more emollient side, almost too soft and probably a disaster on oily lids. Mine are on the dry side, and even then, I experienced some patchiness with Oh Fudge!, purely because I'd applied a touch too much and the product hadn't had time to set properly. Still, Down to Earth is a pleasingly complex and relatively unique shade for the "drugstore", and pairs well with the deeper Oh Fudge! for a fuss-free, lazy weekend option.

34 comments:

  1. Ooh love these colours. Can never get enough of neutrals!

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  2. Wow I love your swatches - so pigmented and lovely shades, especially for A/W :) xx

    The Belle Narrative

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  3. Ooh these shades look beaut. I've bought quite a few shadow sticks and they've remained unloved. This post has inspired me finally whip them out! x

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  4. Holy cow, these shades are stunning. You always have the best selection of products to show! I'm especially loving the look of the KIKO Shadow Stick.

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  5. Beautiful range you've got here! I love the Kiko and Models Prefer, its such a perfect gray toned taupe! I totally agree, these types of eye products are perfect for quick flawless eye looks or are great for doing make up when you're out!

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  6. They are such gorgeous colours! Really love every single one. xx
    www.daisydaisyxxo.blogspot.com

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  7. I adore the Rimmel crayon in Bad Girl Bronze- it is really lovely and looks great for a bronze smokey eye! I really want to try the Models Prefer ones but they always seem to be sold out at my local Priceline!

    acosmeticanthology.blogspot.com.au

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  8. These all look gorgeous! I really want to try out Kiko makeup :) x

    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk
    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk

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  9. I also have been loving eye crayons and lip crayons as well, can't get enough of them! because they are so easy to use and less fuss :-D
    my fave so far is the rimmel one, amazing for the price, and the clinique chubby stick for the eye is also very good..
    do you know, essence brought up the new range of eye crayons to its standard collection recently, they are pretty good, only a bit waxy and hard in texture but for the price, I can't complain much..

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    1. I need to try the Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes! That was what started the whole eye crayon trend. I haven't seen any of the Essence ones but I will be keeping my eyes peeled :D

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  10. I've also been having a love affair with cream shadow sticks! They're so easy!

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  11. I am much drawn to the Models Prefer shades, but you also made me want a Kiko pencil as well. I shouldn't, really..because I just use L'Oreal Smoldering liners in black and brown almost daily and I do have many tarte pencils with shimmery finish. Coming over to your blog is like walking voluntarily into a trap. LoL

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    1. Hah! :) It's that always the case with beauty blogging - too many things purchased because of what fellow bloggers have featured and raved about. But yes ... resourceful thinking in making do with what we currently have and use! Do not be swayed by superfluous temptations ;)

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  12. I have yet to get pencils like this. They are really nice for everyday use!
    I love your KIKO eye pencil. I'll try to get it this next time I went to any place with a KIKO store.
    Sadly, the other ones I can't get. Rimmel selection here is so little. Such a shame!
    Take care, have a nice day!*

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  13. So many beautiful neutral shades! For some reason I get so happy when I see swatches like those :D

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  14. Oh Fudge is a beautiful shade! And trust you to make even a pencil shaving look pretty.

    Weirdly, I haven't gotten into the fat pencil shadows yet. I have a few but I'm having so much fun with regular liners and powder shadows lately. But I totally feel you on the non-stop pattern of revolving obsessions. :)

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  15. I have Rimmel Bad Girl Bronze and I love it so much! Do you use it on your whole lid? xxxx

    Verity | Life of Verity

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    1. Sometimes though I use it more on the lower lash line. I don't tend to use it by itself. It's quite dark so I'd mix it up with some powder eyeshadows to blend and/or give some gradient effect with a lighter shadow. But I definitely can see it being used on the whole lid blended out with my finger :)

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  16. These are my perfect colours. So pretty. Eye crayons are so easy for lazy day makeup. Effortless
    http://www.letstalkbeauty.co.uk/

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  17. I've never been a fan of pencil eyeshadows due to the inconvenient idea of sharpening- I think I'd rather DIY depot than to fuss over sharpening and the mess it leaves behind haha
    I can see why the Kiko one is your pick of the bunch; mess free and gorgeous colour :)

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  18. All of these colors look right up my alley but I think I'm with you… the KIKO shade has my heart; I must get that one of these days! Especially since it's retractable because, again just like you, I absolutely hate having to sharpen things. It's such a waste!! Oh well I suppose it keeps the cost down at any rate haha :p

    ♥Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  19. Omg I love these types of colours. I love the look of "Down on earth"!

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  20. I should probably start getting my hands on some, these shadow sticks are great for a lazy girl like me haha. It's too bad that out of all the ones you have I can probably only get my hands on the Rimmel one since the others aren't offered in my area. Does the Rimmel Scandal Eyes have a good lasting power on the lids or does it require a eyeshadow primer?

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  21. Beautiful, love both the MP ones, simply stunning :)

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  22. ooh, these are really pretty!!

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  23. I think Down To Earth is such a pretty colour!

    http://zarsvenia.blogspot.com.au/

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  24. I'm such a massive fan of eyeshadow pencils, and cream shadows! These shades all look so gorgeous too.. Especially the too Model's Prefer shades xx
    Gem // Miss Makeup Magpie

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  25. OMG, I don't know how I missed this post, it's a good thing that I stalk your blog.
    Is the brand name called modelsprefer? I have never heard of that before. Haha I also have been into pencils lately. You should try the Milani or Jordana ones if you can get them over there. They are my favorite for drugstore. The Kiko pencils sound pretty amazing.

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    1. Yeah, it's Models Prefer - to my knowledge it's exclusive to Priceline pharmacies in Australia (Priceline is basically like your Ulta or equivalent "drugstore"). They're fairly affordable compared with the US/UK brands they stock, being local offerings. I wish we could get our hands on Milani or Jordana here! I heard Essence also have brought out their eyeshadow crayon offering too which we may get (eventually...) :)

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  26. The Rimmel looks super pretty! The Models Prefer pencils are 50% off in the current sale, but I'm pretty happy with what I've got so far and I'm not super keen on the formula. I'm liking the look of MaxFactor's Caramel Rage- I love it when that happens! 'Ooh that's pretty... wait I have that!' I'm eyeing up Laura Mercier's mini Caviar Stick collection mostly for Amethyst but I can't decide whether $45 for 4 minis with three dubious shades is better than one $39 Amethyst full size. Oh, such a dilemma.

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    1. Lol, go for the set I reckon. Variety is the spice of life and things. Plus what are the odds of using up a whole Caviar Stick? I don't know how many grams are in one but I haven't finished a pencil in recent (or distant) memory :p

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  27. Australis brand looks so amazing ! Want to try them products ! xx

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  28. I need that Kiko pencil. Those Model Prefer colours look amazing x

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