Saturday 18 December 2010

Becca Belize Line + Illuminate Pencil

 


The Line + Illuminate Pencil in Belize was released as part of the current Fallen Angel Collection. It's available to buy individually as well as part of the Smokey Eye Gift Set. On paper this sounded perfect for me; a sooty black/violet liner with a smoky mauve grey creme eyeshadow. After watching a video of the pencil in use, I had to have it.



I did something quite unusual for me and bought the pencil from Ebay. When it first arrived and I swatched it, I worried that I'd bought a counterfeit item. The liner end swatched black and I struggled to find any hint of violet. The lovely Pretty Addicted confirmed that this was indeed the case for the pencil she purchased directly. So, not a counterfeit pencil, just my mis-understanding of the description. You will see from the swatches it is hard to spot the violet reflects and I can only see it in the photos taken with flash.

Natural light

Flash

The smoky mauve grey end is lovely, it's quite shimmery and definitely leans more grey. This end is very creamy and soft, and this is where the real problems start.

This pencil will not sit still. Almost as soon as it's on the eye it starts moving around and creasing. I've tried is without primer and also over powder. The pictures taken today show the pencil applied over Too Faced Shadow Insurance on one eye and MAC Painterly paint pot on the other. I haven't annotate which is which, as within 10 minutes they both looked exactly the same. Once the lids had been primed, I used the black/violet to line. I smudged the line a little, then applied the mauve grey up to the socket line and smudged. I found the liner never stays put when applied first, I was surprised as I copied the application used in the Zuneta video (looking back though, I see the MU artist added the mauve grey in very thin layers). I found the liner had to be reapplied otherwise it just ran into the grey colour and left no definition at the lashes.

You might need to enlarge these photos to see the full extent of the creasing




Movement half an hour after application

Even with primer, the creasing began in the time it took me to apply undereye concealer and mascara. These photographs were taken immediately after I had finished my eye make up! As you can see the creasing is visible and it makes the application look very uneven. As it moves immediately, I don't think any amount of priming will stop it. I haven't investigated whether the liner moves when used on it's own.
So, sadly this is a big thumbs down from me. The colours are nice but if you're looking for a product to give you a quick smoky eye this just isn't it. It's not going to last on it's own. I will see how it works as an eyeshadow base or just an eyeliner but as I had planned to use it on it's own, I am really disappointed.

*Update* Just in case you wondered how it looked after a whole days wear, here you go....




Random question of the day. Where do you stand on the spelling of smoky/smokey? I asked about this on Twitter today, mostly prompted by this post. The dictionary says smoky but aesthetically, most people prefer smokey. How do you spell it?

17 comments:

  1. Yikes! The last picture looks like makeup after a night out not before you go out. I have greasy skin this looks like it would slide right off.

    The colour looks like 'mushroom'to me as well I don't see any violet undertones.

    What a shame!

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  2. Yes, it does look 'well worn' doesn't it. I dread to think what it looks like now! I think if you were going for the grunge look it's perfect. I will try it with thinner layers but I'm not sure it will make any difference!
    Jane x

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  3. Although not the colour you expected, I do think the colours are really nice on you, but nuts to the creasing, that would annoy me no end, what about using your Too Faced primer, a dusting of a face powder over that and then the pencil? x

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  4. You should see the creasing right now. I have taken photos but I killed the battery with all the photos today! I think the second time round I used brule eyeshadows as a base. I think a combination of that with a primer or finishing powder as you mentioned might help. I was literally stunned today though as my lids were very matte/dry as I put it on,

    I agree, although the colours weren't as expected, I do like them very much. I think there is mileage in the liner on it's own. I just wish I knew how to use the shimmery grey without all the creasing! I am very tempted by the palette still. Will I crack? Watch this space.....
    Jane x

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  5. Ahh what a bummer, such pretty shades. Will be keen to see how it works as a liner/eyeshadow base :)

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  6. What a shame! Eyeliners that don't stay put annoy me so much - and that's most of them on me! The colour sounded so promising too.

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  7. Hi Jadegrrrl, I think the liner will probably work well on it's own. They are nice colours so I will try and work on getting something from them and I'll let you know how it goes.

    Hi Dempeaux, I was so excited when I read the shade description as they are perfect for me. Although the colours aren't quite as I imagined, I do like the like them but the all the moving around is a headache, to say the least!

    Jane x

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  8. Jane I completely echo your sentiments. I have been trying this pencil out and pretty much gave up wearing it on the lid - it just won't stay still! I feel like the formula just never sets.

    I have been using the dark shade on the upper lash line and the silvery shade on the lower lash line/water line, and have been fairly pleased as it lasts much longer there. It's not necessarily long-wearing, but it does give a few hours of solid wear before it starts to fade.

    I will probably try wearing the silvery shade on both lash lines soon, and for a really smoky look I will try the dark on both as well. I love the colors of this pencil, but I won't be buying anymore of them either :P

    Thanks for this review!

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  9. You could give Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson a run for their money with that look, or Courtney Love! ha ha ha

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  10. Can I be Courtney Love? Pleaseee!!

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  11. Hi pretty addicted! You're right it doesn't set so there's nothing to stop it moving I suppose. I love how you've described you're using it. I hadn't really thought to use the illuminate side as a liner but I will give it a try. The colour really is so pretty.
    Jane x

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  12. Wow, that IS creasing... hmm.. unless I can incorporate creasing into a "worn" look, then it's not my thing..

    Btw, I say smokey, but I guess I should be saying smoky..? Lol, dunno!

    xx

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  13. It's definitely one for a worn look. I think if worn on the lid it really needs an eyeshadow on over the top. I want to the lighter colour as an eyeliner now as I want to maintain the pretty colour.

    Smoky is accurate in terms of dictionary definition but it never looks right somehow!
    Jane x

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  14. I love that you did a update pic of a whole days wear, you know, just to really hit the point home :) That pic really makes me want to reach out and squish the colour down to smooth it all out! Maybe they will have the Enigma palette in the sale, I am sure we will both be logging onto Zuneta on boxing day in lightning fast speed!

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  15. Yes, just in case the first pictures weren't enough ;). I did exactly what you wanted to straight after I took the pictures! I can't wait for the sale to start. All set for an early start boxing day?!
    xx

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  16. It will be a costly day for us no doubt, did you see that Space NK sale of their gift sets, typical as I had bought some just recently for my mothers present! At any rate I ordered myself the new nuit laughter fragrance set, never smelt it before, probably wasn't really wise to buy a fragrance I have never tried nor read reviews on, this is the problem with sales, you think about what you have done after you have placed the order! x

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  17. I didn't look at the gift set sale. I vaguely remember an email but I think I decided not to look as I bought a few as gifts too. I hope the perfume isn't a stinker..... ;)
    xx

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