I perpetually live in hope when it comes to the Precision Inks from Illamasqua. For whatever reason, my body chemistry and the polymer-whatsits inside the formula repel one another. I also know that I’m in the minority when it comes to having trouble getting them to stay on my eyelids but regardless… here’s a quick review of the latest Precision Ink from the great (Great?) British brand…
The Precision Ink provides a neatly tapered, perfectly controllable “brush” with which to dispense the product along the lashline – it’s well designed and allows both precision and decent coverage without needing to take multiple passes. When you get the hang of how the liquid flows from the brush you can use the angles to your advantage and swiftly draw both thick and thin lines.
The formula is fairly wet and does occassionally attach itself more to my lashes than my lashline… but I find that to be true of most non-pen style applicators, whilst they’re great for providing quick coverage, you may have to do a little cleanup afterward, unless you’re very handy with an eyeliner!
Now, as for Wisdom… what makes it special? What made me hope and pray to the Gods of makeup that the formula and I would finally, magically become compatible?
The shade.
Wisdom is an absolutely beautiful gilded olive/antique gold – it reminds me a little of Urban Decay’s old liquid liner in Honey… but perhaps a little more sheer.
I’ve swatched it above both on its own and over a black liquid eyeliner to demonstrate the depth of pigment. Wisdom makes a fabulous alternative to the usual black and is light enough to work really well as part of a simple neutral, work-appropriate look whilst adding a little “interest” to a look that you might be a bit tired of wearing.
Unfortunately, it just doesn’t last well on my eyelids at all. I don’t know if it’s because they’re hooded and I literally “rub” away the product with my upper lid as the day progresses or… gosh, I really don’t know. Either way, none of the Precision Inks I’ve tried since their launch have lasted longer than around 4 hours for me without flaking off in great chunks and leaving bald patches. Other people I’ve spoken to on Twitter find them some of the most long-wearing eyeliners they’ve ever tried. C’est la vie.
Illamasqua Precision Ink in Wisdom is part of the limited edition Generation Q collection, priced at £17 and available on counter and online now, while stocks last.
Do you have a nemesis product that you just can’t get to grips with?
* press sample
Argh, what a nuisance that it sheds like that. I have the precision ink in Havoc and if I swatch it on my hand it flakes of like that but it does stay put on my eyes.
Oh my goodness – the gold over the black – what an amazing idea! I have a gold MUFE liquid eyeliner that I never use, but now I can’t wait to try it over some black. Thanks for the tip!
How funny, I also have issues this eyeliner. I have it in Havoc and whenever I wear it, my lash line ‘sticks’ to my eyelid every time I blink. Not cool. Which is such a shame, as the shade is so beautiful – a wonderful rich aubergine.
It does also flake like it does on yours, but only if I’ve slept in it (I know, I know… but sometimes I just can’t be bothered, ya know?). I assumed it must be because it is a long lasting formula, so stays on longer than normal eyeliners that just rub off after a while. But clearly it is not long lasting on you! x
Oh my gosh, what was beautiful is now a real disappointment. What sadness!
The best eye liner pen I have found is the collection (2000) 24 hour liner, I wear it all day at the office – including the 30 minute rain filled cycle – and it does not move a muscle. Perfect.
Aaaaw, this is so sad! The colour is something I’d totally go for but yeah I get your issue. I have it in a less severe way, but liners like that tend to crumble on me, ugh. The MUFE ones do stay on tho!
I haven’t tried these, but I hear/read so much love for Urban Dacay 24/7 pencils, but for some reason, my eyes seem to “absorb” the color on these. I have no trouble with any other brand (even NARS’ pencils stay on me), I don’t have oily and/or hooded eyes, and I never even experience shadow creasing. I just got Perversion with the Smoked palette, and (like you), I’m *hoping* this will be compatible.
stila’s waterproof sparkle eyeliner in Flash looks very similar to this. I wonder if the formula of stila’s product would work better for you? They’ve stayed on me for 24 hrs before, no joke, and I’ve got oily, hooded lids.
I’ll tell you what doesn’t budge at all, the GOSH liners.
I’m forever fondling my lids and it stays put all day long.
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Have you tried shaking it? You’re supposed to shake the liner up first then put it on. I haven’t had any problems with this liner. I did flake before I noticed I was supposed to “shake well” hope this helps!
Hi Vyvy, thank you – I always give my liquid eyeliners a little shake before using but I’m afraid this didn’t work for me on this occasion x