Metro rides in cities around the world are a fascinating anthropological experience. In New York, you quicky learn how not to invade people’s personal space, even when the subway car is stuffed like a can of sardines. In Paris you observe the artful way men cross their legs and tie their. In Kyiv, you can learn your neighbor’s whole life story before you reach your stop. In Tokyo, on the other hand, you pick up makeup tips. If you ride during the famous Tokyo rush hour, when you’re pressed against your neighbor in a manner more intimate than one might countenance otherwise, it becomes especially easy. Of course, do your observations without staring at people, which would be seen as inexcusably rude. (Also, don’t wear too much perfume either, another cultural taboo.)
One aspect of Japanese makeup I’ve always loved is the perfect cat’s eye look. The eyeliner might be sharply drawn against the naturally colored lid or smudged with different colors for an elegant smoky effect. I’ve admired this look on so many women in the streets of Tokyo that I became determined to master the art of elegant calligraphy on my eyelids.
The quest turned out to be easier than I realized, and it involved a drugstore eyeliner from a brand called Kate. It’s sold widely in Asian makeup emporiums and 24 hour shops (the rest of us will need Ebay). One pen costs $5 to $15, depending on where you buy it, but even at the higher end of the price, Kate is worth every penny.
What makes Kate’s liners great is the precise, firm and very fine brush. It releases the color easily and even if you didn’t draw a perfect line at first, you can easily add fine strokes to build up the line. Kate makes several eyeliners in different shades and of slightly varying brush shape and thickness, but everything I’ve tried so far was excellent. Once the line is set and the ink dries, Kate’s liners don’t budge. On the other hand, to clean them off at the end of the day, you need nothing more than your regular eye makeup remover (Bioderma Eau Micellaire, in my case).
Right now, I own Kate in black and brown, and as you can see from the slight scuffs on the pens in my photos, they’re used heavily. Another plus is that they don’t irritate sensitive eyes of this contact lense wearer.
My favorite 5 minute makeup look is a brush of champagne colored eye shadow across the lid, black eyeliner and two coats of mascara. I then might add a bright red lip (Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in #10) and a splash of Frédéric Malle Une Rose for a 40s glamorous look, or go for the “pretty in pink” effect with a peach-pink lipstick (Chanel Rouge Allure Jersey) and Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely.
Now, can’t the European makeup brands match this perfection?
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
83 Comments
Hamamelis: Thank you for this useful post! I wear glasses, and adding a bit of (well applied) eyeliner makes a lot of difference. I just ordered the one you suggest from ebay, 12 dollars, not expensive. I also wear champagne coloured eyeshadow, I use MAC’s matte Blanc Type, and besides YSL glossy stain, I often use Catrice Pure Shine Lip Balm in Rose & Woody, a very good dupe of Clinique’s chubby stick. Needs reapplying but I don’t mind. I also use Eau Micellaire to remove make-up, mine is from Cattier, a French biological brand, really good. And with this look I wear my easy favourites, Heure Exquise, Cristalle, No 19, Eau Premiere or Eau du Sud.
And second your question to European make-up brands to make this perfection, at this perfect price! May 21, 2015 at 7:51am
Victoria: I hope that you like it! I should have mentioned, but because of the water-like texture, I recommend using it after you’ve applied the eyeshadows. It will set instantly. Of course, you can always add a dark eyeshadow color over the line to create different effects. Once set, it won’t smudge.
I love your easy favorites. 🙂 May 21, 2015 at 10:39am
Hamamelis: Kate arrived, for 5 dollar, and I have been using it with much pleasure every day. I have the brown shade, and with a good primer (smashbox) I use just this eyeliner and look nicely made up. Thank you, hope you share more of your favourites. May 30, 2015 at 7:00am
Victoria: Yay! I’m so happy that you like it too. I really think that no eyeliner rivals it if you want a sharp line and something that stays well. May 31, 2015 at 11:43am
Michaela: Love how you describe the metro experiences: funny and probably very accurate. Only this short glimpse to the Japanese metro is enough to tell how excitingly far is their world, something we call exotic or strange.
Congratulations to the Japanese brand, they seem to have produced the eyeliner of any woman’s dreams. I doubt I’ll search this on ebay for myself too soon, but it’s good to know it’s there and it’s affordable.
Interesting, nice match of perfumes and makeup. Another fun way to think of perfumes… I was never aware of it. In the morning, I choose matching clothes (including colors) with perfume for the day; then, jewelry (I use to wear silver, sometimes with gems); makeup matching comes at last (when it comes). May 21, 2015 at 8:20am
Victoria: I don’t always think of makeup and perfume matching, especially since on most days I don’t wear any color cosmetics. But when I have an idea for a look, it’s fun to come up with interesting pairings.
Mitsouko is one of my favorite red lipstick perfumes, for instance. May 21, 2015 at 10:31am
Cath: Victoria, if you rode the subway in Tokyo you probably didn’t witness the morning makeup ritual of some young Japanese ladies/girls. In Osaka, I see women get on the train barefaced and get off with full makeup. I like watching it, it’s educational, and almost an art at times, but it is considered very bad manners to apply makeup in a public place, just like eating. May 21, 2015 at 9:40am
Victoria: Most women are perfectly made up in the morning, but I also have witnessed plenty of makeup application in Tokyo. A metro ride has been my way of picking up tips on cosmetics. 🙂 May 21, 2015 at 10:29am
Chilloften: Haha…ALL the eyeliners, I try so many but still prefer a matte cake eyeliner and brush. Especially since they last nearly forever and I don’t need a new technique to get my perfected line. : ))) May 21, 2015 at 9:46am
Victoria: Yep, everyone has their own favorites. 🙂 May 21, 2015 at 10:26am
Elisa: There was a Lisa Eldridge video recently where she said the quality of drugstore eye makeup products is super-high in Asia — she said they also have a huge selection of amazing false lashes at the drugstore! May 21, 2015 at 9:48am
Victoria: Every single makeup product I bought in Japan were amazing. I mostly shopped at the drugstores. The prices were more than reasonable, but the quality was impressive and comparable to (or better than) the European designer brands. I haven’t been keeping up with Lisa’s videos, so I need to check out that one. May 21, 2015 at 10:22am
Emma: Does it leave a thick matte finish? I’ve been using Serge Lutens khol for as long as I can remember, expensive but lasts forever, it leaves a thicker line and blends with lashes base line making them thicker, I don’t use mascara. Stays on all day doesn’t run. May 21, 2015 at 9:52am
Victoria: No, it doesn’t. The finish is satin like and the texture is watery. But it sets quickly and doesn’t budge at all.
For me, Serge Lutens’s kohl didn’t work well, but perhaps my application technique is to blame more than the product. May 21, 2015 at 10:24am
Alessandra: Aaaw… where does one find Kate over here, or online? 🙁 May 21, 2015 at 10:24am
Victoria: As I mentioned in the post, our best bet here is Ebay. It’s around 10 euros in most listings. May 21, 2015 at 10:25am
Alessandra: oops, sorry, I missed that bit. Thank you, V! 🙂 May 22, 2015 at 11:35am
Victoria: No need to apologize! A vital detail, but it was mentioned only in passing in my rambling love letter to Kate. 🙂 May 23, 2015 at 2:40pm
michelle: I love this eyeliner! It comes on light like water color paint and stays on like tatoo. =) May 21, 2015 at 10:25am
Victoria: I have tried so many different eyeliners, but nothing comes even close. I have also experimented with other Japanese brands such as Visee and Suqqu, but Kate is still the best. May 21, 2015 at 10:34am
Sandra: Thanks for the suggestion on eye liner. You seem to be on a make-up kick!
My routine is very simple and low key.
I use the same make up remover as you as well as Le Couvent des Minimes make up remover/toner May 21, 2015 at 10:32am
Victoria: The funny thing is that over the past two months I’ve had only 5-6 products with me, and I’ve never enjoyed using makeup more. Something needs to be said about using only one’s top favorite products. You also realize how little you really need. May 21, 2015 at 10:37am
Alessandra: I couldn’t agree more with this. I am not a makeup junkie, but sometimes I go thru phases in which I think I need so much more than what I have and normally use. I am currently in one of those phases, haha. In the end, I think I only need a concealer, which I am guilty of not using regularly. For the rest, if I really think about it, I guess my routine stuff is perfectly fine and I think I have, over the years, achieved a clearer idea of what the classic looks I prefer on me are like. As previously mentioned, I still go thru phases in which I think I need a lot more, and might buy one extra thing or two, but generally I stay where I belong 🙂 May 22, 2015 at 11:37am
Victoria: Sounds familiar! I have phases like this too. 🙂 May 23, 2015 at 2:41pm
MikasMinion: Kate is a brand I haven’t tried (I use Clio liners right now) but I can’t imagine our hot humid Texas summers without Japanese mascara and Korean sunscreens. I have almost completely given up on more makeup than liner and mascara after mid-April. May 21, 2015 at 11:26am
Victoria: Yes, many Asian products are ideal for humid climate–sunscreens that don’t give your face an oil slicked effect, cooling (but not drying) toners, mascara that doesn’t smudge, lipstick that doesn’t bleed, etc. May 21, 2015 at 3:31pm
Cornelia Blimber: ”how little you really need”, right!
When I was young, I had lots of different colours and textures. Make up was a kind of hobby, I bought ”Vogue” and painted on my face what I saw there. I was often complimented by professional make up artists. I am still proud on the compliment of Olivier Echaudemaison!
But one gets older. Compaire it to a painter who can not find anymore the linen he always had.
But I still love make up, and have a nice collection and a rather good technique (if I may say so myself).
I am glad to see makeup articles on your blog. May 21, 2015 at 11:36am
Victoria: Wow! A compliment to be proud of! I can imagine what sorts of creative things you’ve tried.
I was painting my face for ballet performances since early age, but makeup for daytime was something that I discovered much later. Today I was inspired to pare down my stash, and I realized that I’ve accumulated so many favorite products that parting with most was impossible. So, instead I reorganized it and even discovered some eyeshadow palettes I haven’t used in a while. Also, I realized that my makeup collection is mostly about eyeshadows and red lipsticks. May 21, 2015 at 3:35pm
Lari: Cornelia, I have had very similar “makeup involvement” and your description of aging is very appropros and correct. It hasn’t stopped me but has made me aware of keeping it simple. Still this a.m. I saw a teal colored shadow in a palette and had to use the smallest bit-fun and so glad i did. May 21, 2015 at 3:42pm
Patricia: I immediately went to my makeup drawer to see if I had the #10 YSL Glossy Stain! I don’t, but #13 Rose Tempura is a beautiful hot pink and probably more flattering to my coloring. Other items I almost always wear are: Deerskin Nude BB Creme #2, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in light, Benefit Gimme Brow in light/medium, and Benefit They’re Real! mascara over a coat of Diorshow Maximizer Lash Primer. I seldom line my eyes, but when I do, I use a pencil rather than liquid.
Fun article! May 21, 2015 at 12:10pm
Patricia: Make that Diorskin! Autocorrect drives me nuts… May 21, 2015 at 12:11pm
Victoria: I love that correction. 🙂 May 21, 2015 at 3:35pm
Patricia: Forgot the blush: Too Faced Sweetheart Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow. It’s in a darling heart-shaped cardboard box and has three diagonal stripes of color from cool pink to coral. They can be worn singly or swirled together (which is how I wear it). May 21, 2015 at 12:21pm
Victoria: Oh, that sounds lovely! My blush of the moment is Dior Glow gel, but I also love MAC Flower Power. Both are true pinks. May 21, 2015 at 3:38pm
Victoria: I need to check if I have #13, but if it’s hot pink, then I probably don’t. I love the idea of hot pink lipstick, but on my skin, it always turns too blue.
Which pencil do you use to line? May 21, 2015 at 3:37pm
Raquel: I use a Maybelline black pencil to line my eyes and a Prestige dark emerald green for the inside. A Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Champagne on Ice 205 is a nude color I like. I apply it after lip balm, I can’t live without this. I also use a bronzer as a blush called Fit me and a concealer from Maybelline Very unexpensive make-up on this side of the world. May 21, 2015 at 12:58pm
Victoria: I also use Maybelline black pencil. Inexpensive, but beats many other high-end brands. May 21, 2015 at 3:39pm
Aurora: What fun, more wonderful make-up tips in this post! Thank you so much, I will certainly purchase Kate eyeliner, I had never heard of it.
Like you and so many French women I’m a big fan of Bioderma Solution Micellaire too, when I wear make-up, I love the idea of cucumber and rhamnose it contains, for such a good price too. When not wearing make-up I enjoy using Lierac Tonique Eclat, after my cleanser, do you know it Victoria? It’s also a drugstore find a bit pricier but still very good value for some wonderful ingredients. May 21, 2015 at 1:13pm
Victoria: I heard of Lierac Tonique Eclat, but I haven’t tried it. With your recommendation, I will, especially since I’m running out of toner for my morning masks (I soak my face with toner and apply a gauze mask for 3 minutes, another trick I picked up from the Japanese beauty magazines).
Hope that you like Kate. I’m a little bit obsessed with it, and I have already been using it for the past 3 years. May 21, 2015 at 3:41pm
Hamamelis: Would you mind explaining how you apply a gauze mask? Do you spritz/apply a lot of toner to your face and then put a gauzy piece of cotton (cheesecloth?) on it and let it sit for 3 minutes? Do you apply moisturizer afterwards? May 22, 2015 at 6:17am
Victoria: Yes, it is a damp gauze mask applied over a face covered with toner or thin moisturising lotion. I mentioned the process in more detail in my post “A Day of Beauty and Scents” and shared a picture of the masks I use. Or just google “lotion mask.” They are my favorite skincare trick. May 23, 2015 at 2:37pm
Victoria: P.S. Yes, after the mask, I follow with my usual regimen, serum, moisturizer, etc. May 23, 2015 at 2:38pm
Hamamelis: Thank you! May 23, 2015 at 3:38pm
Maggie: Hamamelis, if you are interested there is also a video on Youtube of the Japanese skincare expert Chizu Saeki, author of The Japanese Skincare Revolution, demonstrating how to do the lotion mask. May 27, 2015 at 6:16pm
Hamamelis: Just now read your comment, thank you, we’ll do! May 30, 2015 at 7:02am
Aisha: I’ve been using Stila’s liquid liners (black and brown) for at least five years and prefer them over pencils. The liners don’t irritate my sensitive eyes like some other brands do. (I’m also a contact lens wearer.) I heard that Kat Von D’s liquid liners are really good too. But a great, accessible drug store alternative would be fantastic. 🙂
I’m finding that nothing beats YSL’s Glossy Stains. May 21, 2015 at 1:37pm
Victoria: I also love that when using a liquid liner, I don’t have to pull on my eyelid at all to get the kind of look I want. Of course, some pencils are very soft, and it’s not necessary to smudge and apply too much pressure, but then it’s hard to get a fine line. May 21, 2015 at 3:43pm
Ariadne: Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner (liquid pen) in the color Trooper is WONDERFUL! It stays on until you want it off and you can paint in between your top eyelashes with it as well as paint little tiny lower lashes. It is not shiny but is a very dense color. There is no ‘drag’ on you eyelids with this type of applicator as V. notes. May 21, 2015 at 8:16pm
Figuier: I’m always fascinated by really perfectly applied & finished make-up; it looks great, but I think it does suit some styles of dress better than others. Shorts + cut-offs + full face of flawlessly polished make up is a bit weird…
Your look, though, sounds it can be dressed & adjusted lots of different ways. My daily routine is exactly that – I wear Rimmel brown eye pencil, which is cheap and soft on the eyelid but quite poor-wearing. I should pluck up some courage & try out other options! May 21, 2015 at 1:38pm
Victoria: Japanese makeup is rarely so obvious that it would clash with even the most understated look. For instance, you can check these scans from the Japanese magazines via a blog I really like:
http://drivelaboutfrivol.blogspot.be/2013/10/magazine-monday-maquia-october-2013.html
But I know what you mean! Although sometimes it’s fun to do something totally the opposite from the expected–red lips with jeans. May 21, 2015 at 3:48pm
Hannah: I’m more interested in those lip products. May 22, 2015 at 12:41pm
Figuier: I meant T-shirt + cut-offs… May 21, 2015 at 1:38pm
Nina Zolotow: When you described your basic look, I had to laugh. I’ve been wearing almost the same thing myself. Champagne colored eye shadow (Sweet Satisfaction from MAC) with grey gel eye liner (also from MAC) and mascara. Then a red lipstick. So I was wondering which eye shadow you use? I’ve been wearing the same one every day for over six months and it would be fun to change it up once in a while. May 21, 2015 at 2:20pm
Victoria: I have something from Revlon that is so scuffed that I can’t read the number. Then I also have Chanel Lotus (champagne with a hint of rose) and Armani #29 (peach champagne). Another champagne I like is from Chanel. It’s darker, more like rose champagne with a hint of taupe, and it’s called Sillage. May 21, 2015 at 3:50pm
Nina Zolotow: Haha, Sillage! But that color sounds the most tempting. Thanks! May 21, 2015 at 4:50pm
Victoria: I didn’t buy it based on the name, but it’s just too perfect. 🙂 So, today I paired Sillage with Habit Rouge (red lipstick from Guerlain), just for fun. May 21, 2015 at 5:22pm
Kat: I’m using a mineral eye-liner – I prefer a wet application with a bit of grapeseed oil. Using a powder eye-liner is a bit fussy but once you get the hang of it it’s no big deal. I love that I can experiment with texture and intensity. And I never have problems with any irritations as I experienced with other products. After reading your post today I combined it with a champagne cream eye-shadow I hadn’t used yet in this combination and I really liked the look. May 21, 2015 at 2:25pm
Victoria: I think that mineral eyeliners can give terrific effects. I stopped using them, because of contacts, but I like the rich jewel shades you can get with this kind of application. May 21, 2015 at 3:51pm
Neva: I like eyeliners, but I still have not figured out the best shape for my eyes. Maybe I should ask a make up artist for advice, because I try very hard, but it never looks WOW. The reason may also be that I have a fair complexion, blond hair and very fair and very little eyelashes so whatever I do, I’ll never look like a big eyed Japanese girl. Anyhow, eyeliner and mascara are never enough, I need brownish eyeshadow to give more depth to my eyes. Recently I’ve discovered the beauty of strong lip colors: coral red is my favourite. I’ve bought one from the Dior Addict fluid lipstick line. It lasts forever and ever, because the pigment is strong, but it feels light as lip balm and lip gloss at the same time. May 21, 2015 at 2:35pm
Lari: Neva, Good that you discovered a strong lip. Pale eyes with some depth as you described can really be a good look with a powerful lip color. I find playing up one feature really works better on most folk. Eyeliner and strong lipstick is not too much (if it has very heavy shadow and you are going to work-no) but for someone like you not necessary. Even with scant lashes- have you tried an eyelash curler? those can really work wonders. You can ask a make up artist about a good mascara for you. May 21, 2015 at 3:36pm
Victoria: P.S. Yes to an eyelash curler! I will flip through my Japanese magazines to see if I can find some interesting mascara techniques. Many Japanese women have short eyelashes, so there are many features on how to thicken and lengthen them. Plus, every drugstore has an astounding selection of false eyelashes. May 21, 2015 at 4:06pm
Neva: Thanks for the tips Lari. I’ve tried an eyelash curler, but it is not much help because I really have a few eyelashes and they are practically invisible. One trick worked a liiiiiitle bit better: first mascara, then transparent powder (dabbed with the finger on the lashes), then again mascara. May 22, 2015 at 4:33am
Michaela: Great tip! Thank you! need to try it!
I have some lashes 🙂 I can’t complain, but one can never have enough! Natural-look long, dense, curled eyelashes – my ideal on this matter 🙂 May 22, 2015 at 7:05am
Victoria: You could line the waterline on the top lid with grey or brown. (That does the trick me.) Then add your liner. Then fill and thicken the line with grey or brown eyeshadow.
I heard nothing but praises for Dior Addict fluid lipstick line. Which colors do you have? May 21, 2015 at 3:59pm
Neva: Thanks for the tip Victoria. I will try it out later today. As you proposed, black is no option for me because the contrast is too big and it looks very harsh. Grey or brown is much better. I always have brown mascara and it looks very dark on me.
False eyelashes – I’ve tried them out recently. I’ll have to practice a bit, because it takes some 15 minutes to put them on properly (I wear contact lenses so I have to be careful). False eyelashes could be a good solution for an evening out, I agree.
I have the Dior fluid lipstick Aventure and I intend to buy another one in a rose or pink color for the summer. May 22, 2015 at 4:49am
Cornelia Blimber: Why should you want to look like a big eyed Japanese girl? You have another type of beauty!
Of course I cannot give you an advise, I am not a professional and I never saw you. What suites you, depends on so many things..what is exactly the colour of hair/skin, what kind of personnality do you have..
But allow me to fantasize… you have, say, ashblond hair, and soft eyelashes…fair ivory skin…hmm…
soft light brown eyeshadow, powder, or the wonderful Bobbi Brown creampot. Beige powder under the brow. No eyeliner (or a powder, to make wet. Not black of course!). And no mascara, or lightly applied light brown. Rely on the beauty of your eyes (grey? blue?)
Lipstick (not gloss or YSL, but real stick) in honeyed beige/rose, an outspoken but soft colour.
For variation light taupe eyemakeup and real red lips.
a spritz of Daim Blond, or Voyage d’Hermès.
That was my idea, thinking of what you said! maybe I am completely wrong, sorry then! May 22, 2015 at 7:48am
Neva: Hi Cornelia, I was reading your description with great interest. You have a great imagination and I had a beautiful natural looking girl on my mind while reading it. I’m not quite that type, but I’ll take your advice. I never experiment with colors, which is my mistake, but I like the idea of a light taupe eyeshadow very much! …and Daim Blond is a great suggestion too 🙂 thank you! May 22, 2015 at 2:31pm
Victoria: I also would like something in rose for the summer. I have way too many reds, so I need more variety. Thank you for an inspiration to check these lipsticks out. May 23, 2015 at 2:35pm
Lari: Victoria, thanks for this post. I am and have been a makeup junkie since my 20s and posts like this are a little bit of candy. When I was young, (teens during the 70s) and a decided hippie my mother used to beg me to put on a little lipstick and blush to pick up some of my pallor. She looked fabulous in just a big of hot pink lipstick with her baby blue eyes. For me, I thought she was wrong. When I graduated university as an art student, I discovered makeup and it was just like playing with paints. My approach to color is going into a Mac store and saying- “I want a pink coral lipstick, low on the white and yellow side”…I always have a good time with the sales help! Anyway, I have drawers full which I try to keep organized but…Thank you for this bit of candy. Eyeliner sometimes (I too wear glasses) but always red lipstick. May 21, 2015 at 3:29pm
Victoria: I went to the art school for a couple of years, but I had to choose between art and ballet and selected the latter. Makeup for me was also a bit like painting. I love selecting colors, and something I catch myself before I buy colors purely for their looks in the pan. Also, having first started wearing makeup for specific ballet roles, it has never lost its fantasy effect for me. It’s so easy to create looks and stories, and the process of applying makeup is a bit magical. May 21, 2015 at 4:04pm
Vishishta: Thanks so much for this post! I have a hard time finding good eyeliner. I will order Kate immediately.
Home from Tahiti, where women largely wear no makeup. They have beautiful tattoos and do not leave the house without the prerequisite flower over the ear. I did buy a lovely wood artificial one as most of them wear.
And thank you so much for the gift of receiving the perfume box for 2 weeks! It was a beautiful prize awaiting me yesterday. I am having a lot of fun with it. May 22, 2015 at 12:45am
Victoria: I need to google those tattoos, but I imagine the look is striking. Also, I’m all for wearing flowers in my hair. We’re losing out here in Europe in not having such a custom.
Enjoy your box! May 23, 2015 at 2:32pm
~Kat: I just bought a NYX super skinny liner (black) from CVS for $5.99. It does the job wonderfully…by far the easiest felt tip-type liner I’ve found to use! For those in the US, they are also available at Target. Highly recommended…and not too expensive, either. 🙂 May 22, 2015 at 10:49am
Victoria: Great advice! Thank you very much. May 23, 2015 at 2:39pm
sparklygoddess: I love how this eyeliner looks and even tough I would be a little scared I would definitely like to try it out. May 23, 2015 at 9:01am
Victoria: Don’t be scared! If I managed to use it, then most people won’t have any issues. 🙂 May 23, 2015 at 2:43pm
Ashley A: Thanks for this lovely tip! I have only recently started wearing eye make-up (or any make up at all. I never knew how fun it was!). Up until now, I only kept a bottle of the plain black Chanel mascara (which I love) and wore it pretty infrequently. Now I have an eyeliner, and have been wearing it more but it smudges a lot. I will definitely check this out!
My other question. Now that I am wearing eye make up, I need a good remover and there are SO MANY I don’t know which one to use. Is the Bioderma Solution Micellaire also good for eye makeup removal or is it better to have a separate one for your eyes? May 23, 2015 at 12:37pm
Victoria: Bioderma covers all makeup, including eye makeup. Usually, I just apply it with my fingers and all comes off. But for stubborn makeup, I soak cotton with Bioderma and leave it on for a little bit (20 secs would be enough). No need to tug or pull either.
Please let me know how you like Kate, if you end up trying it. May 23, 2015 at 2:46pm
Ashley A: Thank-you! I will let you know how it goes. I’m going to give the Bioderma Solution a shot and see if I can find the Kate. May 28, 2015 at 4:16pm
Victoria: Good luck, Ashley! Hope that you like both. May 31, 2015 at 11:45am
Iodine: Love your posts on makeup! I am more passionate of skin care products than make up but I’m enjoying them very much. My makeup routine is very simple- tinted moisturizer, eye pencil smuged with fingers- I love Laura Mercier Caviar Stick- generally in brown- bronze- purple shades, mascara and some ‘my lips but better’ lipstick or simply a lip balm, as my lips are naturally quite pigmented, a deep brown rose.
I appreciate also Cornelia Bimber’s personalized suggestions above! 🙂 May 25, 2015 at 4:39am
Sandra: Wanted to mention MSH love liner as another japanese eyeliner to try. Since I have been using it comes off easily and doesn’t irritate. Also, the brown color I prefer over the Kate one, its less watery and more of a true brown color. August 3, 2017 at 8:13am
Victoria: That’s another great one. I’m using Kate’s black eyeliner, but you’re right, their brown color is not as rich as I would have liked. August 3, 2017 at 10:38am