Tarte EmphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner Review and Swatches
I’m going to see 30 Seconds to Mars in September and I can’t help but wish I’ll find my night in shining manliner in the audience somewhere or if I’m lucky grown up Jordan Catalano might spot me in the crowd and sweep me off my feet.
Speaking of manliner or in our cases eyeliner, Tarte has a brand new Aqua Gel Eyeliner that may appeal to not only Jared Leto but the rest of us looking for the next best thing in our eyeliner lives.
Check it!
A long-wearing eye liner with intensely rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration.
Tarte created their new EmphasEYES Aqual Gel Liners as a way to capture the idea and staying power of a gel pot in an effortless pencil format. So you may already love gel liners or you love them but you’re a bit clumsy with application, that’s where these come into play because they mimic the same concept as a gel liner but in a pencil format.
Formula is incredible! They are crazy cool pigmented and have an amazing glide that doesn’t tug or need relining to achieve the best results. The rich pigmentation is definitely appealing but I think I was most impressed with the texture of the pencils as they have such a super soft, melty formula that feels so buttery smooth and glides easily and flawlessly onto my eyes plus they smudge out like a pure dream. They are probably, in terms of both pigment and formula, some of the best liners I’ve tried in a very long time as in better than Urban Decay 24/7. The formula is simply that great. I could be crazy but I thought they felt like they had a certain cooling sensation when I applied.
The formula is made up of 50% water and I honestly I didn’t think I really needed water in my eyeliner? But it allows the product to not only apply easily but also feels very hydrating, keeping the liner very fresh throughout the day without flaking off, crumbling, or looking stale.
Although not waterproof the formula seems to stick around all day even in the humidity however I did notice some smudging on my bottom lid after 7 hours of wear.
I tried four of eight colors which were Bronze (Golden Bronze-y Brown), Plum (Deep Purple), Black (Jet Black), and Green (Olive Green).
Tarte needs to seriously get on board with these and create more shades. 8 colors that they do have cover a nice range of shades but I definitely would love to see more because I’m in lust with the formula!
I’ve been trying to track down information about the liner being waterline safe but its proved fruitless so far (have to contact Tarte about this soon) because I tried them on my waterline and they STUNG like crazy. This really saddened me because I really do like lining my waterline with a great liner and these are wicked awesome.
Sadly, they break off extra easy particularly the tips due to the soft formula. First try with a brand new liner and the tip instantly broke off as I applied which kinda irritated me since I like lining with a sharp tip.
Sadly, no sharpener is included and if you don’t have access to one of the tiny sharpeners some other liners come with, you’ll be stuck with a blunt pencil.
- Anyone who has trouble lining with a gel liner in a pot form and wants the experience of using one (this basically mimics a gel liner but it’s in a pencil format for easy application!).
- Anyone who wants richly pigmented eyeliner!
- Anyone who wants a super soft, super melty, easy glide eye pencil!
- Anyone who loves MAC Technakohl (these are better!)
- Anyone who wants a liner with a precise point!
- Anyone who wants a liner that’s easily sharpened (I have my Laura Geller E-Care Sharpener but if you don’t have access to such an item, you’ll have a stubby tip quickly with these).
- Anyone who likes their lower waterline (these sting a fair bit and I can’t confirm if the formula is waterline safe).
I’ve very happy with these and also slightly disappointed. The rich colors and incredible formula are a joy to work with and they really do give that gel pot feel to the liner however I was a little saddened I couldn’t work with them on my waterline and that the tip easily broke off. Ranting aside, I don’t think I’ve worked with such a lovely formula in all my lining days. These truly have such a lovely glide.
Worth checking out, swatching, and playing with your next trip to Sephora. I think you’ll like ’em as much as me!
Available now from tartecosmetics.com
Have you tried Tarte EmphasEYES Aqua Gel Eyeliner?
What did you think?
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