Of the very few loose kohls I've tried, Guerlain Loose Kohl is by far my favorite. The others were complicated by spongetips on the ends of the applicators, which got messy and actually contributed to fallout because it was harder to scrape off the excess product. The applicator here is a blunted stick. I also prefer Guerlain's color choices, though too many are limited editions and lamentably hard to find. I have few problems with fall-out, after a long learning curve. My trick is to scrape off almost all the powder as you take the applicator stick out of the vial. I actually need very, very little to line my waterline in the Eastern fashion. I plant the applicator in the inner corners of my eyes, close my eyes, and drag it through. There are tutorials on Youtube so you can see how this is done. It's fast and easy. Eyeliner stays on my waterline for 4-5 hours (though not totally impeccably) and after that, settles into the base of my lashes, where it stays forever/until it's removed. But it fades in a very intentional-looking, diffused way. It's a very handy product--there's a reason this form of eyeliner has been popular for years and years!-- and I love it to bits.

I tried this out in a Sephora, I haven't bought it yet but I'm sooooooo planning to now!! I love the application, it's so much easier than a brush. I currently use bare escentuals shadow liner on my waterline and for tight-lining, but it can be quite messy with the brush and the brush kinda stabs my eye. The stick applicator in the Guerlain kohl is perfect! I might actually just dip that applicator into my bare escentuals instead of using the brush lol. It stays on wonderfully and looks super awesome... really makes my eyes pop and stand out well. =)

Also, this product is NOT "innovative". I hate how people keep saying that- this method of application has been around for THOUSANDS of years in the Middle East. It's still used there to this day, and it's just now being brought to the western world.

I finally got the hang of how to apply this, and it is beautiful, lines my lower and upper eyelids in one easy swoop. No fallout, lasts all day.

Unfortunately I will not repurchase, and I had to return to Sephora. As much as I love this eyeliner and it's fancy packaging, it was too irritating to my eyes, I wear contacts and I guess my eyes are too sensitive.

If you don't have sensitive eyes it's worth trying. Go on YouTube and learn the correct way to use the wand. I can't even begin to explain it.

I just love this eyeliner. It's a little more complicated to use than the average pencil eyeliner, but the results are worth learning the technique, and once you've figured out how to make it work for you, it actually takes less time than a pencil eyeliner (unless you make a big mistake that has to be cleaned up).



One thing I have noticed that may have something to do with the 'learning curve' on this product I only found out after re-purchasing (I lost my first Guerlain Kohl and had to replace it). I think that when this is brand new and completely full, it's actually a bit harder to use than once you've used up some of the product. So that's something to keep in mind .. it's like too much of the powder comes out on the wand or something. I will include some application tips later on in this review.



Anyhow. I love the Guerlain Loose Kohl for its rich, dark color, and for its lasting power on the waterline. I won't lie to you, nothing I've ever tried has stayed on my waterline all day long, it just isn't possible. And actually, I have tried something that lasts longer than this - Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes. But I still don't like it as much as the Guerlain Kohl for the waterline for a couple reasons: 1.) you don't get the same depth of black, 2.) you have to put more pressure and pull more on your delicate eyelid and waterline to use the pencil, 3.) pencil doesn't blend into the lash line with the same ease and effortless beauty as the powder, 4.) Aqua Eyes is much harder to wash off, 5.) the Guerlain Kohl wears off the waterline in a more attractive way than any pencil I've used, and 5.) the main reason I don't use the Aqua Eyes on my waterline: it stings like hell for me. I know that particular point won't be the same for everyone. I am not a contact lens wearer, but I do apparently have very sensitive eyes, or at least sensitive waterlines. Chanel's le Crayon Yeux, at least in black, also does not irritate my waterline, but it's not a true dark black, it appears more like a gray/black color. It's a great liner, but doesn't produce the dark black waterline that everyone seems to be after. Urban Decay 24/7 liners sting on my waterline (though I adore them). I can use Laura Mercier's caviar cake liner on my waterline with only minimal stinging, but similar to the Chanel liner it doesn't give the true black that I'm after. LM Kohl also unfortunately stings, but not as much as the MUFE. The color pay-off and the way it wears (though not the length of wear) are more similar to the Guerlain Kohl.
I know that information about what stings and what doesn't on the waterline will not be the same for everyone, but hopefully the above will help someone. The point of all of this is that despite the fact that I often get this product on my actual eyeball (no kidding!) it doesn't sting AT ALL. You blink it away, and the excess will accumulate by your tear-duct, and then you can dab it away with a cotton bud.
When you apply this kohl, it doesn't just cover your waterline, it also sort of meshes into the lash-line, simply achieving the same lash-line darkness that is the target of tight-lining, but a smokier, softer more blended version of it. However, unlike some pencil liners, it does not continue to migrate beyond this point, and give you raccoon eyes. At least not in my experience, even of wearing it on hot days or when I was sweating. People with very oily lids may have a different experience. I also find that when this inevitably does come off of my waterline, instead of migrating down my face, or looking uneven or weirdly clumped, it just all ends up in my lashline. To be honest, it's still a beautiful look, and so even though my waterline won't be covered, I don't mind wearing a product that will 'wear off' half-way through the day as at least it does so in an attractive way. There is a chance of black 'eye boogers' but that's always a risk when you put color on your waterline, and can be fixed easily with a little tissue or toilet paper. As for lasting power, most eyeliners will give me about an hour. Guerlain Kohl will give me something like 3-4 hours wear if I'm careful not to wipe my eyes. MUFE Aqua Eyes can give me 5-6 hours wear (on the waterline; it lasts forever on the eyelid), but at the price of stinging eyes for the first 2 or so hours. The Guerlain Kohl will give me beautifully lined eyes all day long, but after about 4 hours there's not really any liner left on the waterline, it's all in the lashline.



Application tips. This isn't the easiest product to learn to use, and if you want to use it correctly (the 'eastern method') you can't be too squeamish about touching your eyes.
If you get fall-out when you apply this, then do your foundation/concealer after your eye makeup. If you've perfected your skills applying this, you won't get fallout anymore (or at least I don't). Pull out the wand, and tap firmly to shake loose excess powder. With my eye shape, it's easier to do each eye in two parts. First I point the tip of the wand to the outside corner of my eye, resting the wand parallel to my waterline, and gently close my eye and draw the wand toward the inner corner, lining more or less 1/2 my eye (the outer half). Then I open my eye, and re-position the wand pointing toward the inner corner of my eye with the wand again parallel to my waterline. Again I gently close my eye and draw the wand toward the outer corner. I line the whole eye this second time, but if I do this alone, I often have a tiny gap or a sparse patch toward the outer corner which is why I now do it in two swipes. When you close your eye on the wand, you can't be afraid to let the wand touch your eye. It might feel weird, but it won't hurt. If you don't get the wand close enough in, then basically your eye-lashes brush all the powder off the wand, and that ends up all over your cheeks. I think this accounts for many problems with fall-out and the messiness that people complai continued >>

****SWATCH PICS ****
I LOVE these liners : ) I think a lot has already been said about these and I just wanted to add some swatches to the reviews. Hope it helps someone!
*PIC* ++


continued >>

If you want a true Arabic look get this kohl and learn to use it the Eastern way. It is really a fun product of very high quality. It takes time to become good at applying it if you don't have experience . The fallout of the product in your eyes is non-irritating, I got a whole bunch in my left eye and nothing happened, not even a teary eye. The first few times you can end up with raccoon eyes but this is easily fixable.
The kohl is very, very long lasting. I use it in the morning and it is still there at 8p.m., only fades slightly, no need of touch up.
The color "Noir" is not as black as some other reviewers claim it to be, to me it is more grayish-black. The price is ridiculous but hopefully the product will last a year. It is supposed to be thrown out after 6 months of use but I am not going to follow this advice, after all $42 is quite a bit of money. I would repurchase. Treat yourself with it if you can afford it;) you will feel like you are a princess in a "1001 night" fairy tale.
Forgot to mention that this product might be tested on animals, trying not to think about it but the idea bothers me:(.
Does anyone know if Guerlain tests on animals?

I rarely use this product but when I do I'm really happy with the results.

The kohl doesn't irritate my eyes and it does have pretty good staying power even though you use it on your waterline, even when it smudges it gives a sexy smoldering look.

I have two colours the dark teal (Bleu?) and a gorgeous light blue. I layer them over each other for a really quick pick me up.

I used to always have the problem of it smudging really dark at the tear duct and it would look terrible. I've since found a way to avoid that happening. I now line my water line starting 3/4 of the way in, instead of right at the beginning of my eye. I can wear it all day now and get only the sexy smoldering smudge without the awful tear duct smudge!

The packaging is gorgeous, practical and easy to use. A rarity in the world of cosmetics!

Would definitely purchase more colours, don't know if I'd get the same ones again though.

It was a bit scary sticking this wand so closely to the eye but I got used to it. In the beginning, I was on the fence with this eyeliner because the colour was absolutely beautiful and it defined my eyes so well...but it smudged underneath my eyes (not the smoky look that many reviewers seem to get).
So, I stopped using this until today... I put it on (just for fun) and then washed my face... and WOW, absolutely beautiful. This probably sounds weird but washing my face (not with makeup remover cleansers btw but I use boscia's cleanser) erased the smudged part underneath my eyes but left everything else super nice and defined...and untouched. SMUDGING PROBLEM SOLVED!

I posted this review under Noir, but I am copying it here as well:
Yes, yes, yes! My HG eye makeup ever since I discovered Kohls. Interestingly enough, I bought this in Teal first, but I love Noir (black) the most, maybe b/c I just generally prefer black liners around my brown eyes, maybe b/c in the past (before Kohls) I had to be REALLY careful with coloured eye makeup due to allergies... Well, none of that with Loose Kohls!!!! Here is why I like Loose Kohls (and specifically the Noir version):
1) This has cut down the time for my eye makeup SIGNIFICANTLY. It now literally takes me max. 2 minutes to do my eyes (I am sure everyone has seen the video that circulates around on the best way to apply this the oriental way - thank you to the lady who did this!!!!)
2) I have ABOSLUTELY no allergic reaction to this
3) My brown eyes look GORGEOUS with this and some mascara - better than with anything else: sultry, sexy, not overdone, yet noticeable
4) This lasts and lasts on my eyes, with maybe a minimal touch up before I leave from work at night (and only if I'm going out). In this regard, the Noir has the best staying power of all Kohls
Is it difficult to apply? Maybe in the beginning, but it took me only 5 attempts and a watching of a video to become a pro at this. The key, in order to ensure no product falls onto your cheeks, is to TAP the excess product from the wand. As the wand gets wet from your waterline, it tends to accumulate a lot of product and that is what falls onto your cheeks. If you tap the excess (while the wand is still half-way in the bottle so you don't throw away product), you will have absolutely no problem with product falling onto your cheeks. In my Teal review I also mentioned that for those of you who bought this and aren't happy or can't do the oriental method, I suggest mixing the product with a drop of water and using it as a regular EXTREMELY longlasting eyeliner. This product would get 10 lippies for me if they were available :-) but I agree that there is a learning curve that needs to be overcome to learn how to use it. However, once you learn, I am sure you will love it more than anything else!

Sorry to ruin the fun but i find this "loose eye liner kohl" totally useless. I got this in black and while it took much more time for applying than a regular kohl pencil, the final result was really meh. It does stick to skin but in a way I'd consider sloppy with the pigments hanging there randomly..., there was not even smoked out trace.
Surprinsingly applying this in the waterline wasn't "painful" neither did it cause irritations.
This being said I'm sticking with my regular pencil kohl which is more precise, quicker to apply and more versatile