Bobbi Brown • Espresso Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner • Eyeliner

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vevita on 11/20/2009 9:04:00 AM more reviews by vevita

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Fantastic rich, deep brown color, easy to use and it does not smudge untill the end of the day! It is the best eyeliner I have ever use, and the best dark brown color I have been able to find... Of course, would repurchase again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ChristmasMom on 10/23/2009 10:07:00 PM more reviews by ChristmasMom

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

What on earth is in this stuff?? I am sure there must be something addictive in it. How else could I be hooked on it especially since I have to go to all kinds of eyelid contortions to put this on my upper lash line? Tightlining must be illegal. Just try explaining it to someone and you realize that you must be crazy to do this on a daily basis.

Yes, I do tightline with this wonderful color. Perfect for my NC25ish tone, brunette. I use the Laura Mercier Flat Eye Liner brush that I have dedicated to the purpose of tightlining with Espresso Ink.

It makes such a difference. I look awake when I tightline.
Push the product into the lashline on the upper lid.

If I am sloppy and a little gets on my lower waterline, I clean it up with my champagne colored MUFE AquaEyes.

Love this product.

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blkchinagurl on 10/22/2009 10:52:00 AM more reviews by blkchinagurl

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Great liner. Good for when you don't want to have black eyeliner overpower your lashes,, great alternative,

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cosmeticat on 10/16/2009 2:18:00 AM more reviews by cosmeticat

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Great product. I love love love it. I have these gel eyeliners in espresso and graphite shimmer, see my graphite shimmer review for more details. I definetely want to get more shades of this baby when I get a chance. Black plum, hunter and violet are the ones on my list.

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RobinFace on 10/4/2009 9:58:00 AM more reviews by RobinFace

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

This was by far the longest lasting eyeliner I have ever used. It will not come off until you take it off. I was used to pencils and I need to learn to use the brush a bit better. It is about $21 but the pot will last a long time. I am going to try it in other colors. I changed this review because it dried out and I am NOT happy about this. I read that others had the same problem and added visine, but that's ridiculous that you have to fix it.

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chicredress on 10/2/2009 4:46:00 PM more reviews by chicredress

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I've never called an item "HG" on MUA before, but I am now: This is my HG eyeliner, which I didn't even think was possible or was even a particular goal of mine. All I know is that mascara and eyeliner are the most important items in my makeup repetoire, and I am never really satisfied, and I felt like I was in a rut for years, and THIS has fixed it. It's perfect: it's dark and dramatic but not vampy or trashy looking. You can smudge it (while wet) and it's really subtle or you can make a perfect cat eye (I use watercolor paint brushes from art supply stores). I am fair-skinned and light-eyed but like drama, but black looks sooty and dirty on me. I'm pretty old now so who knows why it took decades for me to figure out I should be wearing brown, but I'm glad I did finally. But about the brown: it's cool, and has gray in it, and NO red tones. Lighter, redder browns looks terrible on me. This: perfection. I've used it nearly every day for at least two months now, since I bought it. Stays as well or better than any other gel liner or waterproof pencil in my expereince.

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RutgersGirl on 8/7/2009 1:54:00 PM more reviews by RutgersGirl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

Great liner. Perfect color for daytime and nighttime looks. I usually wear black liner, but I wanted something softer and this is perfect. I think BB makes the best gel liners hands down. The consistency is perfection. It glides on smoothly and evenly without any tugging. I've had this for a long time and its still just as creamy as the first day I opened it. Other gels seem to dry out which makes application harder and less even.

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Lils88 on 7/12/2009 5:18:00 AM more reviews by Lils88

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

I got this when i first started on gel/cream eyeliners (back in 2007). I think that was when BB first came out with the gel eyeliners. I had the make up artist put it on me sometime after lunch but when I went home in the evening, I realise it had already smudged. Maybe I have extremely oily eyelids (which is surprising as I have dry skin) but this does not work for me, neither does any of the cream/gel eyeliners I have tried since then.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tracyltrust on 7/2/2009 1:57:00 AM more reviews by tracyltrust

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE: oct 2012- the product I reviewed here originally was the " old formula." I believe the change happened when they changed the packaging (another reviewer said 2008?) I have since repurchased this and was disappointed to see that it flaked and smudged. This was my HG for tightlining but my current jar has me doing lots of "clean up" under my eye and all over my face shortly after application and throughout the day as well. I get the dreaded dark eye makeup "rings" under my eye as the day wears on - something I never experienced with the older jars. I realized there was a huge difference when I pulled out my old Indigo Ink the other day to change things up. It is a pretty old jar-lol- in the former frosted jar packaging-but has held up amazingly well. I used it for tightlining my upper lid and I didn't have to do any of the cleaning up I had become used to. It stayed where I put it and did so all day. This was the formula I raved about here. No little dark flecks on my cheeks or smudged liner under my eyes at the end of the day. I shall cherish this little old jar lol. I won't be repurchasing gel liner from Bobbi Brown and will begin the search for something more dependable. I have seen other members discuss this formula change as well so I know it isn't just me or anything. Bummer.
Original review (old formula): 5 lippies! Perfection. Texture is great making application fairly easy, even for a clutz like me. Too wet and I seem to get it all over my eyelid. Too dry and I get lots of drag and gaps.
This really does last and last on me, far better than MAC fluidlines (wetter IMO) and L'oreal Hip gel liners. To be fair I always prime my lids w/ UDPP so I imagine that helps, though it should also help the MAC and L'oreal products. Smudgepots always seemed a bit too dry for me and ironically more difficult to "smudge." I can blend this one out to a softer line without erasing the line in spots. I can curl my lashes without half of it smudging off onto my eyelash curler. This used to be one of the most annoying occurence in my routine. No more:) This lasts indefinitely on my water line too, I kid you not.
Espresso Ink is a deep dark brown that gives a dramatic look despite it not being black. Fantastic product. I suppose I will always wish things were cheaper, even the cheap stuff is better when I can get it on sale, right? *sigh*

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sophia1105 on 6/20/2009 12:07:00 PM more reviews by Sophia1105

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I love this shade, a cool toned dark brown, darker than Dipdown from MAC. This is probably one of the most natural looking while still providing definition. I am between using browns and blacks, as the former has a hard time showing up and the latter can look too harsh. This is the perfect middle ground. My only gripe is, and hence no 5 lippies, that it was a little thick and chunky in the application. Not sure if I just bought a really old one, which if it's true I'm really bummed about bc I was on vacation and don't have a store nearby to exchange. Fluidlines go on much smoother and the formula is thinner. This was quite thick and like I said it sort of rolled and balled up. I'll look around and see if it was my formula or just the way this thing it. Either way, not sure if I would buy it again, but if I couldn't find another eyeliner in this color, then I might, just don't think it's worth the $$$ which is disappointing because I ADORE the color.

Edit: Have sworn by this color in the fall-winter-spring when anything deeper is too harsh for daytime. Looks completely natural and matches my hair/lashes/brows so just gives the perfect depth and natural warmth. That said, Caviar is the perfect shade for the summer.

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Msmimi724 on 6/8/2009 9:32:00 PM more reviews by Msmimi724

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

The search for perfect stay eye liner is over!. This really does last all day for me, no smearing, smudging. The color is great for my brown eyes.

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verteterre on 6/8/2009 4:05:00 AM more reviews by verteterre

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I'm on my 3rd one, and each one lasted me at least a year! Great staying power and looks perfectly natural for my Asian-brown eyes and highlighted hair. I found that when it dries, it can also work great as an eyeshadow base--especially under pigments! My HG liner for sure!

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*TOP REVIEWER* swirlsschmurls on 5/6/2009 12:04:00 PM more reviews by swirlsschmurls

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

When you wear eyeliner every day and have coworkers who for some reason delight in telling you how tragically it's smudged and how tired/messy/generally crap you look due to that, the hunt for the perfect eyeliner is ON.

Espresso Ink, of all the gel eyeliners I've tried (BB, Mac, Stila), stays put absolutely all day. Yesterday I had it on from 6 a.m. to 12 a,m. including one workout session, and while it wasn't a perfect line at the end of the day, it was still there with minimal smudging. I wasn't looking for something that would give that precise liquid-liner look, more like something that approximates the subtle definition of kohl without the mess. This cool dark brown accentuates my very dark brown eyes as well as black, and Black Ink is the next on my BB purchase list to round out my perfect trio of Espresso, Ivy and Black. I will say though, that unlike what some other reviewers have said, I find the matte BB gel liners easier to work with and less likely to smudge than the shimmers, having tried both Ivy and Sapphire.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sugamonkey on 4/22/2009 5:44:00 PM more reviews by sugamonkey

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Love it!!! This eyeliner is awesome! HG gel liner! Looks natural, goes on smooth, and stays on all day. It doesn't crack or look cakey like other ones I've tried (Benefit). The really dark brown color looks great on Asians since black may be too harsh. Make sure you close the cap so the eyeliner doesn't dry out.
EDIT: for a deeper, almost black e/l, try Caviar Ink:)

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*TOP REVIEWER* kimorris on 4/7/2009 10:13:00 PM more reviews by kimorris

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This is a beautiful deep brown black which is a lovely alternative to black and great to wear during the day, although I have to admit that it's so dark it looks black on my tightline amongst my black lashes (not an intense black though).

I mostly use this to tightline and unfortunately it still smudges a little under my eyes although far less than pencils. It also dried up quite quickly only after a few months. If you don't like your gel liners dry, then I'd suggest you use MAC. I stopped using it for a while but have gone back to it as I've found that the dryness has reduced the smudging and helped it better to stay on my tightline. The pot is tiny but lasts ages.

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*TOP REVIEWER* marlavm on 3/4/2009 2:23:00 PM more reviews by marlavm

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I wear Espresso almost every day, either alone or layered with Sapphire or IVy. Cool-toned black-brown liner. I have a hard time wearing black liners but love a defined eye and Expresso is the answer.

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*TOP REVIEWER* DrMAC on 2/28/2009 11:02:00 PM more reviews by DrMAC

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Bobbi Brown--Where have you been all my life?! I love this espresso ink gel eyeliner! Eyeliner is a must for me since my eyes are small, and without it, I have no eye definition and people mistake me for being 15 while I'm in my late 20's and am a working professional. I am suuuper lazy in the morning as I work long shifts, and can't wake up early to put on makeup, which is why I've been using drugstore waterproof eyeliners that come in pencil form that have been disappointing! The MAC fluidlines smear on me as well, no matter whether I use paint pot, or UDPP underneath it. My main problem is that my eyelids are oily and are "hooded" monolids.. meaning part of the eyelids near my last line and upward tuck underneath when my eyes open.. if you are asian you know what I am talking about! Anyway, I even started getting up earlier priming my lids, then using my eyeliner brush with MAC's fluidline and still getting smearing underneath my eye and at the outer corner by lunch time! Enter BB espresso ink long wear gel eyeliner. This is amazing. If it smears at all, it is prob at the outer corner which may be my own fault for not letting it dry a little, and I didn't use a primer underneath, but it is easily wipeable. The other gel eyeliners Ive tried (MAC) and the drug store waterproof eyeliners made HUGE smudges underneath on my lower lash line that looked horrible mainly b/c they weren't consistent on both sides so it looked like I put on eyeliner in the dark! NOT what I was going for! The espresso ink is a black brown.. it goes with my dark brown eyes, and dark brown hair.. the BB MA told me it isn't good to use the black color since it will look really harsh on a daily look. I didn't buy the eyeliner brush BB makes, but use my sonia kashuk bent eyeliner brush and it works well. The consistency of the gel is not as wet as MAC's, and the color payoff is pretty good. It comes in a glass jar similar in size to MACs with a different style lid with BB printed on top. It is not that expensive if you think how much you will use it.. at $21, I will use it and stop spending money on $7 drugstore supposedly waterproof eyeliners, and MAC fluidlines which I think are $14 a piece anyway.. I know I will be reaching for this one more if it continues to not smear on me! I will continue to repurchase if I run out!!
**UPDATE** This eyeliner smeared slowly but surely as the time went by.. I think it is because I draw a thick line. You definately have to use a base with this if you have oily eyelids but this eyeliner stays on a lot better than any other eyeliner on the market!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Helen031 on 1/12/2009 3:14:00 AM more reviews by Helen031

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is really dark brown that's almost black. Actually, it looks black on me but without the harshness. Thus it's very useful. It's like MAC's Photogravure (technakohl) color but even darker. It matches all my eyeshadow colors. The texture is easy to apply. It lasts all day without smudging. Will definitely buy this again when I run out.
Update: This has dried up a bit and now it flakes and gets in my eyes which is very irritating. I'm not going to buy these gel eyeliners anymore because they all dry up and harden before I can finish the pot.

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hhcheung2000 on 1/4/2009 12:04:00 AM more reviews by hhcheung2000

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE this product!!! I've tried numerous different eyeliners, all of which caused eye irritation, but this was the first to work and stay on my eyes.

I initially thought about getting it in black, but decided against it since I think it looked too harsh. After wearing this, I can't go back and consistently find myself gong back to the counter when I run out.

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*TOP REVIEWER* abfabjeanius on 12/7/2008 10:49:00 AM more reviews by abfabjeanius

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

For some reason, in my eyeliner quest, I'd always overlooked these Bobbi Brown ink gel eyeliners. But, in my last Saks online order, I decided to get this and try it.

I am Asian with dark brown eyes, but my hair is currently highlighted, so I've started to think that my usual black eyeliner is too dark and harsh. I'm a big fan of pencil liners, but find that most (with the exception of MAC Powerpoints) have a tendency to give me a racoon effect by the afternoon unless I trace translucent powder and black eyeshadow over the line and retrace with the liner -- which is way too much work on a Monday morning for work!

I had ventured into the gel eyeliner realm before, and have been using Stila Smudge Pots (which kind of have a dry texture) and MAC Fluidlines (which are very "glidey" and have a glossier finish.) I felt like neither lasted on me all day, though, for whatever reason. I don't have oily eyelids, and I always put a thin layer of translucent powder on my eyelids and along lower lashlines to help keep the eye area from getting creasy.

Anyway, with all that said, I am very pleased with the Espresso from BB. It is a very dark, cool-toned brown, so there is no copper or orange or red to it at all, which I appreciate. It's hard for me to find a dark brown that is: (1) dark enough; (2) doesn't have any warmth or redness to it, but this seems to fit the bill.

I applied this yesterday with my MAC #266 brush, and it lasted all day, until I needed to remove it (which I did with Lancome Bi-Facil and then followed with a Boots wipe.) This definitely has tenacity! Also, I wanted to note that it doesn't flake throughout the day (like the Stila sometimes has the tendency to), and the finish is matte-ish, so it's more natural than my MAC Blacktrack fluidline.

This is certainly a keeper for me, and though it is pricey ($21USD!) -- I will continue repurchasing, and am interested in trying some of her other colors. How have I been so late to get on the BB gel liner bus?

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