SUQQU EYELINER LIQUID PEN DUO IN 02

As of 6th of October, Suqqu will release two eyeliner liquid pen duos:

01 BLACK X BROWN

02 BLACK X BURGUNDY

Black at one end combined with either a brown or a burgundy at the other.  The tips are the same size, length and thickness and draw a super fine line of approx 0.1mm depending on how you hold the pen or press it.

I have been using the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in 01 Deeper since the first day it launched, have been repurchasing over and over. Unfortunately only black is available and I was desperately trying to find a similar liquid liner but in a softer dark colour,  when I saw this Suqqu I screamed with joy! This is such an exciting product for me! I received this pen from Suqqu for my consideration, its price will be 28 GBP.

I consider liquid liner the most difficult step in a makeup application and that’s the main reason why I don’t mind splurging in the ultimate tool, if it makes me save time it’s good enough and justifies the price. I have no patience and no time, today with a newborn always by my side requiring a lot of attention, anything that can help with a quick and easy application is a godsend!  I confess that after so many years it’s still not easy for me to handle liquid liner and on top of that, having wrinkly lids and super hooded eyes is not helping at all! Today, part of me whispers I should abandon liquid liner and stick to powder or creams but I love the definition that a liquid liner provides and when I am not wearing it I miss it more than anything. When all things powder start to fade and disappear my eyeliner is still going strong so as long as this continues to be the case I am not letting it go!

It would be more convenient for me to let go because it takes effort and time and to be honest, I struggle so much even with the best tools! Liquid liner is a skill I will probably never fully master and since my lids are not getting any younger, this won’t get any easier in the future 😀

This Suqqu eyeliner duo is one of the easiest tools I have ever used, it is easy to manoeuvre, easy to rectify the line if required and the finish is kind of satin, not matte, not super fake shiny. There are many pros and just one con being that it could be more opaque during application but that also facilitates the application and makes it more easy to use for me.  At first I wished it was more loaded with product during application so that one pass was all I needed but I noticed that my first pass was never perfect and always need to do a few of them, since this is so thin I can gradually correct and build up a line without making a mess. Depending on your technique this can seriously be helpful.

Some comparisons

The Tom Ford in 01 Deeper is an intense black and there is only a black option, it’s also dual ended, same black but one side is shorter and firmer, the other is longer and more similar to the Suqqu. In comparison to the Suqqu, the brush has the same length but the TF feels like it has a thicker body, it’s not visible to the eye but some additional strength in the bristles make the TF application heavier, more opaque. I can only use the longer side of that TF, the shorter is not that easy to handle for me, it’s more directional and less forgiving.
Comparing the similar ends, the Suqqu is more supple, it’s a little bit more foolproof to use but since it’s not as opaque I have to repeat layers, not a problem to me as this makes it easier to control.

What I love about the Tom Ford is the ease of application, the intensity of the pigment, the lasting power and the quality of the pen. But the Tom Ford is sold at 43 GBP, almost double than Suqqu.

The Marc Jacobs Cocoa-Laquer is a nice dark brown, the tip is not as flexible as the TF or the Suqqu, so it’s not that easy to use for me, I have a bit less control on the application, it can end up a bit thicker on one eye and thinner on the other and to correct the tiny difference between each eye can be tricky.

What I love about the Marc Jacobs is the pigment of the brown shade, it’s a perfect brown to me, softer than black but still super intense. Nice lasting power too.

The Lancome Grandiose Liner in brown is a total disaster,  I have tried it many times as I really wanted to like it but it’s an ugly mess, the application is not even, it’s patchy and that matte brown looks awful. No matter how much I shake it, the product does not apply evenly, the tip of the brush does not hold product and to do the wing it’s a freaking challenge. Maybe it’s just mine as the reviews seem to be ok but for me this one is a big fat miss.

What I love about the Lancome is absolutely nothing at all, or maybe just the TV advert which made me get it 🙂

The Suqqu I received is the black and burgundy, at first I thought it was the brown because it looked brown in the swatch, it’s only later that I realised I was wrong! It’s a burgundy, a safe one, it’s not too red, a classy brown with a hint of red. The lasting power is decent, it stays all day until I take it off, however, it will start to fade sooner than the TF.

What I love about the Suqqu pen is the flexibility of the tip, it makes the application easier, the shades are not that opaque and intense compared to the TF or the MJ, but on the lids it looks more elegant. It’s easier to control the thickness or the intensity of the line, you can go very close to the root of the lashes (and stay close without making crazy hiccups that need correcting). I think its strength is that it can deliver both a natural application and a more daring one, matches a wider audience’s desires and stays very true to Suqqu = very elegant.

Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford are more glossy formulas, the Suqqu still shines but in a more subtle way. The Lancome is just a matte mess and you can clearly see the difference.

I tried to take a picture of my application with the Suqqu pen, it’s a very thin application close to the lashes. That mascara is in the bin right now 🙂 but it’s the only picture I have today that I can show you. 

Bottom line

The only thing I would change is that I would make the pigment slightly bolder and the formula a bit thicker but I suspect that it may compromise both its elegance and ease of application. There is something very true about Suqqu and that always surprises me: Suqqu may not always be as bold or long lasting as other brands -here versus the Tom Ford or in my upcoming post you’ll see the Nuance Eyes versus the similar Dolce Gabbana- however, Suqqu always definitely looks much better.