Review: Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

Press Sample

Today I'm reviewing for you the brand spankin' new Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner, which comes in one shade (black). There are a few liners of this nature on the market today, but this was actually my first experience using this type of liner, so let's see how it worked for me! I was sent this liner for review a while back (I'll be reviewing all of the new-for-2014 Milani products in the weeks to come) and of all the things I received for review, this is the product I jumped to try first (more on that in a moment).

 Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner in 01 Black

(retail: $7.49, 0.013 oz)

If your local CVS (or any other retailer in your area that carries Milani) has reset their display for 2014, you may have already seen this liner in the permanent Milani display. It's also available for purchase on the Milani website.

Made in Germany

Before I get into this review, I want to tell you up front that Milani and Jordana (Milani's sister company) felt-tip eyeliners are my favorite liquid liners ever. The Jordana InColor FabuLiner in Black is my holy grail liquid liner, and every Milani felt-tip liner I have ever reviewed here (and I've reviewed several) has performed beautifully for me. The formulations that Milani/Jordana use for their felt-tip liners work wonderfully with my body chemistry--their liners have excellent pigmentation and they don't fade, smear or run on my eyes (and I have super oily skin). The applicators are precise, firm yet pliable, and just downright perfect for me. I can't praise them enough.

So I was extremely excited to try this particular liner, and I was hoping that the formulation would be similar to the other Milani/Jordana lines that I already own and love. That said, let's take a closer look:

Swatches (these are extreme close-ups swiped on the back of my hand):

Before my smudge-test

For my smudge test, I apply the liner, let it set for a few minutes, and then take my index finger and rub with a good amount of pressure back and forth for about 10-15 seconds. Here are the results:

After my smudge test

As you can see, no smudging. The lines are little dull, but that's it.

The most important thing you need to know about this liner is that it works best when you hold the pen perpendicular to your eye (see above). I usually hold my eyeliner pens at a slight upward angle, so this took some getting used to. After my second application I was totally adjusted to it, but I think you'll see what I mean when you actually try this liner for yourself. The shape of the pen just doesn't lend itself to holding it at an upward angle--perpendicular to your face is best. That said, this is a super easy pen to grip due to its unique shape, and it feels extremely comfortable and very secure in the hand. It's also the perfect length for balancing your palm on the bottom of your chin during application. Again, this will totally make sense when you actually try this liner for yourself.

As for precision, let's take a closer look:

I am extremely impressed by the lines I am able to create with this liner. If you look to the inner corner of my eye in the pic above, you'll see how fine and precise that line is. And I was able to easily make the "wing" on the outer corner of my eye by retracing my lines and building on them for more thickness. I love that, due to the extremely fine point on this liner, you're able to get deep down between your lashes, no problem.

This liner exceeded my expectations in terms of ease of use. The longer you use it, the easier it becomes, and I have to warn you that you might become spoiled by how user-friendly this liner is once you get the hang of it. I'm also very happy to report that the formula is very much like all of the other Milani/Jordana felt-tip liners I own and love. This liner doesn't smudge, fade or run for me even after a full day's wear, and the pigmentation is fantastic. It is water-resistant (as indicated on the label) but it is not waterproof for me personally. In other words, it doesn't run if I splash my face with water, but if I were to rub my eyes after splashing my face with water, it would run.

FINAL VERDICT: I told you going into this review that I already adore Milani and Jordana (Milani's sister company) felt-tip liners and this one is no exception. If you've been intimidated by this type of liner in the past (or even just a bit confused, as was I before I tried it!), then let me put your mind at ease and assure you that you'll get the hang of it after one or two tries. This is a very user-friendly liner and if you have issues with your hands not being stable when it comes to liquid liner application, I think this might be a game-changer for you. Just follow my tips above and I think you might love this one as much as I do. It's my new favorite and I haven't been reaching for anything else since I started using it a few weeks ago. 

Have you tried the new Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner yet? If so, how is it working for you? If not, do you think you might give it a shot?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.Blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews. For more information, click here.