Marc Jacobs Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayons are a new, pure matte version of the original Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayons. Available in a total of 12 shades from dark neutrals to bold pinks and fun blues, these eyeliners boast a pure matte finish which is one of the most pigmented, pure and truly matte eyeliner formulas I have tried, but it doesn’t come without its flaws… Whilst some shades are creamy and apply easily making it super quick to do eyeliner in 3 seconds flat (popular, mist me, and whirlpool) others are a little drier and can “pull” as they are applied, this seemed to mainly be an issue with the darker shades in the range like irony and grapevine. Finewine, although beautiful was very dry at the tip, but creamy at the
base meaning the tip of the eyeliner broke off whilst being applied, but this isn’t a deal breaker for me.
Pigmentation wise: these eyeliners really knock it out of the park, even with the lighter shades in the range it wasn’t necessary to go over the eyeliner multiple times to build up intensity as these were super pigmented with just one swipe.In terms of staying power: I didn’t notice excessive smearing, flaking or smudging, you do however, need to be mindful that you must let these eyeliners set before blinking as it can transfer into the crease of the eyes. These eyeliners do not have a lot of playtime to so you have to be relatively quick, especially if you want to smudge them as you only have about 60 seconds to do so. Their great staying power make them great for use on the waterline as they really “lock in” (apply one coat, let it dry and another for ultimate staying power) and as they do not contain shimmer they are less likely to irritate this sensitive area. All in all I really like these eyeliners and think there are some really great, interesting shades in the range, I’m generally not a fan of pencil eyeliners, but these are some that I did enjoy and will be staying in my makeup collection for time to come.
Marc Jacobs Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon Swatches Irony (45), Earthquake (41), Brownie (43), Finewine (47), Popular (49), Pink of Me (59), Mist Me? (55), Grapveine (63), Overnight (61), Out of The Blue (53), Deja Blue (57) , Whirlpool (51)
(Iron)y (45) is accurately described as a dark grey, I would class this shade as a dark, charcoal, blackened grey, it is not quite pure black, but not quite a pale grey, but it is dark and the closest you will get to a black out of the matte highliner range.
(Earth)quake (41) is a cool dark, almost black shade, which I would class as a “dark chocolate” shade, it’s the perfect colour when you want a dark liner, but not a black one.
(Brown)ie (43) is a beautiful rich, warm medium brown which almost leans copper or bronze. This shade has a really great creamy formula and would be super flattering on those with blue eyes.
(Fine)wine (47) is a dark, rich red which falls in-between the maroon and mahogany category. This eyeliner had some issues with application, the tip was dry, but the middle was creamy causing the tip of the product to break off whilst being used.
(Pop)ular (49) is a fun, bright, candy pink. This shade is great for a pop of colour and has an amazing smooth formula, not overly creamy, but not overly dry either. This shade is my favourite out of the range and actually looks quite interesting on the eyes.
Pink of Me (59) is described a powder pink shade, when swatched it is true to its pale, powdery, baby pink colour, but once applied to the eyes it leans slightly purple. This shade is the closest to a nude shade out of this range of eyeliners for use on the waterline.
Mist Me? (55) is a gorgeous pale lilac shade and another one of my favourites in the range. The formula is similar to that of popular, being a perfect mix of both creamy and firm.
Grape(vine) (63) is a cool, dark deep purple shade which from a distance *almost* appears black. This shade is great for those with hazel and green eyes as it helps enhance green tones, but isn’t overly bold.
Over(night) (61) is a beautiful deep blue, this shade almost appears navy, but has a touch more blue. This shade is great for brown eyes as the cool tone helps make them look brighter.
Out of the Blue (53) is a beautiful fun, electric blue and one of my favourites in the range. I love this shade for a fun pop of colour and looks amazing on brown eyes.
Deja Blue (57) is a pale powder blue shade which is very
similar in terms of formula and application to pink of me. I’m not a
huge fan of this shade wise.
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*This post contains a product/sample which was sent to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy. This does not alter the honesty of this review or this blog, all opinions stated are honest and my own.