Shiseido- Accentuating Cream Eyeliner

The stuff inside the little pot of Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner appears almost glossy until you actually apply it to your lid. The creamy texture is very pliable and easy to use, but the impressive part is the way this Shiseido eyeliner behaves and settles on skin. It has an almost kohl effect that melds with the skin. I hesitate calling it a "lived-in" look because that implies a smeared and smudgy look, which is NOT the case here. The best way to describe the effect created by Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner is probably to say that it's the opposite of a harsh and graphic look. While the color is a true black, there's a softness to it that I find very beautiful. As soft as this cream liner is, it's also incredibly long-lasting and doesn't budge once set and dry. The line even resists an accidental eye rubbing. I've used it for tightlining as well as on the lashline with great success and no eye irritation.

Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner comes with the small synthetic brush you see above. The cover of the brush attaches to its bottom to form a handle, and the shape and density are perfect for the product. A couple of days after I got the eyeliner the kittens took off with the brush. Don't ask me how it happened or where they stashed it. I looked all over the place, but I suspect that somewhere in the house there's a secret stash of small items and single socks the cats are hiding from me. Since then I discovered that long and thin eyeliner brushes don't work well with this Shiseido cream liner (Louise Young LY24A and MAC 209 type). Instead, you need to go with a similar density to the original Shiseido brush and use stiff brushes- angled or ones like Hakuhodo K005.

Bottom Line: Love. Now I wish they'd make one in navy blue.

Shiseido- Accentuating Cream Eyeliner ($26) is available at the counters, Sephora (online only), and shiseido.com.