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| Above: Napoleon China Doll Eyeliner in Yin and Lotus…the chic way to create a cat eye. |
I love the look of a clean, expertly executed cat eye and often rely on liquid liner to achieve that aim. Recently, I had the chance to try a new cream version and was stunned by the ease of application, intensity of pigmentation and the sophistication of the results. The Napoleon Perdis China Doll Eyeliner in Lotus, a luminous taupe-tinged grey and Yin, a rich jet black, is a joy to use; one dip into the creamy formula with a 5a Precision Angel Sable Brush and I am transported to a classic era in history…a golden period in time where one gloriously “painted their face,” rather than simply “put on makeup.” It’s incredible what a diminutive pot of color and a sleek brush can do!
Kindly scroll on for more details, swatches, images of the Napoleon Perdis China Doll Eyeliner on the eyes and the Bottom Line…
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| Above: A delightfully brief ingredients list…this formula is friendly to my very sensitive, contact-lense-wearing eyes! |
Here is the official word on the China Doll Eyeliner, courtesy of Neiman Marcus:
Enhance your eyes with this smudge-proof, long-wearing gel eyeliner by Napoleon Perdis. The creamy formula glides on with ease but quickly sets to a highly pigmented finish that stays in place. For a fine line of definition, apply with any Napoleon Perdis ‘5a’ Precision Angle Sable Brush (sold separately). Pro Tip: Using Napoleon Perdis ‘5a’ Precision Angle Sable Brush, wash China Doll Gel Eyeliner over the entire eye lid for a long-wear eye shadow base. Tap a dusting of Loose Eye Dust over the top for a fusion of color and texture.
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| Above: Lotus is luminescent taupe-meets-grey. |
The China Doll Eyeliner in Lotus is a gorgeous shimmering grey taupe that can be worn as a upper or lower line as well as a single wash of color on the lid. It engenders a multi-dimensional, light-catching vibe that subtly illuminates the eyes.
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| Above: The complex shimmer of Lotus is apparent in direct sunlight. |
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| Above: I included this image to demonstrate the dense, creamy texture of the China Doll formula. |
I prefer wearing Lotus along my lower lash line; I put a bit on the brush and carefully apply it as close to my lashes as possible. Paired with the raven Yin, Lotus adds a demure gleam that appropriate for professional environments and prevents the cat eye look from appearing over the top.
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| Above: Yin is a true black. |
The China Doll Eyeliner in Yin is a pure inky black with no shimmer. This shade works well on my upper lid, swept along the lash line and finished with a tiny tail. If I want to tone the dark effect of Yin, I might add a touch of Lotus to create a soft, slightly shimmer black result (as reflected in the picture below). This formula glides on effortlessly, and once set, I find that there is no transfer to my upper orbital region (which is a perennial plight in light of the shape of my eyes). I took the pictures at the end of this post after an entire day of teaching (8 hours+), which is a true testament to the stalwart and formidable nature of this decadent cream!
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| Above: The mesmerizing, raven orb that is Yin. |
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| Above: Swatches of Lotus and Yin in direct sunlight. |
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| Above: The Lotus + Yin combination on my upper lids (after a 8+ hour work day!) |
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| Above: Lotus + Yin on top, Lotus on the bottom. |
The following images reflect the full face…with the exception of mascara, no other eye products were used create this look!
Bottom Line: The Napoleon Perdis China Doll Eyeliner is such a lovely product. The silky cream formula is remarkably easy to work with and the sophisticated effects have significant lasting power…I adore painting this on in the morning. Highly recommended!
Addendum 4/4/14: With regards to the mint green silk pouch featured in this post, I have just been informed that it can still be procured (for free, no less!) with the purchase of any two Napoleon Perdis China Doll Eyeliners on the Napoleon Perdis website ; )
**PR sample provided for review , however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally my own. This post contains affiliate links; my disclosure policy contains additional details on how these work.
Comments (8)
Lotus is absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks, Shireen…I love how easy it is to wear!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Thanks for reviewing this – how would you compare this to Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner?
My pleasure…I find this to be a bit more emollient than the Bobbi Brown…it's silky, rather than stiff and still lasts forever!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Love you eyes, but also the little bag. Where did you get it from?
Hi Debi,
Many thanks! I love the little bag as well…I got it directly from Neiman Marcus and can confirm that it is made by Napoleon Perdis (branded on the zipper pull) but I am not sure how to track it down online. Let me see what I can try to find out and please feel free to check back in a day or two!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Beautiful. I must try lotus as I always use various browns.
Thank you so much, Lynn…Lotus is rich and unique…highly recommended!
xoxo, my friend!
–The Beauty Professor