Sue Devitt Kolinsky Sable Eye Base Brush

It's a good thing that Sue Devitt's brush handle are such a distinct baby blue color, because most days this Kolinsky Sable Eye Base brush is the first one I reach for as I start my eye makeup (as does Josephine, above, though her motives are somewhat different). Sue Devitt's eye base brush is wide, soft and covers the lid and/or brown with an even coat of eye shadow. It feels luxurious and pampering against the delicate skin, and knowing the hair was collected without harming the Kolinsky sables (all Sue Devitt brushes are cruelty-free) makes it a guiltless pleasure.

The Kolinsky Sable Eye Base brush is thicker than most eye brushes in my collection, except for the Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep brush which is used for a similar purpose. I use these two interchangeably, though I'd say I prefer Bobbi's for a sheer base and Sue's when I want a little more coverage. The flat shape of the eye base brush also lends itself for lay-down application and packing more color, something the Bobbi Brown brush was not designed to do.

For comparison, Sephora Professional Large Shadow #12 (mine is older than the current Professional Platinum incarnation, but it's the same brush) is the closest in terms of size and width. It's not as soft (made of goat and pony mix, and yes, it sounds very very wrong) and has less give, but it's a decent brush for the price ($18). Hakuhodo S121G is even softer than Sue Devitt but thinner and tapered at the edge, making it pretty versatile. It's not so much an all-over lid brush, but can still perform this task with most eye shadow textures and is probably the best eye shadow brush I own (a full review to come). It's only a few dollars more than the Sue Devitt brush, so if you're considering only adding one brush to your collection this might be the one. Paula Dorf Eye Glimmer brush (discontinued but still widely available) is close in size and shape but much denser and is only for packing color on the lid. The Armani Shader Brush is narrower than Sue Devitt but just as thick. It's not soft enough for my liking but is still a good performer as a lay-down brush or an all-over lid brush for smaller eyes/lids.

Bottom Line: a favorite.

Sue Devitt Kolinsky Sable Eye Base Brush ($35) is available from Barneys, Dermstore and suedevittbeauty.com.

All photos are mine with the help of Miss Josephine.

Sue Devitt Kalahari Eye Intensifier Pencil

There's something weird going on with my Sue Devitt Kalahari Eye Intensifier Pencil. As you can see in the photos, it's not new; I've had it for months. I first took pictures when I bought Kalahari last summer but none turned even remotely acceptable. I tried again month after months, every time I did a major swatching/photographing session. I used my old camera, my new one and in desperation even my phone. Kalahari remains elusive. I'm not too happy with this eleventy seventh attempt, but it should do. It's not like the swatch on Sue Devitt's website is so much better.

As camera-shy as Kalahri might be, it's a great color and product for the lazy person's smoky eye. I've been a devoted fan of Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifier pencils for nearly a decade. The combination of excellent pigmentation, great texture for both lining and shadowing and pretty colors has made them an essential go-to items. The results I get from lining my eyes with these pencils and then smudging (the Intensifiers have a built-in smudge applicator, but also cooperate nicely with good smudge brushes) is inversely proportional to the time and effort it takes. Adding a touch of a sheer/shimmery eye shadow over it takes it to the next level and the eye makeup is done.

Kalahri is a true gray. The finish is opaque and creamy with  no shimmer. Like all Sue Devitt Eye Intensifiers, this pencil has an ideal yield so it doesn't pull the skin, but enough resistance for accuracy and once applied and set it stays put from morning to night.

Bottom Line: a favorite.

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils ($22) are available from Ulta and suedevitt.com.

All photos are mine.

Sue Devitt New York Balanced Matte Lipstick

Out of the two current hard-to-wear lipstick trends, I love looking at other people who can pull off bright retro orange lipsticks, but find it easier to deal with matte 90s inspired brown-based shades. Sue Devitt  Balanced Matte Lipstick in the aptly-named New York shade is one such item. On Sue Devitt's website New York is described as a soft plum, but in reality it's more of a brownish mauve- the brown is more pronounced on the lips than in the tube, though.

For a matte lipstick, Sue Devitt's Balanced Matte formula is a lot more comfortable to wear than anything else I've tried. As long as I start my day with well-conditioned lips, the lipstick doesn't dry them and actually feels reasonable soft. I admit that my personal preference is to add a touch of clear balm on top, trend be damned, but it's not a real necessity. The finish of the lipstick is very velvety, mattish but not totally dry. My lips don't look dry even without a balm.

 What I do find necessary is using a lip liner. Sue Devitt's lipstick doesn't bleed but I find that it looks best when the edges are very well-defined. It's more polished and finished this way. Surprisingly, the lipstick doesn't leave much of a stain behind and requires a touch-up after about four hours. It probably has something to do with the fact Balanced Matte is not as dry as other lipsticks with a similar finish.

Bottom Line: nice but not a true love.

Sue Devitt New York Balanced Matte Lipstick ($20) is available from Barneys, select Bloomingdales' locations and suedevittbeauty.com

All photos are mine.

Sue Devitt Golden Triangle Eye Intensifier Pencil

From the "can't go wrong with this" department, we have another beautiful Sue Devitt chubby Eye Intensifier Pencil. Golden Triangle is a metallic olive with quite a bit of gold sheen that would appeal to any khaki green lover. The color is so pretty, it brings out rich hues in brown eyes, looks like a million dollar and takes about 15 second per eye to apply, including blending.

The texture of Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifiers is quite soft and smooth. They are more of an eye shadow than liners- I use Golden Triangle on the lid and in the crease, with or without a wash of a nude base eye shadow (Le Metier de Beaute in Naked is a favorite). The built-in blending sponge is surprisingly good for this task, making the Eye Intensifier a perfect choice on the go. They stay put until I go after them with an eye makeup remover, so that helps too when there's no time for touch ups and mirror breaks.

Botton Line: a makeup bag staple.

Sue Devitt Golden Triangle Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22) is available at Barneys, some Bloomingdale's location and Henri Bendel, as well as from suedevitt.com.

Photos and veiny wrists are all mine.

Sue Devitt Victoria Falls Eye Intensifier Pencil

The chubby Eye Intensifier pencils from Sue Devitt have been part of my makeup arsenal long before starting this blog. They are wickedly efficient multitaskers that require very little skill or effort to give one a pretty look. They work both as an eyeliner (medium to thick line) and an eye shadow, can be smudged, sheered and create the perfect smoky eye. The Eye Intensifier pencils are also my go-to item for a simple casual look (aka "just dropping at the dry cleaners/post office/corner store before getting back into jammies and slippers") that still gives my eyes depth and definition. So, yes, Sue Devitt has earned her place in my shortlist with this one.

Victoria Falls is a gorgeous rich almost navy blue. It's one of the colors I find most flattering on me, both for my skin tone and eye color. It's not too bright and doesn't look age inappropriate (I keep everything else nude/neutral), but definitely noticeable in a very good way. I've been playing with Victoria Falls in several combinations and looks- top lashes, bottom lashes, paired with nothing but a black mascara or smoked out with some Chanel Bois Bleu eye shadow. The pencil always works and looks much more sophisticated that the 30 seconds per eye it actually takes.

I use a primer, of course, and the Eye Intensifier stays put without creasing or fading for about 8-10 hours (depending on weather and activity). Topping the pencil with an eye shadow cements it in place until I bring on the makeup remover. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is using this product on the waterline. Not that it's meant for that in the first place- the Eye Intensifier is many things but it's not a kohl, as I've learned the hard way- it made my eyes water and sting when I tried. It was my fault, though, so I now keep it on the outer side of my lashes and all is well.

Bottom Line: highly recommended.

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22) is available from Barneys, Bloomigdale's and Ulta, as well as through the company's website (suedevittbeauty.com), which right now offers a 20% discount for the holiday weekend (no code needed).

All photos are mine.

Sue Devitt Nordland Silky Sheen Eye Shadow

I'm a fan of Sue Devitt makeup and have several Silky Sheen eye shadows in my regular rotation.  I was thrilled to get Nordland as a GWP recently, since it's been on my "to buy" list for a while now. The color is a smoky brown based purple that goes very taupish mauve on my skin (wrist and lid alike). It's as neutral as it is pigmented, and the silky texture makes applying and blending a breeze.

You will notice that the finish of Nordland is a little different than that of the three colors I showed in my older post. It's less metallic and looks like a light shimmer over a matte base. That's how it appears on the lid, though I'm pretty sure I used a different base in the previous post. I get more sheen when I use the Sue Devitt shadows over Kanebo Sensai eye base than over the one from Urban Decay.

Bottom Line: Very pretty.

Sue Devitt Silky Eye Shadows ($18) are available from select department stores and suedevittbeauty.com.

All photos are mine.