FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black Review

It seemed like all Korean YouTubers had and raved about the FLOWFUSHI Moteliner eyeliner in 2018. By the time I got around to buy and try it in 2019, it seemed the entire Moteliner had been discontinued, rebranded, relaunched, and possibly reformulated as "UZ by FLOWFUSHI" and was grazing NYFW with its new wide and wild color range.

I am a little hesitant to review something that may no longer be available. (May because it is still listed on the FLOWFUSHI Japanese website. But I don't comprehend the language at all to know if it is still available to purchase or not.) My final decision to share my thoughts is purely for to me keep track and compare in case I decided to try the new version in the future.

As with most liquid eyeliner products, there are some things I really liked about the Moteliner and some that I wish could be improved on. The unique situation here is perhaps FLOWFUSHI has already improved upon what I did not like already.

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black packaging

FLOWFUSHI's description:

This is a multi-functional eyeliner that offers a premium application. Its brush is invented by a Kumano brush maker, made from 4 different types of bristles of varying quality and coarseness. An octagonal handle that fits the fingers, allowing steady, stable application. A pigment that doesn’t stain the skin, protecting skin from discoloration. Resistant to sweat, water, sebum, and tears. It is fast-drying, good for layering and can be removed with warm water easily.

  • 200% stronger water resistance
  • Advanced technology
  • Dye-free eyeliner
  • Easy to remove with warm water

Ingredients
WATER, ACRYLATES/ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, ALCOHOL, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM POLYASPARTATE, GARNET POWDER, AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL, PVP, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, DIETHYLHEXYL SODIUM SULFOSUCCINATE, SIMETHICONE, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, SORBITAN PALMITATE, SORBITAN LAURATE, HYDROGENATED PALM GLYERCIDES, SORBITAN TROLEATE, SUCROSE PALMITATE, BALCK 2, FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE, RED 33, BLUE 1

Liner 0.55 ml / 0.02 fl. oz


lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black pen design details close up

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black brush close up

Packaging

A luxe-feeling, seemingly all-plastic, pen-type packaging with a detachable cap. It isn't super lightweight but definitely heftier than your typical liner pen. Something very unique about the Moteliner is the octagonal shape of the tubing design. I would like to say it gives a better gift than something with smooth "sides" but that could just be me. The printing on it is very simple yet there is a stuck-on label with some information in Japanese.

FLOWFUSHI stands by it's quality designed brush applicator by master Japanese artists. I don't generally prefer brush-type eyeliners but I do have to say this may have changed my mind a little. It doesn't fray quickly and seems to always revert back to this well-tapered shape. The line it draws varies greatly and easily depending only on how much pressure I apply and not on whether I use the tip or the fatter part of the brush.

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black swatch

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black negative con

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

*Moteliner line is (or maybe was) available in Black, Brown Black, Brown, and Navy Black.

Navy black is a misnomer. The initial line dispensed by the pen is a washed-navy color. Adding even one more layer of liner quickly deepens the blue. Another layer or two gets it closer to a blue-black shade but definitely not the same as a jet black would be.

The ink and brush combination reminds me of watercolor painting. The opacity varies depending on layers with the first and lightest strokes being less intense. There is a wet look before the liner dries down but that becomes matte and shine-free afterward. It has no scent either.

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black

lavlilacs FLOWFUSHI Moteliner - Navy Black


How I Apply

Draw a line as long to the lash line as possible after applying eyeshadow and curling my lashes. I find myself having to draw short strokes if I want a thin line. Otherwise, one long stroke is okay for a thicker line. A second coat is usually always necessary for a deeper color.

Thoughts & Recommendations

The brush is a dream to use. All praises are deserved for whoever the Japanese brush masters were that created it. In the almost half a year since I've opened it, the brush has not shown any signs of actually drying out. There are no dry spots (like with a marker-tip) and the ink flows well. It is easy to control. While some may not like that it takes multiple coats to get the intense blue-black color, others may enjoy the freedom to built up color opacity.

I think the worst part about the brush, or maybe it is the ink, is that if left unused for a while the ink on the brush dries up and needs to be wiped away. The dried gunk acts like a glue and refuses to let new ink from flowing through. It detaches from the applicator, in strands and patches, pretty easily though and works like new after.

When drawn on dry, product-less hands, the ink does not smudge at all. A little of the dried surface pigment may rub off but it doesn't smear. When drawn on a matte face base and my eyelids don't get too oily or watery, the liner stays on great. As with most eyeliners once sebum is introduced though it does show some flakiness.

The weirdest part about the Moteliner, however, is that sebum, tears and friction will almost completely eliminate the eyeliner. This is actually a point that FLOWFUSHI uses in their marketing, that it is easily removed with just warm water. (Freshly drawn liner requires water and quite a bit of rubbing to remove.) But for those with teary eyes, this is not the product to be reaching for. Otherwise, yes Moteliner is water-resistant in the sense that splashing water only will not cause the ink to budge.

FLOWFUSHI says that the formula is dye-free. I am not 100% what that entails and am not too curious to search it up. I will say that from personal experience, the Navy Black color doesn't irritate my eyes at all but it does stain the skin a little if it isn't removed properly.

Chances are high that I will eventually try the UZ version out of curiosity. It promises the same great brush design and better attention to environmental sustainability. There is an impressive range of 13 colors wearable and bold colors to choose from now, in addition to an entire line of "7 Shades of Black" range. The best thing is probably the $16 price point and easier accessibility in America.

stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black

lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black Review

When I noticed how great a friend of my friend's eyeliner looked after being in a people-induced hot concert on a warm September evening, I knew I needed to know what she had used. "Stila" was what she said, stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is what I got to try. After using it for almost a year (way over their recommended time of 6 months but that is beside the point), I can definitely see why she and tons of other people call this their holy grail. Me though? Not quite yet not the worst I have tried either.

lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black packaging

stila's description:

Our #1 selling waterproof liquid liner enables you to create a variety of eye-opening effects from thin, precise lines to thick, dramatic looks. The formula glides on with ease, dries quickly and won't smudge or run day-into-night. The fine marker-like tip offers a precise application for everyone from novices to pros and results in beautifully defined eyes that will leave a lasting impression.

Benefits:

Waterproof and easy-to-use
Goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling
It lasts all day long!

Directions
Pull gently on the upper corner of the eye area to stretch and smooth the eye before lining with the liquid eyeliner. This will make it easy to line and eliminate bleeding.

Apply the liner as close to the lashes as possible. In order to avoid a gap between the lashes and the lining, try painting the liner into the lashes using small feathering strokes.

It is usually easiest to apply liquid eyeliner by starting at the area of the eye where the brush naturally falls. For right-handed women this is most likely a left to right motion; for left-handed women, it is usually a right to left motion.

Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is the perfect product for creating glamorous cat eyes. The best cat eye can be achieved by extending the eye shape. Use the lower lash line as a guide and create the wing first. Then connect it when lining the rest of the eye. Also, as a good rule of thumb, begin to line upward at the second to last lash.

Ingredients
WATER/AQUA, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, BEHENETH-30, SODIUM POLYASPARTATE,PHENOXYETHANOL, ALCOHOL, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, DISODIUM EDTA, ACRYLATES/OCTYLACRYLAMIDE COPOLYMER, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, XANTHAN GUM, MAY CONTAIN (+/_) TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), BLACK 2 (CI 77266)

Eyeliner 0.5 ml / 0.016 fl. oz

Stila: USD $22.00


lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black tube close up

Packaging

A lightweight plastic pen tubing with a detachable cap. There is a spring mechanism inside the cap to protect the pen tip applicator from being smushed. While a lot of text is printed on the barrel of the pen, it has surprisingly not smudged off at all with constant usage. The color of the actual packaging itself seems to correlate with the color of the eyeliner.

This particular liner has a marker-type, "spongey" tip that is pretty malleable but not as delicate and flowy as a brush-type liner would be. It is capable of trying thinner lines but as the pointest tip starts to dry out it doesn't dispense as much ink as say the thicker parts of the marker would.

lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black swatch different conditions

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

*Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner comes in 8 colors: Intense Black (jet black), Dark Brown (rich chocolate), Alloy (charcoal), Midnight (deep blue), Snow (white), Intense Smoky Quartz (espresso), Intense Labradorite (charcoal), and Jade (vibrant green).

Intense Black is indeed a jet black as Stila describes. The pigmentation is strong and one swipe provides a strong opacity from the get-go. A fresh dispense of ink does look a little wet and shiny but that does dry down to a matte and luster-less color. Before it is completely set the ink has a very tacky and sticky finish; the more layers of the liner is applied, the stickier and longer it takes to dry. Once it is set though, it feels as if nothing was applied at all while delivering a strong color pigment. There is no noticeable scent to the ink.

lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black before after

lavlilacs stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black flaky eyeliner

How I Apply

Draw a line as close to my lash line, without getting it onto my waterline, after applying eyeshadow and curling my lashes.

Thoughts & Recommendations

There are some very impressive points to the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.
1 - It does not budge at all when I go to try and smudge it after swatching on dry, product-less hands. If I had a matte face base and my eyelids don't get too oily or wet during the day, the eyeliner looks about the same as when I first applied it.
2 - Intense Black is highly pigmented and draws opaque right away. Even when I draw over an existing line, the new ink and/or applicator tip doesn't lift away any previously drawn stuff.
3 - The ink doesn't ever seem to dry or run out even after having it opened for nearly a year (as of this post).

Here is where, I think, this particular eyeliner starts to see some fault.
1 - As sebum and tears are introduced into the mix the eyeliner becomes strangely flakey. If a little human touch is added the ink completely wipes away. I guess this is good for easier removal at the end of the day but it is a bad story for those who specifically are looking for waterproof and longer wear time.
2 - The ink is too tacky for my liking. It also takes a long time to dry if I apply a thick layer or even two layers. If I had better line drawing skills it wouldn't be a problem but I always find myself having to do patchwork in the mornings. When not fully set the ink will transfer and crease.
3 - The marker-type tip isn't great in the long run. The pointiest and thinnest part dries out quickly so I can basically only apply thick lines with the fatter part of the marker, which then is less precise and therefore leads to more need for patchwork and more stickiness.

I am surprised to see that the eyeliner is "Made in Japan" and "Assembled in Korea". Most brands don't typically write this out. I guess stila is playing up the aspect that it is different in origin and may be of higher quality for those who prefer Asian formulated things. I do wonder if this same formula is used in other Japanese eyeliners since I have heard that formulators tend to shop the same things to different brands and it is then sold in different packaging.

While I can see why there is such a strong following for the Stay All Day liner and most of the claims stila makes is fairly well delivered, I don't think it is quite the right formulation and delivery for my own eyes. There are some days where I love wearing it because I applied it great in one swipe. Then there are days where I annoyingly have to do many touch-ups and wait for the stickiness to set in addition to getting oily/teary eyes. A girl can hope for having the best of all worlds.

Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao

lavlilacs Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao Review

Etude House has really got something very right with their very small yet extremely mighty Proof 10 line of products. Both the Proof 10 Eye Primer and this Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner have worked wonders for me together and separately. That is saying a lot considering I tried a bunch of eyeliner products at the same time but prefer Etude House's one much more.

lavlilacs Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao packaging

Etude House's description:

Its creamy gel texture helps you draw a precise line with ease.

Create your everyday makeup look with the super wearable shades.

You can sharpen the tip with the bottom sharpener to create a precise, fine line for defined eyes.

Strong waterproof film polymer withstands water and sebum for a long-lasting, smudge-proof eyeliner that stays put.

Directions
Twist to dispense a certain amount and use it on the desired area. Close cap after use.

Ingredients
DARK CACAO
TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), ISODODECANE, POLYETHYLENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), SYNTHETIC WAX, CERESIN, MICA (CI 77019), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), SYNTHETIC CANDELILLA WAX, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, POLYISOBUTENE, METHICONE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE


Pencil 0.3 g / 0.01 oz

Etude House (Korean retail): ₩6,800
Etude House (American retail): USD $8.84
YESSTYLE: USD $12.90
BeautyBoxKorea: USD $7.40


lavlilacs Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao pencil tube details

Packaging

A lightweight plastic retractable pencil with a cap on one end and a pull-out sharpener on the other. Most of the tubing is navy blue in color. The only bit different is the part that attaches to the sharpener, which has the same color as the eyeliner itself.

It doesn't appear to have the expiration or manufactured date printed on either the box or the pencil itself. I guess it shouldn't be too big of an issue if purchasing from a reputable seller or Etude House directly.

lavlilacs Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao swatch smudged waterproof test

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

The pencil is available in 6 colors: Black, Dark Cacao, Milk Chocolate, Rose Brown, Wood Fire*, and Honey Bronze*.

*Glittery colors in the line.

Dark Cacao is as its name suggests a dark and rich chocolate brown color. The formulation is soft enough to dry well without being overly creamy to the point that it smudges—reminiscent of "cray-pas"/oil pastels if you're familiar with those. Overall, it glides with a breeze onto my eyelids without any tug or pulls. The line I get from it is very smooth without any crackly edges. Since it is a matte brown color, it also dries and sets to a very matte and dull-looking finish. There is no detectable scent.

lavlilacs Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner - Dark Cacao before after

How I Apply

Draw a line however I feel after having applied my face products and eyeshadow, even after curling my lashes but before mascara (if any).

Thoughts & Recommendations

I can't even remember the last time I liked an eyeliner product as much as I do the Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner. I would go as far as to say that it is the I have tried so far (that is still available for purchase).

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but not really sorry as I just really love these points about this product. The pencil itself isn't too hard that I have to tug and pull to draw a smooth line. Yet it isn't so soft and creamy that it smudges like crazy once it meets any kind of oil or water. I have gone well over 12 hours with it on, without primer and with a dewy sunscreen/base, and get only the slightest of smudges. Despite it lasting so well, the product still cleanses off easily with makeup remover or cleansing balm/oil.

I haven't used the sharpener even though there is built into the packaging. It just feels a little wasteful to sacrifice some of the good product just to get a pointier tip. If I want a truly defined line I would go for a liquid or potted liner + makeup brush. That's just my thoughts.

Dark Cacao may be a bit dull in color for some. But it is a great as a less obvious line color. Black would definitely be on my To-Try list the next time around. The other colors in the line may be too bright to wear on the daily. If it isn't already obvious enough, I think everyone should try it...immediately.