This story first appeared on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign up here. The Strategist Beauty Brief is delivered every Wednesday.
My bias against felt-tip eyeliners is due to years of disappointment. I won’t name names, but I’ve tried many (including several “cult classics”). But they’ve all had patchy application. Even if they go on smoothly, if the liner takes too long to dry, it’s game over for my monolids. If the liner’s even a little bit wet, one blink will stamp it on my lids.
So when I received a sample of Lisa Eldridge’s Kitten Flick Liquid Eyeliner, I expected it would end up in the trash bin, too. But it’s been five months now — still going strong. Felt-tip brush sizes vary, but I’ve found that thicker, marker-type brushes are unwieldy, especially when trying to create a knife-sharp point. The smaller brush tip of the Kitten Flick lets me control the thickness of my lines. Plus, the ink is dark and pigmented, and it flows smoothly from the brush for a uniform application. And, importantly, it dries down very quickly. It’s set almost the moment it’s applied. That means no lid transfer. The longevity is impressive too. Again, because of my monolids, my eyeliner is subject to constant friction, and the lines fade or blur after a while. The Kitten Flick stays dark and strong for a full 12 hours.
I put Kitten Flick to a real test when my best friend and I booked a trip to Disney World in September. In Orlando, I was constantly enveloped by mugginess, but after a day at the park (including an actually wet Princess Tiana ride), my eyeliner was still pristine. Even after my skin tint had melted off, Kitten Flick was as crisp and sharp as when I first applied it.
After Disney, I was well and truly sold. I’m still using Kitten Flick daily, and I’m still on that first tube. It’s the only felt-tip liner I’ll ever buy, and if you’re as much of an eyeliner fanatic as I am, you might want to try it, too.
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