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Among editorial pros like makeup artist Raoúl Alejandre, the Valentino Twin Eyeliner has been a best-kept secret for mesmerizing winged eyes. But now it’s finally having its moment in the sun, thanks to TikTok and its reigning queen of makeup, Mikayla Nogueira. “It glides; it’s precise,” the 24-year-old proclaimed as she traced on a set of graphic flicks with the ease of a skilled calligrapher. “This is my new favorite.” Of course, there’s no higher accolade than a rave from Nogueira, but being a cat-eye obsessive, I had to try it myself.
As a perennial twofer enthusiast, I already had high hopes for the Twin pen. Saturated in Valentino red, the double-sided eyeliner features a semi-matte, ultra-black liquid on one end, while the other is a gel in one of four colors—classic black, deep red, navy blue, or mocha brown. While you can use each side on its own, you can also tag team to create a two-toned eye design such as a graphic double wing. What really elevates this multi-purpose tool are the ultra-fine tips which allow for excellent precision and intricacy of designs if you want to go there.
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One morning, while dangerously caffeinated, I set out to draw on express siren eyes, painting slender flicks along the upper lash line, extending out toward the tip of the brow. I was thrilled at the smoothness, definition, and pigmented payoff of my admittedly rushed strokes. I didn’t even have to reach for a Q-tip to clean it up, which is a true victory. All the more satisfying was finishing the look with the gel eyeliner, applied across the waterlines using the other end. It also went the extra mile longevity-wise, lasting the entire day with no smudging or melting, even after I went for a long walk in the New York City heat wave.
I’m forever trying to maximize makeup potential with the few products I carry around with me, and I can attest that Valentino’s viral Twin pen is the perfect double-sided eyeliner to keep in your bag for both ease and artistry whenever inspiration for a next-level eye statement strikes.
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