Back then Sleek could only be found in afro hair shops or local chemists if you were lucky and the packaging was on par with Constance Carroll (remember them? lol)
Fast forward a good decade on and they’ve had a huge makeover (long overdue!) and have earnt their place as one of Superdrugs most popular lines. I remember the day I first saw them in Superdrug. I froze and just stared in shock.
I first purchased a Sleek Ink Eyeliner Gel Pot about 7 mths ago last Autumn to try out as an alternative to eye liner as I always end up with it smudging onto the top of my lid as my eyes are so weird – annoyance.
The easiest product to compare these to would be Bobbi Brown gel liners. I have Dominatrix which is jet black and Zest which is a bright sunshine yellow.
I was a bit sceptical and expected them to transfer to my upper lid the way most non-waterproof pencils do, but surprisingly they don’t. Ahhh maybe that’s because they’re actually waterproof 🙂
I really like the black one but the yellow isn’t as vibrant on the eye as it is in the po. It’s yellow but not as bright as I’d like it to be, so I layer it up and then just add yellow e/s over it to get it to stand out.
As a much cheaper alternative to Bobbi Brown’s gel liners you can’t go wrong. They come in an array of colours, they last well and are a bargain buy not to be sniffed at.
Warning of warning, be sure to screw the back lid on tightly or they’ll dry out and be ruined.
Don’t stop at the ink pots either, check out the rest of the range which is the only brand you can find in a large consumer store that caters for black skintones at high street prices. This shouldn’t have to be such a big deal in 2009, but it is for me and many others.
Their website will be going live soon so you can buy Sleek online shortly. Until then have a look at their blog.
Price £3.49
Where can I find it? Superdrug, some afro hair shops and soon on their official website.
Nice one I have a couple of these and I really like them I have read that the darker ones tend to be better than some of the lighter and bright shades
Great post – I have been musing over whether to get one of these…Sperdrug here I come! I won't be happy till I have no money left!ha ha
I LOVE these! – I say these like I have loads! I don't just Dominatrix! – But I still heart it! LOL
I got these because I wanted to try them out before spending the extra money on Blacktrack fluidline as I wasn't familiar with gel liners! Needless to say, I've never had a reason to buy Blacktrack, this does the job just fine!
I learnt the hard way about them drying out so I added some glycerin to mine, a little too much infact, so now I just use it as a black base for smokey eyes! – There's a tip for ya! If your gel liner start to dry out add a little glycerin and/or Fix+ and it should help it a little!
I love Sleek always have. I was shocked when I saw them on the shelves in Brixton Superdrug and jumped for joy when I saw them in superdrugs in the east mids. I use the black one as a top lid liner near my lashes with an angled mac brush. Erin of Scandalous beauty always spke of mac fluid lines so this was a cheaper alternative to me.
I have dominatrix and really like it (especially the price lol) although mine was rock hard when I first got it and I have to stir it with the end of a brush whenever I use it it to get it to go creamy 🙁 I always do the lid up tight and like I said, it was like this when I first opened it so I wouldn't have thought it was because it had dried out. Does anyone else have this problem or have I just got a dud?!
P.S. Don't want to put anyone off (or ruin your post Yinka lol!) cos I love it other than this one fault which could just be mine 😉
Miss V – Thanks for the gylcerin tip!
Sofrolushes – It's about time black skin was catered for on the high street. You can go into a drugstore in America and it's nothin to see all Maybelline, Revlon, L'oreal, Cover Girl etc all having shades for black skin. It's frustrating that the UK divisions haven't followed suit!
Lisa – Sounds like yours may have been a dud. No way should it be like that.
I love these, I have 3 of the darker colours. I have had problems with a couple though, it seems like sometimes the lids are not done up tightly in the packaging so its already dried up before you have bought it! Superdrug were fine with me returning them so my advice would be definately open them up and check they are not dry before you get them home! x
thank you for this review…been wanting to buy the Dominatrix for a while instead of Mac fluidline but was doubtful about it…u r very helpful I love ur blog!!!