Versus: Kat Von D Liquid Liner Ink and Tattoo

*Purchased and Gift

Hello! So this post was conceived out of my confusion regarding these two eyeliners. I have been using Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner which has become my HG (holy grail) liquid eyeliner. I’ve been seeing a couple of very positive reviews for Kat Von D’s Ink liner and curiosity got the best of me. So today, I’ll be breaking down the claims of these two eyeliners and giving my own thoughts!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

So as mentioned, I have been using this liner since around January. I received it as a gift in the Sephora Favourite’s Eyeliner kit which was available during Christmas. Unfortunately I don’t think this kit is available anymore, and I haven’t seen this deluxe sample size anywhere else. Anyhoo, here is the description from the Sephora website on this liner:

Achieve eye perfection with this high-pigment, waterproof liner that stays put all day for a fade-, melt-, crack-, and run-resistant finish. The superfine and flexible brush tip glides across the lashline for incredibly fluid application, allowing you to create a variety of looks with ease. Unlike traditional felt tip liners, this brush tip will not fray.

This is only the second product I’ve used with a brush tip and it’s so great. You get such a clean line with no pull. In the winter I noticed NO smudging in my outer lower lash line which is very surprising. Using it in the warmer weather I notice a bit of smudging but nothing too crazy.

Tattoo comes in 2 colours, black and brown.

 

Kat Von D Ink Liner

Going into this comparison, I thought that the only difference between the two liners is that one has a brush tip (Tattoo) and one has a felt tip (Ink). Here is what the Sephora website description is for this one:

Flaunt a killer line every time with Ink Liner. The innovative, no-fray marker tip holds the maximum level of formula, giving you bold lines with instant color lay-down and stunning intensity. Remarkably easy to use, the felt tip applicator provides total control for effortless eye lining. Rock your look around the clock with this waterproof formula that delivers a fade and run-resistant finish for up to 24 hours of wear. For effortless drama, put it in ink.

It’s pretty similar to Tattoo eh? I have used the Stila All Day Liner which is also a felt tip liner. In comparison, Ink is sooooo much better. I find Stila can dispense really watery at the beginning and the end of it’s life. But I digress. I found that Ink smudged so much more than Tattoo. I tested these a lot with one eye Tattoo one eye Ink, one day all Tattoo and one day all Ink. I noticed that Ink had smudged on my considerably more thank Tattoo. It’s not as crazy as maybe a kohl pencil but still noticeable.

 

Swatches

 

It might be hard to tell from this picture but Ink I noticed was a bit ‘blacker’ than Tattoo. Keep in mind, I’ve had Tattoo for months more than Ink. In all honesty, the swatches are pretty similar. You would be able to tell a huge difference I think.
I think this picture shows both eyeliners in a nutshell. I drew these swatches on my arm at the same time so one liner had the same amount of drying time as the other. I soaked a cotton pad in tap water and applied medium pressure over the swatches. Tattoo on the left is much less ‘black’ than Ink, but if you look at the cotton pad, there is much less transfer from Tattoo than Ink. I haven’t tested these swimming or anything but I would say that these liners are both pretty waterproof. Just don’t rub your eyes when you have it around water. 😉

You have noooo idea how hard it was to take this picture. So what I noticed from the two when actually on my eye was that I could not get Ink as crisp as I could get Tattoo. I also noticed application wise that I had a bit more trouble with Ink than Tattoo. Matte-wise I would say that both are not matte, but Ink is a tad less shiny. I honestly wouldn’t pick one over the other if matte-ness was your main concern.

Verdict

You might have guessed this already, but I would prefer Tattoo over Ink. I do want to iterate that Ink is a very very good eyeliner. It is very black which I love in my eyeliners. I just noticed on me personally with my eye shape, I got some smudging on my lower lash line much more prominently with Ink. I also find that I prefer the brush tip compared to the felt tip. Ink does have a LOT more colour selections if that’s what you’re after. I would say that these formulas are not exact but very very close. Last week I exchanged my full sized Ink liner for Tattoo.

So that was rather blabby! I hope this provided some insight on the two Kat Von D eyeliners though! Let me know if you have any questions about these liners, maybe I can help you out. Hope you have a wonderful day!

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17 Comments

  1. Thanks for the post!! I'm a devotee of the tattoo liner (I think I have 3 at home omg -.-) but I was thinking of trying the ink liner after I finish a tattoo liner. Sucks the ink smudged, but nevertheless I'll give it a go and keep this post in mind!

  2. I like your new blog design! Nice review, it's impossible to take proper photos of eye swatches!! They look quite similar to me but smudging on lower lash line is no no. Sometimes when eyeliners are too black, it's actually harder to work with.

  3. Thanks for the comparison! I didn't have the black so I wasn't sure how the Ink Liner stacked up against the Tattoo Liner. I much, MUCH prefer the Tattoo Liner's brush tip, that's for sure!

  4. Haha that's crazy. Yeah i'd be curious to see your thoughts. I'm not sure if it's just my eye shape but I find this a lot. I have bags under my eyes and it catches on the liner.

  5. Thanks Angela! 😀 This photo was especially crazy. I take my photos with my phone and I couldn't use selfie mode just because the camera is so much worse than the front facing one. Anddd I was blind while taking the photo because I wasn't wearing my glasses.

    Yeah that's kind of what I noticed!

  6. Thanks for the comparison! I've heard so many great things about tattoo that I didn't even know there is a different one! I am more of a gel liner girl because I can use it on both the waterline and lash line, but liquid liners are great for super crisp lines!

  7. Yeah fair enough, I like the look of gel liner better because it's more matte. I'm just the ultimate lazy girl and don't like to use a brush haha. I have that Bobbi Brown one that I should take out more often though!

  8. Thank you so much for your sharing. Personally, I use Majolica Majorca (Japanese brand) – Perfect Automatic Liner for ages. The company replaces it with a new product which is not as good as the old one. I heard a lot about Kat Von D as a good liner. Your opinion helps me make a decision easily. Thanks a lot! 🙂

    1. Hi Sue, thanks for your comment! That’s too bad about the change of formula!! Why fix something that wasn’t broken! Glad I was able to help! Let me know if you have any other questions!

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