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Vancouver Beauty: Geisha Ink

Comments 63 by Michelle Kim

For years I’ve bought and used Geisha Ink’s liquid eyeliner, not because its products are consistently listed as a “must-have” in fashion magazines like Vogue and InStyle (which they are) but simply because it’s best eyeliner available–it’s long-lasting yet super easy to wash of. With a Japanese woman in a kimono gracing all its packaging, I always assumed the line was based in Japan, where it’s manufactured, but recently learned I was wrong. Geisha Ink is actually local–owned and operated by Vancouver’s very own Sara Au Yeong.

A photo posted by GEISHA INK (@geishaink) on

The genesis of the line began in 2006 when Sara was invited to be the head makeup artist for the reality television show, Pageant School: Becoming Miss America. Sara was hired to train contestants on professional makeup techniques and assembled their make-up kits. However, she found it a challenge to find an eyeliner and mascara could stay smudge proof and withstand the hot lights.

“As an artist, people were always asking, ‘What for should I be looking for?’ I couldn’t find a product that I really liked, so I decided to make one.”

So while visiting her relatives in Osaka, Japan, she met a cosmetics manufacturer that shared her vision, which lead to the first Geisha Ink product being born: the Geisha liquid eyeliner. Since then, she has also released the Ultra Volume Mascara, brow liners, and a mineral foundation, along with a Kabuki brush to apply the foundation.

Sara is constantly honing the formulas of her products to meet her high standards, including the removal of parabens and other toxic ingredients.

“I eat organic all the time. It’s really important to me. So I carefully look at the hazardness scale of the ingredients and reduce any ingredients that are unsafe.”

This spring, she launched a new mascara: The Silk Mascara.

silkmascara

The formula includes fine silk powder derived from Japanese silk, an Ancient Japanese beauty ingredient. When I applied the product, it glided on smoothly, without and clumps. I was surprised at how long my lashes got with just one coat and how feather-light and soft to touch they were.

“Because silk powder is so lightweight, it does not weigh down lashes. Most mascaras use waxes which weighs your lashes down,” explained Sara.

The look was very refined, fresh, and polished, which I thought was great for spring and on-trend with a softer eye. However, the mascara was also buildable. I applied more product to my top and bottom lashes, at every angle, and got a more dramatic look.

I applied the mascara at 8:30am and wore it all day (to meetings, a little 1-on-1 basketball game with a friend, and dinner out) and the mascara didn’t smudge or flake off at all, which is amazing since I tend to rub my eyes more this time of year because of allergies. At around 11pm, the product came off easily with warm water and a gentle massage using my regular face cleaner. I’m over the moon to have found a wonderful mascara this season and for seasons to come. Better yet, it’s local.

The Silk Mascara is available online or at local makeup shops like BeautyMark and KissandMakeup.

Silk Mascara Giveaway

Geisha Ink has offered up their Silk Mascara for one Miss604 reader to try, keep — and love! Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win @GeishaInk’s #TheSilkMascara from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/MECsc

Follow Geisha Ink on Facebook and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.

Update The winners are loucheryl and Jessica!

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63 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. HarjitThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:19am PDT

    I’ve been looking for an easy to use mascara that doesn’t clump, this sounds like the one, and it’s super that it’s created locally. Thanks for the chance to win , twitter fan@plumerea

  2. JessicaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:28am PDT

    From running around doing work errands, to going to the gym, to weekly soccer games, I would LOVE to find a mascara that doesnt smudge! Thanks for the contest! 🙂

  3. NatalieThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:28am PDT

    No smudging or flaking off? SOLD!

  4. DonnaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:31am PDT

    ooh makeup junkie here! I’d love to try this. Always on the hunt for Holy Grail products

  5. KittyPrideThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:34am PDT

    Would be so nice to have a mascara that doesn’t smudge and doesn’t make my eyelashes all stiff and gloppy.

  6. WinnieThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 10:02am PDT

    I use the liquid eyeliner and it’s awesome! Would love to try the mascara.

  7. mariaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 10:33am PDT

    Would love to try this!

  8. RachelThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 11:26am PDT

    Would love to try this (Hi Mosop,.:)..from Stone)

  9. RachelThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 11:44am PDT

    Looks awesome, would love to try it!

  10. JHThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 11:57am PDT

    Might finally be a mascara I like.

  11. SandraThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 12:52pm PDT

    looking for an eyeliner that will not irritate my eyes… hope this is it

  12. StephanieThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 1:32pm PDT

    Thanks Michelle for introducing me to this local company. Would love to try the products!

  13. rubyThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 1:38pm PDT

    would love to win!

  14. LisaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 2:29pm PDT

    Would love to try this!

  15. CairineThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 2:31pm PDT

    I love easy off mascara, I don’t want to tear my eyelashes out trying to get it off. Thanks for the chance to try this one.

  16. AnneThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 2:31pm PDT

    This sounds like a mascara that would work for me!

  17. Lydia NThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 2:39pm PDT

    Love the packaging!

  18. Andrea B.Thursday, May 7th, 2015 — 3:10pm PDT

    Thank you so much for this opportunity!

  19. EmiliaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 3:13pm PDT

    I am also keen on trying a new mascara

  20. DanikaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 3:19pm PDT

    Wonder if this works for oily eyelids…

  21. maria BThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 3:26pm PDT

    Would love to see how this compares to Mac’s Liquid Last Eyeliner or the Evelyn Iona’s organic gel eyeliner!

  22. ValerieThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 3:48pm PDT

    Hi! Thanks for the contest, would love to try this product 🙂

  23. evoThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 4:27pm PDT

    would love to try this. been using the eyeliner for years

  24. SanazThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 4:29pm PDT

    I’d like to try out this product line.

  25. CarmelleThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 5:01pm PDT

    That seems like a great product! I’d definitely like to try it.

  26. MichelleThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 5:08pm PDT

    I’ve become wary of buying new-to-me mascara because I either hate it or when I find one I really like it gets discontinued and I’m back to something I think is okay but disappointing in comparison. This sounds like it could be worth facing my fears to give it a try!

  27. JenThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 5:09pm PDT

    wow!

  28. hilaryThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 6:42pm PDT

    Gorgeous packaging

  29. Merrie BakkerThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 8:35pm PDT

    I totally concur with Michelle Kim. It’s fabulous – no smudging and clumping! Initially it look a little thin-ish but went on effortlessly and smoothly; the second coat made it all worth it – what a nice subtle difference it made to my eyes. I was impressed enough to get the eyebrow liner – love it – just right for thinning blond caucasian eyebrows. Beautiful designed boxes and products – little jewels.

  30. ElaineThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 8:52pm PDT

    I would love to give this a try!

  31. EileenThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:14pm PDT

    Sounds amazing!

  32. AmandaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 9:58pm PDT

    Would love to try this mascara! Sounds like an amazing product! 🙂

  33. RebeccaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 10:14pm PDT

    I would love to try the product. Thank you

  34. KamThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 10:52pm PDT

    Would love to win this for my wife!

  35. MayaThursday, May 7th, 2015 — 10:54pm PDT

    I really want to try this now!

  36. MaryFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 6:51am PDT

    This sounds amazing!!!!

  37. loucherylFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 7:33am PDT

    Sounds like FAB mascara! Thanks for the chance to win it. 🙂

  38. GlogirlFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 11:26am PDT

    Sounds like a great mascara! I’d love to try it.

  39. Dayna WilsonFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 3:54pm PDT

    I’ve heard Geisha Ink is awesome.

  40. RebthecatsitterFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 9:35pm PDT

    This mascara sounds like heaven! I’d so love to give it a try!

  41. deniseFriday, May 8th, 2015 — 10:19pm PDT

    i would love to try this mascara.

  42. susannahSaturday, May 9th, 2015 — 10:28am PDT

    I wonder how this product works for someone who cycles in the rain–would love to find out. (Usually I have to wait till I get where I’m going before applying mascara or else I get the dreaded racoon look.)

  43. MarianneSaturday, May 9th, 2015 — 1:32pm PDT

    Love to try this mascara brand!

  44. ReenSunday, May 10th, 2015 — 8:55am PDT

    Would love to try this! It’s so hard to find mascara without parabens! Especially nice mascara.

  45. RenfrewSunday, May 10th, 2015 — 10:44am PDT

    Sounds like the perfect mascara – finally.

  46. Sherry FraserSunday, May 10th, 2015 — 2:28pm PDT

    I would love to try this. I have bad allergies too and need something that works at this time of year.

  47. janSunday, May 10th, 2015 — 3:39pm PDT

    would love to try – thx

  48. JenSunday, May 10th, 2015 — 9:52pm PDT

    I would love to try this!

  49. TracyMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 8:17am PDT

    This is so cool that a local company is producing this make-up! I’d love to try it 🙂

  50. wenMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 8:54am PDT

    Thank you for sharing this product.

  51. RinoMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 10:11am PDT

    My wife would like to try this

  52. TaniaMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 10:12am PDT

    I’d love to try it

  53. tammyMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 11:49am PDT

    Sounds interesting

  54. Carol McCannMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 2:28pm PDT

    I sure could use a great eye liner mine is the pits

  55. KatherineMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 9:14pm PDT

    Love “shopping local”

  56. KathleenMonday, May 11th, 2015 — 10:12pm PDT

    would love to win!

  57. DarcieTuesday, May 12th, 2015 — 11:08am PDT

    Would love to try this!

  58. Gabrielle D.Tuesday, May 12th, 2015 — 3:18pm PDT

    New mascara, Yes please!

  59. KristenTuesday, May 12th, 2015 — 4:50pm PDT

    Been in between mascaras for almost a year – need to find something amazing!

  60. SuzanneWednesday, May 13th, 2015 — 4:37pm PDT

    would totally love to win this!! I have been looking for a nice long lasting eyeliner!

  61. DonaldWednesday, May 13th, 2015 — 4:52pm PDT

    Wife would like this.

  62. krystaSaturday, May 16th, 2015 — 8:04am PDT

    I need this mascara!

  63. DeisyMonday, June 1st, 2015 — 11:04pm PDT

    Yes please…totally need this.

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