Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry + Ken Boylan eyeshadow in Minx = a match made in heaven

synergy  |ˈsinərjē|, noun

The interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects

Avon Supershock gel eyeliner in Blackberry
+
Ken Boylan Makeup/Play eyeshadow in Minx
=
Yum

I ran out of Avon Supershock gel eyeliner pencil in black recently and when I was re-purchasing, I bought a few extra Avon bits and pieces.  Including the Supershock gel eyeliner in Golden Fawn (reviewed here), the Extra Lasting eyeliner pen (reviewed here) and their gel eyeliners in pots (which will be reviewed at a later date, please check back for a link).

At this point it probably is no surprise that I love Supershock gel eyeliners.  They are soft and smooth, they don't pull, they don't drag, they glide.  They're highly pigmented and they tend to last for ever and a day (which can make them a pain to remove), but that's fine, I'd rather a liner that lasted than one that needed to be re-applied).

This post refers to one of the latest colours, this one called "Blackberry", which is a very rich brown shade with a plumy-burgandy-ish undertone and some gorgeous pink sparkles.

Avon Supershock gel eyeliner in Blackberry
Dupes: Topshop Kohl in Saddle
MAC Eye Kohl in Prunella
Pixi Lid&Line in #6 Smoky Plum
Bobbi Brown Dual Ended Eyeliner in Chocolate/Bronze 

After swatching about thirty other liners I can say that Avon Blackberry is similar to a bunch of other eyeliners - Topshop Kohl in Saddle is the closest match (they're more or less the same price too, so if you can't get the Avon one, the Topshop one is a good bet).  MAC Eye Kohl in Prunella has the same plum undertone, as does the Pixi Lid & Line in #6 (Smoky Plum), and the Chocolate end of the Bobbi Brown dual ended eyeliner in Chocolate/Bronze (LE Christmas 2011) has the brown but not the plum.  None of the dupes have the pink sparkles though...

Avon   |   Topshop   |   MAC   |   Pixi   |   Bobbi Brown

Hmmm, I thought, I know just what this will go with.

Ken Boylan Makeup/Play Eyeshadow in Minx
No Flash/Daylight   |   With Flash   |   No Flash/Warm Light

Ken Boylan is an highly established Irish makeup artist who is highly sought-after for TV, beauty and editorial work.  He recently opened his own makeup store in Dublin, which stocks his own range of makeup products, under the brand name "Makeup/Play".  I have visited a few times and have purchased quite a few of the absolutely beautiful eyeshadows, including one called "Minx", which is a beautiful rich dark brown - with some lovely pink sparkles, and which I Have Not Stopped Wearing...

Brown.  With pink sparkles.

Left: Avon Supershock Gel Liner   |   Ken Boylan Makeup/Play Minx   |   The two, layered
Right: the same, with flash so you can see the sparkles in both

These two are a match made in heaven.  Although not 100% the exact same shade, both are a rich brown, and they work really well together.  I use Makeup/Play Minx in the crease with something like MAC Yoghurt (or any other pink-toned nude shade) on my lid, and Avon Blackberry as a liner.  Or Minx built-up from my lashline and smoked out to nothing with Blackberry as a liner... Or Blackberry as a primer with Minx pushed on top (gorgeous, vibrant, rounded, rich, sultry and with just enough sparkles to make it interesting (and not enough to make it childish)... and really long-lasting)... or...

Both are recommended, highly.  Minx has become my most favourite brown of all (I must have at least fifty shades in my arsenal).  It's available in Ken's shop on Drury Street, Dublin.  Blackberry, on the other hand, is a LE offering from Avon, so get it while you can...