I like Barry M, I like marker pens, and I like eyeliner and lots of it, so picking this up was only logical. I hadn't used an eyeliner pen since making the Big Leap to liquid eyeliner, but everyone has a dodgy day where it won't go on right, you have a shaky hand and you end up wanting to curl up in a dark room and weep. Or is that just me? Moving on!

PACKAGING: The packaging isn't one of Barry M's most sophisticated moments, screaming "Budget brand aimed at schoolgirls! Move along, woman!", but it's got a cute kitschy charm and does the job. The pen can get a bit messy around the nib and inside the lid, though it's nothing a quick swab won't fix.

APPLICATION: This is a walk in the park to apply - smooth and easy to control, with a soft but firm nib that can accomplish both a thick and thin line. It's ideal for newcomers to liquid eyeliner, or even liquid veterans who are feeling lazy and want a quick and dirty winged eye before popping out. It's quite wet but dries fast, delivering a surprisingly black black. The downside is that the nib inevitably gets roughed up with use, making it harder to get a perfectly clean line, even if you're careful replacing the cap.

WEAR: Longevity is where this liner falls quite flat. I'm a really demanding eyeliner wearer - I have an oily complexion, long lecture days, long work days, and a feebly low threshold for crying during films. Anything less than waterproof doesn't really cut it, and even then I've yet to find the perfect waterproof liner. The Wink Marker isn't billed as waterproof, fair enough, but the wear still isn't brilliant and it's likely to be smudged or faded after a few hours, whether you have oily skin or not. It's easy to re-apply and fades cleanly rather than flaking, but those aren't exactly selling points.

I do like this product and get some use out of it, but if you want a hardy eyeliner this isn't the place to look. It's best used as a decorative touch, like adding quick flick where it's less likely to crease, or as a speedy fix if you're not going to be out all day. Its handiness makes it a nice product to keep around, but for about £4.59 you could do a whole lot better. I'd be all for a waterproof Wink Marker, though!