I’m a fountain pen person. I use fountain pens for journaling and writing pretty much everything.
That said, I don’t always use them in my planner. My planner is a very messy book where I scrawl at random with any writing instrument I have handy, while my fountain pens tend to be tucked away in pen sleeves or cases so they’re not really ready for quick-draw.
So I’ve experimented with all the cool non fountain pens out there, including almost every kind of multi pen, rollerballs, ballpoints, gel pens, etc. Today I want to highlight a pen that I’m currently loving: the Pilot ILMILY Color Two Color gel pen.
What is the Pilot ILMILY Color Two Color gel pen?
The ILMILY Color Two Color gel pen is a slim gel ink ballpoint pen made by Pilot that writes in one color (0.4mm) and changes to another lighter color when rubbed by the included rubber tip on the back of the pen. It’s a bit like Pilot’s Frixion pens, which erase when rubbed, but you can still see what you wrote afterward.
How I use the two-color pen in my planner
Being able to change the color of text in my planner means I no longer have to cross things out or use bullet journal-esque symbols like checkmarks, arrows, etc. to indicate the status of an item on my to do lists and mind maps. I simply write everything down that I intend to do, and as I do then I rub them to make them the lighter color so only the outstanding items stand out. Then, when I’m planning the following day I can transfer over anything that isn’t done yet.
I love this process because I find that adding a bunch of symbols or crossing things out makes the pages look messy and it’s hard to locate the things I need to carry forward to the next day. I always have to check and double check that I haven’t missed anything. Now, I can assess my day’s progress with one glance.
They also make two color stamps
Pilot also makes cute stamps that change color, that are just like their little Frixion stamps, and they’re adorable. They would be good if you want to check off a reading list (with a color changing book stamp), etc. I got some because they’re so cute but I will confess I don’t really use them. (My planner is largely a cute-free zone—no time! lol)
A few notes on color-changing and erasable ink
When I first got these pens/stamps and tried them I realized that if I tried to “erase” them immediately after writing or stamping, they would actually rub right off the page. This actually discouraged me from using them for a long time, until I tried them again but let them dry and they work perfectly. This isn’t cumbersome—in any normal use case I wouldn’t IMMEDIATELY change the color the second I put the ink down. I was just too excited when I first opened them. Ha!
Another note which I haven’t experience myself: the ink technology works based on temperature. So extreme heat or cold makes the ink change on its own. People have told stories about leaving notebooks with erasable ink in their cars in the summer only to find all their writing disappeared. You’re able to make it reappear/change back if you put it in the freezer, so it’s not actually gone.
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