MAC Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel, Blacktrack, $15

MAC's Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel is one of my new favorite products that I know I will continue to buy over the years. I have only had this product for about a couple weeks and I already can't live without it. This pot of black eyeliner gold is a purely perfect product. It goes on easily, stays on, and look so freakin' fierce.

I know I'm gushing hardcore but this product really deserves this much attention! The Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel in Blacktrack is perfect everyday eyeliner that can be adjusted and used however the makeup wearer pleases. It is pure black and the gel is super easy to put on.

At first I was using a brush I had that wasn't exactly clean, I had used it with other eyeliners and let the products dry up on it making the brush too hard, even after I rinsed it. When I put on the Fluidline liner the first time it didn't go on as dark or as smooth as I had hoped. Distressed but determined to make this work I turned to my one of my best friends who I shall call the MAC Queen. She has a ton of MAC products and suggested that I purchase this liner. She told me to make sure I use a clean brush and once I did it made the biggest difference! You can use an angled brush or just a thin brush, whatever you feel comfortable with, but just remember to rinse your brush right after you use it so that the leftover liner doesn't dry up and ruin it! I just rinse my brush with water and use my fingers to get the liner off, nothing too complicated.

I love this liner because I can get it super close to my lash-line, get a thin line, or a thick line and it always comes out really beautifully. The other great thing is that it stays on! I use a primer of course, but this stuff doesn't really budge. It also comes in multiple colors you can find here.

Final verdict:
Cost: $15, a little bit goes a long way and it is about as much as buying a pencil liner.
Do I have to get a special brush?: You might have a brush on hand that will work just fine, just make sure it is thin enough. An angled brush is also a favorite when it comes to using eyeliner in a pot.
Is this good to achieve a cat-eye?: This is perfect for a cat-eye look! You might have to practice a bit but it will definitely be the best product to use to get the look.
Can I use it under my eyes?: Under eyes is a little trickier, I suggest using a lot of primer and a thin brush, go slowly, and remember you can always darken or thicken the line as you please.
Any tips?: I usually start lining the top of my lid starting in the middle and then work my way to the sides. That way if I have too much liner on my brush or something it is already going in the thickest part of the line.
Repeat offender?: YES YES YES!

-M

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Distortion, $18

I love Sephora's Beauty Insider points program. I racked up 500 points and got a set of 4 Urban Decay 24-7 eyeliners plus this Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Distortion. I was more excited for the pencils than I was about this, but I thought, why not try it out? And I'm really happy I did!


First of all, this stuff is super glittery. This particular color is full of light-colored, iridescent, pearly glitter pieces. (Check out their other colors on Sephora's page.) I thought it would be hard to get a lot of glitter out (kind of like cheaper glitter nailpolishes that go on mostly clear) but was surprised at the amount that gets on your skin. It's really easy to use--the glitter goes on easily and dries in an instant so you can layer on more and more (if you get excited like I do!).

What really sold me on this is that it does NOT come off. With a lot of glitter products the pieces will fall all over your face and get your eyes (ouch). But, I put this to the test: The other night I used some over my black eyeliner, just on the corners (it looked fab, I must say). I danced and sweated all night and it didn't move at all! Perfect for the party-goer in all of us!


Final verdict
Cost: $18--about the same as other Urban Decay liners and shadows.
Easy: The product comes out easily on a thin liner brush, making it easy to put on a little or a lot. Plus it dries quickly, so it doesn't get everywhere, and you can layer as much as you want.
Glittery: OMG, so glittery. And with more applications comes more glitter! You could probably wear it on its own, but I think it would probably look best (and more dramatic) if you put it on top of a good eyeliner.
Stays put: Unlike a lot of glittery eye makeup, once this dries (a couple seconds) it won't move at all. No need to worry about it getting all over your face, no matter how hard you party!
Repeat offender: I'm in love. I kind of wanna buy them all! Actually, I really like the Catfight (bright pink) and Stagedive (bright turquoise) colors. If you love glitter, you'll absolutely love this liner.

-T

Sephora Nano Eyeliner, $5

I bought Sephora's Nano Eyeliner so that my Sephora purchase would go up to the $50 free shipping price, lol. My excuse for buying more stuff, right? Anyway, I had seen the eyeliner before and it's $5 now, so why not? I decided to get it in glitter black.


As the site says, the liner is super soft and highly pigmented. It's very easy to put on and shows up in an instant. The glitter is really subtle, like really subtle. I felt like the more I put on, the more black showed up and the more the glitter went away, and I got sad.


The liner doesn't have the greatest staying power. I wore it just over the primer and it smudged a little on my eyelid and under my eye. It doesn't come off completely, it just kinda smears/smudges.

Final verdict
Cost: It's on sale now for $5 (originally $16).
Color: I got the glitter black, and it was definitely very black--only a little on the glitter component.
Softness: It's very soft and easy to put on--no tugging at all. However, I think the softness makes it so it doesn't stay on very well.
Repeat offender?: I wouldn't buy again. I need eyeliner that's gonna stay where it's put! I don't have the patience for upkeep.

-T

Classic SGB: Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner, $5-$8

If you're gonna trust anyone regarding eyeliner, trust Mirna. This is a perfect staple that's available everywhere and is reasonably priced.


This is by far my number 1 go-to eyeliner. I have been using this eyeliner for years and have tried others that are similar but none of them ever compare. Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner is a twist-up eyeliner that does not even require sharpening (but comes with a small sharpener anyway!). I hate hate hate to sharpen eyeliner pencils. I feel like I always end up wasting a bunch of pencil and/or always screwing it up and breaking the pencil somehow. When I look for an eyeliner it definitely has to be the retractable kind.


I use this eyeliner almost daily. I like to try different eyeliner (obviously) but I always come back to this one as my main product. The Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner often comes in a two pack (as pictured) so I always try to buy a few since I know I will be using it often. The two pack is also usually priced about the same as the single pencil.


The eyeliner claims to last up to 16 hours, but I can testify that it lasts LONGER than 16 hours, especially when used with a primer. Although it does not say it on the front of the packaging this eyeliner is actually always waterproof. I've said this before but I usually have makeup on when I go to the gym in the evening (I don't apply it for the gym I swear--I'll admit I do touch up sometimes--yikes!) but it does not move at all even with all the sweating! I also want to note that while I was writing this review I drew a little line of eyeliner on my hand and a few minutes later tried to rub it and it did not budge at all.


The tip of this eyeliner in not very thick and if you practice it enough you can definitely get a handle on how to achieve a thicker or thinner line. I find that it has a very versatile tip that is controlled by the pressure you apply and how close you hold the pencil to your eyelid. Overtime the technique you develop will help you control the pencil even better. I can pretty much apply this stuff in the dark. The eyeliner pencil is soft so you can either layer it on or use just one stroke and blend it with a brush to "smear it." Even though the pencil is soft, it is not weak. What I mean by this is that it doesn't break if you apply a lot of pressure to it like some other retractable pencils do.


Final verdict:
Cost: The Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner is priced between $5 and $8 depending on where you look. Like I mentioned above, I recommend the two pack because it is a great value and you will have some eyeliner when you run out of the first pencil!
Tips: Do not roll up the pencil too much but don't keep it too low either. You should have the pencil rolled up around 4-5 millimeters (you don't need to measure I'm just estimating). The pictures of the pencil in this post are a good example.
Does the pencil actually go on black?: The pencil is a true black. It does not go on light black--I've had this happen with other brands it is so NOT COOL. I feel very strongly about my black eyeliner dammit.
Repeat offender: If Revlon ever stopped making this I'd wear black for 40 days straight. No really, I swear by this stuff.
-M

Lorac On Screen Duo, Fame & Fortune, $7 (on sale from 24)

I impulsively purchased this eyeliner/highlighter duo from Lorac last time I placed an order on Sephora.com. It was/is on sale for $7 from $24 so I thought it would definitely be worth it to try it out, especially since I've been wanting to try a cream eyeliner. Lorac's On Screen Duo comes in a nifty little jar that holds the pot of cream eyeliner in the bottom part and a small highlighter/eyeshadow in the top lid.

To apply the cream eyeliner I just used an angled brush and it worked out really well! I don't have much experience with cream eyeliners but I was surprised that I could get it on so easily and evenly. My favorite part about using a cream eyeliner is that you can get as close as you want to your lash line, so you definitely avoid that weird space that sometimes your eyeliner misses.

I applied some primer and topped that with the highlighter/eyeshadow. I didn't really like it as an eyeshadow but it really is the perfect shade to highlight your brow bone. I don't think I look too good in a pale nude shimmery shadow. The cream eyeliner goes over the eyeshadow fairly easily as well.

The cream eyeliner stayed on for the day but I contribute this to the primer. I feel like it might not stay on as well without it since it is so creamy. My other gripe is that I feel like it isn't black enough. I want my eyeliner to be super duper black and this doesn't feel like it is the darkest, purest, most pigmented black that it can be.

Final verdict:
Cost: $7! Can't beat that for a cream eyeliner, especially one by a brand like Lorac. Hurry and get it while you can for this awesome price.
What is the best part of using a cream eyeliner?: Like I mentioned above it is great for getting super close to the lash line, but it is also awesome to line the bottom eyelid as well. I found that I had way more control using an angled brush than I do with an eyeliner pencil. I was able to apply eyeliner to my bottom line without smudging and even doing it ever so subtly made my eyes pop. It is also great because you can definitely achieve a fierce cat eye with cream liner!
Repeat offender?: I think I have been converted to a cream eyeliner in a pot user. I really want to try the MAC kind because it is extra black. I like the Lorac cream eyeliner but I don't think I would get it again only because I'd prefer it darker. But it is a great product and a really good deal!

-M

Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner, $12

One of the reasons I bought the Sephora Waterproof Bronzing Kit was because it included this Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof eyeliner in black. You all know how I take my black eyeliner seriously so I put this to the test.

Overall this eyeliner is pretty easy to put on and stays waterproof. However, It does smudge under the eyes after a while, unlike my go-to Revlon Colorstay Retractable eyeliner which does not smudge under the eyes. I really cannot stand any eyeliner that does that because number 1, I always ALWAYS use primer so it shouldn't be happening, especially not with a product that is known for being waterproof.

I think that this pencil is a bit too soft so it often just lets you draw a thick line rather than pressing lightly and being able to achieve a thinner line. It also includes one of those smudging sponges at the end of the tip which I have never actually figured out how to use. I always just end up smearing the eyeliner and ruining my neat lines.

Final verdict:
Cost: $12, about twice the cost of my favorite Revlon eyeliner.
Is it actually waterproof?: It is waterproof except for some reason it still manages to smear. I think that when things are waterproof they shouldn't be moving around at all.
Repeat offender?: I don't think so. Since I already use a similar product that doesn't smudge or smear and costs only half of what this does. I think I'll stick to what I know. However, if you are interested in still trying this, it does come in lots of different colors that the Revlon eyeliner doesn't offer (click here to see some of the cool colors!).

-M

L'Oreal's HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, $10-12

I've heard a lot of good reviews about L'Oreal's High Intensity Pigment (HiP) line, so I decided to try their cream eyeliner. I chose this beautiful dark teal color with a metallic sheen. I figured teal would be a good way for me to wear a blueish color (the green in my eyes generally clashes with blue or navy).

The cream eyeliner comes with a tiny angled brush that does more harm than good. It's okay that it's a small size, but the brushes are really bushy. This does not lend itself to good control. Don't worry--I keep my Sephora angled brush handy just in case. The review must go on.

The eyeliner itself is kinda of dry and clumpy. It didn't go on easily. It took me a long time to get a nice clean and even line.

But look at that color! It's so pretty. It's really bright and has a slight metallic shininess. The color reminds me of teal corduroys. Goes great with my eyes, too! And (worn over primer obvs) it's lasted all day with no smearing or running. Just sucks that it took so long to get to that.


Final verdict
Cost: $10. Not exactly cheap. I'd gladly spend $5 more a high-end one.
Texture: Dry, clumpy. Not as rich and creamy as Clinique's.
Color: But oh, the color is amazing. It's really pretty.
Repeat offender?: No, I wouldn't buy this again. I'll use it on occasion because the color is so pretty, but I'll make sure I have some time to sit and do it. It sucks because it doesn't smear or run, and the color is great, but it was a pain to put on! But, I did buy one of their loose eyeshadows . . . we'll see if I have more luck with that later.

-T

What I'm Wearing - 5/21/10

Happy Friday! Last weekend I tried a new look on my eyes. I was going for a more interesting way to get the "no eyeliner" look, different from my usual "as much eyeliner as possible" look. I used:

-Urban Decay's primer (Sin on top lid; Original on outside and bottom)
-Urban Decay eyeshadow in Scratch (a beautiful shimmery baby pink for across the lids included in this palette)
-Maybelline eyeshadow in Urban Brown (for the outside wing, crease, and a little underneath)
-Urban Decay Liquid Eyeliner in Roach (just a little on the outside half of the top lid)
-Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula in Black Onyx (top and bottom, for a clean, "awake" look)
-Nars Orgasm blush


After priming, I swept Scratch across my entire lid with an eyeshadow brush (from EcoTools). Then, using the top of the brush, I worked Urban Brown into the crease, extending the line past my eyelid for a little wing. I took the angled brush and smudged some Urban Brown into and right underneath my bottom lashes (outer half of my eye only) and connected it to the wing. I cleaned the eyeshadow brush and used it to blur and soften the lines, making it look more natural but still dramatic. I lined the outer part of my top lid with Roach--I couldn't go completely without eyeliner! I think it looked really cool but I'll still need to work on perfecting the angles. The colors are amazing though--brown and pink are so flattering on hazel eyes.





I also put up a new discussion on our Facebook page: How much makeup do you carry in your purse? Click on the icon in the sidebar and become a fan!
Muah!
-T

Hot Topic Glitter Eye Pencil, $2

So I was in Hot Topic lately, checking out their latest inventory of studded platforms and skull rings, and I noticed their updated makeup display. In high school I bought some bright pink eyeshadow from there (like 10 years ago!) and I remember being obsessed with it. Hot Topic's stepped up their game lately (totally fell for some crazy platform heels) so I figured, why not check out their makeup too? I grabbed 2 glittery eyeliners in purple and black at $2 a pop.

The designs on the pencil are geared toward their customers--a silver casing with a black fishnet overlay and a skull and crossbones logo--which, by the way, I'm totally into. When I used the eyeliner, I noticed that it goes on really smoothly and the pencil is really soft (well, the purple is softer than the black, which felt a little grittier).

The colors go on pretty well (shown above with just some primer and mascara) but the glitter is pretty subtle (read: doesn't really show up). The slight sparkle would probably just look like excess eyeshadow. The liner seems comparable to other nonwaterproof pencils in color and lasting time (just average) but at least the purple is really pretty.


Final verdict
Cost: $2--you could probably find that buried in your couch cushions.
Color: The color shows up pretty well (I especially enjoyed the purple) but the glitter isn't really noticeable, so that's kind of a drag.
Lasting power: Pretty average. I wouldn't expect it to last all day/night. It would probably be best to stick to the top eyelid for this one.
Repeat offender?: Sure, I'd try another one. For $2 it's really not a bad eyeliner pencil. I'd recommend it for experimental looks, like, how would my eyes look lined in teal? I'll probably try their other products as well--this $5 bright eyeshadow palette looks fun!

-T

What I'm Wearing - 4/23/10

Hey lovelies! I tried a new eye makeup technique over the weekend and wanted to show you. (Click on any picture here to make it larger.)

I'm wearing:
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original (top and bottom)
-Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Freakshow (we've mentioned Urban eyeshadows a few times here--these are their super vibrant ones)
-Almay Liquid Liner in Black (not yet reviewed)--top lid
-Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (mentioned here)--inner rim
-Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula in Black Onyx
-Nars Orgasm blush

Love the eyeshadow--dark and sultry, but super vibrant and purple. Tip: For some reason, you MUST use the primer potion with this shade. I wore it once without it and it just didn't work. In the container it looks almost black, but actually has a lot of color. The website describes it as having a "red sheen"--I don't really see what they mean, but I guess it is a more red shade of purple than a blue shade.

Using the angled brush from the EcoTools Bamboo set, I smudged some eyeshadow on the outer edge of my lower lash line and connected it with the eyeshadow on top. I kept my eyeliner super thin.

I really liked the effect--super dark on top but not too dramatic on bottom, which stopped it from being too over top. My eyes still looked awake, so it worked for daytime.

Have a great weekend!

-T