Drugstore Deals | Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Waterproof Gel Pencil

I've recently been on the hunt for the perfect cost-effective, super long wearing, waterproof eyeliner. Eyeliner is one of those makeup items that I hate buying "high end." I find that most of the time, the highest end brands still tend to fade, run, and leave the waterline even though they are much more expensive than a typical drugstore brand. I have a few that I have been using on my clients that I enjoy, but I wanted to take things to the next level and truly find a great, more affordable product.

After reading tons of reviews, I was determined to try out these Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Waterproof Gel Pencil Eyeliners. They were rated very highly by several beauty bloggers, makeup artists, and regular consumers. I decided it was time to see if they lived up to the hype. 

Needless to say, I was hooked. I started out by trying a gorgeous purple shade (Polished Amethyst) and a nude shade (Soft Nude). I chose a purple "fun" shade, since it's not something I wear everyday and if it wasn't the best formula, I wouldn't be too disappointed. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I chose a nude shade, as I find that nude shades are the true test of a good eyeliner. Nude shades, since they are not a dark shade, often fade the fastest and show up the least pigmented. Luckily, both of these were winners. 

The formula is a gel consistency, and it truly glides on perfectly. Very soft, creamy, and absolutely no tugging on the waterline. This formula will be very comfortable for those with extra sensitive eyes that tend to water when applying. Because the formula is SO soft, be somewhat careful, as it can get smudged and messy if you use a heavy hand. 

The pigmentation is outstanding. True to color, opaque coverage. The brighter shades truly stay bright and those that contain a sheen or shimmer, also holds up on the eye. 

These are a type of "plastic" pencil, therefore they will require sharpening with a good sharpener. I didn't have any problems, but be careful when sharpening to use a soft pressure, as it can be easy to over-sharpen and lose some of the product.

The most impressive part of these eyeliners is the wear-time. I've been wearing them in the lower waterline, and have had coverage for over 12 hours! I don't have particularly oily lids or watery eyes, but I did go out and about in a snow storm and my eyeliner stayed strong. There was some slight fading after 8-10 hours, but even the bright purple shade stayed around much longer than expected. 

Best of all, these pencils are extremely easy on the wallet. I found them for under $7 per pencil. I enjoyed them SO much, I went back and purchased a few more shades. I will probably end up buying all shades, as they are truly beautiful eyeliners.

Polished Amethyst, Striking Copper, Glazed Toffee, Smooth Charcoal, and Soft Nude

The first photo shows normal swatches of the shades. The photo doesn't really do justice for the purple shade, as it is much brighter and had a small amount of "sheen" to it. The gold copper shade and nude shades also both have a soft sheen to them. 

The second photo shows the shades after letting them sit for a few minutes, and then using hot water to "scrub" them of. I literally scrubbed as hard as a could, and as you can see, there was very minimal smudging. 

Lastly, this is AFTER washing my hand with soap, AND showering! Obviously there isn't much left, but it was crazy to see there was still some pigment left on my skin after using soap multiple times. (Have no fear though, eye makeup remover or coconut oil will take these off instantly.)

A few quick tips:

If you want a softer, smudged-out line, use your finger or brush immediately after applying

These will set within 3-5 minutes, and thereafter should be "budge-proof"

Always set with a matching shadow to really lock-in the pigmentation

Definitely check these out if you need a new go-to eyeliner, or just want to experiment with some fun shades and don't want to spend a ton of cash. The low price point and exceptional quality make them a worth-while purchase. They also have a gorgeous emerald green and teal blue shade, both on my shopping list!

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Waterproof Gel Pencil / .04 oz / $6.98-7.99

Kit Favorites | Inglot Gel Liner #77 & MAC 210 Brush

There's no doubt about it; the perfect winged eye liner is a difficult task. In a series I hope to continue, I will be sharing some of my holy grail kit items. Today, we will be talking about gel eyeliner. Gel eyeliner isn't for everyone; I can agree that at first it is challenging and a little intimidating to work with. I assure you though, there are some wonderful benefits of working with a gel product.

Gel eyeliner allows you to get a super dark, super black line. It also is extremely long wearing and budge-proof. Don't be afraid to paint this on the upper water line for tight-lining, or even use in the lower water line for a waterproof, long lasting finish. 

For those of you who have tried several black eyeliners in the lower water line and notice them fading or completely disappearing in a few hours, try using this gel eyeliner and setting it with a black shadow. It will last all night.

This product, the Inglot #77 black gel eyeliner, is a wonderful consistency that is thick and creamy enough to allow for a super smooth line, but maintains it's opacity and dries to a matte finish. This product is extremely long wearing. If you have hooded eyes, or experience transfer of eyeliner to your upper eyelid, make sure you allow the product to dry completely. You can also lightly smudge the line out for more of a diffused look. It doesn't dry instantly; wait about 2-3 minutes and it will be set. For super long wear, set it with a dark black eye shadow.

The downside of gel liner is that it can dry out quickly if the cap is left off for extended periods or over time. You can simply add some contact solution or, more preferably, a mixing medium such as the RCMA Thinner.  

It can also be easy to get heavy-handed. My tip is to always load up the brush, and then brush the inside cap or back of your hand to remove a bit of the product. I also always start at the center of the lid to deposit the most product. Then, with a thinner line, finish of the inner and outer corners.

Keep in mind, the liner is only as good as a quality brush. There are several types of eyeliner brushes out there, but I prefer the very stiff, small liner brushes. I recently tried out the MAC 210 Precise Eyeliner Brush and it is my new favorite. As shown above, you can create the tiniest line that is perfect for a wing.

Alternatively, I also enjoy using the Make Up For Ever 250 Extra Fine Eyeliner brush. It is very similar but just slightly larger and not quite as fine of a tip. It is also a couple of bucks cheaper.

Lashes: Ardell Demi Wispies

Lipstick: MAC Pure Zen

Inglot (AMC) Gel Eyeliner #77, 5.5g / 0.19 oz /  $14

MAC 210 Precise Eye Liner Brush / $20