Maybelline Gel Eyeliner (Review, Swatches & Photos)
Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24h, £7.99 | Boots | Superdrug | Feelunique
The Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner has a large amount of faithful fans in the blogging world, with most people considering it as the cheaper alternative to MAC Fluidline Gel Eyeliner. I’m a huge fan of Fluidline, but MAC’s products can be quite pricey to keep re-purchasing over and over again, so I jumped on the bandwagon and decided to give Maybelline’s gel liner a go.
Maybelline claims that the Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner is long-lasting, easy to apply, intensely pigmented and it doesn’t transfer. At first, when I swatched it I was really impressed; I could clearly see that it was similar to MAC Fluidline in consistency and pigmentation. The pot also comes with a little brush, which is quite handy and definitely a bonus.
When put to the test, however, this product was a bit of a disappointment to me. Apart from being really pigmented and soft, the two main claims that it lasts 24h and that it doesn’t transfer are simply not true. Whilst applying eyeliner, I like to look straight in the mirror to see if everything is going according to plan, but as soon as I looked up to the mirror, in the middle of the application, this eyeliner transferred onto my eyelids.
I find it really difficult to have to wait a long time for the eyeliner to dry, and that’s something that never happens with my MAC Fluidline, which dries almost immediately after application. You can set it with a powder eyeshadow like MAC Carbon, by running the black eyeshadow over the gel eyeliner, but that’s such a hassle and it takes forever; you’re better off just using MAC Fluidline on its own, in my opinion!
Maybelline’s Gel Eyeliner also doesn’t last 24h on me; because it transfers so much throughout the day, by the end of the day, the line is looking a bit worse for wear. I found myself looking like I had deliberately applied a line of black eyeshadow on my crease and not blended it.
So, overall I’m quite disappointed with this eyeliner, maybe because I had high hopes for it, but I also think that a gel eyeliner that transfers as much as this one is not even practical to have in your makeup collection. I do like the formulation and the pigmentation, but that’s about it.
Have you tried Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner? What do you think of it? What’s your favourite gel eyeliner?
- Product: Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24h
- Price: £7.99
- Availability: Boots | Superdrug | Feelunique
Au revoir!
Ysis
33 Comments
vidhyaparashuram
I thought I was the only one with this opinion. This is the only gel liner that I have tried and I was so put off. It doesn’t last and it smudges. BY the end of the evening, most of the eyeliner is gone. Maybe I should try the MAC one then.
NayabLoves
glad i read this before i went out to buy it! everyone’s always raving about it, just shows hyped up products may not work for everybody
http://www.nayabloves.blogspot.com
Pyari Beauty
Sorry that the eyeliner didn’t work for you. I love this eyeliner but I only use it for applying a thin line on my upper lash line (if that makes sense).
If you are looking for a long lasting eyeliner I would definately give Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr liner, it’s a liquid pen liner but it’s pretty awesome and it’s staying power is great. :)
Tass
I don’t like this either. It smudges and fades after a few hours leaving unsightly black marks in th crease which is something fluidline never does for me. I’ve read loads of reviews saying that this is comparable to fluidline but I disagree and would rather pay a few pounds more for it. Inglot’s gel liner is the best I’ve used, it’s blacker than any other I’ve come across and it doesn’t budge xx
Beauty on a College Budget
You had problems with this? I’m so surprised I’m in love with this product! I know this might be a silly question but did you prime your eyes first? I always prime my eyes before I do anything and this lasts over night on me! It’s a shame you didn’t love this.
Le Beauty Girl
I was so sad that I did not like this. I really had high hopes! I don’t prime my eyes unless I’m applying eyeshadow, and I’ve never needed to apply a primer with MAC Fluidline. Maybe it won’t transfer so much with a primer, but I still think it’s really bad to transfer even when I’m looking up to see it in the mirror :( xx
Le Beauty Girl
I completely agree with you. Fluidline has never transfered onto my lids! I’m yet to try the Inglot one, but thanks for letting me know :) x
Le Beauty Girl
I wanted so bad to like this. I’ve read amazing reviews, but unfortunately it’s not for me :( Even when I applied a thin line it didn’t work as well as MAC Fluidline. I’ll have a look at the Collection 2000 one; thanks for letting me know! :) xx
Le Beauty Girl
Yeah, that’s true. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me! Maybe it’s best to save up a couple of pounds and get MAC Fluidline instead :) xx
Le Beauty Girl
Yeah, such a poor fixation power. Fluidline has never let me down :) xx
Steph
I used this for a while and, initially, I liked it. After a while though, it became such a faff that it wasn’t worth all the effort- plus I leave home for work at 7am, so it became a real chore to put it on, wait for it to dry and so on. Now I’m a dedicated eyeliner pen girl and this made my ‘Products I’ve Hated’ post on my blog a few weeks back. Life’s too short to wait for eyeliner to dry!
Le Beauty Girl
I couldn’t agree more :) xx
Kirsty-Anne Tritton
This looks really professional, i need to try this! Adore your blog <3
I’m giving away lots of St. Tropez & OPI Goodies in my international blog giveaway, c-c-c-check it out: hereGood Luck :-D
Kirsty-Anne x
Kirsty-Anne Tritton
Its so hard finding a decent gel eye liner. The Loreal one was very good though. Adore your blog <3
I’m giving away lots of St. Tropez & OPI Goodies in my international blog giveaway, c-c-c-check it out: hereGood Luck :-D
Kirsty-Anne x
Le Beauty Girl
Thank you! :) x
Sandra
I haven’t tried this one, but I have one from Essence and it works amazing! It’s really cheap too, about 3 € I think!
Sandra from The Puzzle of Sandra’s Life
madiha_02
I was considering to buy this but I don’t think I want to waste 8 quid on it
Thank you for a great review.
xoxo
Madiha
Beauty on a College Budget
Maybe if you use a primer with it this’ll be useable to you. But either way transfer is transfer and that’s not always the best look. I have both so I can’t really tell the difference and at half the price it’s such a steal. Too bad you can’t save a few bucks here to go spend it on something better.
Bose Allen
I thought i must have been using mine wrong somehow , so its not just dissappointing to me :(
MrAJBx3
No offence:P but when it says it doesn’t smudge it means when it sets haha even Fluid Line, BB gel liner all smudge before they set because they are creams
All gel/liquid liners will smudge when wet no matter what the claim is it wont smudge or move or budge once its dry and set
Ive used this on a number of different photoshoots and its the best liner ive used i use nothing else ive gone though about 4 pots of it
emilyeclupton
I’ve never had this transfer on my lids, perhaps because I usually wear eyeshadow. I think that it would transfer less and probably last longer for you if you applied a translucent face powder to your lids before applying. It only takes a few seconds but might reduce transfer and should definitely reduce smudging and improve wear throughout the day as the powder will make your lids less oily.
Le Beauty Girl
Thanks for the tip, Emily! I’ve actually tried with eyeshadow as well last week and I ended up with a massive black line on my crease :( I don’t have oily lids at all, and this has never happened with my MAC Fluidline. Such a pitty, but not for me. xx
Le Beauty Girl
You’re very lucky, then. It doesn’t work for me and I much rather invest on MAC Fluidline to get the results I want. Even when wet, Fluidline has never smudged on me! :) xx
Le Beauty Girl
Not at all. I was so looking forward to try this, but I really don’t like it :/ xx
Le Beauty Girl
No problems. I’m glad I saved you the trouble :) x
Le Beauty Girl
Thanks for letting me know, I’ll definitely check that one out! xx
Le Beauty Girl
Thanks :) xx
hannah.
I bought this last year and used it when I was in Zante. I wasn’t impressed at all and put it in a box which I came across about 2 weeks ago, I’ve been using it every day since! If you use primer before hand I’ve found it does last 24hrs. :) xo
Le Beauty Girl
Wow, good way to save a ‘lost purchase’. I might do that, put mine away for a bit and maybe it will grow on me within a few months time :) x
Shantalle LSOTSAHM
I am having an issue with my MAC fluidline and I can’t seem to find anyone with the same issue. I am getting the transfer from my fluidline like you are getting from the Maybelline. I prime my eyes, apply my shadow and liner and by mid day it is transferring. It’s driving me nuts!
Sweet
This gel based liner is a stupid product. When I apply as a Kajal, its heavy on my eyes and I feel burning sensation
Katie
This is the BEST gel eyeliner out there, I swear by it, I have even had MUA’s ask me what kind I use because they love how it looks on me.
DiaryOfAMakeUpAddict
I didn’t like it either. Biggest dissapointment ever.
Xoxo Nathalie
makeupdiaryofanaddict.blogspot.com