Gel liner goes on easier and stays on better than other liners.

Eyeliner application can make or break a makeup look. Fortunately, I found Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. The perfect line can define your eyes, making them look bigger and bolder. But a shaky line can bring drama to your eyes for all the wrong reasons.

Finding a good, long-lasting eye liner formula to help me achieve the perfect defining line has been a constant struggle for me. I’ve tried kohl liners, liquid liners, pencil liners, and any other eyeliner formula you can imagine.

That is, except for gel liners. For some reason, I’ve just never made the jump to free-hand gel liners, even though people love this type of product. Finally, after years of getting increasingly frustrated with liners that made it too difficult to apply a flawless line, I bought Maybelline’s gel liner.

And I love it.

Color/Pigmentation: 4/5

Whether you like a soft, smoky line or a dark, striking line, this eyeliner delivers. Since the product comes in a gel pot/brush combo, you can choose how much product you put on and at what color intensity (as I mentioned, the downside to this is the potential for infection and contamination). This flexibility also makes this product a great day-or-night liner!

Durability: 3/5

Maybelline’s gel liner didn’t smear easily and builds well.

Without an eye primer, the liner stays on pretty well. It doesn’t have exceptional staying power, but it still looks good, even if it fades a little. I haven’t tried it with an eye primer, but primers make the product last longer, so if you’re looking for a strong hold, apply a primer first.

Ease of Use: 5/5

This product makes lining your eye a breeze. I’m usually the worst when it comes to eyeliner, but this product makes it so easy. I don’t line my waterline — it’s a fast way to an eye infection and can make your eyes look smaller. But because this isn’t a waterproof formula, if you line your waterline, then I would suggest buying a waterproof gel eyeliner.
Overall Rating: ⅘

Personal Use and Opinion

Maybelline’s liner goes on smoothly and stays where you put it!

For one, Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner is fun to put this liner on, not stressful — like other liners can be. I can easily paint on the perfect line whether I want it to be thick, thin, soft, or dark. The product comes with its own brush, and while it’s not an extremely high quality brush, it works well with this product. The formula doesn’t irritate my eyes either — a major plus! Ordinarily, I’ve spent more time using Q-tips to fix my eyeliner job than I do actually putting on eyeliner. With this eyeliner, the product is so easy to use that I haven’t used a single Q-tip.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner also stayed on my eye line for the whole day and didn’t end up below my eyes, which happens with most other eyeliners I use. That’s probably because gel liners use silicones — Cyclopentasiloxane is the first ingredient in this one — which help to create a smooth and lasting finish.

The downside to gel liners is that they come in a pot, which means that they’re easily contaminating. Be sure to keep yours in a cool, dark place and to clean your brush regularly. If you have any eye infections, throw your liner away immediately to avoid reinfection. And never share eyeliner.

The ingredients aren’t “green” by any means, but my eye products have never been on the natural side, simply because it’s too hard to find high quality, natural eye products.

Bottom Line

While I favor natural products, I prefer having an eyeliner that works. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner  was definitely worth trying out, it went on very easily and lasted for a long time. Unfortunately, gel eye liner in the pot that allows you to build color and pigment is easily contaminated, so it’s important to clean brushes and keep your fingers out of your eyeliner!

Ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Ceresin, Isododecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propylene Carbonate, Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifolia Wax) (Candelilla Wax), Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, May Contain (+/-):, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 77510 Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide