Drugstore Gel Liner Comparison

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So as you may or may not know, L’Oreal has a diverse portfolio of brands under its control. They own some high end names that you would be surprised about, but also some drugstore ones aside from the eponymous L’Oreal, but also Maybelline.

When I first started playing with makeup like a child learning how to do my makeup, I decided to try a gel liner. Pencil liners always seemed odd to me, and liquids were too prescise – gel seemed like a happy medium. After a good bit of research into the gel options, I was torn between Maybelline and L’Oreal – both are well-reviewed. I happened to have a coupon for the Maybelline one and a sale was running (yes, why pay retail?) so I went with it and was content.

Later (aka recently), once I was on the verge of running out of usable product (my own error caused it to dry out prematurely), I decided to purchase both and do drugstore gel liner comparison. Here, you have the L’Oreal Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner 24 Hour on the left and the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner.

Drugstore Gel Liner Comparison - L'Oreal Infalliable Lacquer Liner 24Hour and Mabelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel LinerDrugstore Gel Liner Comparison

This post is pretty photo-heavy, so please continue after the jump.

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March 2014 Favorites

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March 2014 Favorites

1. Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Daily Replenishing Lotion $7 /
2. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow – Space Cowboy, $20 / 3. bareMinerals Shadow – Celestine, $14/
4. Up&Up Max. Strength Acne Medication, $4

I only had four things to list in my March 2014 Favorites, and two of them are single shadows – this says a lot because I am very much so a palette girl. These are really something special.

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Nyx April Fools

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So at some point on an April 1 many moons ago, the internet collectively decided that they would bring April Fools to the cyber realm and play silly jokes. Peddler of geeky wares, ThinkGeek, usually has some hilarious joke products (that actually became real after interest was expressed). Google tends to do some silly things, including the Google Maps Pokemon stuff that is going on.

Why bring it up? I’m not trolling you, after all.

Nyx Cosmetics, however, is.

The Mirage Palette, pictured below, purportedly is:

  • Waterproof
  • Smudge proof
  • Long lasting (basically lasts forever)
  • Adapts to any skin tone
  • Perfect for any age
  • Contains 20 shadows and blushers, as well as 10 vibrant lip colors.
  • Coverage is lightweight and so sheer, it’s like it’s not even there.
  • Never cakes or fades
  • Never smears or stains

Ohhh, the inside:

Really? Yes, I’m being a bit, “Bah Humbug,” here, but if you’re going to troll, at least be clever or inventive…or, on the other hand, be so outlandishly ridiculous that we can’t bear but chuckle! Cheers, hope you haven’t been embarrassed today.

Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner

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Milani Eye Tech Extreme

When I heard Milani Eye Tech Extreme may be a reasonable dupe for Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner, I had to look into it. Glorious as the felt-tip liner from Stila is, it is about $20 for a full size at regular price, which makes me kind of sad. This product, however, is only about $7-8.

Featuring a fine felt tip, the Milani Easy Tech Extreme liquid liner is structured very similarly to the Stay all Day and should be able to product similar results. According to Milani’s Site:

Non-feathering, waterproof blackest black formula lasts all day without flaking our budging.

I tested it out to see how well it met that claim. Here are the pictures, taken and laid out similarly to the Stila test.

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Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser

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Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser

Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser

 

Normally, my skin is relatively cooperative. I break out once a month or so, small, just whiteheads. Lately, I’ve taken on a bit more stress than normal between wedding planning and some extra projects at work, and my skin is paying the price. Using a ton of salicylic acid (a common ingredient in acne treatment products) causes my skin to freak out, so I reached for this Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser. I use it on days upon which my skin feels like being sassy or on days where I feel like I just need to start fresh, about 2x monthly.

This cleanser contains the antibacterial agent Triclosan – that doesn’t bother me personally, but it is important to know what you’re slapping on your face. The cleanser itself squeezes from the tube as a thick cream that applies smoothly and produces an indulgent lather (I usually use Cetaphil Gentle, which does not lather). My skin feels very clean afterwards.

Being an antibacterial facial soap, Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser is relatively drying. Moisturize thoroughly with a non-comedogenic (which you should be using anyway) moisturizer. I’m still using my Josie Maran Argan Oil, but CeraVe makes a nice one, too. If I have a really stubborn blemish like I do right now, I dab a bit of a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment to it before moisturizing.

Though I highly recommend this product, I also caution against using it as a daily cleanser – it is far too drying for that. Even those with oily skin should not use it daily as you run the risk of oil over-production to compensate. Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser available for $5-7 in all the usual places, including Amazon.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – this means I may get a very small percentage of the sale if you decide to buy something. I’ll only tell you that something is awesome if I have verified it myself!

Maybelline Shocking Coral

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Is, simply put, a lie. I wanted a coral because I did not own one. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids came out with one, the I-wish-it-was-aptly-named-Shocking Coral.

Really quick – according to Wikipedia, the following are various coral colors. The latter two are what most of us think of:

corals

If we define it ourselves, most of us will say it is a light, orange-toned pink. Woo, sounds pretty! So I bought it a while ago to try because I am guilty of owning mostly MLBBs and reds.

Here’s the bottom. I’ve seen Shocking Coral as both 910 and 870; I got 870 – I’m not sure if there’s a difference, or if it is regional, or what have you:

870

Hmm. That doesn’t look too coral, but maybe it is just the sticker. Stickers have been known to mislead, after all, and that’s why we like swatches.

I’ll swatch it!

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Shocking Coral swatch

Granted, please note that this was taken indoors with flash – but this is absolutely, positively not a coral lipstick. It is more fuschia-y both in the tube, swatched, and on my lips than anything. It isn’t that the color itself is bad; it isn’t. But it is not coral. Maybe that is what is so shocking about it – it isn’t coral! This is what caused my to learn my lesson and to find swatches first unless I was in the fortuitous position of being an early adopter (and therefore provider of said swatches).

Otherwise, the formula is nice and I would recommend the Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids line (Electric Orange is fun) – but don’t get this one if you actually want a bright, vibrant coral because this is not it. You can find them anywhere that has Maybelline, including Amazon, for between $5-7.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – this means I may get a very small percentage of the sale if you decide to buy something. I’ll only tell you that something is awesome if I have verified it myself!