NYX Studio Liquid Liners - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

NYX Studio Liquid Liners - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

NYX Studio Liquid Liners
Transform your look in seconds with this super-pigmented eye liner that highlights eyes with an electrifying stroke of color. The fine tip allows for precision application, and can be used to create lines of varying thickness. Go subtle or go gaga. Available in 12 scintillating shades.

Size: 0.19 oz (5.5ml) 
Price: $4.50

 
Extreme Blue SLL 101

 

Extreme Black SLL 102

Extreme Coffee SLL 103

Extreme Purple SLL 104

Extreme Green SLL 105

Extreme Silver SLL 106

Extreme Gold SLL 107

Extreme Pink SLL 108

Extreme Smokey Gray SLL 109

Extreme Sapphire SLL110

Extreme Sky Blue SLL 111

Extreme Plum Purple SLL 112

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My Five Ps

Price

The NYX Studio Liquid Liners are priced at roughly $4.50 for the 0.19 oz. Since NYX is considered a drugstore/low-end makeup brand you are sure to be able to grab these on sale (hello buy one, get one) or at discounted prices. Since I have reviewed some higher-end liquid liners in the last couple of posts I decided to throw a drugstore alternative to those expensive versions. 

So we already know that the higher end brands are expensive: M∙A∙C Super Slick Liquid Eye Liners are $17.50 for 0.06 oz, MUFE Aqua Liners are $23 for 0.058 oz and Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners are $22 for the 0.05 oz. Already the NYX Studio Liquid Liners are blowing these out of the water not only in price but also in the amount of product you get in each one - almost 4 times as much!

Now to be fair, other liners like Urban Decay Liquid Liners which are $18 for 0.25 oz have more product than the NYX Studio Liquid Liners but still come in with the massive high-end price.

Here is why I find price such a big deal for liquid liners...how many times will you use a colored liquid eye liner in say blue or green? Not everyday right? And we all know the shelf-life of liquid products is about 6 months to a year if kept sanitary and cool. So I don't think anyone should invest that much moo-lah into a product that a) they won't be using daily and b) will probably end up tossing out before you get full usage out of it. That's my two cents!

So with that being said I think these are much better options and not only for the budget conscious but also for the savvy/smart shopper!

Purchasing

The NYX Studio Liquid Liners are available at Ulta stores, Ulta.com and drugstores/beauty retailers that carry the NYX line of makeup - such as Harmons, CherryCulture.com, etc. There are 12 beautiful and colorful shades available in both neutral and bold varieties.

Packaging

The NYX Studio Liquid Liners come in clear plastic tubes which show the actual product inside with short black caps. I like the clear tubes because I can see the product and always know what color I'm grabbing, how much is left, if it's separating and needs to be shaken or if it looks ready to be tossed out. : ) The thinness of the plastic material worries me a bit with shelf-life but I doubt that will be a problem.

The cap is on the short side so it is not as ergonomic as the other liquid liners from MUFE, Stila and M∙A∙C. It may take a little practice to get the right hold and control during application. 

The applicator in the case is a thin brush tip rather than a felt tip which some people may think is tricky but it is actually quite easy to use (maybe not as easy as the felt tip but close enough). It is easy to maneuver because it is thin and short. It allows you to make really fine lines or build up the thickness to your preference. It may take a little practice but it's quite easy to get the hang of it.

Product & Performance

After being sucked into the colored liquid liners hype and realizing how expensive they are paired with how little you get, I was on the hunt for a cheaper alternative. Call in the NYX Studio Liquid Liners to save the day!

There are 12 colors to choose from which include brights and neutrals and even some nice standout shades to really grab your attention. The difference with these liners is the finish - they are do not have fine shimmer or glitter but are mostly matte or with a frosty shine. If you were seeking exact dupes for the Stila, M∙A∙C or MUFE liquid liners then these are not carbon copies.

The formula is also not waterproof but rather water resistant - meaning they will not run if they get wet. This is a plus if you want a liner that stays put if you get caught in the rain or start crying (because you miss out on a LE makeup item...or something) but doesn't not require waterproof makeup remover to get off. But don't expect to take and swim in these and have them stay in place. In fact, don't touch your eyes at all while wearing these because they can peel off. 

With that being said I still did not experience flaking (when I left the liner alone) and had a full 6-8 hours of solid wear. I found that a little cracking did start about 3 hours into wear but it didn't lead to any mishaps thankfully.

These take quite a bit longer to dry that the Stila, MUFE and M∙A∙C versions and depending on the thickness of the layers can take well over 1 minute to completely dry. You will need to keep your eye closed for a bit to avoid transfer. This can be a pain but what to do.

The darker shades are richly pigmented when swatched and even when applied to the lid. But the lighter/frostier colors will take a couple of layers to get full color and smooth/even application.They are easily removed with plain soap and water and I have no issues with staining at all.

Overall

The colors are bright and fun and they are much cheaper than the M∙A∙C, MUFE and Stila versions. However, with the cheaper price comes drawbacks in them not being waterproof, having a longer drying time and having a little trouble in wear time. But all in all I think these are great colored liquid liners for the price even if they take a little effort to make perfect. Check out a couple if you get a chance.

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 PICTURES & SWATCHES

Extreme Blue, Extreme Black, Extreme Coffee, Extreme Purple
All four of these are gorgeous! 

Extreme Green, Extreme Silver, Extreme Gold, Extreme Pink
These are the lighter frostier shades which require some layering to get full even color. I wish they have a dark green in addition to this 'glowy' green.

 Extreme Smoked Gray, Extreme Turquoise, Extreme Sky Blue, Extreme Plum Purple
The Smoked Gray and Plum Purple are just divine and rich in color. The Turquoise and Sky Blue take a little layering but are always very nice.

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
Introducing Stila's new Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners, color-rich, vibrant, easy-to-use waterproof eye liners infused with twinkling multi-pearl micro-glitter that stays on all day and night.

These amazing new pigment-rich liquid liners contain a special polymer that adheres the glitter and pigment to the eyes for all-day, waterproof wear. Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners are packaged in a uniquely designed long handle, pen-like component for precision and ease. The thin sponge tip applicator also ensures perfect application every time.
Key Benefits:

• Perfect blend of pearls and intense pigment
• Waterproof and long-wearing
• Easy-to-use, long-handled pen-like component with soft sponge applicator

USAGE: Shake well before using. Sweep tapered sponge applicator along lash line. Use tip of pen to create a thin, clean line. For a thick, bold line, position pen at an angle and apply with slightly more pressure. Remove with an oil-based eye makeup remover.



Size: 0.05 oz/1.7 ml
Price: $22

Sequins - sparkling black

Rock Candy - sparkling warm brown

Curacao - sparkling violet blue

Flash - sparkling olive khaki

Electric - sparkling bright green

Royal - sparkling electric purple

Bora Bora - sparkling turquoise

Starry - sparkling gunmetal gray

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My Five Ps

Price

The Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners are priced at $22 for the 0.05 oz. There are quite a few of these new age liquid liners popping up on the scene with the popular ones from M∙A∙C, Stila and MUFE. Again the cost is my biggest gripe about these liners since you get so little product for the price.

Let's do some comparisons shall we...these are $4.50 more than a M∙A∙C Super Slick Liquid Eye Liner which is $17.50 for 0.06 oz (20% larger). MUFE Aqua Liners are $23 for 0.058 oz - similar price and size. But why am I peeved about these liners? Well...the best example would be the Urban Decay Liquid Liners which are $18 for 0.25 oz. Yes, you are reading that right...almost 5 times the size for only $18. Tsk tsk!  Edit: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners are actually $18 for 0.058 oz. The information on the Sephora website is quite misleading and well...straight-up wrong!

There are fun colors to choose from and they are touted as long-lasting and waterproof. But I must be honest and say that the price is ridiculous for the amount of product (although not for the brand) you get. I wouldn't be miffed at the price if I got a decent amount of product to boot. So I am pushed to find cheaper alternatives because a couple of fun waterproof colors is not enough for me to justify the price.

Purchasing

The Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners are available at Sephora stores, Sephora.com,  Stila.com as well as other Stila retailers. There are 8 shades available in expected colors - blues, purples, greens and blacks.

Packaging

The Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners come in sleek hard plastic tubes which are the color of the product inside. The caps are also the same color as the tubes. There is no mistaking what color you are grabbing when you reach for these.

The cap is long and thin to imitate the handle of an eyeliner brush. This is great since is helps with application. The applicator itself is a long tapered felt tip which is flexible but still sturdy enough to control application. The tip is not as pointy at the MUFE Aqua Liners so creating crisp/sharp lines take a little more effort (but it is not impossible). This type of applicator is best suited for those of us who have trouble with applying liquid eyeliner. It helps with control and easy application. The applicator is almost identical to the M∙A∙C Super Slick Liquid Eye Liners. I prefer the applicator on these over the MUFE Aqua Liners since they are softer against the skin and allow for a richer application of color.

The liners have fun names that suit the associated colors. How cute is Bora Bora and Sequins?

  

Product & Performance

It was Amy (AmbientBlu) who turned me onto these liners since she picked them up at IMATS. She almost yelled at me to get them at The Make Up Show (okay I'm really exaggerating here but that's how I want to pretend it happened). So I was coerced! That's my story and I'm sticking to it. The price again made me hesitant but if Amy says go for it then...

The color selection is not as extensive as Make Up For Ever and there are mostly neutral shades but you are sure to find a nice color here to jazz up your look.

The formula is waterproof and doesn't budge at all throughout 10+ hours of wear. They take about 30 seconds to a minute to dry fully so you will need to keep your eye closed for a bit to avoid transfer. The formula does not smudge, budge or flake during wear. Perfect!

Just like with MUFE these come off easily with regular facial cleanser or waterproof makeup remover. Interestingly they ball up when being removed somewhat like tube mascara :)

The colors themselves are beautiful and pigmented when swatched and even when applied to the lid. This is where these liners stand out against the rest. The liquid is richly pigmented and shimmery and applies full color in one swipe. Layering will add to the intensity but is not always necessary since you can get full color from . The colors are packed with ultra-fine shimmer rather than noticeable glitter and give a beautiful shimmery sheen when applied. Be mindful of the blue and greens because they will stain the skin.

Overall

The colors are bright and fun and the formula is definitely waterproof, budge-proof and smudge-proof. Even though these are gorgeous and much better than the Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners they are still steeply priced at $22 for about the same amount. The best bet if you are interested in any of these liners are the M∙A∙C Super Slick Liquid Eye Liners which are the cheapest. But Stila isn't so bad with the quality. I can't totally bash Stila though since I do like the colors I picked up...but still the price bothers me!

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 PICTURES & SWATCHES

Royal - sparkling electric purple, Bora Bora - sparkling turquoise, Electric - sparkling bright green, Sequins - sparkling black

Two layers versus one layer

Royal - sparkling electric purple, Bora Bora - sparkling turquoise, Electric - sparkling bright green, Sequins - sparkling black

Two layers versus one layer

 
 

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner - High Precision Waterproof Eyeliner
Aqua Liner is a high precision waterproof liquid eyeliner. Rich in pigments and polymers, its formula guarantees intense color and an outstanding waterproof result. Its ergonomic applicator lets you easily apply an ultra precise line to create an eyeliner makeup look. Aqua liner is available in a wide range of vibrant shades with matte, iridescent and diamond finishes. Easily remove with waterproof makeup remover.

For best results, remember to shake Aqua Liner up and down before each use. Hold the cap like a brush and trace the line, starting from the middle of the eyelid and moving towards the outer corner of the eye. Finish by starting at the middle of the eyelid and working towards the inner corner, making the line thinner as you go along.


Pro tip: Add a second line of eyeliner above the first. Either play up contrast by layering two bold colors or opt for a gentle touch by pairing two similar shades.


Ingredients:
Acrylic Polymer
Essential amino acids of apple juice
Glycerides
High concentration of Pigments. Fragrance free. Ophtalmologist tested.
 

Price: $23

Size: 0.058 oz

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1 Diamond Gold (sparkling yellow gold)

3 Iridescent Emerald Green (emerald green sheen)

4 Diamond Lagoon Green (sparkling blue green)
 

5 Diamond Turquoise Blue (sparkling turquoise blue)

6 Iridescent Navy Blue (dark navy blue sheen)

7 Diamond Black Purple (deep violet sheen)

8 Iridescent Electric Purple (bright purple sheen)

9 Iridescent Fuchsia (hot pink sheen)

10 Iridescent Red (brick red sheen)

11 Diamond Burgundy (sparkling plum burgundy)

12 Mat Mocha (matte dark brown)




13 Mat Black (matte black)

14 Diamond Multicolor Black (black with multicolor sparkles)

15 Iridescent Anthracite (gunmetal gray)

16 Diamond White (sparkling silvery white)

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My Five Ps


Price
The Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners are priced at $23 for the 0.058 oz. There are quite a few of these new age liquid liners popping up on the scene with the popular ones from M∙A∙C, Stila and now MUFE. The price didn't initially throw me until I realized how much product you actually get. And honestly I should have been prepared since I was already mad at the M∙A∙C version back when they were released with the Fabulous Felines Collection.

Let's do some comparisons shall we...these are $5.50 more than a M∙A∙C Super Slick  Liquid Eye Liner which is $17.50 for 0.06 oz (almost same size). Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners are $22 for 0.05 oz - similar price and size. But why am I peeved about these liners? Well...the best example would be the Urban Decay Liquid Liners which are $18 for 0.25 oz. Yes, you are reading that right...almost 5 times the size for only $18. Tsk tsk! Edit: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners are actually $18 for 0.058 oz. The information on the Sephora website is quite misleading and well...straight-up wrong!

So there must be some saving grace in the formula right? I suppose so. There are fun colors to choose from and they are touted as long-lasting and waterproof. But I must be honest and say that the price is ridiculous for the amount of product (although not for the brand) you get. I wouldn't be miffed at the price if I got a decent amount of product to boot. So I am pushed to find cheaper alternatives because a couple of fun waterproof colors is not enough for me to justify the price.

Purchasing
The Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners are available at Sephora stores, Sephora.com and Make Up For Ever boutiques. There are 15 shades available in fun colors such as pink, red, greens, blue, purples, gold, silver and black (shimmer and matte).


Packaging
The Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners come in sleek hard plastic tubes which are the color of the product inside. The cap is black with a colored tab at the top to indicate the liner color as well. There is no mistaking what color you are grabbing when you reach for these.

The cap is long and thin to imitate the handle of an eyeliner brush. This is great since is helps with application. The applicator itself is a short sharply tapered felt tip which is pretty rigid but thankfully not too hard or scratchy. This type of applicator is best suited for those of us who have trouble with applying liquid eyeliner. It helps with control and precision. Personally I prefer brush applicators or even a longer more flexible felt tip. The applicator will be hit or miss depending on your preferences.

One great plus to this packaging is the included agitator ball. There is a tiny ball inside the liner tube that is meant to mix the product by shaking. This is perfect for avoiding separation of the pigment and liquid base inside the tube and even worse on your skin. So shake well before each use.

The liners are not labeled with names but rather with numbers as is usual with MUFE products. This makes it a bit harder to memorize the numbers and colors especially for beauty aficionados.
 

Product & Performance
Now this is where the product should win me over considering the price. I have heard numerous reviews raving about this product and I was itching to try it myself. And quite frankly I am not as impressed as I had hoped to be. Now I was already taken aback by the price but I am not opposed to paying more for an amazing product...I went in open-minded...

The color selection is awesome and there are very unique liquid liner colors here for sure - hot pink and red...hello! With 15 color choices, among them black and shimmery black, there is bound to be a color that catches your eye.

The formula is definitely waterproof and doesn't budge at all throughout 10+ hours of wear. They take about 30 seconds to a minute to dry fully so you will need to keep your eye closed for a bit to avoid transfer. The formula does not smudge, budge or flake during wear. Perfect!

They come off easily with regular facial cleanser or waterproof makeup remover. Interestingly they ball up when being removed somewhat like tube mascara :)

The colors themselves are beautiful and pigmented when swatched. Here is where I had trouble. Even after shaking well, the formula can be a bit runny and watery when applied to the lids. I had issues with the liner bleeding into my eyeshadow a few times. You will also need at least two layers to get full on color which is the usual case with colored liquid liners but, for the price and claims of intense color, I was expecting better color payoff. I had better results when I layered the colored liner over a thin line of gel eyeliner rather than on its own. Otherwise, I needed two or more layers for the color to show up.

The colors are packed with ultra-fine shimmer rather than noticeable glitter and give a beautiful shimmery sheen when applied. Be mindful of the blue and greens because they will stain the skin.

Overall
The colors are bright and fun and the formula is definitely waterproof, budge-proof and smudge-proof. However, I am not thrilled with the runny formula - SHAKE EXTREMELY WELL - that bleeds into eyeshadow. The colors also require layering to get full on pigment which is a pain considering the price. The applicator may win some fans but it is not my favorite. All in all I can't openly recommend these based on the price, amount of product and effort it takes to use these. I have simply tried better and cheaper!

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PICTURES & SWATCHES

 16 Diamond White, 4 Diamond Lagoon Green, 10 Iridescent Red, 6 Iridescent Navy Blue, 14 Diamond Multicolor Black

16 Diamond White, 4 Diamond Lagoon Green, 10 Iridescent Red

Two layers versus one. The red is the most pigmented here but on the lids still requires a couple of layers to show up.

 10 Iridescent Red, 6 Iridescent Navy Blue, 14 Diamond Multicolor Black 
 Two layers versus one. The multi-color black is very nice and looks great layered over black gel eyeliner.