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drugstore eyeliner recs?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I don't do much makeup but want a new eyeliner. I use the Cover Girl Exact Eyelights mascara for green eyes and love it. So I bought the matching eyeliner. Even heated up with my hairdryer, it does not glide on. I tried on the back of my hand and I had to really drag it hard. Not what I want to do with my eyes! Then I got a purple liquid liner but it does not go on evenly. It's a discount BigLots off brand and is watery.
I guess ideally I'd like a smooth pencil or gel in a purple tone that's under $10. Any good ideas? Thanks!

General

33 replies

Latest reply was from jennifer

abc

Veteran

I am sorry I don't remember the name, but I used to use one by (I think) Cover Girl, it is not the kind you use a sharpener on...just the plastic case and you twist it up. That worked pretty well for me until I upgraded to Sephora brands.

I am not sure if they carry the style in drug stores or the price point, but I have had mad luck with Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner - maybe there is a drug store equivalent? It takes a bit longer to put on but it stays put and is my favorite liner, ever, hands down. I use an angled eyeliner brush, put a bit on the top of my hand, move it around to warm it up, then line each eye. I use eye makeup remover to get it off. Sorry if that was off subject but I thought I'd throw it out there in case they sell something similar in drug store brands, I wouldn't be surprised. It usually comes in a little round jar. Good luck!

rabbit

Veteran

I pretty much just buy the very narrow pointed 'marker' tip gel/liquid ones now to get a thin narrow line. I've tried a couple, right now I'm liking the black NYX. I don't remember where I got it, but it wasn't expensive.

Actually I have a few of the softer glide creamy ones that work too. Maybelline Define-A-Line. They have a very narrow dial up stick and the little sponge on the other end and I usually use them when I want a slightly more blended/smoky eye rim, their brown colors are nice and rich.

Liz A.

Veteran

Do you have Ulta?

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I've been thinking about trying the ones recommended by Musings of a Muse. The pencil looks like it only comes in black, brown, and gray, though. I'm not sure if the gray is purpley at all.

But... I absolutely love the Stila liquid liner pen at around $20; it lasts for at least 6 months if not longer. I'm not sure I could go back to a pencil.

cciele

Veteran

I'm sorry, I have to recommend Stila too, particularly the smudge stick. Glides on smoothly, stays put until you take it off.

But if you find a good drugstore brand, I'd love to hear it!

Anonymous

If you are looking for an inexpensive eyeliner, try Prestige Cosmetics. They have various types of eyeliner, liquid, pencil, retractable, kohl, waterproof.

Anonymous

http://www.prestigecosmetics.c.....liner.html

Here is a link to their website. My local Rite-Aid and CVS carry this brand as well as Ulta.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Liz, no - drugstore only. We do not have a dept. store within 70 miles.
I should have mentioned the Cover Girl was a twist up in the plastic tube type, not a kind that needed sharpening, but it was just so hard. Maybe it was just old? (I may have had it for a year or two with nary a use, seeing as how I'm not much of a makeup gal)
I had a Clinique once (from a roommate if I remember) with a nice glide and the sponge at the other end to smudge.
I definitely want a purple/plum/raisin tint.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Lara, those in the soft blend khol look promising, thanks! Will have to see about my local CVS.

cciele

Veteran

FYI, the twist-ups do have a limited life and will get hard eventually. I suspect that's what happened!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

good to know Cathy!

Anonymous

Someone mentioned Bobbi Brown gel liner and the inexpensive dupe for that is the NYX gel liner (my daughter uses the NYX and loves it). I am guessing around $5 to $7. In addition to Ulta and Target, CVS carries NYX now. You can check to see which CVS via http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/cvs/

Parsley

Veteran

E.L.F. eyeliner comes highly recommended. I haven't tried it yet, but I've been meaning to. It's touted as a good inexpensive dupe for MAC Fluidline or Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner.
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/st.....m_eyeliner

For a pencil, this one's supposed to be good:
http://www.amazon.com/MILANI-L.....ref=sr_1_3?

I haven't tried either of these, so I'll be curious to hear how they are if you try either of them.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

ELF! I love their stuff and it's super-affordable. I think that they are only at Target, not 100% sure about that. I've purchased both the waterproof eyeliner pen, which is quick for everyday (store it upside down so it doesn't dry out) and the gel pot eyeliners, which are longer lasting but take a bit longer since they have a separate brush. I assume they also have 'regular' pencils as well; haven't tried them myself.

Emily

Veteran

I bought an Annabelle eyeliner because I wanted dark blue and it was available at the grocery store, and I've been pretty happy with it... is Annabelle brand sold in your neck of the woods? They have purple!

http://www.annabelle.ca/en_ca/.....e-eyeliner

JAileen

Veteran

I use Almay intense i-color in purple amethyst. It twists up, and I haven't had trouble with it getting too hard even though I live in a desert. Now that I'm looking at it, I just realized it has a sharpener in the end, but I've never used it.

I bought it at CVS.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have seen ELF at BigLots . . . not sure I've ever seen Annabelle in any stores FL or Cali. JAileen, I think the Almay and Cover Girl colored lines are a similar thing. I may have just let mine sit too darn long honestly. Will have to 'size up' what's out there next time I hit Walgreen's, CVS or Kmart. My shopping selection really is the pits, isn't it??

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

My everyday eyliner is Almay's Intense i-color in Raisin Quartz. It's a twist-up with a good life span. The color is a purply brown--makes sense when they use raisin in the name. Same deal as the Cover Girl in that they intend it for green eyes.

At the drugstore level I've also had great luck with NYX. It used to be fairly hard to find but CVS just started carrying it.

Emily

I use Wet n Wild in plum...super cheap and glides on pretty easily. And I have zero talent for putting eyeliner on. I get it at Target or Walgreens.

http://www.drugstore.com/wet-n.....tid=183537

Mo

(website)

Veteran

HA - Emily that's the liquid one I have that won't work! It's watery and makes spotty color marks.

Marillen

I'm not a makeup expert but I have Maybelline Eye Studio gel eyeliner, and I think it's available in purple!

Emily

Too funny! Once in a while I get a "bad" one that doesn't work as well. I wonder if one from a drugstore would be better. Sometimes I think those at stores like Big Lots and the like are not first rate, even for a discount brand to begin with. I bought my usual eyebrow pencil at a 5 Below (do they have those in Florida?) and it just didn't seem as good.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Another one who uses Almay intense i-color in purple amethyst - and never used the sharpener. I find it soft enough and I don't need a point as I like a smudged line.

Emily

Veteran

Oh, that is too bad, Mo! My rec is for the twist-up pencil type, and I will make a mental note to stay away from the liquid.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Could very well be that the liquid got old, too. Biglots is overstocks and such.
I think I'll try the twist up kind again, but FRESH this time

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

By the way, drugstore.com is my go-to for stuff like this; they've got a wider selection of things than any one drug store. That way I don't have to go to Target, then CVS, then Walgreens to find that one eyeliner and that one face cream and that one shade of nail polish. They've got free shipping on orders over $35, so I just restock on the basics every month or two and add in whatever new item I'm looking for. Not affiliated, just a happy customer.

crutcher

Veteran

I just bought E.L.F. eyeliner in coffee and I love it...The color is good and it stays put...Super cheap $3.00...I also bought E.L.F. brow kit and I really love it...bought medium and it rivals Benefit...I will never pay for one of the more expensive kits again...Try it..I do believe you will be pleased..if not, you are out a cup of coffee...smile...

JenT

Wet n Wild eyeliners are very soft and easy to smudge. They come in a wide variety of jewel tones and they are 99 cents! They might last longer if you use a primer, but you might have fun playing around with them.

crutcher

Veteran

Thanks for the solution nod...Hope you find your perfect eyeliner...smlle...

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