Clarins 3 Dot Liner Review

Moving away from the standard felt tip or pencil liners, Clarins is transforming the way we use our eyeliner this season with its new and innovative design. Make way for the 3-Dot Liner. With three ink dispensers, the idea behind this new beauty product is that by pressing along the base of the your lashes you can achieve a straight and even line by simply joining up the dots.

The actual pads are soft on your eyelids and the formula dries quickly, so you don't need to worry about smudging. For those wanting to give lashes a thicker more volumised finish, this liner is the perfect companion for any mascara.

While it does take two applications to build up a rich jet black shade and strong line, once the formula has dried it doesn't budge or fade. So much so, you will need a very good eye make-up remover to take it off at night.

Clarins 3-Dot Liner, £20 and is available from Clarins.co.uk from September.

Rating: 10/10 - For those wanting a define their eyes with a classic liner look, this beauty product will put an end to your daily struggle of making both eyes look the same. Put simply, this eyeliner makes eye make-up hassle-free.  

Bourjois Liner Feutre Review

With a felt tip end, Bourjois’ Liner Feutre offers optimum precision for those who like a flicked corner.

The black colour does need layering to achieve a jet black finish, but the formula dries within seconds so it is quick and easy to apply. The winning feature of this eyeliner though is its staying power. If you’re someone who likes a bold block of eyeliner on your top lid, but are fed up with the smudging and printing onto your browline, then this is a liquid liner for you. Come rain or shine this eyeliner stays in place all day long.

Bourjois Liner Feutre is £6.99 and is available from Boots.com.

Rating: 8/10 – While it takes a couple of attempts to achieve a rich black shade, the longevity makes this liquid eyeliner one of the best available. Plus you get change from a tenner!

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Review

Soft gel liners are rarely smudge-proof and Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pen is no exception. While the smudging is disappointing, the softness of the eyeliner does come in handy and makes it easy to apply – it literally glides on to your eyelids.

If you’re a smoky eye fan the softer texture is without a doubt a bonus as you can use your finger or a brush to blend, however the eyeliner doesn’t smudge too much, so you can still frame and define your eyes.

While it might smudge, the formula is relatively waterproof and will make your eye make-up remover prove its worth.

For less than a tenner, Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pens are definitely worth trying out as they have impressively intense shades. In fact, they’re definitely one of the better gel eyeliners in this price bracket, especially if you enjoy experimenting with different shades.

Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pens are £9.50 each and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 5/10 – Good value for money considering the rich colours, but not necessarily a must-have eyeliner for all ages.

Mii Cosmetics Defining Eye Pencil Review

If you want to master a Bridget Bardot style flick and rock SS12’s feline eye make-up Mii’s Defining Eye Pencil is a must-have beauty product.

The firm pencil eyeliner makes sculpting the perfect flick easy and allows you to draw fine lines as well as thick blocks as your reach the outer corner of your upper eyelid.

As with most eyeliners, Mii’s is prone to smudging slightly once it’s on but you won’t end up with it half way down your cheeks and it doesn’t crumb as you’re applying it.

Overall this is a great beauty product to have in your make-up bag, especially if you want to create a wide-eyed make-up look and should be on your shopping list.

Mii Cosmetic’s Defining Eye Pencil is £8.95 from Miicosmetics.com.

Rating: 7/10 – While it does still smudge slight, for change from a tenner this is still a great value beauty buy.

Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil Review

Nicola Robert’s branching into cosmetics was definitely an unconventional move and the quality of the beauty products was always going to be questioned by sceptics. Surprisingly though, Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencils are creditable.

With a range of five wearable shades - granted that some are more wearable than others, ‘Feather’ is slightly garish – the eyeliner pencils promise to ‘define, line and shine’ and offer a more sophisticated take on a traditional kohl liner.

While the formula isn’t revolutionary, it doesn’t smudge or leave a liner print on your upper eyelid. More impressive though is the beauty product’s staying power, it lasts all day give or take a little fading.

My favourite shade is ‘I’m So Pretty’, the dark brown isn’t so dark that it almost looks black and offers eyes softer definition.

Dainty Doll’s Eyeliner Pencil is £8.15 at Lookfantastic.com.

Rating: 10/10 – I really like the ‘I’m So Pretty’ shade and it’s rare that you find an eyeliner that doesn’t smudge alone so that alone is gold-star worthy.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner Review

While the eyeshadows might have taken centre stage with regards to Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Cyber Eyes collection, it is the eyeliners that are particularly impressive.

Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliners are made with 70% pure pigment, which provides a strong, rich line of colour. The creamy formula makes this eyeliner feel more like a gel liner and makes the product soft, smooth and easy to apply.

There’s nothing outlandish about the six shades, instead each one is wearable all eye colours and creates a gorgeous smoky effect. For best results apply the sharpened eyeliner to the base of your eyelashes and gently smudge up and across.  

My favourite shade is definitely ‘Blackened Cocoa’ – the dark brown provides a nice change to heavy black kohl liner and creates a slightly more sophisticated finish.

Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliners are £16 each and are available from Esteelauder.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – The intense colour and selection of shades are perfect for taking you from the day into the evening, however the slight smudging lets the beauty product down slightly.

Nars Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner Review

As part of the 2011 Christmas collection, Nars has introduced two new shades of its Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner – both the purple and gold are perfect for the festive parties. While the whole range of shades are eye-catching (excuse the pun!) and can be matched with your party outfit, it’s the formula that makes the biggest statement with this eyeliner. 

The soft pencil literally glides onto your eyelids, allowing you to create thick statement colours or fine, feline flicks. In keeping with the name ‘longwear’, this eyeliner does actually last without the colour fading or smudging. 

As for shades, my favourite is ‘Campo De Fiori’ – great for channelling the metallic gold beauty trend for AW11. Be bold and brassy, and wear it thicker than normal to show off the colour and make an impact with your eyes. For a really dramatic look add a set of false eyelashes. 

Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner is £17 and available from Narscosmetics.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – Easy to use and the colour lasts for hours, it’s a great eyeliner for a night out.

Lancome Artliner Precision Point Liner Review

The search continues for the perfect black liquid eyeliner, next up Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner.

The first tick in the box comes with the sturdy foam tip, which provides enough flexibility to achieve a precise corner flick. The consistency of the liner is similar to that of a gel-point pen making it easy to draw on a straight line, second tick.

The third tick comes with the jet-black colour, which frames eyes perfectly making them look much wider. With a fast drying formula, not only can you easily line your lower lashes, but you also don’t get blink lines on your top lid, even when the eyeliner is first applied.

And finally, the last tick is awarded for the long-lasting wear. Whether you’re heading to the office or going dancing for the evening, this liner doesn’t budge, in fact it doesn’t even fade. Perfecto.

Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner is £20 and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 9/10 – It’s a fantastic product, but nowhere on the packaging does it mention the essential word ‘waterproof’ – major downfall.

Read more eyeliner reviews and let me know which ones you rate.  

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner Review

There is nothing skinny about this liquid liner. The felt tip is thick enough to create a striking line.

The tip is easily comparable to a marker pen, however it does have a fine point which allows you to draw on a precise flick Bridget Bardot style.

It’s not the best liner for under your eyes though as it doesn’t blend and it definitely wouldn’t work if you want to achieve a smoky effect. However, it is completely smudge-proof on your eye lid and lasts all day.

The turquoise shade is very bright and eye-catching, while the black version is dark (not quite jet black) and is perfect for every day wear.

Eyeko’s Skinny Liquid Eyeliner is £10 and available from Eyeko.com.

Rating: 8/10 – A great value product for everyday use.

Benefit Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner Review

As liquid eyeliners go Benefit’s Magic Ink is pretty good. The narrow wand and fine brush make achieving a fine line easy, although precision does take practice if you’re used to sturdier wand tips. The formula does stay on all day give or take a bit of fading and doesn’t dry your eyes out.

However, there is a niggling issue with this beauty product and that is its promise of providing a ‘jet-black’ colour on the packaging. The formula is simply too watery to get a thick, rich black shade with just one coat. Instead you have to apply, wait to dry and reapply the eyeliner to reach a darker shade.

Overall it’s not a terrible product, in fact it’s nowhere near terrible, but there are better liquid eyeliners available that will provide an instant black line within the same price margins.

Benefit’s Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner is £14.50 and available from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Rating: 5/10 – It’s not bad but it’s not great, it’s somewhere in the middle.

New CID Cosmetics i Gel Review

It’s easy to see why New CID Cosmetics Long Wear Gel Eye Liner Trio was a finalist in the Beauty Insiders’ Choice Awards for 2010. Each compact comes with three shades, a brush and a handy mirror.

With a soft texture, the gel liner lends itself well to smudging with your finger, so you can use the liner to frame your eyes and as a full eye shadow. Having tried and tested the Midnight Blue I can testify that the liner last all day, however the colour does fade throughout the day, becoming bluer.

The brush that comes with the i Gel’s cannot be ignored. The sturdy slant allows you to draw a fine, straight line or coat your lids with colour. It’s one of the best brushes I’ve ever used.

New CID Cosmetics i Gel is available from Newidcosmetics.com for £21.50

Rating: 7/10 – The staying power of this gel liner was impressive, but the colour fade was disappointing, however it’s worth buying this product just for the brush. 

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Review

Famous for her tinted moisturiser, Laura Mercier’s other cosmetics are often over looked. However I have a feeling the Caviar Sticks will become a hero product before long.

Launched late this summer, the Caviar Sticks, like the rest of Laura Mercier’s make-up, are high in colour pigment. This means not only do you get a rich colour, but you can also achieve it using very little, making the product last longer.

The real beauty of this product is its simplicity; you can simply roll it across your lid and viola. Whether you want a full lid of colour or just a hint of a tint, this product is a real make-up bag must-have. The colour is flecked with glitter, providing a gorgeous sparkle and the colour actually lasts.

The waxy formula makes it easy to blend with your finger for a sultry smoky eye.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick’s are available from Urbanretreat.co.uk for £20.50

Rating: 10/10 – Having been a Laura Mercier make-up virgin before, after using the Caviar Sticks I am sold completely. This product works as a great liner or a handy cheats guide to achieving a quick and easy smoky effect.

Clarins Instant Liner Review

Anyone that appreciates black eyeliner will understand the on-going quest to find a jet black liner that not only lasts, but doesn't budge. And I think Clarins might have just created it with its Instant Liner.

Jet black, tick. Liquid, tick. Long lasting, tick. Smudge-proof, tick. The last point doesn't deserve the same amount of credit as the first three though as the liner is not actually waterproof.

However Clarins Instant Liner does stay in place and will take you from day to evening easily with no need to touch up. The jet black shade is impressive and the foam applicator brush is sturdy, so you can achieve a thin, sophisticated flick or a thick, kohl-like line.

Top tip - make sure you allow for drying time, otherwise the liquid liner will print onto your lid and smudge.

Clarins Instant Liner is £19.50 and available from Clarins.co.uk

Rating: 9/10 - if it was waterproof it would have easily scored a 10.

Avon Supershock Gel Liner Review

This is by far one of the best budget eyeliners I've tried. It literally glides on and you can achieve anything from a fine line to a thick, smudged and sultry smoky eye.

It's a great every day make-up bag buy. There is one flaw though and that is, it's not smudge or waterproof, so while it will go on perfectly, it won't necessarily stay there all day, especially on the bottom lashes.

Avon's Supershock Gel Liner costs £2.50 from Avon.co.uk.

Rating: 7/10 - if it was waterproof it would definitely be topping the 9/10's.