Monday, September 9, 2013

Update: e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner (9 months later)

Remember when I posted that I liked it? Probably not. It'd actually be slightly weird if you did, although you'd have a pretty fucking impressive memory. Well, anyway, this is what starts to happen after about 6 months:

The "cream", which was never very creamy to begin with, dries up and shrinks. It's now 9-10 months after I bought it, and it's just a hard chunk. I even used the thread tape trick to no avail. It's still actually useable, if you want to put in some effort, but it's more like a really hard powder than a cream. Might as well just use some eyeshadow.

This is just something to consider if you're thinking of buying this eyeliner. Of course, the $3 price tag is part of the reason why you're not getting great packaging. And yeah, they say you're supposed to toss cream products after a few months anyway, but with something like this where I'm only ever putting a brush in it, I'm not likely to follow that rule. I suggest only getting this stuff if either you don't mind throwing out most of it after less than a year, or if you think you will be using it almost daily and will be able to get through more of it than I did. I'm not out any more than $3, but I'm still annoyed when I have to trash an almost-full product that I liked.

12 comments:

  1. This is why I like their powder eye shadows but not their cream ones. The powder eye shadows have good staying power, too.

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    1. That reminds me that I should have a look at the one e.l.f. cream shadow I have. I haven't used it in a couple of months.

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  2. I've yet to try a cream or gel liner in a pot that's lasted for more than 4-5 months without drying out. At least with e.l.f, I'm only out $3 when it happens (glares at MAC Fluidline). One thing that's worked for me to help reconstitute old cream/gel liners is to add a couple drops of argan oil to it, then stir the crap out of it with a toothpick. It's a little messy, and it makes it take a tiny bit longer to dry on the lid, but it's manageable and beats throwing it out.

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    1. That's a helpful tip, thanks! I assume other oils would also work, depending on what's available. Um, other than something like tea tree oil. Ouch.

      I've had other products thicken up, but this has become a completely dry lump. I'm not sure I could save it now. I probably should have got to it sooner.

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  3. I've had my Maybelline Eye Studio gel pot eyeliner from 11 months, and it's still creamy, and easy to apply. It's like, 8 bucks, so more expensive than the e.l.f. version, but it's still super pigmented, and really easy to use.

    Yeah, I know there are those little expiration symbols on the back, but unless the consistency or the smell changes, I use it until I run out (the big exception being mascara).

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  4. I've tried a bunch of fancy gel liners and honestly, I think L'oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner has them all beat. It's pricier for a drugstore liner at $9-$10, but this applies like butter and has great pigmentation. Also, the brush that come with it is surprisingly really nice! I did notice they get a little still after a few months, which is easily remedied by adding some drops of artificial tears and letting is sit for a few minutes to absorb, then they're good as new!

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  5. So basically, so many better options out there for just a little bit more. That is good to know. I need to use up this MICA gel liner I got from a Glam Bag a while back before I buy anything else, though.

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  6. I hate this. I've used expensive products that worked wonders, but I couldnt decide on a color so got a bunch of elfs instead... with a price tag of $3 youa re getting what you pay for. i will not purchase again.

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  7. Yeah, with things like that, I tend to keep using them until there's something obviously wrong. Sometimes the surface exposed to air gets discolored or something - I just wipe/scrape it off with a tissue and spritz it with some alcohol. I'm not advocating that kind of reckless behavior (!), but I'm not dead yet. (But it sounds like Savannah would agree with you!)

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  8. I don't judge. That Bobbi Brown stuff is expensive, and as long as it doesn't' smell weird, and doesn't irritate your eyes, go for it! (And clean whatever brush you use regularly). I try to reserve yelling for people that I've slept with that start behaving like douchebags.

    For reference, I still use the MAC Viva Glam Lady GaGa lipstick (the pink one).

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  9. Yeah the one you sent me did this :(

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