Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner Pencil Review
After being impressed with Maybelline’s Color Sensational line of lipsticks, I’ve taken a liking to this brand. It was in this spirit that I picked up their Unstoppable Eyeliner pencil. But let me rewind a bit. I use kajal on a daily basis. I like how it gives definition to my eyes and makes my eyes pop. It is only after I’ve put on my kajal after my morning shower that I feel truly ready to face the day. But lately, I’ve had no patience with correcting the smudging that sets in by afternoon, no matter how lightly I apply the kajal. I have Biotique kajal and regular use has reduced the thick stick to a stump. That makes it difficult to apply it as a thin line. Also, these days I’m opening up to the idea that leaving the water line alone and lining the lower lash line instead opens up my eyes and looks nicer too. So with this motive, I was prepared to ditch my trusty kajal for an eyeliner pencil.
In the past, I’ve used Maybelline Define-A-Line eyeliner pencil, but that smudged horribly and irritated my eyes too. I’ve also used Rimmel kohl pencil and that had worked well. But this is where my pencil eyeliner experience ends. So I’ve been on the lookout for a good eyeliner pencil that:
- Does not irritate my eyes or give me a headache.
- Is safe to use on the water line. I don’t intend to use it on the water line, but it should not irritate my eyes just in case some of it goes over my water line.
- Has great pigmentation.
- Is creamy smooth and glides on my lash line.
- Comes off completely with soap and water. Or at the most with a dab of Olive oil.
- Does not smudge.
- Is a mechanical pencil or gets easily sharpened if it is not.
Now that would be my HG eyeliner pencil. 🙂
After glossing over Maxfactor kohl pencil, Bourjois Kohl and Contour pencil, Revlon Colorstay and Maybelline, I bought Maybelline Unstoppable eyeliner pencil in Black. It is a mechanical pencil that gives a matte finish. I shelled Rs. 240 for it. The look of the casing itself is not something to brag about other than that it is a twist-up kind.
Here’s what the packaging claims:
“Smudgeproof, waterproof eyeliner. Stays put all day, holds your look in place until you remove it. Glides on smoothly. Easily lines and defines your eyes. Safe for sensitive eyes, contact lens safe, ophthalmologist tested.” My my, the writing used all the right words! I was instantly sold. And for less than 250 Rupees, it looked like a steal. But ladies, it is not an eyeliner, it is an eyewash. The eyeliner has hardly any colour payoff and is extremely waxy.
Things that work in favour of Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner:
- 1. The price.
- That it is a mechanical pencil that does not need to be sharpened. And it is retractable to boot.
- Stays put. Does not smudge. But then, how much can a smidgen of colour smudge anyway? This would be a plus only if the colour payoff were decent.
- Does not irritate my eyes. Now I do notice some burning around my lash line after applying it, but I’m pretty sure that is because of the rubbing you need to do to get any colour to offload from the pencil onto your lash line.
Things that work against Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner:
- The colour payoff is negligible. You can make some colour to deposit on your eyes if you are willing to literally rub the pencil onto your lash line. Ouch!
- The pencil is waxy and not creamy at all.
- Every now and then, you come across thin fibres emanating from the pencil. This was the case with my Maybelline Define-A-Line pencil as well. These fibres are probably there to hold the eyeliner together I think, but they look pretty gross.
- You cannot draw an unbroken line with it at all, especially on the upper lash line. The liner is so waxy that it drags along the delicate skin around the eyes. Any line that it draws on the lash line looks more like a scratch.
- Untruthful claims on the packaging about easy application etc.
After swiping the pencil 5 times along the lower lash line using some pressure
After swiping the pencil 10 times along the lower lash line using some pressure
On the same day, I also checked out Revlon Colorstay eyeliner pencils. The SA showed me two options for Revlon Colorstay pencil eyeliner. One of them was a mechanical pencil that she said was the older version (Rs. 425). The newer, improved version of Revlon Colorstay eye liner (Revlon Colorstay One Stroke Defining Liner) was a regular pencil that claimed to do the job with just a single stroke (Rs. 490).
I liked everything about it, but I had read how difficult it is to get it off. So I shared my inhibitions with the SA. She asked me to run the liner pencil on my hand and then try to smudge it. The liner didn’t budge. This scared me a bit, since I only want to “temporarily line” my eyes, not “tattoo” them! But then, she gave me some Revlon eye and lip makeup remover and the liner came off with just one swipe. The makeup remover was mainly mineral oil. So, Olive oil should be able to remove the liner as well.
The SA opened a new liner pencil before me and suggested that I try it on my water line. Who she intended to sell it to after I had already used it on my eyes is anyone’s guess. Exactly one stroke of the creamy pencil deposited a thin line of lush black pigment on my water line. Then I waited for any signs of irritation or headache. After 15 minutes of toying around with other Revlon goodies that I had no intention to buy, I couldn’t notice a single pang of irritation in my eyes. The liner hadn’t smudged until I washed my face later that evening. This liner was good. But at nearly 500 Rupees a pop, I wanted to try out cheaper options first. I said so, and took leave of the Revlon counter. The next counter was Maybelline. The rest is history. 🙁
I intended to write a review on these two liners long time ago… exactly my feelings. I LOVE Revlon Colorstay liner. Its so creamy, so dark and doesnt smudge at all!! After 5 hrs of loitering in Kolkata’s humid weather, it’d still stay put! I think its worth every penny I pay for. It lasts long too.
Maybelline on the other hand is just ok. Non-creamy, dry, color pay off is bad… it doesnt give rasoon eyes though. It will just wear off and not smudge that badly.
I had a good feeling about Revlon Colorstay. Now I have validation from someone who actually uses it. Thanks Urmi! 🙂
Get the Avon glimmerstick – Black. Is 200 or less if there is a discount on..and it stays on for me. That pic – 5 times, 10 times – I laughed so much after seeing it…sorrrrrryyyy..but was reallly funny and you are so cute writing like that. First time I thought I read it wrong… 😀
Sonal, nice review…i have the unstoppable liner in dark brown(espresso), well i agree 100% to whatever you have wrote here..colour payoff is below average, otherwise i like it…really want to try revlon colorstay now…
I get pretty disappointed if something that I buy so excitedly turns out to be a dud. Anyway, might as well go for Revlon Colorstay liner now. 🙂
Nice review Sonal, such a disappointed to see the colour payoff!
but i second Radhika so cute of you to write that 5 times and 10 times!:P
Thanks ik, I was just trying to be “useful”, but hey, it’s nice if you can make someone smile. 🙂
🙂 hehe
This is how it looks after 10 swipes. 😯
I just bought maybelline studio finish once an had a pretty bad experience with it, Now don’t bother too much about their pencils. Like colorbar pencils and revlon colorstay ones are pretty good. 🙂
Revlon, and now Colorbar and Avon are on my list of liners to check out. 🙂
COlorbar I glide. 🙂
hey sonal, nice post dear…
I love maybelline brand sometimes they come up with such duds….. anyway thanks for the heads up I’ll rather burn my cash for expensive revlon than fizz it out on duds…
.-= GK´s last blog ..Oriflame Cosmetics and Skincare from September Catalogue =-.
omg i can hardly see anything on your waterline even after 10 swipes 😯
good i haven’t bothered to try any maybelline pencils !!
.-= Insiya´s last blog ..Tip of the Day – Get Rid of Oily Pores =-.
Yeah Insiya, don’t waste your money on it.
I’ve found that with Maybelline it is quite a hit-or-miss affair. But still, I won’t be “breaking up” with Maybelline just yet. I believe in second chances. But not in the eyeliner pencil department though, I’ve have had enough of disappointment already.:) Both Define-A-Line and Unstoppable are major disappointments.
Insiya, I’ve not used it on my water line, only on my lower lash line. 😀
oo my bad but despite using on the lower lash line it doesnt show up 😕
.-= Insiya´s last blog ..Tip of the Day – Get Rid of Oily Pores =-.
oh btw i agree with Radhika get Avon’s glimmerstick. I’m in love with mine :inlove:
.-= Insiya´s last blog ..Tip of the Day – Get Rid of Oily Pores =-.
Me too quite impressed with maybelline’s colour sensational range….
.-= GK´s last blog ..Oriflame Cosmetics and Skincare from September Catalogue =-.
have got same pencil from AVON .. its pretty good .. doesnt smudge and waterproof . . . :-))
Yippppeee…Avon wins :victory: :victory: :victory: err…what..there was no contest happening here…okkkkkkkk 🙄
:laugh:
Avon seems to be a hot favourite! Any oriflame and avon consultants here who will send me an e brochure and deliver products?
Anyaa, you can check it on the Avon India website..they have the e-brochure there and also have a number or mail or something to get information on consultants near your place. I don’t think there are any Avon consultants on IMBB but might find some ppl who buy Oriflame for themselves.
Radhika, do you know of any Avon consultants in Bangalore? I live near the Old Airport Road.
Me toooo 😀 My friend gets Avon stuff for me..she signed up to be a consultant cos she buys so much of their stuff herself 😛 😛 I could ask her..but she stays in JP Nagar..and we meet at some mall about once a month and get the stuff. I could ask her if she knows anyone else nearby but I am not too sure..
OMG! We could be neighbours for all that you know! 🙂
😯 Hurries to clean up the house…
Radhika, I can come over to help you clean up your Chanel stash!!!!!! 😀
Oh, but wait, is that house with castor oil drums instead of a fence yours?? 😕
Hm.. I always wondered.. ?:-) ?:-)
:reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: throws drums at Sonal
You got the wrong person :beatup: I’m still here. :rotfl:
I’m an Avon representative, Radhika. But I use the Revlon Colorstay twist up eye pencil, it really doesn’t budge the whole day long. It’s a great product. Avon have now just launched their Glimmersticks Diamond eye pencils in 4 shades, waiting patiently to try these out.
Oh..that’s nice..I like the Avon ones cos they are very inexpensive 🙂 You stay in Bangalore? Glimmerstick Diamond eye pencils??? Ooooh have to check for those…tx for the info 🙂
i am currently on my third espresso pencil and my second sapphire pencil. in fact, i used the sapphire one for my “kareena kapoor inspired” look from kurbaan here on imbb. the pencil is waxy, yes. it does drag on the lids, yes. however, i’ve found the perfect way to make this work. i slightly stretch my lids from the outer corner and then apply this pencil. goes on well. i personally feel that the colour payoff is excellent. much better than most pencils out there. these liners aren’t meant for the waterline, so if they don’t work well there, i don’t think it’s the product’s fault! you can however use it on the lower lashline.
oh and these don’t smudge at all! but i won’t repurchase them now because maybelline tests on animals!
.-= Rima Kaur´s last blog ..Beneath The Smiles =-.
OMG !! Rima!!! 😀 😀 :-* :-* :-*
what happened ikky?
.-= Rima Kaur´s last blog ..Beneath The Smiles =-.
against animal testing with you!!!:D :inlove: :inlove:
oh and you called me ikky :cute: ?? 😀 everyone calls me that! :):) my name is ikya. so ik/iky.. 😀 :shy: i like i like!!the ogre likes you Rima, you are safe! 😀 muhahaha :alien: O:-)
You know…with a name like Ikky and vegetarian..you are not going to be of much use in the scaring department 😐
oh 😯 :pain: dont tell anyone about the vegetarianism!! whadooiiidoooo????? 😥
Is no use…me vegetarian…Rati..vegetarian..is no use…did u see that Minnie Mee yesterday – she threatened to feed us to the sharks…and then probably eat up those sharks later with her evil Jomol.
omg! how evil?! but i’m bigger! i can sit on them and cause pain!remember? :)i hope people still fear me! gives me a kick! 😀
i want oriflame for free! 😛 should i become a consultant? who will consult me? their website is so confusing! i do ”join us” and i dont have a user id. i dint see any register here. only log in.. weirdness!!
Dont know about Oriflame…Avon..you pay I think about 200/300 rs and sign up to be a consultant or representative or something. This stays valid as long as you buy stuff for about 300 rs once every 3 months. They don’t bother who buy…you or someone else…and you dont have to get anyone to come consulting…its just a fancy term…err..ok maybe some ppl seriously do help out others in picking stuff..I dont know. Anyway..all this info is just a bit unreliable cos I heard it from a friend who is not very reliable herself…she is after all my friend 😀 😀
😛 i dont know.. i like oriflame stuff.. looks all glossy and pretty no? i wanted to do this and buy stuff for 20%off and write reviews here and make money! 😛 :-$
ki is kiki for me and you’re ikky. i dunno, these days i’m totally into giving all these nicknames to people. 😛
i’m against animal testing too. i’ll finish up all existing products and never buy from such companies again.
.-= Rima Kaur´s last blog ..Beneath The Smiles =-.
Yayy!! me too!! no more lóreal! they better get their ethics right!! total ban! and you are so cute! 🙂 happy ogre! haha
Awesome that it works for you, Rima! :yes: I only use this pencil on my lower lash line, not my water line. I’ve mentioned that in the photos. 😛 It makes me uneasy to do any kind of pulling or tugging near my eyes, but that’s just me. :pain:
you know i hate stretching off my lids too. but i’m not going to repurchase these anyway now so it’s not a problem. i’m quite bad at reading between the lines online so i think i just missed the lashline part. 🙂
.-= Rima Kaur´s last blog ..Beneath The Smiles =-.
Never mind, Rima :-*
:kissed:
.-= Rima Kaur´s last blog ..Beneath The Smiles =-.
hmm looks good
will check out but by the time i go there i will forget the name
:hypnotized: i love make up but have trouble remembering names some times…wtH!
:sweat:
but my maybelline “to buy” list is increasing by the day…..hoping to find a stocked up maybelline counter soon
Neha, you won’t need to add this to your wish list. It’s called Unstoppable but it feels more like “Passable”. :sidefrown:
I took a look at the brochure and want a couple of things, the perfume and the glimmerstick liner for now but I can’t seem to find a consultant who will deliver to chennai, sigh.
Ohh..you didnt find any consultant in Chennai? Is such a big city I thought someone might be there..
so many imbb lasies from chennai :-)) :-))
i meant ladies
Hi sonal, i agree about these pencils. i got the brown and blue ones and now i’m stuck with them :-((
:rotfl: :rotfl: You could do that :rotfl:
The :rotfl: :rotfl: was for I was imagining you ogre-like sitting and thinking about it all…hehehehee…the idea is actually quite goood..not laughing at that at all.
haha you know i really liked how we conveniently barged into their conversation and had our own! 😀 😛 :-*
:rotfl: :rotfl: is fun naaaa 😛
haha totally!!! 😀 i sooo with you! 🙂 >:D< why cant this have hug smiley? 😐
Wow the color payoff is really crappy.Glimmersticks are highly recommended, plus these days Im loving lakme 9 to 5 too.Though the lakme ones are damn hard to remove.
.-= Sonia´s last blog ..Chemical Peels At Home Part 2 – Glycolic Acid Peel =-.
Any idea where v can get Avon products in chennai….. ?:-) ?:-)
I think you can locate Avon reps through their website. Do u check their website. And Sonal I totally agree with you on this one, you need to swipe harder to get a line. So i use it just on the lash line n use another kohl for the water line. Only thing I like about it is how it never bleeds or smudges.