benefit they're real push-up liner

Now that Benefit are out of my bad books I've been eager to try out their latest launch; they're real push-up liner. I've already read quite a few mixed reviews on it, one thing you probably all know about me by now is I just love to give my opinion on something. I love the packaging, it's super cool looking and I find the handle really easy to get a good grip of which makes application much easier. The tip applicator is silicone plastic meaning it's ever so slightly flexible, just enough so that it can follow the shape of the eye. Twisting the end of the pen pushes the product through a hole at the very top of the nib so that you can then start to draw on your liner. 

Upon using it for the first time I was surprised to find the product is really quite dense, I'd describe it as more of a cream liner than gel for that reason. Starting off at the inner corner of the eye I struggled to get a thin, precise line and had to go over a few times which then caused the product to crumble as it was drying. I do have fairly dry skin on my eyelids which might have contributed to the liner not applying well but if you take a look at the photo above it's really not a result you'd expect from a liner with a high price point, I've been doing flicked liner for years and years so I can assure you the dodgy line was not down to my application skills. In contrast to this I found the flick at the outer corner of my eye incredibly easy to create, it must be due to the shape of the nib but it took me far less time than usual, and I didn't have to correct it as I usually do either. The product is jet black which I give it a lot of credit for, but all said and done my impressions are that the product inside the tube is just too thick to be used for a push-up pen liner. I also noticed that each time I went to use the liner that some product had pushed through the top of the nib which ends up being wasted, there was a tiny plastic stopper that was inserted into it at first but I lose those kind of things in an instant. 

The liner needs improving in two ways if it's to be worth it's price point; the product needs to be thinner so that it doesn't cake up easily and there should be a stopper built within the lid, the applicator nib is genius although I can't help but feel it's wasted by the gel liner being incompatible with it. If you can create a precise line and flick within seconds then it will work just fine for you, but if like me you like to go over the line a few times then my advice is to stick to a liquid liner. I've been using my regular liquid liner for everyday use and have been using the Benefit version for when my make up calls for a more dramatic evening look but overall I'd say invest in a Mac 266 brush (which will last years) and the Maybelline studio gel liner which works just as well as any high end version.

benefit they're real liner - £18.50 |