L'oreal Lineur Intense, Almay Liquid and MAC Penultimate Liners: A Comparison Review

I've had the chance to try the L'oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip liquid liner, and I'd always wondered how it would fare compared to my other felt-tip liquid liners- Almay and MAC Penultimate. As I had mentioned in previous entries, I would always prefer my liquid liners over my gel ones like MAC's fluidlines or Indelible or Coastal Scents gel liners when I am in a hurry because I can always get a perfect line using the liquid liners in maybe 5 seconds flat. I also don't need to look around for an eyeliner brush when I use my liquid liners, which is a plus because that saves time especially when you're pressed for time. I've used my Almay since 2004, and am very much satisfied with it. I decided to branch out when I tried MAC's Penultimate, because I was curious as to how other brands' liquid liners operate. Here are my thoughts regarding these three products.







L'Oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner
-For dramatically bold or sleek eye looks, L'Oreal presents Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner.
-Lineur Intense's tapered natural brush gives you the control to create the most precise lines for your desired eye looks.
-All day wear up to 8 hours.
-Water-resistant.
-Smudge-proof.
-Ophthalmologist tested.
-Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
-Fragrance-free.

My Take: I've been using liquid liners for five years now, so working the brush tip wasn't really a big deal for me. If you are new to liquid liners, though, this would take a little bit of practice. I recommend using felt tip liquid liners first before graduating to brush applicators. I just found out that Lineur Intense actually has a variant with a felt tip, which is great. I like how, as the name implies, intense the line you can create with this product. The line is so very black, and would really work great for dramatic looks. I also like how fine the brush tip is, so you can make lines as very close to the lashline as possible, so as to make a natural, unobtrusive line that gives an illusion of lush lashes. The downside is that the tip is flimsy and would create wonky lines if you are not used to this brush applicator. I suggest creating a crutch using your pinky finger (place your little finger on your cheekbone to steady your hand while you apply the liner). With practice, though, you can create gorgeous, flawless lines with this product.

ALMAY® Liquid Liner
Get beautiful definition with this easy-to-use liquid liner. Water-resistant formula lasts up to 16 hours without irritation. Unique "inkwell" design delivers fresh color every time. Flex-tip applicator provides mistake-proof control.
Hypoallergenic. Ophthalmologist tested.

My Take: I wouldn't be using this product for five years straight if I didn't love it. This product cured my phobia of liquid liners. The felt-tip is a godsend. It gives amazing color and precise, flawless lines in record time. The applicator, just as Almay claims, is flexible but it is not at all floppy or flimsy, so it gives great control to create your perfect line. You can also create the cat-eye flick at the end with ease and precision. I also have this in Brown, and it gives such a natural, beautiful line everytime. I believe Almay may have a blacker black than what I have right now, but mine yields a soft black hue that is perfect for everyday application. Love, love, love.

MAC PENULTIMATE EYE LINER A new, permanent classical liquid pen liner in a modern, plastic barrel with cap package that provides precise and bold line application. The carbon black pigment provides the richest and deepest black.

MAC Penultimate yields a very thin, heavily pigmented line, mainly because of the finer tip. I also love the fact that Penultimate is a lot darker than Almay, so just one application should be enough. I apply two lines of my Almay liner on the lashline to have the desired effect. All in all, I still like my Almay because it gives me the precise line that I like in less than five seconds, but the Penultimate is a winner as well because you can create precise, very fine lines with it because of its fine tip and very dark pigment. I also love the Penultimate to wiggle into the very lashline to create a darker, lusher lashline, without looking like I have liquid liner on. It seems very natural. Love this liner as well.

There you go, my review of my liquid liners!

MAC Chill and Dame Edna Product Photos and The Penultimate Eyeliner Experience

NOTE: Swatches of these products can be seen HERE.







Here are product photos of Chill and Dame Edna collections from MAC. If I were to choose between the two collections, I'd pick Chill over Dame Edna because, as I said, I already own many colors that are similar to those of Dame Edna. However, if you are just starting with makeup, these collections have a good balance of both neutral and fun colors that are staples in every makeup traincase.

Let's start off with Chill. I'd mentioned previously that I fell in love with Arctic Grey, and I still am up to this day. It reminds me of dirty snow - a dirty greyish silver, and its name probably conjured images of ice and snow in my head. Applied on, it is beautiful without being overly shiny or garish on the lids. I have many MAC shadows, but this particular one is unique. I have silvers and greys, but not this kind of in-between, dirty snow color. Love it. Mont Black is a beautiful black with a lot of sparkles (or multi-dimensional pearl) in it, but I believe the light captures them as goldish sparkles, which are gorgeous. This is similar to Black Tied, but the sparkles in the latter are somewhat one-dimensional silver shimmer. If you have either, though, you can do without the other. Mont Black would give depth to those sultry smokey eyes and you can also use this to contour the crease.



Okay, I think I'm pretty qualified to review the new liquid liner from MAC called the Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack, as I wear liquid liner about four times a week. I really like my Almay Liquid Liner in both Black and Brown because I am always in a hurry in the mornings, and the liquid liner gives me a very smooth, slick, perfect line in three seconds flat. I love that I don't need to scrounge around looking for an eyeliner brush. I don't need to dip it in any gel liner pot. I just unscrew it, and the cap has a felt-tip applicator built into it, and I just effortlessly glide it on my lashline for a smooth line. Personally, I believe once you get the hang of it, liquid liners are less cumbersome and more convenient than gel liners. Really. So anyways, I tried the Penultimate liner in Rapidblack and compared it to my favorite Almay liquid liner. They both have the same felt tip that I love that gives the ease in applying the liquid liner. I swatched them on my hand and this is what I got:



Almay gave a thicker line since I had to reapply it around 3 times because the first coat was kinda sheer. MAC Penultimate yields a very thin, heavily pigmented line, mainly because of the finer tip. I also love the fact that Penultimate is a lot darker than Almay, so just one application should be enough. I apply two lines of my Almay liner on the lashline to have the desired effect. All in all, I still like my Almay because it gives me the precise line that I like in less than five seconds, but the Penultimate is a winner as well because you can create precise, very fine lines with it because of its fine tip and very dark pigment. I am really loving it as well. The raves were true: The Penultimate rocks! I just hope that it lasts a long while because looking at the pen, you really wouldn't know how much is left in the tube.

I used Penultimate today, intending to post a look using this, but I forgot my camera. Bummer! Will be doing looks using it soon.





Dame Edna is such a fun collection. I love the little cards stuffed into the boxes with little quotes from Dame Edna, kinda like cosmetic fortune cookies, haha! The names are a hoot as well. Splendid is a pretty coral that I liken to some of my favorite coral lipglasses like Orangedescence. Kanga-Rouge is a dark blue red that would look nice on my skintone because warm red colors make my skin look dirty and yucky.


I like the idea of mixing a robin's egg blue color with silvers and greys for a pop of color in an otherwise boring neutral/smokey palette. As I said, if you already have similar colors (like Silver Ring, Knight Divine), you can skip this trio, but the combination of colors is pretty cool. You can use Wisteria on the lid and Fineshine and Divine Night on the crease and outer V, or you can use the latter two on the lid and apply Wisteria on your lower lashline for a pop of blue.

Corals and Browns Using Mineral Shadows

Here is a look featuring coral, bronze and brown mineral shadows. This is the first time after a long while that I used my Bare Escentuals shadows, and I was really pleasantly surprised that they really apply well even without foiling. I have had Bare Escentual shadows for two years now, but I got sidetracked by mineral shadows from smaller mineral companies. Now I can't wait to play with my Bare Minerals shadows. Also, today I went to the mall with the family and I went inside the Bare Escentuals boutique that had just opened a few months ago in our area. I had a lot of fun playing with the beautiful eyeshadow glimmers and glimpses. We have Sephora and ULTA where one can also play with BE colors, but the BE boutique has a hundred times more colors and selections so it was definitely mineral makeup heaven right there.

Anyways, here is my look featuring Bare Minerals shadow in Radiant Rebecca.


Apply UDPP on lid and smoothed on brows. Apply MAC Perky Paint pot on lid. Using Loew Cornell 3/8 Maxine's Mop 270 brush (MAC 239 dupe), apply Radiant Rebecca dry on the lid using patting motions.


Using Stila #9 blending brush, apply MAC mineralize shadow in Inter-View on outer lid and crease (used dark brown side).


Using a fluffy brush (I used Studio Tools medium shadow brush), apply Silk Naturals mineral shadow in Superstar to blend with Inter-view and Radiant Rebecca.


Apply more Radiant Rebecca as needed. Blend the darker color into the lid color using Stila #9 blending brush. Apply MAC Sweetjoy eyeshadow to highlight. Apply Almay liquid liner in Brown. Fill in brows, apply mascara. Apply Radiant Rebecca on inner lower lashline using Sonia Kashuk pointed pencil brush, and Inter-View brown shadow on outer lower lashline. Use UD 24/7 glide-on eyeliner in Zero to tightline and on waterline.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Adorned With Grace mineral foundation in Hope 3.5 and Hope 3.8 mix
UD 24/7 pencil concealer on undereye area
Bare Escentuals Well Rested over UD 24/7
DreamWorld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch (silk formula)
MAC mineralize blush in Nuance

Lips:
Jordanna lipliner in Nutmeg
MAC lipstick in Mellow Flame
MAC lipglass in Splendid!

Looks Using Pure Anada and Earthen Glow Minerals

I have not posted FOTDs in ages! Anyways, pardon me if I forget some of the products that I used in these looks as some of these have been taken more than a week ago.

Anyways, I used Pure Anada and Earthen Glow Minerals, two of my latest discoveries in mineral makeup, and two of my best ones as well.


Here is a look using, I believe, either Adorned With Grace or Earthen Glow Minerals.


In this look I am positive I used Earthen Glow Minerals. Perfect match, don't you think?


On my eyes, I used The She Space shadows in Moonlight Whimsy, Lucifer's Chariot and Bella Diablo. I lined my eyes using my favorite liner ever - Almay liquid I-liner in Black. I love it because it is super easy to line my eyes with it. I have been using this brand since '04 and I just love how smoothly it glides on my lashline without smudging. I've been using this more often recently because I go to work much earlier now, and it is a bit time consuming for me to scrounge around for a fluidline and an eyeliner brush, pop the fluidline jar open, and all that stuff. I just unscrew the top of the liquid I-liner that also doubles as an applicator, and I get a great line within seconds.


In this look, I also used my favorite Almay liquid I-liner, but this time I used Brown. I used MAC Soft Ochre paint pot as base, MAC Corn shadestick on the lid, MAC Gold Mine shadow on top of Corn on lid, MAC Museum Bronze pigment on the crease and outer V, and Glamour Check! eyeshadow on the crease. I applied Femme Fi eyeshadow to highlight.



Face:
Monistat anti-chafing gel as primer (thanks Nessa! Lahvit!)
Pure Anada mineral foundation in Deep Gold
Dermablend Quickfix stick concealer in Ivory
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder in Clear
NARS blush in Gilda
MAC beauty powder in Belightful over blush

Lips:
Aromaleigh lipstick in Sheen
MAC lipglass in White Magic


Here's a pic of girlfriends at a dinner at BJ's Pizza and Brewery for a double birthday celebration. I used Adorned With Grace Minerals in the morning, and when dusk came, I added one layer of Earthen Glow Minerals to touch up.


A hot, freshly-baked pizza-sized pizookie, otherwise known as the Pizookie Party Platter, BJ's famous dessert. It has four different kinds of cookies in that humongous platter, including white macadamia and chocolate chunk (yes, not chip but chunk!). It was SO huge that we thought we would never finish it. Really.


Aaarggh! It was soo good! Craving for some right now.


Ten minutes later