Review: Maybelline Master Drama Cream Pencil in Midnight Master

I actually purchased this liner at CVS a while back just for my own personal use, without thinking that I was ever going to review it on the blog. Longtime readers might recall that the lovely Katie from My Lips But Better did a guest review of this liner when it first debuted back in the summer of 2011.

However, after I used it a few times, I realized that there were some good and bad things about this particular liner that I thought might be worth sharing. So...here's my review!

 Maybelline Master Drama by Eyestudio Cream Pencil in Midnight Master

(retail: around $8, .01 oz)

My full review, after the jump...

This is a standard automatic pencil that twists up but, unlike some other automatic liners I own, this one doesn't contain a sharpener on the opposite end of the pencil (not a deal-breaker for me personally because I very rarely use those types of sharpeners). Also, I'm not sure if I bought a faulty pencil or if this is the case with all of them, but once you twist up the "lead" in the pencil, it does not retract.

Liner after several uses.

First let me show you what this product looks like after my standard "rub test". For this test, I drew a thin line and a thick line, let them set for about five minutes and then, with my index finger, I rubbed the lines as hard as I could, back and forth, for about five seconds:

Not bad at all. Very, very light smudging, but I'm impressed considering how intense this black is (it looks a little bit lighter in my pics but in person it's a very deep, dark, true black). Usually black liners this dark and pigmented can smudge like crazy, so again this one surprised me.

As for ease of use, this liner is true to its claims. It glides across the lids effortlessly with absolutely no tugging or pulling. It's a rich, creamy liner and, again, the pigmentation is superb.

Now for why I'm writing this review: 

I had heard from some of you, as well as from some other bloggers, that this liner was excellent for the waterline. As many of you know, after trying every drugstore liner that's been raved about as "the best liner ever for the waterline", the only liner that truly works for me and stays put on my waterline for eight hours or more is my beloved Palladio liner. But I'm always interested in automatic liners for the waterline because, well, I'm lazy. I love my automatic liners!

The first time I used this liner, I applied it right before going out to dinner. I used it on my upper lashline and also on my waterline. After four hours, I checked the mirror and EEK! That was all I could say. This liner had found its way to my lower lashline (remember, I hadn't applied any liner to my lower lashline; only to my upper lashline and waterline) and it had smudged so badly that it looked like I had been crying. As for my waterline, I could only see very faint traces of it--I really had to look closely to see any remnants of this liner on my waterline after four hours.

This just further supports my opinion that there will never be one eyeliner (drugstore, mid-level or high-end) that truly works for everyone. For some of you, this is probably a Holy Grail product. I can't even use my oily skin as a reason for why this liner didn't work for me, because I've heard from people with skin just as oily as mine who love this product. What it really comes down to is body chemistry, what moisturizer(s) you use, what foundation, concealer, shadows, primers, etc. you use, and how all of those things interact with each other before you apply your liner (and of course don't forget about your climate, temperature, humidity, etc., which all play a vital role in the staying power of eyeliner). For me, this eyeliner didn't work for any other area but my upper lashline. But for you? Who knows!

FINAL VERDICT: After over a dozen applications, I can say without a doubt that this product didn't work for my waterline and I haven't been compelled to use it on my lower lashline given how easily it smudges and runs when applied to only my upper lashline and waterline. However, I've heard from many, many people who love this liner, so I would never try to talk you out of purchasing it. Just be sure that you buy it at Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid because you can return used beauty products there, no questions asked. Try it, see if it works, and if it doesn't? Exchange it. I do think it's at least worth a try, because the pigmentation is superb, and it also glides across the skin effortlessly. Two big pluses for sure. And a third plus? Maybelline goes on sale just about every other week at one of the big three drugstore chains, and you can always find coupons for Maybelline products to combine with a sale. In fact, there's a printable coupon available at the time of this post for $1 off any Maybelline eyeliner.

Do you own any Maybelline Master Drama Cream Pencils? If so, please share your experiences with us!