L’Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner Review, Photos, Swatches
Monday, October 26th, 2009
L’Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner: Black Shock, Silver Lightning, Gold Charge, Violet Volt
L’Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner ($10.00) pencil eyeliners with a chrome detail to them. The formula currently has four shades available:
- Black Shock is a deep black satin — this one didn’t really read metallic or chrome to me, but it’s such an ultra dark black, I love it and don’t care at all that it isn’t more chrome-d out!
- Silver Lightning is a shiny bright silver with a definite chrome effect.
- Gold Charge is a deep gold with a decent amount of brightness to it.
- Violet Volt is a dark violet purple, almost a jewel-tone purple, with a slight metallic sheen (not quite as strong as Silver Lightning or Gold Charge).
I’m not often impressed by a lot of color products available at mass retailers, but when I am, I get very excited to share with others about my find! These are one of those instances where I was utterly blown away (and am a little annoyed with myself for sitting on these–not testing them, that is–for over two months) by the pigmentation, feel, and quality of the product.
These Chrome Eyeliners are ultra soft when you touch them, and the feel reminds me of an even softer version of Urban Decay’s 24/7 Liners, which I absolutely adore. These are so soft that I’d actually say it’s one of the minor issues with working with these – if you apply these with too much pressure (as is easy to do when swatching, ha!), the product may break a bit. I’m not sure if L’Oreal has a good sharpener for these, but they worked well with my Urban Decay one (which, coincidentally, works best on my 24/7 Liners, too).
The color pigmentation is amazing — very true to color and bright and bold. There’s no sheer color here. They apply easily because they’re so soft and smooth, and they just glide onto the lash line with no fuss. I will say the first time I applied these on my lower lash line and lower waterline, my eyes teared up and watered a fair amount. The liner stayed pretty well in place on the lower lash line and faded after an hour so of watery eyes on the waterline (to be expected).
I layered both Black Shock and Silver Lightning together a few days later, and I didn’t find my eyes teared up at all. I doubt very much that these are waterline tested or labeled safe, so just want to caution those looking for something to use on the waterline. Nonetheless, I found the liners wore well throughout the day and didn’t smudge or migrate on my lower lash line.
Bottom Line: Whether you find these at full price or are able to get a good deal (buy one, get one!), these are worth every penny. (I will say that $10 for an eyeliner at mass is a bit steep for me.) Soft, bold color that lasts for hours and stays put. I was just about to give up on L’Oreal, but these are totally amazing. Now, I’m a bit more eager to see what else L’Oreal releases in the future!
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- Product: 30/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 5/5
Recommendation: For metallic, chrome-a-licious eyeliner, L’Oreal HIP makes a fantastic product to check out next time you’re at the drugstore!
Availability: Drugstore.com
See swatches…
L’Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner: Black Shock, Silver Lightning, Gold Charge, Violet Volt
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Hi My neighbour had a silver lightning eyliner by l'Oreal HIP and she loved it. I have been to six Shoppers Drug Mart stores to buy this product. Please tell me where I can buy it. My friend also wants to buy a couple as well. She went to five different stores. We really want this product. So please tell me where to buy it. Thank you Monica
Okay forgive me, but I am totally lost on how to make more of the eyeliner stick come out...How does it work? I am not sure if I got a bad stick but I twist the bottom and nothing comes out...I can't figure it out :(
You have to sharpen it!
wow. I'm not one to discount drugstore makeup because I think there are products every bit as good as high end and you can get multiple products for the price of one. liners I've had less luck but the swatches are gorgeous. the black looks a little too close to zero & I like matte black liners but the others are gorgeous, especially that blue-violet. general: drugstores offer solid mascaras, lipsticks, gloss, powder (can vary considerably), concealers (again variable, better for blemishes than undereye), makeup remover wipes weaker foundations, shadows, primers, moisturizers, longwear maybe average woman uses mascara, concealer & lipstick, other items are must-haves for MU junkies willing to pay more?
How funny! Eyeliners are surprisingly the one area where I've fared pretty well on when it comes to drugstore, lol!
i actually have this eyeliner in black and it love it. its great. super soft and easy to apply. i love them!
thanks for the review and the swatches! (gorgeous colors btw<3) im definitely gonna pick some up at cvs! (they're 5 bucks this week!<3)=]
My daughter applied the black shock eyeliner to my lower lids. Later, I fell asleep without removing the eyeliner and within 24 hours my eyes because itchy, red, and running water. I thought it would stop and for several days the itchy, running eyes continued and began swelling. I made an appointment to see my eye doctor and she diagnosed me with allergic conjunctivitis.
I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you! I'm glad you were able to see your doctor and find out what happened, though. I know the first time I wore this liner on my waterline, it made my eyes water quite a bit, but I didn't encounter the itchiness or allergic reaction you did :(
Those look quite promising! I love stocking up on liners of all colours, I will definitely be checking them out. I've never used UD liners, but I have two of the MUFE Aqua Eyes liners and I've read that those two liners are quite similar. How comparable would you say the L'Oreal liners are to the MUFE liners?
ooooo!!! I love 24/7 liners too! I will def. check this out, thanks for this Christine!
No prob, Christine!
hey if u have riteaid near u here is $5 off coupon http://offers.riteportal.com/760/ecoup_S525.pdf they r BOGO in riteaid this week and if u buy $100 worth of l'oreal u get $30 cheque back (single cheque rebate )
Thanks, Rashmi!
Oof. Update regarding the waterline: although the package says "ophthalmologist tested" (which is what I always thought was the indicator for waterline-safe or not), I am having more burning and eye watering today than I have ever experienced from makeup with Silver Lightning on. I still want to pick up Violet Volt, but they will be lashline pencils only!
Yeah, I'm not really sure what that means, and I don't even know if the term is regulated by the FDA in any way, so it may not mean the same thing to each brand. I had the same problem, but it seemed like it only happened the first time I used it, because I tried it again the next day, and it didn't cause my eyes to tear-up! It was kind of weird.
That is kind of weird! However, Im going to try to resist being a moth and not use these on the waterline again. I am not normally sensitive to anything cosmetic - I never get rashes or burning or irritation - so the rare instance that I am, I will avoid like the plague! Bummer, because it applied so much nicer on my waterline than UD Dime, but I can live without :)
Totally understand ;)
hey- this is my fist time to leave a commnet :) (nervous) how about the degree of smudging? it isn't waterproof right?
I don't think it's waterproof, but they last quite awhile and don't smudge on me! You can smudge them, if you desire, when you first apply, though, if that's what you're asking :)
Hey Christine! I loved this review! I want to go get one, now I'm just not sure which one! Man I should always check your website before buying makeup ^^
LOL! Awww ;) Thanks, Kira!
These look so similar to my beloved but discontinued Stila Kajal liners (Gold and Silver, there was also a stunning Bronze) from a holiday set a few years back!
Ohh, yay! :) At least you know where to get replacements now!
Hi Christine, I have swatches and a review of all 6 colors of these on my blog, too: http://sasquatchswatch.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-loreal-hip-color-chrome-eyeliners.html Thanks, Kristina
Thanks!
I will definitely be looking out for a BOGO one these! I want the purple and gold! :D
From what readers are saying, Walgreens has it now! Hopefully whatever store is nearest you will have these BOGO soon!
These are lovely! How close is the gold one is the UD 24/7 Honey liner?
It's very similar!
Violet maybe worth checking out - anytime you give something an A rating always piques my interest and makes my wallet scared!
:) I don't give out many As, haha!
WOW! These have fantastic pigmentation!
Agreed!!
NEED, not want. *__*
Haha!
I had given up on HIP because it seemed like they only focused on loose pigments (which I hate) but these look pretty cool. I wonder what their blending/smudging potential is for doing a nice metallic smokey eye.
I almost gave up on L'Oreal, period, LOL.
They should bring back the blue color, and the green. They're not budgeproof, but I'd buy the blue and green.
I concur!
This is great news... I'm not a big fan of L'oreal, I had a bad skin reaction to something... not sure if i'll try this, the colors look very pretty, so we'll see
Ohh, if you do try it, let us know how it goes!
Gold one is Gorgeous!!!! At BOGO deals...its awesome!!
Oh yeah, totally worth it at $5! (Worth it at $10, too, but since I KNOW they go on sale, I'd wait til it was at least 25% off.)
Sweet! I keep meaning to get Dime from UD and I'm going to try this silver instead! That gold looks nice. And the purple. OOO, maybe I'll just try all three at some point.
I think you'll like it! :D
Meh...
What don't you dig about these, Sass? (Curious! :) )
Thanks so much for this review! I'm dying to get the gold shade.
My pleasure, Chelsey!
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