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Rant & Rave: Twist-Up Eyeliners

Share: Tell us what you love and hate about Twist-Up Eyeliners!

my answer: I love that they’re often really creamy, soft, pigmented, and you don’t need to sharpen (so you won’t waste anything), but they’re all soooo tiny in amount. It’s hard to believe that with a regular pencil (0.04 oz. vs. 0.01 oz.) you’re sharpening away that much product!

27 Comments

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Lotus Avatar

I like that they’re more hygienic, yet I don’t like the often malfunctioning of these. I’m not a crazy eyeliner fiend, so the amount is not a problem for me, but if I she’ll out $$$ for a Chanel retractable, it had better last and not break! Amount is imperative then! BTW: MAC FLUTTEREYES DISAPPOINTS AGAIN. 🙁 I was dreaming of a butterfly collection, amongst many others I’ve thought up, and I was so excited and then… Impotence. Christine, are you going to review that madness? I SO CANNOT WAIT! (Hint: it’s all already in your stash. Except the nail polish, which looks like the Proenza Schouler wrap, but existing elsewhere..) ::brickwall::

Danielle Avatar

I prefer pencil liners, but I don’t typically have a problem with the formula of twist-up liners either. My only issues are that you can’t see how much product is left and I have had products that don’t twist back down (which drives me crazy).

Karen Avatar

I love not having to use a sharpener. But I have a heck of a time finding twist-up eyeliners I truly love! Selection is more limited, plus, they often seem dryer. I don’t know if it’s the formulas I’m using or if they just dry out more quickly than the pencils you have to sharpen.

Julie Avatar

I have noted that with twist up eyeliners, by accident, I pulled the end cap off of the pencil case, and lo and behold, it was a tiny sharpener for the twist up. I saved one for my other pencils, in case i want that ultra fine point. Hope that helps!

Melissa Avatar

They’re impossible to sharpen, even when they come with the little sharpener in the end of the pencil, which can be kind of annoying. They’re pretty tricky to apply as well because the tip can be so dull. My everyday-eyeliner is a twist up (Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Damsel), but since I tend to layer shadow over it for a smudged look, I just loosely apply it without worrying if the line is a little wonky because I’m going to smudge it anyway.

xamyx Avatar

They’re less hygienic than the kind you sharpen, but you don’t have to worry about any shavings left behind on the pencil before applying, which can be unsafe. I don’t use much of either, so I don’t really care, but if pressed, I’d go with traditional pencils, since I can “sharpen” away the tip between uses. Cost/amount isn’t an issue, since I have yet to go through a pencil of either type before tossing it…

Jennifer Avatar

Well I was going to say I had trouble getting a sharp tip, but I discovered yesterday that the twist up eyeliners I have (Sephora Tangerine Tango set) actually have a sharpener in the bottom. So now I’m going to say that I dislike twist up liners because they make me feel stupid…

Mariella Avatar

I love not having to sharpen then but I hate when the “lead” snaps off or, worse, falls out of the “holder/twister” – this used to happen fairly often with Avon twist up pencils and some from other brands as well. So if you held the pencil with the tip facing downward, it would just fall out of the cylinder! I’d also like for them to retract…some allow you to twist out product but won’t retract if you twist out too much.

Sylirael Avatar

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever tried a twist-up eyeliner! However, I do have a Stila one that I need to test out, so that will be my first 🙂 I can’t believe you sharpen away that much either, especially when you’re like me and collect any large bits of actual eyeliner off your sharpenings and use them!

Amy Avatar

I prefer sharpen-able liners because I like a fine point. I will say though that my old Mary Kay twist-up liners are excellent and have lasted FOREVER; they never run out. Don’t know if that still holds true.

calimom Avatar

They’re my fave type of liner since I hate sharpening the pencil kind. I recently discovered the Smashbox Always Sharp kohl liner and I LOVE it. It automatically sharpens itself when you twist the cap.

Phoebe Avatar

I don’t need an ultra fine point, so I really like twist-up eyeliners. It’s so much more convenient when traveling as well. Takes up less room and I don’t open my makeup bag to find shavings and lead all over the bottom. My UD Grindhouse seems to never keep its lid on.

I also find that my favorite formulas are twist-up liners. Some of the popular sharpening pencils just smudge or smear on me (even UD 24/7) or they start creating a terrible film on my contacts (Armani smooth silk).

Lenore Avatar

I got mad when my new Stila twist up liner refused to twist up, so I googled the problem and VOILA obviously you have to twist a couple of times to get it up the first time haha… No, I don’t use twist up very often, but now I have a few of them and they’re handy!

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