Makeup Geek Full Spectrum Eyeliners Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
Makeup Geek Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is supposed to be an “ultra creamy” and “ultra pigmented.” They have a smoother, more waxy consistency, so they skim across the skin without tugging or dragging, but the pigmentation varies a lot from shade to shade, though it fell between semi-sheer to semi-opaque in one stroke. They weren’t particularly buildable, as they seemed to push the color around rather than really gradually build it up. They are really, really soft, so use less pressure than you think or else chunks of the eyeliner will break off. They wore between six and seven hours on me before migrating. Their biggest upside is comfort; very creamy and soft, but the downside is weaker pigmentation and wear. As an aside, the price point seems a little high for the brand, given that eyeliners and eyeshadows are (usually) similarly priced, but these are 50% more expensive than the eyeshadows.
Makeup Geek Nude Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a light beige with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in one pass, while the consistency was creamy and comfortable to apply. This shade wore for seven hours on me. LORAC Nude (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). Sephora Coconut (DC, $10.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). NARS Rue Bonaparte (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Spice Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque coverage in one stroke, while the creamy texture wasn’t too wet or too dry, so it glided on well and lasted for seven and a half hours. This was a more unique shade. Urban Decay Faint (LE, $22.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Stew (LE, $7.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Woodsy (LE, $7.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Moira Dark Brown (P, $5.00) is darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Espresso Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a dark, red-toned brown with subtle, warm undertones and a soft, natural finish–not quite matte but not really shimmery either. It had semi-opaque color payoff in one stroke, and this shade had a more emollient, wetter texture as it glided on, which made it prone to migrating as it was drying down. This was one where I didn’t have much success with longevity, as it had migrated noticeably after five hours of wear. Christian Louboutin Beaute Zoulou (P, $40.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Decibel (P, $15.50) is darker (95% similar). Fenty Beauty Space Cookie (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). Natasha Denona Brown (P, $24.00) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Cutest Ever (LE, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Brew Haha (P, $7.00) is darker (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty (Earth)quake (P, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Bourbon (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Call Me (P, $7.00) is less glossy (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Chocolate (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Call Me (P, $7.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Make Up For Ever #25L (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Coffee (PiP, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Stomper (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Espresso (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora Brown Matte (P, $13.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Demolition (P, $22.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Stila Spice (P, $22.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (85% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Brown (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Haus Labs Deep Cocoa Matte (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Obsidian Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium black with subtle, neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had so-so pigmentation in one pass, which was buildable to mostly opaque coverage. For a black eyeliner, in particular, I was surprised it was richer and smoother applied. This shade lasted for seven hours on me. MAC Flourish Me Deep (LE, $18.00)(100% similar). MAC Squid (P, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar). bareMinerals Absolute Black (PiP, $16.00) is lighter, more muted (95% similar). Fenty Beauty Cuz I'm Black (P, $22.00) is cooler (95% similar). KVD Beauty Puro Amor (PiP, $10.00) is cooler (95% similar). Stila Stargazer (P, $22.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Zero (P, $22.00) is cooler (95% similar). Chanel Ebene (10) (P, $34.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Black Black (P, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar). About Face Into the Void (P, $13.00) is cooler (95% similar). Ardency Inn Black (P, $19.00) is darker (95% similar). Sephora All Black Everything (P, $14.00) is cooler (95% similar). Sephora Black Lace (DC, $10.00) is darker (95% similar). Hourglass Obsidian (P, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Smolder (P, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Black (P, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Black Walnut (P, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar). Guerlain Black Jack (01) (P, $30.00) is cooler (90% similar). NARS Via Veneto (PiP, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $22.00) is darker (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Plumeria Full Spectrum Eyeliner ($9.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep red with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque coverage in one pass with a slightly drier texture that tended to bunch up on itself rather than build up in color. The color started to migrate noticeably after six and a half hours of wear. This was the most unique shade in the brand’s range. Marc Jacobs Beauty Fine(wine) (P, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Fine(wine) (P, $24.00) is glossier (95% similar). Sephora Aloha (DC, $10.00) is brighter (95% similar). MAC Keep It Currant (P, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Harvested (P, $15.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Fairy Dust (LE, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop On Fire (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Joy Ride (P, $7.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Alkaline (P, $22.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Cue (P, $15.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Glam Jam (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Chanel Prune Intense (36) (P, $34.00) is cooler (85% similar). Stila Deep Fuchsia (P, $22.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar). Sephora Soft Rose (56) (P, $11.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). ColourPop Be My BB (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Sephora Aloha (52) (P, $11.00) is warmer (80% similar). Chanel Eros (928) (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Sephora Berry Sweet (58) (P, $11.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Nude
DCDiscontinued. $9.00.
Spice
DCDiscontinued. $9.00.
Espresso
DCDiscontinued. $9.00.
Obsidian
DCDiscontinued. $9.00.
Plumeria
DCDiscontinued. $9.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Makeup Geek Nude Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Nude Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Nude Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Spice Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Spice Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Spice Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Espresso Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Espresso Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Espresso Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Obsidian Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Obsidian Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Obsidian Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Plumeria Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Plumeria Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Makeup Geek Plumeria Full Spectrum Eyeliner
Given how Marlena of MUG talked about how long these have been in development, I would have expected something that was more worth the wait. None of the colors are particularly exciting and the formula doesn’t seem that great. I’m finding myself less and less excited by this brand.
Some of the shades were more unique, but they were underwhelming as a whole.
I like Plumeria, think it would look very dramatic on my brown eyes with a matching red lip, but the formula doesn’t sound bulletproof 🙁 And with my oily lids, I can’t afford to have a red eyeliner smudging and smearing all over. I would definitely scare some kids (and adults)!
Yeah, that one is definitely creamy enough to migrate/smudge, I think, if you have oilier lids.
Checkout the Zoeva reds instead…there’s 2 now.
Thanks for the tip!
That’s my concern with these, too. I’m afraid they’ll melt and transfer everywhere.
Those chunks in the swatches are making me laugh 😀
They are super soft!
Yea…after reading your review and looking at the swatches I was quite shocked at the quality 🙁
I wanted to get this set but I’m glad I waited for your review!
I wish these wore better for me! The set is super cute (how it’s in a colored pencil-like box).
Plumeria is gorgeous…if only the quality were a little better.
I haven’t seen too many reviews on this, so I have no idea what others are experiencing, but I was really hoping for better wear.
I have to agree with Katherine T., I’m worried about it not working with oily lids.
Plumeria is right up my alley as a colour choice and looks super interesting, but the swatches look like the type of liner I try to avoid. I would rather deal with stiffer product than dealing with waxy liner. Waxy liners do not stick well to aging eyelids and tend to create skips and starts. Fixing by layering can actually create sheerer colour.
Yep, that is how I felt about these more often than not — going back and forth just resulted in uneven color, not a lot more opacity.
i really like espresso and plumeria but I’m just so not into this brand for some reason.
I can understand that! There are some brands that are popular that don’t really resonate with me either.
After using Marc Jacobs Blaquer for over a month, I am now really spoiled! So 5-7 hours just isn’t moving me in the direction of buying these, even though that black looks really good. Plumeria is definitely *different*, could’ve been a lovely one had it been a better pigmented formula that applied evenly. The color itself is truly beautiful.
Haha! I get what you mean. The price point of these is very similar to Sephora’s eyeliners (I believe those are $10 each), but those are so much better.
Not really impressed with these colours – although Plumeria is quite unique. But the rating and wear times are not that great.
I was hoping for better wear!
You have taught me well: on MUG, wait and see. I saw. Think I’ll go for the Zoevas. Unless th rest improve, these will be a pass. These do not compare favorably to CP. CP is a definite spring before these.
There are too many high-performing eyeliners (all price points), I think, so these are a miss for me.
It’s nice that these aren’t bad but they kind of fall flat 🙁 I think I’ll be sticking to my Colourpop gel liners, sigh!
I hear you, Carrie! Not the worst but not amazing — and there are too many really pigmented and long-wearing liners out there.
I ordered Plumeria and Obsidian! Kinda bummed out that Plumeria doesn’t perform better though…
Let me know how you like them when you get a chance to try!
Wow, these are such a disappointment! I was excited to try Plumeria but now I don’t think it’s worth it. I’m glad I waited for your review!
They weren’t as good as anticipated at all!
I like the nude shade quite a bit but the rest just seem a little short of the mark for how long they were in development.
I’m surprised they were as short-wearing as they were!
Where did you apply the “Nude” liner, and how would you say it compares to ColourPop’s HoneyDude liner?
I recently bought ColourPop’s HoneyDude Creme Gel Liner and find that it wears ok in the waterline like you said, but it is $5 for only 0.01oz of product. I am intrigued by the Makeup Geek liners because it is 0.04oz (4 times the amount of CP!) for $9.
Seven hours on the lower lash line, two hours on the waterline, maybe.
Wow, and I thought these were shades would be the best performers of the pack. Have seen some swatches online and thought the blues and greens (except for the shimmery emereld) had pretty poor colour pay-off. Yep, I am now very glad I spilled my money on the Zoeva set and will delete the MUG set from my beautybay.com wishlist!
Zoeva’s are nicer for sure! Hope you’re enjoying your set.
Given how Marlena has talked about making efforts to be more inclusive, using different skintones for swatching, etc, it’s weirdly myopic of her to name the light beige shade “Nude” when we all know that there is more than one definition of nude and that it isn’t be relegated to such a light shade.
If almost every other brand didn’t seem to do the same, it would have caught my attention more, but if I ranted about that, I’d never stop ranting (unfortunately)!
I jumped on these pencils and while I knew they wouldn’t be great in the waterline (based on Marlena’s video), I have had a positive experience with Spice, Obsidian, Orchid, and Espresso in the top lid. Spice in particular is the real star in this bunch because it’s a unique color that makes my green eyes really stand out. Plumeria is my least favorite because it migrated the most. I wanted to love it because the color is so cool but I don’t. It runs so easily.