What do you like about matte eyeliners? What don't you like?

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Matte Eyeliners

I love them! I find I reach for both, though I tend to prefer matte eyeliner for when I want medium-dark to deep colors, whether black or brown or color. Matte eyeliners tend to go on more smoothly and can be more pigmented on average.

— Christine

15 Comments

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Lauren Avatar

I also prefer matte eyeliner but I’ll line with eyeshadow just as often. I really only do it extend my eye size at the corner.

To be honest, I’m still on the fence about the Melt brown gel liner. I like it mostly but it does smudge a lil on me after a while. When it storms I shake my fist at the heavens and cry O why Clinique, did you renounce your gel pot liner?

Jane Avatar

For the most part, I’m an eyeshadow eyeliner person. As for pot eyeliners or pencil, it’s rare that I use them. Perhaps because I find them too dark or harsh for me as I’ve become older. I prefer the diffused look of either dark eyeshadows or pressed liners, like a great one discontinued by Bobbi Brown in a prune and dark grey.

Shawne Avatar

I use the Melt creme gel liners as a base for shadows, they seem to help with intensity and longevity. But I always finish off a look with black liquid liner at the lash line. Sometimes with a wing, sometimes not. But I feel naked without eyeliner!

Christina F. Avatar

Can someone tell me which liners are pictured here? I’m looking for a replacement for the potted gel liner Tarte used to carry. (They still have a few but I’m looking for something just as good but with more colors to choose from. It does not have to be matte.)
Thanks in advance!

Genevieve Avatar

When matte eyeliners are good quality, they are excellent for being a foil for brighter, shimmery eyeshadows I would say.
Personally, I am not an eyeliner wearer (hooded eyes, poor eyesight without my glasses on), but I have seen some that look really good on others.

V Avatar

I get better performance and a much longer lifespan from matte gel / cream liners in a pot than from most all-in-one liquid liners with felt tips or brush tips + those pots last forever. I’m not a fan of felt tips. I always mess up with them. I like to choose my own brushes rather than whatever comes with a liquid liner pen / cartridge. The only downside for me (these days) would be that there are more moving parts so it takes me more time, there’s more to clean, although I should wear makeup more often. It makes me feel better.

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