Hey beauty lovers! Today I’m diving DEEP into the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Long-Lasting Sharpenable Eyeliner Pencil. You know the one – it promises “glide on smooth gel pigments with 36 hour wear” and “waterproof color Metallic Nights.” I’ve spent weeks testing this product and collected feedback from dozens of users to give you the REAL scoop on whether this eyeliner lives up to the hype.
First Impressions & Packaging
Right out of the package, the Maybelline Tattoo Studio eyeliner looks sleek and professional. The black and metallic packaging gives it that high-end feel despite the drugstore price point. The pencil feels substantial in your hand – not too light or flimsy. So far, so good!
Application Experience
This is where things get… complicated. The texture of this eyeliner is SUPER creamy – almost too creamy for a pencil. It feels more like a liquid liner in pencil form.
For some users (like me), this means the product glides on beautifully with intense pigmentation. The black shade is REALLY black on first application, and the metallic options have a gorgeous shimmer.
BUT for others, this same creaminess becomes a major problem:
- It’s way too creamy for a pencil liner, feels like liquid and I end up applying too much on one eye, not enough on other
- “Might as well rub my eyes with a rock” (from someone who received particularly dry pencils)
The inconsistency between pencils seems to be a quality control issue. Some are perfectly creamy, while others are either too hard or too soft!
The Sharpening Saga 😩
This is probably the BIGGEST complaint across the board. People are STRUGGLING with sharpening this pencil properly:
- “Impossible to sharpen, tip keeps falling off”
- Beautiful metallic color, a turd through a wood chipper would be sharper
- “Whoever posted to use with L’Oréal sharpener, thank you! Now, it sharpens and the color is beautiful”
The solution? You apparently NEED a L’Oréal sharpener specifically. I tested this myself and yep – regular sharpeners just destroy the tip, while the L’Oréal sharpener works much better. This isn’t mentioned anywhere on the packaging though!
Product Longevity (Two Meanings)
Let’s talk about how long this product lasts in TWO ways:
1. Wear Time
Some users rave about the staying power:
- “I love how well this product goes on and how well it stays on”
- “Easy to apply and long wear”
Others find it disappointing:
- “Doesn’t stay on as promised”
- “It’s not going to last the day by itself”
From my testing, the wear time is good but not 36 hours as claimed. It lasted about 8-10 hours before showing signs of fading. Not bad, but not revolutionary.
2. Product Amount
This is where things get FRUSTRATING. Many users report the product running out incredibly quickly:
- “I only used the product a few times and it ran out”
- “Super waste of money… Mine didn’t twist up so after the initial point wore down, that was it”
- “Nice liner but gone after a couple of uses. Can’t sharpen or twist up”
Here’s the confusing part – some people think it should twist up (it doesn’t), while others struggle with sharpening. The product is indeed sharpenable, but:
- You need the right sharpener
- Some pencils seem defective and break constantly
The Smudge Factor
For outdoor workers or people in humid climates, this is NOT your friend:
- “I do not like how it smears under my eyes and makes me look like Rocky Racoon when sweating”
- “After 1 to 1.5 hrs it gets smudged and glitters appears around eyes”
Interestingly, some people have the opposite problem:
- I can not get remaining product to come off my eyes once I’m taking my makeup off at night
So it both smudges too easily AND is too difficult to remove? This points to inconsistent formulation between batches.
Comfort Issues
A few users reported actual discomfort:
- “Product quality is below average. Also burning sensation on eyes after applying this kajal”
- “I dint like.. Gives dryness to my eyes”
This is concerning! Eye products should never cause burning or irritation. If you have sensitive eyes, I’d recommend patch testing or avoiding this product altogether.
Value for Money
At around $6-8, this isn’t the cheapest drugstore eyeliner, nor is it the most expensive. But many users felt cheated:
- “You get what you pay for”
- “It is totally waste of money. Don’t buy it”
- “$6 for 1/4″ of product”
The value proposition really depends on whether you get a “good” pencil or a “bad” one from what seems to be inconsistent manufacturing.
The Positive Side
To be fair, some people LOVE this eyeliner:
- I use several different eye liners and I really like this one!
- Loved it eyeliner black”
- “Nice colour”
- “Good”
These short but sweet reviews suggest that when this product works, it works well! The color payoff and smooth application (when you get a good pencil) can be fantastic.
In Comparison to Competitors
Several reviewers mentioned other brands:
- I have other tattoo eyeliners and this was not as good as the others
- “I wore Wet and Wild for years… I’m waiting for a NYX eyeliner today”
The consensus seems to be that there are better options at similar price points, particularly from NYX.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
After weeks of testing and analyzing user feedback, here’s my honest take:
This eyeliner is a GAMBLE. When you get a good pencil that sharpens properly, the pigmentation and application can be beautiful. But quality control issues make this an inconsistent product.
Pros:
- Beautiful pigmentation when it works
- Smooth application (with a good pencil)
- Nice metallic shade options
- Decent staying power
Cons:
- MAJOR sharpening issues
- Inconsistent quality between pencils
- Some cause irritation
- Product amount seems meager
- Smudges for some users
- Difficult to remove for others
Recommendation:
If you want to try it, buy it from somewhere with a good return policy! And pick up a L’Oréal sharpener while you’re at it.
For my money though? I’d probably look at NYX or other brands with more consistent reviews. Life’s too short for eyeliner drama! 😉
Have you tried this Maybelline eyeliner? Let me know YOUR experience in the comments below!
Buy on Amazon: Here
