Hey there, beauty lovers! Today I’m diving DEEP into Maybelline’s Tattoo Studio Long-Lasting Sharpenable Eyeliner Pencil in the shade Emerald Lights. I’ve gathered tons of real-world feedback and combined it with my professional makeup artist perspective to give you the COMPLETE lowdown on this popular drugstore eyeliner.
First Impressions & Packaging
Let’s be real – the packaging is pretty standard for Maybelline. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. The pencil comes with a visible amount of product at the tip, which leads to one of the BIGGEST complaints I’ve seen: many users thought it was retractable when it’s actually sharpenable.
Some quotes that sum it up:
- “I had no idea that you were supposed to sharpen it. I thought it was retractable but nothing twisted to push new product up.”
- “I’m now coming back and reading where it says that you’re supposed to sharpen this.”
The plastic exterior has caused issues for some users trying to sharpen it. One person mentioned, “Unable to sharpen the eye liner, and if you do, there are sharp edges around the pencil that scratch your eyes.” Yikes! 😬
Color Payoff & Appearance
Emerald Lights is supposed to be a vibrant green shade, but there seems to be some inconsistency in how people perceive the color:
- “The color is not as bright as I thought it would be.”
- “The color is true, but not very vibrant.”
- “Kind of a mix of bronze and green? Not very attractive”
- “It is the perfect color green as well flatters skin”
- “Darker than pictured”
- “This is shimmery goldish olive color. But it is very pretty.”
From what I can gather, expect a more subtle, deeper emerald with possible gold or bronze undertones rather than a bright, vivid green. The color seems to work ESPECIALLY well for brown or hazel eyes to bring out green flecks: “My eyes are light brown with green and gold flecks, almost hazel but not quite. This color is fabulous! It’s not obvious that I am wearing it, but it really brings out the green flecks in my eyes.”
If you’re looking for a bold POP of color, this might disappoint you. But if you want something more wearable for everyday that still has personality, this could be your jam.
Application & Texture
The texture and application experience varies wildly in the reviews:
- “I like the ease of this liner and the soft coverage.”
- “It’s pretty good at not smudging”
- “Great value, made in Germany, very easy to apply with time to smudge before it sets.”
- “Goes on very waxy and takes a lot of effort.”
- “Does not glide on easily on the water line.”
- “Easy to apply gel”
- “Goes on smoothly.”
- “This seemed to melt during application badly.”
What’s the takeaway here? The pencil seems to have a somewhat creamy texture that some find easy to work with while others struggle. Temperature and skin type appear to affect performance significantly. If you have oily lids or tend to run hot, you might experience melting during application.
One user with potential menopause symptoms noted: “Maybe it’s just me..being in menopause so hot all the time, plus I have oily skin and lids..but this seemed to melt during application badly.”
The creamy texture does allow for blending before it sets, which is great if you want a softer look rather than a precise line.
Longevity & Wear Time
This is where things get REALLY interesting. The product is marketed as “long-lasting” and “waterproof,” but experiences are seriously mixed:
- “Love the long lasting effect”
- “It’s no lie, this eyeliner will last.”
- “The eye line last ALL day long!”
- “I must reapply during the day, even with primer under it.”
- “It lasts long but you have to let it dry. It fades as the day rolls on.”
- “The color is good but it doesn’t last at all, I literally put it on in the morning and after hours it was gone”
- “Doesn’t last longer.”
- “But the best I have found yet for longevity and waterproof-ness.”
What to make of this? Based on the pattern of reviews, here’s my take: The eyeliner does seem to have decent staying power FOR A DRUGSTORE PRODUCT, but with some major caveats:
- You need to let it fully set before touching your eyes or blinking too much
- Hot weather, oily skin, or watery eyes will significantly reduce wear time
- For many people, it will fade throughout the day rather than stay vibrant
- Some users may need to reapply, even with primer
One user summed it up well: “It’s pretty good at not smudging but I find if I have to touch up or if it’s a really hot day, I will get more smudging.”
Value & Price Point
When purchased on Amazon, most users felt they got a good value:
- “Great value”
- “Well priced”
- “Best value for your money”
- “I was happy to order this eye liner at a lower price on Amazon.”
The price point seems to be lower than in drugstores, making it an attractive option for those wanting to try a colored eyeliner without breaking the bank.
Quality Control & Product Issues
There appear to be some concerning quality control issues with this product:
- “After using just a few weeks, the whole lead part fell out of the pencil.”
- “The package was damaged”
- “The mechanism to turn more eyeliner didn’t work-was only functional for 2 weeks.”
- “I’ve used this twice, accidentally broke off tip of liner and can’t get the product that’s in the tube to raise.”
- “It’s too soft, and the tip breaks off so darn easily!”
- “Couldn’t try this product out. When I open the package it was dried out and unable to use”
These issues suggest inconsistent manufacturing quality. Some pencils appear to arrive damaged or dry out quickly, while others break easily during use.
Skin Sensitivity & Irritation
A few users reported eye irritation:
- “I did not use it in my eyes, but my eyes became very irritated and red. I do not have eye allergies.”
- “My eyes started watering shortly after I applied this. It was so irritating I had to wash it off after an hour.”
- “Good color but not for people with sensitive eyes or allergies.”
This suggests the formula might contain irritants that affect some users. If you have sensitive eyes, proceed with caution or do a patch test first.
Who Should Buy This Eyeliner?
Based on all the feedback, this eyeliner seems best suited for:
- People with brown, hazel, or green eyes looking to enhance their natural eye color
- Those who prefer a subtle, softer look rather than bold, vibrant color
- Makeup wearers who don’t have extremely oily lids or watery eyes
- Anyone looking for an affordable way to try a colored eyeliner
- Those willing to sharpen their pencil regularly and let it set after application
One user noted: “This is a great soft color for an aging face. It adds dimension without being harsh.” This suggests it works well for mature skin or for those who want a more natural, less intense look.
Who Should Skip It?
You might want to pass on this if:
- You have very sensitive eyes or known makeup allergies
- You’re looking for an extremely vibrant, bold green
- You need truly waterproof, all-day wear without touchups
- You prefer retractable pencils (since sharpening this one can be tricky)
- You have very oily eyelids or live in hot, humid climates
Professional Tips for Using This Eyeliner
If you decide to try this eyeliner, here are some pro tips to get the most out of it:
- Store it in a cool place – the formula seems to soften easily with heat
- Use a high-quality sharpener designed for cosmetic pencils
- Apply a good eye primer before using it to extend wear time
- Let it set for 30 seconds before fully opening your eyes
- For a more intense look, apply in layers, letting each one set
- To prevent breakage, don’t extend too much product when sharpening
- Set with a matching eyeshadow powder to increase longevity
- For a smoky look, apply and then quickly blend before it sets
The Final Verdict
The Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Long-Lasting Sharpenable Eyeliner Pencil in Waterproof Emerald Lights is truly a mixed bag. For the price point, it offers decent quality with some significant limitations.
If you’re expecting a high-end, professional-grade eyeliner experience, you’ll be disappointed. But if you approach it as an affordable way to experiment with color and are willing to work with its quirks, it can be a worthwhile addition to your makeup collection.
On a scale of 1-5, I’d give it a solid 3.5 stars. It’s above average for a drugstore product but has enough issues to keep it from being a must-have holy grail item.
The emerald shade is particularly nice for enhancing brown and hazel eyes, making them POP in a subtle, natural-looking way. Just be prepared for potential sharpening challenges and the possibility of needing touch-ups throughout the day.
Have you tried this eyeliner? I’d love to hear YOUR experiences with it! Drop a comment below and let me know if your experience matches what I’ve described or if you’ve found tricks to make it work better! 💚
Buy on Amazon: Here
