Benefit’s they’re real! push-up liner: eyeliner review

Clearly, Benefit is a winner given the buzz around its new liner: they’re real! push-up liner…

We’ve been hearing about it absolutely everywhere in the international beauty blogosphere!

It’s true that recently, eye-liner is THE trendy eye makeup. Since it’s not the easiest makeup gesture, and if a brand promises real cat-eye makeup in 2 seconds, of course, right away, it catches our attention!

But what exactly is Benefit’s they’re real! push-up liner?

This liner is the latest addition to the Benefit ‘they’re real!’ range, which wasn’t really a range actually, because it was just one product until now: they’re real! mascara.

they’re real! push-up liner is a gel eye-liner pen. This is a new product since usually, liner pens use liquid eye-liner, not gel liner. Liquid eye-liner has a more glossy finish. Here, it’s a real gel texture, very black , like charcoal black, which dries completely matte.
Since there is this real 60’s vibe at the moment regarding eye-makeup, that’s perfect!

So it’s a new look, replacing the traditional combo gel liner in a pot + angled liner brush. And of course, it is supposed to be much easier to use!

The commercial is really about that, the ease of use… If the star of the ad can apply her liner in a car, in handcuffs and in a second, can you imagine how easy it must be to use?

(of course, it’s an ad, but the message is pretty clear)

Here is the brand’s official line about the product:

“Why we love it?

It’s the FIRST EVER lash-hugging gel liner in a pen!
This matte black gel formula won’t smudge, budge or dry out, and the innovative soft AccuFlex™ Tip hugs your lashline from corner to corner.
The closer the line, the bigger the eye!

91% said it was longwearing*
81% said it was waterproof*
88% said it hugged the lashline*
84% said eyes looked visibly larger*
*Results observed in a consumer panel survey on 32 women after 2 weeks“

My opinion about Benefit’s they’re real! push-up liner:

The least I can say is that I have really mixed feelings about this one…

– Innovation:

The AccuFlex™ tip is clearly a big innovation here. It apparently required several years of work to create it. It is supposed to replace an angled liner brush, for a very precise gesture, allowing you to get the closest possible to the lash-line.
The product comes directly from the tip, no need to soak the tip in some gel liner pot for it to work.

I find it rather useful and the design is great for getting a very fine or very thick line, depending on what you want. The texture of the tip is like rubber, so it’s very soft, and quite handy.

On the other hand, what a pain to measure the right quantity of product! Even when I was really careful about it, there was always too much product on the tip. And if you apply it directly on your eyelid, you end up with some blobs.
I usually wipe the excess product on the back of my hand or in a tissue, so what a waste of product! Regarding the distribution of the right amount of product, it’s therefore not really a success…

– Texture:

It’s really a gel liner. The consistency is very thick and very dry…It’s not the easiest product to apply, or at the least, you have to be very fast, because it dries so quickly!
If you are already good with eyeliner, you’ll be OK. If you’re a beginner, well, you’ll probably need some practice!

And if I may, be aware that you will need the tiniest amount to get a pretty line without blobs.

– Colour:

A good point: it’s a real deep black that dries mat. For a 60’s cat-eye effect, it’s just perfect!

– Pigmentation:

Another good point, the pigmentation is insane. A real charcoal smokey black, very pigmented, amazing.

– Application:

So if you did 3 years of graduate study specialising in Benefit liner, it’s gonna be OK… wink

It really is the biggest fail of this product. It’s not easy to apply at all. You will need some time and some practice to get use to it.
And frankly, for a product which is supposed to be very easy to apply, it’s a proper deception from my perspective…

Of course, I got some advice to make the application easier, like as I was saying to remove the excess of product on the back of your hand  before applying or to apply it very quickly etc. But the simple fact that such advice is required is not really a good sign now, is it?

– Lasting-power:

You can’t deny it, this liner has the best long lasting-power ever!
I’m living in Dubai at the moment, where the summer is very hot and very, VERY humid (I know, in the middle of the desert, crazy, right?). Needless to say to it’s the best condition for a crash-test.
So this liner doesn’t budge, doesn’t smudge, even in the incredibly hot & humid Dubai weather!

So of course, and seems logicial after saying that, it’s very difficult to remove with a regular makeup remover… With my cleansing oil, no problem.
But Benefit have you covered and has launched its special makeup remover (which also works great with their mascara they’re real!, also a pain to remove). I didn’t try it to be sincere, I knew that with my cleansing oil, I was already covered! wink

– Packaging:

The packaging is convenient for what it’s supposed to do. It’s a pen, and you need to twist it to get the product out of the tip.

– Price:

You can find it on Benefit website for 24 $.

So what about value for money?
If the product was great, it would not have bother me to spend 24 $. But clearly, it’s not. It’s OK, but I doubt I’ll purchase another.
[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]

In summary:

I don’t regret my purchase because when you’ve learned how to use it, it’s beautiful.
But just to be clear:
– if you’re an eye-liner newbie, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re prepared to waste a faire amount of time perfecting yourself to apply it properly.
– I probably won’t repurchase it.

Here are some swatches I made on my hand with they’re real! push-up liner:

You can see that the lines are not really perfect…
And these are what you can draw with a single amount of product (and I didn’t twist the cap a lot, really).

And you, have you tried the ‘they’re real! push-up liner’ from Benefit? What are your thoughts about it? If you’re a fan of liner, please tell me, what your favourite eye liner product is if you have one! (because I’m curious ;))

Photos credits: Benefit, bonnie-garner.com

Cet article est aussi disponible en français: they’re real! push-up liner de Benefit, mon avis