Battle of the Brands: Clinique vs CoverGirl Liners

I’ve seen several trends in my favorite magazines that make use of brown eyeliners. To be honest, I never really gave thought to brown eyeliners, because I typically use black. With a new season approaching and these new trends in mind, I decide

d to give brown eyeliners a chance. In good makeup junkie fashion, I purchased two eyeliners, one from a higher end brand and the second from a drug store brand.

I purchased Clinique’s Quickliner for Eyes in Roast Coffee. Originally, I wanted to purchase the intense version of this product; unfortunately, the Clinique counter was out of the intense in the brown shade I wanted, so I settled for the original Quickliner.

This retailed for $15. I also purchased CoverGirl’s Liquilineblast in Brown Blaze. This retailed for $7.99 at Ulta.

As far as color selection, Clinique had a large selection of brown colors. CoverGirl had only one brown color that I could find. Although I was looking for a basic brown color, I think it is good to have several options when choosing liner colors.

 

 

A sample of the two products on the back of my hand showed me some of the the similarities and differences between the two products. Both of the products went on smoothly when I tested them on the back of my hand. Both products also have a little bit of shimmer to them. As far as liner maintenance, the Clinique product does not need to be sharpened, while the CoverGirl liner needs to be sharpened.

Although these two products have very similar attributes, I will say the smudger on the Clinique product is much more efficient. The Clinique smudger has a sponge texture, which really allowed me

to blend the product into my hand. After blending it, I touched the product and I could barely feel it there. The CoverGirl smudger has texture similar to a rubber eraser. I was able to blend the product into my hand, but it did take a little bit more effort compared to the Clinique smudger.

However, the CoverGirl liner, after it was smudged, had a very deep, smoky look to it. Although both products would make for a great smoky eye pencil when paired with the right eye shadow, the Clinique pencil is far more versatile. This product could be used as a lower lash liner without a problem. The CoverGirl product has a consistency that would not make for a good lower lash liner.

My verdict: If you are looking for a pencil to create the dramatic smoky eye, pick up the Covergirl Liquilineblast. This product will give you that dark, smoky look with little effort. This product is also good for someone who only wears a smoky eye occasionally; since it’s inexpensive, you won’t break the bank on a liner that you don’t use too often.

However, if you are in the market for something more versatile, which can be used on daily basis, spend a little more and purchase the Clinique Quickliner. You will get your money’s worth with this product; its variety of colors and versatility will make a nice addition to your cosmetic bag.