After mascara and lipstick, eye liner is one of those things a lot of women turn to when they’re pressed for time. A quick dash on the upper lids can add a pop of color and takes just seconds to do — far less time than an elaborate eye using multiple shadows — and a nude on the waterline can illuminate and open sleepy, drooping peepers.
And why keep a separate black, or blue, or brown liner for each and every occasion if one great product could cover ’em all? Five minutes to get ready? Check. Thunder storms a’coming? Check. Great possibility of crying (hopefully for a good reason, like at a wedding)? Check. No worries — today’s liner has your back!
Inglot, a Polish makeup company, has quietly become a cult favorite among makeup artists, in part because they’ve done the unthinkable. They managed to create a gel liner that in my opinion beats out the famously fabulous MAC Fluidline. The Matte Collection AMC Eyeliner Gel (long name for such a simple product) is without question the best liner, of any formula, I have ever used.
So how is it better than those gorgeous glass tubs of creamy Fluidline, with their soft, rubberized twist-off tops? Let me count the ways…
Starting with value, the Matte Collection AMC Eyeliner Gel (I promise that’s the last time I’ll use the full name) comes with a HUGE amount of product for $12. Housed inside the convenient and cute plastic tub lives a whopping 5.5 grams of product (Fluidline comes with 3 grams, about the average for gel liners). Inglot’s liner works out to $2.18 per gram, versus $5 per gram for the $15 Fluidline. That’s more than twice as much product for the price!
But value only matters if a product performs, right? I’d much rather shell out a few extra dollars for a fantastic liner than a few less dollars for one that flakes, runs, or fades. Fortunately, none of those are bothers here.
Inglot’s AMC Eyeliners are extremely emollient. I’m actually a bit surprised they’re labeled as gels and not creams. Their extremely thick, smooth texture glides across the skin. Whereas many gel liners skip, scoot, tug, and pull at lids when I apply them with any sort of brush, these AMC Eyeliners are incredibly smooth and silky, almost to a fault.
If you take a bit of time with them, they’re like a dream to apply. One dip with a brush and a steady hand is often enough to line the entire upper lid AND the waterline in mere seconds, the brush sliding easily across even creases and/or winkles on lids. And if you pull your lid taught while applying, you may not even have to think about filling in and evening-out the line.
This also makes them fantastic for fine detail work, and for making those oft-envied pinprick thin pointed cat eyes; however, because of their potency, if you accidentally tap the brush somewhere you didn’t intend to, you’ll be left to contend with a fully pigmented spot.
With some drier liners, you may have to press a bit to distribute the pigment from the brush to the skin, but the AMC Gel Eyeliners transfer pigment from brush to skin at full blast, without any need to press, push, or wiggle (though you may, for fun, if you like!). Practiced, steady hands may appreciate this attribute of them more than heavily caffeinated, shaky digits.
Shade 76 (white) on the left; 77 (black) on the right. NOTE: these don’t normally smudge, but I over-applied the swatches here to wet skin
Let them dry for about 10 seconds before opening your eyes fully, or you risk smudging. After that, though, it’ll take a high-powered blast of eye makeup remover and elbow grease to get this stuff to move.
Let’s take a leisurely walk through a typical day with these liners in the theater. Hey, look! A time table!
- 10:00 a.m. — Get ready for production (“How to $ucceed in Business Without Really Trying”). Apply Inglot Matter Collection AMC Eyeliner to waterline.
- 12:45 p.m. — Dance call. Expect mild sweating.
- 2:00 p.m. — Places for opening of Act 1. Hot lights, choreography, sweating.
- 3:40 p.m. — Intermission. Touch up foundation, powder. Add a bit more hairspray to ‘do. Eyes are left untouched.
- 5:30 p.m. — Head home. Take a nap.
- 10:30 p.m. — Wash face with regular cleanser.
After all of this, even the cleansing, there may be a mild darkening of the waterline. Seriously, this stuff is like magnetized to skin. A quick sweep of my favorite makeup remover finishes it off, but still! Before washing the face, the liner was still nearly as dark as when I’d applied it over 12 hours earlier, with maybe only the slightest bit of fading at the inner and outer corner. I used these liners on some of the girls in the play, and we could still see a faint shadow of liner the NEXT day on those who didn’t use a dedicated waterproof makeup remover that night, and during the play itself, they never once needed to be touched up or corrected.
C’mon, how cool is that?
It’s surprising how well this product lasts on the waterline, too, because it is waterproof. Waterproof liners normally don’t adhere to the moist surface part of the eye and smudge or drip off, in some cases immediately. But the AMC Eyeliner Gels somehow do, assuming you applying them sparingly. Remember, you only need the tiniest bit of product to reach full opacity, and over-applying can lead to the excess bleeding out and darkening under your eyes.
Unlike many creamy liners, these won’t flake or fracture after they dries down to their, as the name would suggest, completely matte finish. They’re impressively resilient and never appear parched or cracked. Oh, and get this — they come in an unheard of 20 shades! There’s your standard black (one of the truest, deepest black shades I’ve ever seen), white, blue, and brown, but that’s only the beginning for these. There’s also an eggplant, teal, salmon, and a true yellow, among other standouts worth trying.
Shade 76 (white) on the left; 77 (black) on the right
My one single gripe with these liners is an affliction that plagues all of Inglot’s products — they have no names! Instead of wordy names the company uses numbers to identify things, and while this may make it easier to reorder products, I find it incredibly difficult to recall a specific product number used in a look when someone asks.
Aside from having to pull out the little tub to find the number for reference, the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gels are, without contest, the best liner of any formulation I’ve ever used. They’re silky smooth, incredibly pigmented, durable, and waterproof. And cheap. Cheap, cheap, cheap! — as long as you don’t mind ordering online, because they have very few brick-and-mortar stores in the States. Thankfully, they also sell these marvelous mini-wonders through their website as well.
- For more on Inglot and their products, check out this post on Inglot Eyeshadows over at Pink Sith, and If I Could Marry an Inanimate Object, I’d Marry my Inglot Palette at The Eyes Have It.
Jessi says
I want the red liner so bad. I’m not sure why, it would probably just make me look like I had been up all night drying and needed more sleep, but I don’t care. I NEED it.
Vesna says
I have 2 gel liners – 83 and 87. Love them! And you’re right – they should be called cream liners. 🙂
It gets a bit of patience to work with them, but after I got used to their formula I can’t stop using them! They last all day long on me! 🙂
Vesna says
Oh, I forgot to add that I have many Inglot swatches on my blog so if you’re interested check them out 🙂
Soo says
omggg I love Inglot eyeliner. I actually have a MUFE that I regret buying because it’s twice as much and not as good. I want all the Inglot colors and would be happy never buying another gel liner again. Inglot’s eyeshadows are good quality and are at a great value too! the DS ones are great, but the Pearl finishes are my favorite. gonna post swatches of those next week hopefully 🙂
Tara says
I love them too! I have the white, black, pink, & yellow! I want more!! They make a great base for shadow as well as liner 🙂
Sam says
They’re fantastic even alone as waterproof cream eyeliners. I did a gorgeous rocker smoked eye the other day for a friend just by patting some of the 77 along the upper lashline and smudging it out with my finger, then lining underneath with an antique gold. Didn’t budge or crease all night, even with all the dancing we were doing!
Nora says
Just wanted you to know (again) that you are so eloquent and pick such wonderful topics. Great review!
Sam says
Thanks, Nora!
Candace says
I LOVE these! Happy to see them getting more press stateside 😀 I live in the UK most of the year and picked up 78 and 89 while in London recently after hearing lots of European bloggers love on them – such a great company!
Chris25 says
I want to try Ingot gel liners, but I have so many to use up! I need to get through my Stila, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Wet n Wild, and Smashbox liners before I can buy anymore. Does anyone want to help me? 😛
Eileen says
Remember, Chris, gel liners have an expiration date. Even if you don’t actually toss them, it gives you an excuse to push them to the back of your stash and get something new 🙂
Sam says
*Raises hand slowly*
Valeria says
Just ordered number 74! Thanks for the review! I hope I end up loving them as well 🙂
Sam says
If you don’t, I’ll buy it from you 🙂
Christy O says
I was JUST thinking yesterday, “where is Sam??” Very happy to read your latest contribution.
I ADORE Inglot. Just picked up a few palettes in Vegas. I didn’t look at the liners -when guests gape in sincere shock at your collection at home you need to slowly put the wallet down eventually.
I’m amazed more reviews don’t exist online regarding Inglot’s lipstick palettes. I love it even more than the foundation, powder and shadows I bought.
Sam says
Funny you should mention the lipsticks… Just so happens I whipped up a review on ten of them earlier this morning… 😉
Vixen says
Sam! Any thoughts on Inglot brushes? A store just opened up at my shores and I’m definitely getting the black and white gel eyeliners, but also wondering if I should pick up the travel set?
Sam says
I’ve actually never used the brushes… But from what I’ve heard, they’re great, but there are better and for better prices. However, not a bad purchase in the slightest. For Inglot, I’d really keep to their eye products.
Christine Lin says
I have to get these for my watery eyes!
Sam says
One of the actresses has allergies, and her eyes were running the entire night. Plus, she kept blotting them, understandably. These things never budged. 😉
Vonvon says
Great review! Another product to check out when I visit an Inglot store.
Danielle says
I need to get this now :0)
Tuhina says
Does anyone have trouble getting brush clean after using these gel eyeliners? I tried using MAC brush cleaner as well as regular soap and water and couldn’t get the brush clean! Help.
mandy says
Have u tried getting it out with olive oil… Like put some olive oil in your palm or even on a sheet of bounty and just swirl until it dissolves, then use baby shampoo to get out the oil.
Daniela says
Hi! I’m so buying it! But I have one question: Does it dry quickly in the tub? So many great gel liner get dried out in the tub too fast to be good…
Thank you!
Lynne says
I’ve tried using Inglot’s website to place an order but, the screen goes entirely black when I click to order. I’ve tried calling and no one EVER answers the phone or returns the calls. Anyone have any suggestions?