Adding to the list of things that keep me up at night (uncharted asteroids, coyotes howling in the distance, that one spider that got away, El Hub’s snoring), Tabs has been acting extra creepy lately, and it’s really freaking me out.
He’ll crawl into bed at night when I do and fall asleep beside me, but then, once or twice in the night, he’ll abruptly sit up on his haunches, which startles me awake, and stare intensely down the dark hallway as if he’s watching something (or someone)…
In the house!
El Hub says it’s probably just freaky cat senses detecting a twig drop half a mile away, but then he goes on to tell me about a story he read that claims cats may be able to see ghosts that humans can’t.
Oh, that’s great. Good to know. Thanks!
Long story short, this hasn’t been a good week for sleep, and I’ve getting up feeling and looking more tired than usual.
So when I came across the new $9 Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliners from L’Oreal, I hoped they’d help disguise my fatigue. Each of the four dual-ended liners comes with a jewel-toned eyeliner on one end and a creamy off-white pencil on the other, with the eyeliner tip designed to enhance one’s natural color, and the off-white pencil tip designed to highlight and illuminate. Used together, both are supposed to brighten better than they would alone.
I gave Black Quartz, which is supposed to flatter brown eyes, and Black Crystal, which is designed for all eye colors, a try this week (haha, I almost typed “a tired this week”).
Black Crystal (left) and Black Quartz (right)
Black Crystal (left) and Black Quartz (right)
Swatches of Black Crystal (left) and Black Quartz (right)
All four of the tips contain plenty of pigment, which is nice, and packaging the liner with an illuminating pencil makes for a pretty convenient product, but, sadly, none of them feel as soft as I’d like. The tips tug at my lash lines (boo!), and when I wear the illuminating shade on my water lines, it feels a little itchy (weird).
Wear time also leaves something to be desired, with both liners wearing off within about three hours.
Points for convenience, concept and colors, and I could probably overlook their few faults if I felt the illuminating tips really made my eyes look brighter, but I don’t think they do.
Well, maybe a bit…
PRICE: $9 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Happy hump day! It’s all smooth sailing from here. 🙂
Vijaya says
I never did work the white liner.
Nichole Clark says
Oh man. The animals acting freaky ALWAYS makes me unable to sleep. We have two cats {an Abyssinian and one that looks like he could be related to Tabs} & a dog {mini Aussie Shepherd} and if I’ve seen a scary movie and am feeling on edge I watch the animals like hawk to make sure that they aren’t acting like they detect ghostly ne’re-do-wells in the night. My husband says I’m crazy but I fully rely on my animals and baby to keep me safe from such things {or at least give me a heads up so I can prepare}. 🙂
Odette says
Ha! I’ve never rocked the white eyeliner. Does it work for every skin tone? I would think on darker skin tones it would be striking, but also kinda crazy eyes looking. Do you just have to blend blend blend?
The house I live in now has what we’ve come to call spirits. When I’m sleeping at night Kitty it my spirit gauge. If I wake up and she’s awake and staring I know I’m not alone, and if I wake up and she’s snoring I feel safe to do whatever. I’m not crazy I swear. I’ve been an atheist since I was old enough to figure out god didn’t make sense. But ummm, this spirit in the house was very convincing. LOL
Nina says
that is an interesting concept. 🙂
Jessi says
I still can’t figure out the right way to use white eyeliner. Even on my pale skin everything I try looks too stark. I guess I’m not blending enough but I don’t like that much rubbing around my eye area. Every time I rub my eyes I see little wrinkles just waiting to bust out. Leave me alone wrinkles!
lexi says
that’s not cool! Yeah, I love brightening my waterline but I usually reach for my UD Underground or MAC’s Float on By.
Thanks for saving me $9!
hey does El Hub snore so loudly that he wakes himself up? Mr. Lex does that all the time!
auroragyps says
Hubs is right. It’s probably some critter or something Tabs hears. My cat does it too and I think they all do sometimes.
Dogs too. What Hubs said about the twig 1/2 a mile away is funny, because when the dogs we had when I was a kid would bark at what seemed like nothing, we’d say it was “probably just a flea… on the road… down the block…”. 😉
Inky says
I was going to pick these up last week and now I’m glad I didn’t. I have pretty good success with Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes pencil in 23L for the lower waterline.
gio says
I like the concept but what a shame they don’t work that well.
Stephanie says
Have you ever found any light/peach colored eyeliner that work well with your skintone and stay on your waterline? thanks xx
Kim says
I’m a fan of white liner but just looking at your pics of the tips made me think “oh, those look like they’ll be scratchy!”. I think my Yeyo will last for the rest of my life, though, so I’m not too bummed about these. That said, I might need to be looking into a cream liner for when I age and the white just looks scary. 🙂
Speaking of scary, I’ve heard that about cats and ghosts too. Don’t worry, though. I always think that if I ever have a ghost, I’ll encourage him/her to help clean up. If they can open cupboard doors and drawers, they can sure as heck close them. Maybe that’s why the ghosties haven’t appeared to me yet. 🙂
Heidi says
Well, we are due for a full moon at the end of the week. In our house that means Missy started losing her damn mind around Monday! She’s been acting extra-freaky ever since.
Anna says
Could be mice.
…but, knowing cats, not for long.
And yeah, I tried the white eyeliner too, and it never did anything for me.
robynne says
They lost me at scratchy. OUCHY! Too bad, I can use all the brightener I can get 🙂
Angel says
LOL!!!! Such a funny post! Ghosties freak me out too, my pug does the same thing as Tabs!! I’m like ‘what are you looking at???’. Freaks me out 🙂
Natalie says
Ha! My kitties do that all the time! And sorry, but I agree with El Hub. I alway say that cats and dogs see dead people. And I live alone! Boy, I sure can work myself up sometimes if the cats are acting weird and I’ve been indulging in horror movies! Also, my cats sometimes tear around the apartment like the devil’s on their tail! Does Tabs do that? My sister and I call this phenomenon “The Zoomies”! her dogs do it too! 😉
Francine says
My friends cats do that as well. We call it ‘The Witching Hour’ LOL
Natalie says
Ha! My kitties do that all the time! And sorry, but I agree with El Hub. I alway say that cats and dogs see dead people. And I live alone! Boy, I sure can work myself up sometimes if the cats are acting weird and I’ve been indulging in horror movies! Also, my cats sometimes tear around the apartment like the devil’s on their tail! Does Tabs do that? My sister and I call this phenomenon “The Zoomiesâ€! Her dogs do it too! 😉
BooBooNinja says
Karen, have you ever tried the MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20 or NW25/NC30 on your waterline before? I’m considering getting the former to brighten up my tired student eyes. I tried it out at MAC but it wore off pretty quickly; however, my eyes were unusually watery that afternoon from lack of sleep.
Has anyone else here had experience with the MAC pencil on their waterline?
Cheers!
Mia says
Ah there seems to be a cat-freaked-out-at-odd-hours thing going on this week. I thought it was the heat. My cat Luna has been doing the same thing all week long and my friend Tony’s cat has been waking up at 3am every day this week and meowing very loudly at what appears to be nothing.
I blame the ghosts.
Also this whole white eyeliner thing, is for the birds….from the 60’s. I’ll pass. I’ve tried and it just always looks like I am wearing white eyeliner on my waterline. Great for costuming but not so hot for everyday. Maybe at IMATS or the like. I’ve been trying the nude/peach color on the waterline and that works a bit better…sometimes. If the shadow I am using clashes or is really dark, then it looks obvious.
My 2 cents.
xoxo
LESLIE says
Where are the pictures?? You usually take pictures with the products on you face.
Felis says
Can you do a post on the best brightlining products?
Gauri says
Thanks for the swatches 😀
Aimey says
Reminds me of Benefit’s Eye Brighten Pencil! By now, I’ve used two items off of L’Oreal’s “Double Extend” line, both of them mascaras. And yet, I still can’t say whether they really work up to their advertising or not …
Chrissie says
Thank Golly, I stumble on your page, I won’t be buying them at all.
Maybe I’ll get the Infalliable Eyeshadows only 😀
Thanks again