Not to get all Real World confessional on you, but can you keep a secret…?
I’ve been holding it in so long that I’m going to explode if I don’t tell someone!
Here goes… Deep breath, Karen.
I’ve been cheating on the love of my life, and I don’t plan to stop any time soon.
Wait — did you think I was talking about El Hub? Oh, gawd no. I’m stuck on that man like cheese on macaroni. I’m referring to my other love, my favorite black gel liner in the whole wide world, also known as MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack.
I don’t know why I did it… Boredom, perhaps. Blacktrack and I have been rolling deep since 2007, and despite dalliances with many other gel liners along the way, I’ve always, always come home to Blacktrack. I think it’s just the smoothest, longest-wearing, darkest black gel liner around.
But then my eyes wandered to a new gel liner last week called L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lacquer Liner 24H in Blackest Black ($9.95), looking all mysterious in its little pot, and I couldn’t restrain myself.
It actually reminds me of Fluidline in some ways. Both of them deliver smooth, dark lines, either sharp or smudgy, on my lash and water lines in just a swipe or two.
L’Oreal claims Blackest Black is able to last 24 hours, but after spending time with it for a while, I sense a bit of beauty bravado there. I get more like 6 hours along my water lines and 9-12 along my lash lines when I wear it without a primer on my combination dry/oily lids.
Not too shabby, cocoa tabby, and again, comparable to Blacktrack.
So what’s the attraction? Why haven’t I been picking up one of the five pots of Blacktrack scattered around the house (no, seriously!)?
Two words: glossy finish.
Each pot of Infallible Lacquer Liner comes with a brush, which works surprisingly well!
I find Infallible’s quiet shine irresistible. It’s not as aggressive as a high-shine gloss and not as showy as wet finish lipglosses or nail polish topcoats. It just drives me wild in a softer way than Blacktrack’s matte finish.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not ready to leave Blacktrack. I just want the best of both worlds.
I’m a girl who likes variety and options. 🙂
Oh, and if black liner isn’t really your thing, Infallible has four glossy brothers in Navy, Espresso, Bronze and Dark Slate.
PRICE: $9.95
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores (haven’t seen them yet online)
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
BeccaTheCyborg says
July 5th, 2012 at 8:45 pmOooh! I have to check that out!
( ZOMG, you are looking amazing. How are you always so gorgeous? Also, whatever you’re wearing on your lips is making me want to reconsider my anti-gloss stance.)
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:17 amHi Becca,
You are so sweet. 🙂 On my lips I’m wearing two things: Too Faced La Creme in Coral Fire topped with MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass.
megan says
July 5th, 2012 at 9:01 pmYou look so pretty here Karen! I love the way you smoked out your liner 🙂 Did you use a particular technique?
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:16 amThanks, Megan! 🙂
I do. It involves some layering and blending…I have a list of tutorials that people have requested and can add this eye look to it! They take me a while, but I’ll get around to it!
musical says
July 5th, 2012 at 9:29 pmYou know what, I’ve been thinking of getting this one! And now I will :-D. Also, your choice of lip color is fantastic. (ID please?)
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:15 amHi Musical,
I’m wearing Too Faced La Creme in Coral Fire topped with MAC Lychee Luxe. 🙂
Woo hoo, corals 4eva!
musical says
July 6th, 2012 at 12:34 pmSqueeeeee! Corals4eva indeed :).
Joyce says
July 5th, 2012 at 10:27 pmThere aren’t many reviews about this product because it’s fairly new, but from most of the reviews that I’ve read, people are loving it. I’ve try many other drugstore gel eyeliners and they all smudged on me. So, hopefully, the L’oreal one won’t fail me. =)
Joyce recently posted … Review + Comparison: Royal & Langnickel Revolution Brush Set (Part 1)
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:13 amHi Joyce,
I hope this works for you! Happy Friday. 🙂
Rachel says
July 5th, 2012 at 10:49 pmMy goodness. Glossy finish does look really nice! Do you find it more or less smudgy than blacktrack?
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:13 amHi Rachel,
It’s a touch more smudgy compared to Blacktrack.
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
July 6th, 2012 at 12:45 amI think I need this! My pot of Maybelline eye studio gel liner is still quite OK after almost 2 years (amazing, but it’s probably not very sanitary haha), but I’ve been thinking it might be time to get a new one!
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny recently posted … Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Acqua Collection Photos & Swatches!
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:12 amSometimes it’s nice to have other options! 🙂
artemis says
July 6th, 2012 at 2:51 amseems pretty cool, maybe it’ll work for me….i tried many eyeliners(well, not expensive ones like estee lauder or others-i’m a teen…no money), none stays on my waterline…wonder if l’oreal has this one in romania 😀 i know for sure they have the carresse (had one for 2 months i think) so maybe they have this one too…at least at the mall(i’ll die till i get there tho, 88 f degrees).
wonder if it’s expensive. the carresse lipstick seem like a bargain over there but here l’oreal is kinda expensive(14$ but here that’s 50 of our money)
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:12 amHi Artemis,
Gel liner might work for you then. I’ve had pretty good luck with it generally in terms of wear on the water line!
artemis says
July 13th, 2012 at 3:25 am^_^ i’m glad to hear that 🙂 I have to get it asap 😀
artemis says
July 13th, 2012 at 3:27 amohh, and I LOOOVE that it’s a GLOSSY deep black 😀 I love glossy black things generally.
Chris25 says
July 6th, 2012 at 4:11 amThese will most likely find their way in my shopping basket. I have been quite impressed with drugstore gel liners recently!
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:09 amYes! They’ve gotten really good in the last few years. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Kim says
July 6th, 2012 at 4:27 amThis is such a classic, beautiful look for you! Black’s a bit too much for me, but the expresso sounded intriguing. Until I remembered the part about the pot and the brush. Luckily my Danger-Will-Robinson arms started flapping. 🙂
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:09 amHmm, maybe Slate? That might be a good option too.
You’re so silly…I have confidence that you could easily master the brush!
Nivedita says
July 6th, 2012 at 6:45 amI love my liners black and blackest black at that. This line is very newly launched here and I’m not sure if this gel liner is available. But the glossy finish got the curious cat in me awake. Would love to get one for sure 🙂
Nivedita recently posted … My skin.. the perpetual problem…
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:08 amHi Nivedita,
I hope you can find it! Happy Friday. 🙂
Amanda says
July 6th, 2012 at 7:27 amDang it, I passed by this the other day. I thought “do I really need another eyeliner”? Well, I guess I do now! The brush looks really nice too.
Amanda recently posted … Sephora Rouge Shine Lipsticks – #15 Pop Star and #19 V.I.P.
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:08 amHi Amanda,
The answer to that question is always YES.
Believe it or not the brush is kind of great! 🙂
Happy Friday!
Ruchita says
July 6th, 2012 at 8:12 amI have never tried gel eyeliner before, but I must remedy that immediately. I love black liner and this one looks great. Thanks for the review!
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:07 amHi Ruchita,
Once you start using gels you’ll get hooked! They’re super easy to use once you get the hang of them. And they last a really long time too. 🙂
Hope you’re having a nice Friday so far. Any exciting plans for the weekend?
Cheri says
July 6th, 2012 at 8:22 amThis is beautiful on you. I love the glossy look of this liner, it’s definitely going on my list of goodies to purchase at Target this weekend.
Karen says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:06 amThanks Cheri! I hope you can find it. It’s pretty new so it’s slowly trickling into stores. Let me know what you think about it. 🙂
BettyS says
July 6th, 2012 at 10:27 amI’m going to have to try that! I’ve been using the Revlon gel liner for a while now and like it. I just got tired of spending the $ on my Mac and Bobbi Brown liners after I had to toss out over $100 worth of eye makeup after I got pinkeye and then recontaminated myself through one of my liners. So I went back to some drug store brands.
Lulu says
July 6th, 2012 at 11:35 amOhh I was so excited to get this but it seems I’m allergic to the loreal products I’ve tried. 🙁 Last time was the colour riche lip products and this time my eyes starting itching real bad. So upsetting because the colour and formula were so nice.
Still, I’m still holding out hope that maybe the formula is different enough with the caresses line so I can try sunset angora hehe
Anna says
July 6th, 2012 at 1:31 pmHey Karen. Have you ever tried MAC Chromaline in Black Black? I went into the pro store to pick up a new pot of Black Track and the artist convinced me to try this one instead and I love it!! I find that it’s easier to apply and stays on longer throughout the day. The kicker- its got 70% more product in the pot, but is only a couple bucks more expensive than Fluidline. I think I was sold on that basis alone…
Rochelle Ramos says
July 6th, 2012 at 1:34 pmi was thinking of getting this at walmart the other day, and now will actually think about buying it. i got the maybelline drama one and i feel it smudges a bit on my eyelids though not as much. will try this out. thanks for the review, your reviews rock
–rochelle
rochelle5855 on twitter
Jen says
July 6th, 2012 at 1:42 pmI will have to try these out. You look fabulous! I have not mastered the technique required to use potted eyeliners yet. I am quite lazy and use a pencil each day. At least with these I will not have invested a lot and won’t feel guilty wasting the product. I will have to practice A LOT so my attempts will not look like I have Mike Tyson’s tattoo.
Thanks Karen!
Jeanie says
July 6th, 2012 at 3:37 pmYour makeup is quite flawless here and your lip color is VERY pretty!! Thank you so much for the review. I was skeptical about getting this but I will definitely give it a try now. =)
Liz says
July 6th, 2012 at 7:07 pmCool. I wonder if this will replace L’oreal’s HIP Cream eyeliner. It’s interesting that you love the MAC fluidline. It smeared on me so badly in the middle of winter (so no sweat was involved).
Ankita@corallista says
July 7th, 2012 at 12:47 amI LOVE glossy black liners! I wonder how this one compares to the L’oreal Super Liner gel liner.
Ankita@corallista recently posted … Upcoming Skin care and Hair Care Product Reviews!
Alison says
July 7th, 2012 at 10:09 amTempting, tempting. You make it look so gorgeous, and a variety of finishes in a single classic shade is what I live for. I like the sound of the shade “Dark Slate”, too. I’ll definitely check that out.
I like how you paired the soft glossy finish with dewy makeup, too, by the way!
Wenz says
July 7th, 2012 at 10:48 amI just picked this up because it was last one on display & came to check reviews online before opening! The Maybelline one always transfers to my eyelid so I hope this one works for me. Thanks Karen!
Sophie says
July 8th, 2012 at 2:53 amAhhhh you’re making me regret not picking this up in the store when I saw it yesterday. How does wear on the waterline compare to blacktrack?
Gwen @ Makeup Toys says
July 8th, 2012 at 9:08 amWoah! It looks really black! I hope to get it in Singapore soon!
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Chelsea says
July 10th, 2012 at 10:53 amOoh, I’ll have to check these out when I get back to the states… Bronze sounds right up my alley!
Maria says
August 9th, 2013 at 3:34 pmI love the glossier look. I actually went to MAC and asked and they sold me on their pen eyeliner (because it’s super glossy) and it’s just meh. It is nice but it flakes off at the end of the day which is NOT ok. I am so happy I saw this post!
Thanks Karen!