Cons: Seems to migrate into my contacts upon application
The Bottom Line: Fluidlines are a great long lasting liner that is easy to apply. The $13.50 pricetag can't be beat for as long as you will be able to use this product.
Being an eyeliner fanatic and a big fan of MAC's Kohl liners, as soon as I started hearing raves about their new Fluidlines, I knew I had to give them a shot.
Fluidlines are MAC's entry into the gel eyeliner market, following in the footsteps of Bobbi Brown and Stila. All of these are Estee Lauder owned companies and all the gel liners are similar, with minor differences that make people like one better than its counterparts. So far, I'm really in love with the MAC version for its creamy application and price as well as its great lasting power.
About Fluidlines
Like the Bobbi Brown and Stila versions, MAC Fluidlines are packaged in a small clear glass pot. You get 0.10 oz of product which doesn't sound like a whole lot but with the small amount you actually use, it will last for a long time, much much longer than any eyeliner pencil I've ever used. The texture is like that of a thick cream. It's more creamy than its BB and Stila counterparts (but don't let that fool you, it has great lasting power).
To apply, simply run your brush lightly over the top to load up the product and apply it along your lashline. You just need a small amount; anymore, and it gets clumpy. Because it's so creamy, just tapping it gently along the lashline will give you a perfect line.
Once applied, you can smudge the Fluidline a bit but act quickly because it does dry fast. Once it's dry, it's not going to move until you remove it. A friend of mine said that hers smeared during a crying fit one day so any claims of these being waterproof are likely exaggerated.
I haven't had any problems removing it. At first, I was taking it off with eyemakeup remover but not being a big eyemakeup remover fan, I found that my cleanser takes it off just fine.
My only minor qualm is the fact that I always end up with some product stuck in my contacts. I've never had that problem with any eyeliner so it's weird. Applying it before putting in my contacts is fine as is taking out the contacts, rinsing the stuff off, and putting them back in. I guess the creaminess and the fact that I like to get so close to my lashline does that.
Which Brush?
I have a sad addiction to eyeliner brushes and have tested a few with this liner. My usual favorite brush is the Laura Mercier Flat Eyeliner Brush (in the travel size), and I do like it for this product. It gives a thin, defined line. For a thicker line, I like the Smashbox #9 Cream Eyeliner brush. I also have MAC's #266 Angled Liner Brush and Bobbi Brown's Ultra Thin liner brush and all work well. In short, I think just about any eyeliner brush would work well, even an artist's paint brush that looks like these (I have a couple of these too but I haven't tested them).
Lasting Power
Last month, I had to go out of town for a meeting. I put it on at 6:30 a.m., did my meetings and stuff for the day, and flew back home, including a short layover. I finally washed my face at about 11 that night, and really the only thing remaining on my face was my eyeliner and mascara. The MAC Fluidline looked almost as fresh as when I'd put it on that morning. I figure I don't subject it even near that day's schedule on most days.
Use as a Cream Eyeshadow
One nice thing about MAC's color selection with the Fluidlines is the ability to use them as a cream eyeshadow. I'm not the best reviewer for this use because I really, really do not like cream eyeshadows. I did try it out just to see how it worked. The blending was more difficult than other cream shadows I've used but the color did sheer out just fine so that it wasn't too dark. It reminded me of a slightly thicker MAC Paint, a product I'm not a huge fan of. It lasted okay as an eyeshadow but no better than if I had worn a base under a powder shadow. I'm guessing for me personally it wouldn't make a good shadow base, just like the Paints.
Color Selection
MAC goes well beyond the colors offered by its Stila and Bobbi Brown counterparts with lighter shades such as silver, sparkly white, and lilac. They have blues and greens. They also have the standard eyeliner colors such as brown, black, and plum, some with shimmer, some without.
I picked the colors Macroviolet and Rich Ground, both shimmers. Macroviolet is a deep grayed purple that is a dead ringer for Bobbi Brown's Violet Ink Gel Liner. It's nice on my blue eyes. Rich Ground was a shocker for me. It's a coppery brown that looked like it would be too warm and too light for me to use as a liner (yes, I have light coloring but I look much better with a deeper liner). It's gorgeous though. I'm not one of those blue eyed girls whose eyes scream blue with a shot of brown or copper, plum and gray being much more flattering on me, but this works very well to bring out my eyes.
I only wish there was a nice gray, not the slightly lighter version of black that Stila and Bobbi Brown offer in their liners.
Price and Purchasing
MAC Fluidlines are $13.50 each, a relative bargain compared to the Bobbi Brown and Stila versions. They've been sold out pretty much everywhere but MACcosmetics.com has several colors in stock and also has a store locator to find MAC in your area. Gloss.com and Nordstrom.com sell MAC products as well.
Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on 'foolproof' with a brush in an e...More at Nordstrom
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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