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Today’s product smackdown for you between the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner. Gel eyeliners have increase in popularity over the last few years because of their diversity. They can be used not only to line the upper and lower lashes but work wonderfully on the waterline as well. What makes these so unique is their ability to glide on without pulling or tugging on the skin and have longer staying power than traditional eyeliner pencils. Gel eyeliners can create a bold and dramatic look with a thick line or multiple layers or a more natural line with a thin stroke. Everyone knows I love my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner and have used it for quite a while now, recently however, I was introduced to the Maybelline Eye Studio gel liners and I thought I would do a product Smackdown for you to let you know which one I would recommend.
Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliner is renowned for their smooth consistency and ability to glide on smoothly. They come in a wide variety of shades, 14 to be exact, and are waterproof which means they work wonderfully in the waterline. The only down side to the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners is the price. These run $22.00 for 0.1 oz. / 3 g. at which to me is a lot to pay.
Pros: Waterproof, great color selection
Cons: Price
Where to Buy: Sephora | Amazon | eBay
Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliners
Maybelline gel eyeliners are quickly gaining popularity and it’s easy to see why. These glide on remarkably smooth and are very highly pigmented which makes it easy to get the desired color you want without having to go back over it multiple times. These don’t flake or smudge and are waterproof as well so these stay in the waterline without sliding. The only downside is the color range which as of right now is 4 colors. The price on this is extraordinarily better at $6.00 – $9.00 for 0.11 oz. depending on where you shop.
Pros: Waterproof, price
Con: Limited color selection
Where to Buy: Drugstore | Amazon | eBay
Verdict
So I am going to have to give this SMACKDOWN to Maybelline! This is absolutely one of my new favorite products. The only downside is the color selection with 4 shades available. However, these work just as well as the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners by being waterproof and staying in place and not sliding. For the price these are unbeatable. I love these so much that I am going to be switching over and using the Maybelline eyeliners and just use my Bobbi Brown when I need a green or blue shade to go to. At least until Maybelline comes out with a few more shades…hint, hint. I hope this smackdown helped you decide which one is best for you. As always stay happy and healthy!
Swatches:
Bobbie Brown:
Maybelline:
The violet ink and purple are almost identical. Great smack down, Marlena!
Really? I don’t think there that similar. I adore that violet ink by Bobbi brown, the color is Gorgous. The other purple is more maroon tinted which I don’t like as much at all. I have green eyes so purple is my go to color for liners and shadows. The ivy shade looks pretty as well, will def try these.
Agreed, I think they are not that similar, but it is an affordable dupe.
Personally, I prefer BB. The espresso liner is better to me because I like more of a black-brown liner than something lighter and shimmery. I also prefer the BB liners because the basic staple shades are matte colors and have no shimmer like the Maybeline colors do. BB also has another matte brown shade, Sepia Ink, which I prefer as something a little lighter than Espresso, and that is also matte. I like that they have that range of color.
I find this problem a lot with drugstore makeup—matte colors tend to still have some shimmer in them even though they are labeled as being matte. Hate that!
Violet Ink ink gorgeous and looks much richer than Maybeline’s version. I think I have to buy that!
I’ll continue to buy Bobbi Brown—the pots last forever so I don’t mind the cost for the quality and that attention to detail with color depth and the shade range. I wear minimal makeup, so the small differences in color matter to me when I’m doing a simple cat eye or something larger like a 60′s style liner. If I was on vacation or out somewhere and forgot to bring my liner, I would pick one of these up as a substitute.
Marlena; i am not always brand loyal… but i have to say i have to recommend maybelline’s master precise ink pen eye liner…. the longest wearing, easiest liquid liner that my feeble hands have been able to use!! now for gel liners, i haven’t tried but considering maybelline’s master precise and learning from you, i can look to add this one to my collection for the budget i have. Thx always for your awesome vids!!!
Maybelline does have a blue, it is called saphire and it is beautiful. Also the tarte lines r really good too.
Hello! what a great alternative!
Wet-n-wild matte lipstick shades are amazing, and so are e..l.f cream liners!!
keep up the great work love
Wow, you can save $12! It may not sound like much your saving to some people, but all the money you spend on makeup adds up!
Great review as always Marlena! It’s so cool we all get to benefit from these reviews and I just find it really exciting to know about new great products, though sadly we don’t have the great pricing you guys have in the US! Anyway, thank you, you’re looking fabulous.
I live in Germany and they sell a blue version here. I don’t think i have seen a purple one though. The Maybelline colors i have are black, brown, blue and a black with pink glitter.
I’m desperate for getting these gel eyeliners they’ve got great reviews! So does the new L’oreal gel eyeliner, which they say is as good as this one, and I think a little bit cheaper. Oh Marlena you should try the MASTER DRAMA pencil eyeliners by Maybelline as well. The greatest pencil for the water line or even the top eyelashes, it doesn’t smudge no matter what! you just let it dry for a bit and that’s it! And they’re soooooo pigmented. Love your website, love your reviews, and love you girl! You look great as usual.
Perfect time to read/watch this comparison! My BB gel liner is drying out really quick now, been using it for about 9 months, I think? I’m gonna get myself black, brown and purple too! The BB Ivy Shimmer Ink is really pretty though… I might just get it too. haha.. thanks for this!
Love the Bobbi Brown color selection and the Maybelline gel eyeliners seem really good, but sadly I won´t buy them because the brand tests on animals
and Bobbi Brown is a little expensive for me! (I don´t use gel eyeliners everyday). I also recommend you if you can try the Essence gel eyeliners: super smooth, waterproof, they compare to the Bobbi Brown gel liners based on the reviews I´ve read on Internet, and super cheap! (in the US, I think they´re like 3 – 4 dollars!)
I have been using the Maybeline gel liner since I started watching your videos and expanded my makeup horizons! I didn’t want to pay the price of the Bobbi Brown ones. I always wondered if I was missing something in quality but excited that Maybeline is right up there!
In addition to black, brown and purple, Maybelline has also blue, espresso and forest (which is beautiful dark green color). Love the Maybelline gel eyeliners.
Black, brown, and purple are the 3 top colors I use. These are perfect for me. Thanks for the review
Hi Marlena,
I was so excited to hear your opinion on these two products as I have them both and I lean more towards the Bobbi Brown because the Maybeline ones do smudge on me. I do love the Bobbi brown. It stays put all day. On a side note I wanted to tell you that Maybeline did have a green and a blue shade but were limited edition so I don’t know if they will bring them again.
Anyway thanks for all your videos and hard work. Love from Canada xoxo
I have the Maybeline one in black and have the same problem.
It smudges after a while, i’m not sure why but it itches a little and the worst part is taking it off! It’s a pain because no matter how careful i am it will always leave residue and i wake up in the morning with racoon eyes
I went back to liquid eyeliner, and i love maybeline’s lash stiletto
Hi Marlena! I am in LOVE with your smackdown videos. I know how much you love your Revlon Colorstay and was wondering if you could compare the brand NEW Revlon Colorstay Mousse formulation with (what I’ve heard it’s comparable to) Laura Mercier’s Silk Creme! Also, you’re overall thoughts on this new Revlon foundation would be SO appreciated! Thanks so much & keep up the awesome videos!
I second that request for the revlon mousse review!
The “tested-on-animals” part is a problem for me. Otherwise..
I wish the maybelline ones worked for me. I’ve tried it and they run horribly on me! Even sting my eyes. Do they do that to anyone else? I haven’t tried bobbi brown but I use MAC fluidline all the time and don’t have any problem with it at all.
I started using gel liners in my hunt for the perfect product, some I love. So many brands have great products as well as crappy products. for me, Maybelline was always one Id pass on until maybe the last couple of years.Man they have stepped it up!! I DO own the gel liners- love them! also the new BB CREAM is my new fave after trying the top brands on down. Its the lowest priced and WORTH the most $$$. Maybelline lipsticks are the bomb. And the EYE TATTOO?? Fuggedabotit!! I have every color. Thank you Marlena for being so honest and open to all brands( and not a label u-no-what). P.S. Ulta carries a makeup line called ESSENCE, their gel liner is so far for me the award winner, I think you will agree. and grab the STAY lipglosses while your at it . LOOOVES YA GIRL!
Great smackdown! I bought Bobbi Brown eyeliner, and I have to say, I didn’t like it. It was very dry from the minute I opened the pot. Maybe I just got one that was old. The Maybelline was quite a bit smoother.
In the end….my winning eyeliner is Mac Fluidline. It’s much more like a gel, lots of time to work with it.
I’d take the Maybelline as my backup choice tho!
I love the maybelline gel eyeliners! I was in New York last week and purchased a green and blue! So they are out there don’t you worry!
They had a green (hunter something?) and blue (sapphire) a while back, but they were labeled limited edition. So keep an eye out this fall, they may come out again!
Personally, I like the BB liners way more! The Maybelline ones are too thick/dry, hard to work with, and the colors weren’t as pigmented. I needed 3 layers to get the black to show. And I know they came from a fresh batch!
I sometimes use the Maybelline Eye Studio as an eyeshadow base. It works great!
Thanks
I totally agree with u. I’ve used Maybelline for long time & I love it so much especially the brown color (I use it also for my eyebrows) & blue & they r cheap & I like it more than Mac gel eyeliners.
there is this new makeup brand well knew to me its called E.L.F which stands for Eyes,Lips.Face. They have a gel eyeliner that costs you $3 at target. I haven’t tried it but i want to know what people thought.. is it worth buying?
Just so you know i got the maybelline gel liner in purple a year ago and it dried out after a few months, so if you are only planning to use it occasionally i wouldn’t get it because you’ll just have to throw it out which is kind of a waste.
It all comes down to getting the best bargain. I’ve used several gel eyeliners in the past and the cheaper ones work just as well as the expensive ones. Why pay more when you don’t have to? Great review!
In Chile Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliners are only US 6, so that’s great