June 29, 2011

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner Review, Swatches, Photos

Hey Maybelline! You’re almost doing it right!

The new Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner Collection should be at your local drugstores now. At $6.99 each in your choice of six shades it’s one of the nicer, budget eye liners I’ve tried recently.

But it has issues….

Jump!


A new range of MAC Technkohl-like creamy eyeliners in six shades for $6.99.


I heart MAC Technkohl there for I heart Technkohl-like products. Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner is a twist up creamy gel eyeliner with beautiful color payoff, a creamy, dreamy formula, and just the right price!

First off I was impressed with the affordable $6.99 price tag versus MAC’s $14.50 one. Secondly, the product itself is a spot on dupe for MAC as it’s a twist up, gel liner.

I got one in Midnight Master and was ever so delighted at the super saturated black pigment of the liner. It applies easily on my eyes sans tugging and doesn’t fade, smudge, or create general raccoon chaos plus it wears very nicely on my waterline for around three to four hours (inside, I haven’t tested them on a hot day outside).

The pencil is slim and has a twist up design…And I’m actually on my fourth return of the product…


Yup, had to return it four times. No joke. The pencil doesn’t twist up for some reason. Finally after my fourth attempt (I’m positive the girl at CVS thought I was crazy to return it and repurchase it) I got one that worked. It seems the trick is you have to twist, and twist, and twist to actually get it up. Second problem? Once you twist up it’s not going to twist back down so be sure you WANT to twist up and you NEED to twist up because it’s not going back down.

Since these style eyeyliners have evolved a good deal now include ickle little sharpeners I was disappointed that this didn’t include a sharpener in the head or even a smudger but hey neither does Technakohl and that costs twice as more.

  • Anyone who likes MAC Technakohl.
  • Anyone looking for an intense black liner that wears well.
  • Anyone on a budget looking for a fairly good drugstore eyeliner.

  • Anyone who gets finicky about packaging problems (like me! oh bother!)


I haven’t had any major problems with the eyeliner. It glides on without skipping, smudges out beautifully, and doesn’t fade as the day progresses plus the rich, intense black of the liner is a plus as I haven’t seen a blacker than black liner as good as this since Urban Decay surprised us with Perversion.

However, I do worry about my sanity when it comes to the poorly designed packaging that seems to not want to twist up or down correctly. That turned me off completely and will probably prevent me from indulging in future purchases.

Heck this COULD have been Technakohl’s replacement but Maybelline has to double check the packaging details because something is amiss or I’m crazy.

Anyone try ’em?

Do share your experience!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Josh :D

    Muse! How I’ve missed you! These remind me of the stila smudgesticks, if they’re actually waterproof!

    • the Muse

      hi youuuuuuu! ;-D I was going to e-mail but got swamped, your package is wrapped up but haven’t been to the PO yet ;-D just a heads up ;-D they actually have a creamier formula than Stila. So far I’ve been in and out the past two days and haven’t had any major problems with fading but haven’t stayed outside for hours at a time either ;-D but they seem to do well under daily life conditions ;D!

      • Josh :D

        I almost bought the charcoal And silver today…but I really don’t wear liner in the Summer, so, I convinced myself to put them back! And yes, reply to me cause I need to know what to send you!

  • Wendy

    Oh myyyy goddd, raging pet peeve! I had the same issue with the twist up Milani eyeliners (Liquif’eyes). They wouldn’t turn up and once it did, it would twist up so much that it would snap off when you tried to use it! What’s the point in a non retractable eyeliner? Come on, Maybelline.

    • the Muse

      thank gawd you said maybelline wendy lol I wrote L’Oreal through the entire review DUH!!!!!!!!!! ;-D it really is irritating 🙁 I didn’t have that prob with Milani thankfully…but these had me frustrated 🙁 I snapped an entire chunk off, literally had to return once b/c of that and two more times b/c it simply wouldn’t twist up!!!!!!!!!!

      • Wendy

        I emailed Milani about it just to let them know the problem and they were so kind to send me a new set, but I’m probably going to give them to someone else. The non retractable thing is so annoying! And doesn’t Maybelline have eyeliners that are retractable so why not do that for these? It’s like both of the companies are going through the same eyeliner tube supplier o_o

        • the Muse

          aw man that’s super of them Wendy! but yeah, totes not cool on the retractable thing 🙁 You are prob right lol it’s made by the same company I bet ;D!

      • Ab

        I have had the exact same problems with pretty much every one I buy—If you are persistent in turning it, you CAN get it to come out—As far as the problem of it not going back down if you turn it too far–you actually CAN get it to go back down by twisting in the direction that Should make it go down and THEN actually pressing down on it with your finger or by pressing it against another hard surface. It may be that this creamy/AMAZING product makes these issues hard to avoid. I’m guessing all of you guys continually returning the product to stores may be the reason it seems I can suddenly no longer find this product in any store and it looks like they may have stopped making it. :(. ..

        • Isabella Muse

          Hi Ab, the product is still readily available online for purchase. Stores might not have it because it is an older product from 2011 and Maybelline revamps their line year to year with new eyeliner formulations so this might be discontinued in stores. It has nothing to do with people returning it. It’s just based on how popular a product is and if they are wanting to introduce something new and embracing that in with the new, out with the old mentality. Sorry your favorite liner isn’t around. I’d recommend purchasing from Maybelline’s website where the black is available as well as five other shades. Also, you shouldn’t need to press it against your finger or a surface to retract it, the packaging should do that for you. It isn’t hygienic to press your finger against a product you’re using around your eyes. Hope this helps!

          • Daphne Lei

            This is my FAVORITE eyeliner and I have just recently discovered that this is discontinued. Do you have any recommendations on dupes or similar ones for this liner?

  • Stacie

    I bought this liner in violet last week and I really liked the staying power but the packaging sucks hard. I worked with it because I hate returning things. I thought I just had a dud until I read more reviews describing the same issues that I had. I love this liner but the bad packaging and lack of a sharpener (the product itself is really soft and I have to constantly get another sharpener from the back of another eyeliner) keeps this product from being HG. I will probably repurchase because it is one of the few eyeliners that stays on my waterline. Love your reviews.

    • the Muse

      Stacie actually I thought I was just lucky haha…so it’s nice to hear alot of folks are experiencing this. I think it worked amazing, formula was REALLY good. Did you get the black? I really loved how intense it was…but I was really disappointed in the packaging. They couldn’t add a sharpener in? These style eyeliners all have them now 🙁 MAC should even revamp technakohl to have one imho! but yup packaging totally blew. I actually won’t even consider purchasing again b/c of this.

      Aw shucks thanks girl!

  • tina

    oh vey! for some reason i noticed drugstore brands tend have that type of packaging flaw with those eyeliners…one of the covergirl eyeliners does the same, it never goes back down..,

  • Maggie

    Hah, my CVS girl thinks I’m a nutcase, but my OCD prevails when something is wrong like that, or when I’m on the hunt. Thanks for the review, will be stalking CVS once again 😉

    • the Muse

      ha maggie ;-D I totes know what you mean! plus I walk in with my iphone and start snapping photos and they look at me like I’m bonkers!

  • Nora

    I tried this a few days ago, actually, in Bold Brown. The color itself is lovely – a dark but not too dark brown with very subtle gold sparkle. But it only lasted a few hours on my lid that also had UDPP and powder shadow on top. That combined with a BIG burning sensation for all day after I tried this in my waterline meant it was returned. Yet another product I can’t use.

    • the Muse

      wow nora sorry. no probs at all here. are you sensitive? Oily lids? curious minds for users who read this review ;-D

      • Nora

        I have oily lids, yes, but normally liners last longer than this. Especially over primer and shadow. Interestingly, I found it lasted better for me on my lower lids, which I’ve never had happen before! I’m sensitive to vitamin E, but that isn’t in this product according to the ingredients.

        • the Muse

          hmmm sorry to hear it Nora. at least you can make use on lower lids ;-D! yay? 🙂

  • Mango

    Hi Muse!,
    Have you tried revlon crayon eyeliners? this seems to be the same concept at around the same price so i was wondering how they compared. 🙂

    • the Muse

      mmmm mango..I think I reviewed those…raking my brain…….

  • Jo

    Hmm, I’d rather see more colours of the eye studio gel liner hit the uk than this. We only have black 🙁

    • Mary the Muse Militant

      Jo, where did you get this in the UK? I tried today and couldn’t find it.
      Thanks !

  • Comrade Garlic

    I have the purple one and can’t get it to apply to my waterline. But other than that it’s great.

    • the Muse

      comrade that always happens with color liners for me ;-D but the black I didn’t have issues with ;D!

  • Mary the Muse Militant

    I am going to get one TODAY !
    I hope to God they have them here in England.
    Thanks for the tip about the twisting up.
    Mac’s automatic eyebrow pencil does the same. It doesn’t go back in.

  • Mary the Muse Militant

    Double drat !!!
    This is not available in England. Darn !!
    After trying the usual places like Boots and Superdrug I called Maybelline UK and they said this is not available here.
    I left a message for Jo above in the hope Maybelline got it wrong somehow.
    Anyhow, I told the nice lady on the phone that we here in England demand to have it asap.
    She said she would pass on the word and tried to sell me the gel liner instead.
    I’ll keep an eye on the US Ebay.

  • Crystal

    I was gonna buy this today with my CVS bonus bucks but I was hoping someone would check it out. I have horrible luck, I bet I’d have to return it six times or something. Thanks for the 411!

    • the Muse

      ha crystal…story of my life, bad luck with drugstore makeup! ;D!

  • Kimberly

    Can you please help me? My pencil doesn’t twist up, and I’ve been twisting like.. forever. Such a waste, I really love this pencil.

  • Skye

    Several eyeliners that don’t retract claim that it is so product isn’t exposed to air sooner than necessary.

  • lauren

    I wish I read this before I purchased it because you are right it doesn’t twist! But if I tip upside down it comes but alot at once. Oh well, I guess that is what you get from a cheap liner. Any others you recommend that are around the same price range?

    • the Muse

      hi lauren sorry to hear it, check under my beauty on a budget header, you should fine several great liners under there 🙂

  • Shai

    I’ve tried several of these liners (brown black and blue) and being a contact lens wearer I am finding that I get a film on my contacts after I blink a few times. At first I thought I was going nuts so I would remove my contacts, rr lean them and start over. But until I cleaned the liner off and used another the film would keep returning. I really don’t like this liner because of this. But I found a really inexpensive liner by kiss I found at a local Korean hair store. It’s similar to Mac and the masters rams but I paid 2 bucks for it!! I love it!!

    • kat mills

      wow I wish I had found this prior to going through 2… yes TWO boxes of contacts! I was about to schedule an eye appointment thinking something was wrong with me. Finally I realized I started having issues about the time I got this liner, only because I couldn’t find my ususal product that day. I started doing some research and find someone else having the same issue 2 years ago :-/ would have been cheaper for me to buy a more expensive product after I threw away $70 worth of lenses!

  • Lilly

    I just got this today and was freaking out because it wouldn’t twist up! But then I read this about having to twist and twist and twist and that worked…. Just a lot of twisting… Otherwise it’s great!