December 12, 2011

L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner Review, Swatches, Photos

L’Oreal has introduced a new eyeliner for Spring 2012 that is available now at drugstores. This one is a traditional kajal style liner which creates thicker or thinner lines with a longer point.

Let’s take a peek!

Kohl is as old as time and was originally used by Egyptian Queens. It was was a believed that darkening around the eyes would protect them from the rays of the sun.

Nowadays it’s all about vanity as we line and define our eyes to enhance them and add a bit of drama.

L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner takes a more traditional route with this new liner that acts as a kajal or kohl pencil. The pencils are chubby, short, and feature a large, precise point that you can use glide onto your eyes. In the case of a regular liner you’d use the tip to apply onto eyes and smudge as needed or wanted. However, this has a longer point which enables you to glide the pencil onto your lids using the side of the tip for a thicker line. Using this technique will apply a thicker, bolder line. You can use the tip as well to fill in areas or to line with as it’s precise enough to do so and will create a thinner, less dramatic line. I think the longer tip is actually easy to use as well if you have a shaky hand or you aren’t so suave with liner application and straight lines!

The formula is extra creamy and applies easily with a smooth, soft glide onto both the lash and waterline of your eye. I was very impressed with the soft texture of the pencil as I was bracing myself for a harder tip. The pencil smokes out beautifully as well for a little bit of mystery. It wore quite well on my dry eyes without any fading, flaking, or migrating however the wear on the waterline was pretty short, perhaps two to three hours at best before wearing away.

Each pencil comes with a sharpener as well which is much appreciated as I do so dislike having the track down the perfectly sized sharpener for a larger pencil like this.

Overall, there isn’t anything to dislike here (less you want a really strong wear time on your waterline). The formula proved nice and creamy, long wearing, and easy to use and wear.

I liked it.

Well worth picking up if you’re in the market for a dramatic eyeliner or you use eyeliner in many of your looks!

Muse Approved for purchase.

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

  • Jayne

    This is intriguing! Until I discovered/could afford UD’d 24/7 pencils, L’Oreal was my go-to black pencil liner. I really like the idea of the kajal style, so I am definitely going to give this a try! Thanks for the review, Muse!

    • Michelle

      Wow I miss streetwear…they had a big chubby lipstick pencil in a color similar to UD’s “Gash” that I absolutely adored!

  • Molly

    Is there a black pencil that you would recommend for your waterline? I have tried everything!

    • the Muse

      not really Robin you have to lay it on the side to use, that produces the best results. if you’re using it like a normal eyeliner, than yes, you def have to be careful 🙂

  • Maria

    You realize I’m obsessed with liners right? Yesterday I managed to finally get my hands on the Milani liquif’eye in “aqua” (the most gorgeous metallic blue I have EVER seen!) and now I want to go hunt down these babies! What’s an addict to do with a Muse feeding their addictions. ^_^

    • the Muse

      haha maria sorry didn’t mean to feed your hungry lem monster ;-D glad you are enjoying liquif, those are fab!!!!!

  • Deeds

    You are totally right about kohl liners being easier to apply than regular thin ones! I can’t for the life of me apply regular eye liner, but I just got one of the Sephora kohl cones over the weekend and applied it with no problems at all. It was a Christmas miracle!
    I’ll have to check this one out. I was worried about the continued use of my Sephora one, but I love that this one has a sharpener.

    Thanks, Muse!

    • the Muse

      deeds they are so made for shaky hands or peeps that are clumsy with liners ;-D they just glide on flawlessly ;-D even I can do it hahaha ;-D my pleasure dear if you try lmk what you think!

  • Michelle

    It’s great to see this product in brown…I avoid black around my eyes as it’s too harsh for me. My hubby is from Pakistan and it’s super easy to get those kajal eyeliners shaped like little incense cones, but they come in nothing but black. I may just pick one of these up.

    The only thing that concerns me is that I wonder if it’s too easy to waste the product and break a lot of it off when you sharpen it….hmmm…would keeping the liner in the fridge/freezer help?

  • Tiffany

    im a big kohl liner junkie! Ny all time favorite is the sephora brand one and i cant wait to try this out! how much is it though ?

  • Emily

    i only wear eyeliner on my bottom lash line and bottom waterline. will this eyeliner work for that area of the eye? i like good staying power and easiness of use (ive always used the automatic, twist up, crayon-like liners)

    • the Muse

      emily I’d try something smaller, this is a chunkier liner that’s really for creating a thicker line on the upper lash line. If you’re just using on the bottom waterline and lash line you should grab a different eyeliner that would worker easier on those areas, I know I wouldn’t want this size point too near my waterline for daily use 🙂

  • carla

    I love this eye liner. As a contact wearer I couldn’t use any eye liners on the inside of my lids without it clouding my vision. This stuff doesn’t do it. I will always buy this eye liner forever! Thanks Loreal Paris.

  • Copykat

    I just bought this eye liner and I am in love. It glides over the eyes so easily. I love this stuff. I wished this came in white. I love this stuff. I normally can’t get the eye liner on straight, my hands shake, and I really can’t see well without my glasses. This stuff is amazing for me.

  • Lyza

    I got a really bad eye infection after using this stuff and every time I wear it my eyes dry out really bad and turn red. I don’t recommend it for people with sensitive eyes. It looks so pretty too 🙁 What a shame.

  • Rafa

    Is it a dupe for stila kajal in onyx? If not, can you recommend me one drugstore option? (i have ud perversion and i don’t think it’s all that creamy)