MAC Greasepaint Sticks

Full disclosure: I got this product as a PR freebie, and I receive many free products from MAC.

I've always wondered what liner and/or primer Amy Winehouse uses. No matter how rough a night she's had - and let's face it, she's had her share - her eyeliner always remains astonishingly resilient. Whereas no matter what combination of primer and liner I use, I always end up with it smeared within two hours of application. What sacrifice must I offer to the maquillage gods in order to rectify this?

I thought MAC Greasepaint Sticks might be the answer. They certainly go on smoothly. But the one I tried smudged instantly and - more distressingly - took quite a lot of eye makeup remover and elbow grease to get off. I am very diligent about removing every last trace of face paint before bed, as those lingering smudges can settle into thin undereye skin and make me look ten years older than I am.

Well, I had to use no fewer than six cotton pads soaked in eye makeup remover, and even then, I woke up the next morning with raccoon rings under my peepers. I can't deal with that, so the search for Winehouse-esque staying power rides on. What do you use?

Comments

[Melodie]

My favorite is MAC's Fluidline gel liner in Blacktrack...Paired with UDPP my makeup has sometimes managed to last through 24 hours and still look decent (though I usually try to remove makeup earlier than that!)

[Dana Sacks]

I use NOIR cosmetics line. It was created by some former MAC folks and the entire line is just black products. I wear their long wearing pencil in my water line every day and it really doesn't move. I use the NARS makeup remover and it comes off like a charm.

[Txteva]

Urban Decay 24/7 eye liners have always done me well...

[Amy]

I'm glad you're back! This is the only interesting and honest beauty blog.

[Carly]

Liquid liner. Try Blinc/Kiss Me. Removes with just water. Mascara is also great.

[Juli]

you need liquid eyeliner for this kind of staying power - I use one by mac (no idea what it is called, but the shade is bootblack). there isn't a pencil on EARTH that has the staying power and precision of a liquid, imho

[Supernatural10]

Did you use an oil-based remover or a liquid based? If it didn't come off with an oil based (like baby oil), then that's some resistant eye pencil!

I can't get past the name. Sounds somewhat gross to put "greasepaint" on your face. Then again, we are eco-chic-freaks around here. I like eco skincare/cosmetics that are natural...that way you know you're good to go. :)

[Franziska]

I use Boots No. 17 Soft Liner Pen but I'm not sure if they make it anymore. Mine is quite old and I know I should really throw it away. I also use Stila Liquid Eyeliner, which stays on for hours if not days and comes off quite easily with a wet wipe.

[Claire]

For a shadow base, I like Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance. These are pale creams that go under your eyeshadow and give it some grip.

I've got the black Greasepaint stick, which I use on top of one of the above primers and than pat shadow on top.

MAC used to do a MAC Shadestick in 'Sharkskin' which was dark and didn't budge. That's now discontinued but MAC's Paintpots also make excellent bases. There is one called Blackground which would work well for the dark liner look. Failing that, a good gel liner such as those by Bobbi Brown also work well and is pretty much budge proof.

Estee Lauder do creamy doublewear shadows that are fantastic as bases and can intensify the colour of your shadow.

Finally, my favourite black liquid liners of late are by Shu Uemura and Eve Pearl. Both are fairly easy to use for either a thin or thick line (or the full on Winehouse) and they do not move.

Hope some/all of this is helpful...

[Kate]

If you have the patience and a steady hand, MAC's Liquidlast Liner is amazing. Once it is set (and it applies somewhat wet, so you need to give it a minute) it does. not. move.

The only drawback is....it really doesnt move. It takes awhile to remove, and some pretty strong formula to get it off, but for me that means no amount of tears, rain etc will ruin it during the day.

[Suzanne]

The ONLY eyeliner that has ever worked for me is the liquid stuff. I use a drug store brand - Loreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner. The felt tip seems to offer more control in application than a brush. I can't say it's any better than other liquid brands as I haven't sampled many, but it definitely stays put, no smudging, until I take it off. (Washes off easily too!)
The liquid look can be a bit harsh so I do try to keep the line very thin. Kind of anti-Amy Winehouse...

[Charlotte Hansen]

theres a ... spray kind of
to keep makeup on your face
its what dancers and actresses use

[eye4style]

I didn't have that experience at all. If I apply over a primer, the Greasepaint Sticks stay put all day and they also come off pretty easily using eye makeup remover (I had been using Simple from Duane Reade)

[Julie]

I would recommend you try FYF pencils in Black and the FYF liquid eyeliner. Work it alone or together to get an amazing night out eye and keep it on all day if you like. Comes off super gently and easily with FYF eye make up remover.

[Style Palace]

yeah, the greasepaint stick can be smudgy, especially if you have oily eyelids. The best MAC product for Amy's look is fluidline. Have you used it before? It is a gel eyeliner that is waterproof and very long lasting. You can paint it all over the lid with a soft brush and line with an angled brush. It is a really good base for eyeshadow too which will set it, and it comes in a variety of colours :)

www.stylepalace.com.au

[Melissa]

I agree it is hard to find liners that stay! I like Smashbox jet set liner.

[Anonymous]

tarte just came out with these AMAZING clay eyeliners. They have Amazonian white clay in them which give rich pigment payoff and also nourish skin - they also absorb oil on the lids - so not only are they waterproof - but they are oil proof as well!!! If you want a liner that is creamy and easy to use but won't budge you must try these!

[Lori]

I fairly happy with maybellines eye studio gel liner pots. Little hard to apply but stays on long enough. Maybe not for an over nighter...but at least 8 hours.

[Gretel]

Definitely Clinique's true black liner. If applied correctly it lasts 8 hours +
:)