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Makeup Musings on Twist-Up Eyeliner

May 29th, 2024 by Karen 18 Comments

charlotte tilbury pillow talk
Thinking deep thoughts on liner

You wouldn’t think that a twist-up eyeliner would be that much different from a regular pencil liner that you sharpen. They’re both eyeliners, right? And technically both do the same thing, aka lining one’s eyes.

Buuuuuuut ever since I joined the ranks of beauty lovers who only apply makeup under extreme circumstances, aka the five minutes or less that I get on most days, I’ve discovered that I no longer have the patience for sharpening a pencil liner.

Twist-up eyeliners are just so much easier to deal with when you’re applying your liner in the car (like I do most mornings) or in your office or in the secret “best bathroom” on campus which location shall never, ever be revealed, ever. 🙂

With twist-up liner in my life, I no longer have to deal with the extra step of digging for the sharpener in my bag, then sharpening the pencil, and then cleaning out the sharpener so no goo gets stuck… There’s so many extra steps. Oh, have you ever had your pencil sharpener explode in your makeup bag? SO NOT FUN.

I dunno, it’s just too much for me. Give me the easy boop-boop-boop of turning a twist-up liner any day.

My favorite twist-up liners are the ones by Rare Beauty. They don’t have a ton of colors, but they have all the basics, and the ones I have (black and brown), are silky, long wearing and stay on my lash lines. Love, love, love!

Do you have any strong feelings about your liner? From this point onward, I don’t think I could ever go back to a traditional pencil ever again. Twist-up eyeliner all the way, baby!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup Musings on Twist-Up Eyeliner / Originally published May 29th, 2024

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Comments

  1. Susan T. says

    May 29th, 2024 at 10:39 am

    Every time I twist up eyeliner I’m going to hear boop-boop-boop. Lol! For the record I only use twist up. I’ll have to check out Rare Beauty ones. I haven’t been wearing it lately as I have such bad allergies that make my eyes water and itch.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 29th, 2024 at 3:51 pm

      Hahaha! I swear that’s the sound in my head. 🙂 What twist-up liners do you love?

      Oh, and I feel you… Allergies have been terrible here, too.

      Reply
      • Susan T. says

        May 29th, 2024 at 4:10 pm

        I always used Lancome liners and they were great for slightly smudged looks.

        Reply
        • Karen says

          May 29th, 2024 at 4:21 pm

          I haven’t used Lancome in a minute! I’ll have to reinvestigate next time I’m at Ulta (I think I have a $10 coupon, so I might use it if I find a color I like).

          Reply
          • Susan T. says

            May 29th, 2024 at 4:24 pm

            There’s a metallic black and a dark purple that are really nice. I mostly used the brown though.

  2. Suzanne C says

    May 29th, 2024 at 11:03 am

    I rarely use eyeliner, but twist-up is the only way to go when I do.

    And let’s have a moment of recognition for the Rare Beauty mascara, too. So good! A while back, I decided on a super-easy, super-fast makeup look that I could do without having to think about which products or techniques I would use and that mascara is the one I chose for it. It’s so reliable.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 29th, 2024 at 3:51 pm

      Girl, YES! It is only mascara that I believe in these days! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sarah Lowes says

    May 29th, 2024 at 12:38 pm

    I kind of think sharpenable ones seem old-fashioned now?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 29th, 2024 at 3:49 pm

      Yeah, me too!

      Reply
  4. CL says

    May 29th, 2024 at 7:15 pm

    Years ago (like decades), skincare/makeup expert Paula Begoun wrote in her books that twist-up pencils were the only way to go. She absolutely hates pencils that have to be sharpened. I think the problem with a lot of twist-up pencils is that some have very little product in them, hence they are overpriced, and the plastic part has to be thrown away (not recycled).

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 1st, 2024 at 10:05 am

      I think about the sustainability aspect, too. If I ever find a twist-up that’s easily recyclable I’ll let you know.

      Reply
  5. Marcia says

    May 29th, 2024 at 8:44 pm

    I agree with you about eye liners that have to be sharpened. More work plus if it’s not sharpened enough, the wood part can get scratchy. Lately the only eye liner I have been using is the Physician’s Formula felt tip pen. Didn’t know that Rare Beauty made a twist up eye liner. Have to check it out!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 1st, 2024 at 10:04 am

      How are you like that felt tip? I have the Rare Beauty one which I like for the formula and the brush tip but I’m not a fan of the packaging (falls apart if you have it in a makeup bag that you carry around).

      Reply
  6. Mandy says

    May 30th, 2024 at 6:37 am

    Not completely on topic…but I wish Nars made their Dolce Vita Pencil in a twist up. I HATE sharpening it. It wastes half the product. Plus, I don’t like carrying a sharpener in my bag…because it so messy. And if it doesn’t sharpen evenly, it eventually scratches my lip. Like you, I have had it open and get all over everything😖.

    I love the Rare Beauty mascara, so I need to try the eyeliners. Some of my favorite eyeliners have to be sharpened (Urban Decay)…and it really is a hassle.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 1st, 2024 at 10:03 am

      Ooooh you know I love me some Dolce Vita!

      I used to love the UD liners but gave up on them because sharpening them is such a pain. I miss their shimmery bronzes and brows sometimes, le sigh.

      Reply
  7. Brigid says

    May 30th, 2024 at 1:03 pm

    I LOVE the color selection of the Gwen Stefani GXVR eyeliner, but they do NOT sharpen well for me with my sharpener. I’m going to try this one. Rare Beauty has some excellent stuff.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 1st, 2024 at 10:01 am

      I had the GXVE liner in navy and loved the color and wear time, but I haaaaated sharpening it. If you’re going to buy some Rare Beauty, you have to get the mascara. It’s great!

      Reply
  8. Marty says

    June 1st, 2024 at 7:32 am

    I agree totally!! I gave up on the ones that have to be sharpened because I felt I was wasting half the pencil just trying to get a good point to apply it, or it would break, etc. Anything I have to fiddle around with is just not my jam anymore. Easy\effective is what I use the most.

    Reply

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