I’m a HUGE fan of Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara. In my opinion it’s one of the best mascaras I’ve tried. So obviously when the eyeliner was released, I HAD to try it. Finally, I was able to get around to giving it ago.

Before I even got started, I did what I always do, I searched for a how-to guide from the company. And here is the Benefit’s guide:

Taking all this information into consideration, I got started.

Design initial reaction? Loved the click push-up design, and the idea of making the eyeliner last longer. It’s different and I like different.

Application initial reaction? When I tested it on the hand, it went on super smooth, and fast. But the application on the eyes was a completely different experience. It took me a while to actually get the liner to attach to the eye. Even then, it took a while to get the full cat eye effect. It felt thick and entirely too gooey. I had to use too much product, and my eyelid felt really heavy.

My sister was helping me with a few reviews and to quote her, “What’s wrong with this thing? Or are my eyes getting old?”. She’s only 33, so no, her eyes are not getting too old. But I’m her older sister, so I automatically replied, that her eyes belonged to a 90 year old woman. The liner refused to slide on her lid. We had to waste liner clicking and clicking, in order to get it to work. It took even longer to apply it on her eye lids.

Once it was on and I took a few picture, it looked really good. And it photographed beautifully. Loved the pigment. It’s true black, and it does look great.

Removal initial reaction? I removed one eye with my Makeup Eraser and the other with the They’re Real! Remover. Makeup Eraser never fails. After a few passes it was all gone. While the They’re Real! Remover was a bloody mess. Yes, it removed it, but it made a black mess all over my eye and parts of my face. It’s been a long time since I’ve used a makeup remover and now I remember why; it’s just messy. I ended up using my Makeup Eraser to finish the job.

Over all, I give The’re Real! Pus-up Liner 3 out of 5 nerd glasses. Not terrible, but not an eyeliner I would actually use on a daily basis. I do genuinely loved the pigmentation, and how well it stays on. The application is definitely too much work. Cat eyes are already tricky to accomplish, we don’t need to make the process even more complicated. Have any tips for me?

I will use it again and report back. I usually give beauty products a few tries before they end up in the makeup box of doom. We all have a box of doom. It’s the box where we put the makeup we use as a last resort or never use again.

If you do have application tips, sound off below, or on social media by using the hashtag #nerdandlace. Also, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.