★★★★★ 3
Not worth the money; Cons outweigh the pros
Color: Black Brown, Size: 0.01 Ounce (Pack of 1)
PRODUCT: Revlon ColorStay Pencil Eyeliner, Black-brown.
∘ QUICK OPINION: This is basically a decent gel eyeliner packaged in a pencil-style barrel. The ultra soft formula and pencil-style applicator do not pair well together. The product would have been better off packaged in a pot & applied with a brush. The pencil applicator is the product's biggest design flaw, and it negatively impacts most of the positive qualities of the actual formula. It also causes a lot of waste, which is frustrating since there's really not much product in the barrel to begin with. I found this eyeliner to be irritating to my eyes (a problem I've rarely experienced even after decades of using dozens of other eyeliners). This is very disappointing since the item's most redeeming quality is that it applies and adheres well to the water line. Now its only redeeming quality is that works great for precision blending along the outside of the lashes. The silicone blending tip is nicely shaped and easy to clean. I don't think this will be a good enough reason to make me want to buy this product again, though. The cons definitely outweigh the pros with this eyeliner. And the small amount of product vs relatively high price tag make it a poor value.
MORE DETAILS:
∘ COLOR: Rich, consistent, opaque, and as described. ("Black-brown" is actually black-brown.) Dries to a matte finish.
∘ TEXTURE/SOFTNESS: Very soft. Very malleable. Almost creamy. Makes applying neat, consistent, very thin, and/or precision lines difficult.
The product is so soft, there's no need for the non-bladed "sharpener" that's hidden within the end of the barrel. I tried using the sharpener twice and found it to be more problematic than helpful. The sharpener basically just twists and mushes the tip of the liner around. The first time I tried it, the eyeliner stuck to the inside of the sharpener and the entire tip pulled off. (I barely applied pressure.) The second time, I was left with an unstable tip that looked and felt "whipped" into a ridiculously soft point that ended up immediately clumping and breaking off in my lashes. I found it easier to just shape the tip using my fingers. Even then, I still can't maintain a decent point long enough to make a single thin line along my upper eyelid. I have to reshape the tip at least 2-3 times.
Using this product is like trying to draw on a warm plate with a room temperature stick of butter. You have to be quick, but very light handed. I found that putting the liner in my freezer a few min before use helps it to maintain it's shape better. But it's a huge inconvenience to have to do this every time. I suspect it would be a nightmare to try to apply in a hot environment.
The ultra soft, almost creamy consistency is nice for application on the water lines and intentional smudging/blending. However, it's otherwise not practical nor ideal for a pencil eyeliner. It's the kind of ultra creamy liner that results in a bunch of chunky spots and caking along your eyelashes. (I have to use a spooly or a wet wipe to remove it from my lashes before it sets. I have black eyelashes, so the matte black-brown color looks sloppy and powdery if I just leave it. Kind of like I applied a heavy amount of loose eyeshadow without following up with mascara.)
If applied too thick (which is very easy to do given how soft it is), the liner is prone to flaking off, smudging (unintentionally), and smearing after minimal contact with water. If applied just right, these issues aren't much of a problem.
∘ APPLICATION/SETTING TIME: Setting time depends on how thick the eyeliner is applied. When I manage to apply an ideal amount, it takes about 3-4 min for the eyelines to fully set. If I apply too thick, the setting time is double or more. During application, the liner has a neutral sheen to it. After is dries and sets in place, it becomes matte.
I actually like that this liner doesn't dry and set quickly. It allows me an adequate amount of time to smudge and blend. (Other gel or pencil liners dry very quickly, making them painful or impossible to blend after the first 30 seconds or so.) Plus, I need an extended setting time since it's so easy to make mistakes with this pencil.
Once this liner sets in place, it becomes very dry. This is why it's crucial to apply just the right amount and why it's very frustrating that it's so easy to over apply. If over applied, the liner feels heavy and dry on my eyelid. The lines also start to look cracked and flaky after a short period. It becomes impossible to touch up a spot using the same eyeliner. The tip of the liner will crumble and/or wipe away the dried on liner rather than smoothly glide over it. But if the ideal amount is applied to begin with, there really isn't a need to do a touch up except maybe once on your waterline. The liner is dried in place, but doesn't feel overly drying around your eyes.
Something important I noticed: The "stick" of eyeliner inside the barrel isn't actually ultra thin. The barrel container is, but not the actual liner. It's about the same size as most mechanical pencil-style liners I've used. I was disappointed bc I expected this liner to have a very fine point and to be a bit stiffer.
∘ WATERPROOF/SMUDGE RESISTANT: Overall, the formula is very "water-resistant." The eyeliner can be smudged intentionally for at least 2 min after application. As already mentioned, it sets in place very well when not over applied. At that point, it becomes very smudge resistant and water resistant.
If the liner is over applied, the smudge-resistance and water-resistance are greatly diminished. If the eyeliner doesn't crumble or flake off in tiny chunks, it can be smeared around from simple contact with hands or clothing. The smearing isn't too crazy unless there's pretty aggressive contact, though (such as eye rubbing). Moisture will make flaking, crumbling, and smearing a lot easier.
∘ REMOVAL: Removal requires makeup remover - especially if you applied a lot. At the minimum, most of the liner can be removed with warm water, a gental face wash, and a cloth. It may take some gentle scrubbing to remove all traces, but it's not a terrible process.
∘ OVERALL DESIGN: If the formula wasn't so soft, the eyeliner barrel is actually a decent design. The barrel is slim, so it doesn't take up a lot of space. Twisting to despense more product usually provides the convenience of not needing to carry around a sharpener. Even so, there's one hidden in the bottom of the barrel. Attached to the sharpener is the silicone blending tip. It's contoured to allow precision blending. It works well, feels nice against the skin, cleans easily, and prevents waste of product. Way better than porous sponge tips.
I thought the cap on the smudging tip would be problematic, but it actually stays on fine. In fact, every time I try to pull it off to use the smudge tip, I end up pulling the entire tip off and exposing the sharpening tool. It's a bit annoying, but I guess it's better than loosing the cap. I honestly feel the sharpener should just be nixed.
SENSITIVITY: I've used so many kinds of eyeliners over the last couple decades. I rarely experience sensitivity or irritation. This liner actually irritated my eyeballs, not my skin. It leaves my eyes looking so red and causes some tearing. I think because some of it rubs or breaks off my water line. If I avoid that area, all is fine. No particular problems noticed when wearing with contacts.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2025
