{"id":1071,"date":"2025-03-02T12:24:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-02T12:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestofashion.com\/?p=1071"},"modified":"2026-03-30T14:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:27:18","slug":"is-loreal-lineur-intense-really-the-best-beginner-friendly-liquid-eyeliner-for-shaky-hands-in-2025_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/?p=1071","title":{"rendered":"Is L\u2019Or\u00e9al Lineur Intense Really the Best Beginner-Friendly Liquid Eyeliner for Shaky Hands in 2025_"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Is<\/p>\n

\"Is<\/p>\n

\"Is<\/p>\n

\"Is<\/p>\n

So you\u2019re standing in the makeup aisle, right? Staring at like forty different eyeliners and your hands are already sweating because you just know<\/em> you\u2019re gonna mess this up. I\u2019ve been there. We all have. And if you\u2019ve been googling “best eyeliner for beginners that won\u2019t make me look like a raccoon,” chances are you\u2019ve stumbled across the L\u2019Or\u00e9al Lineur Intense about a hundred times. But does it actually live up to the hype, or is this just another drugstore disappointment waiting to happen?Let me just say\u2014when I first picked this thing up, I was skeptical. Like, deeply<\/em> skeptical. I\u2019d already been burned by so-called “beginner-friendly” liners that turned out to be either too watery, too stiff, or just… wrong. But the Lineur Intense kept coming up in tutorials, in Reddit threads, in those “I\u2019m 35 and just learned makeup” Facebook groups. So I caved. And honestly? It\u2019s been a weird journey. Not perfect. But weirdly comforting in a way I didn\u2019t expect.What even makes an eyeliner “beginner-friendly” though?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

That\u2019s the real question, isn\u2019t it? We throw that term around like it means something universal, but my “beginner” might be your “intermediate” and vice versa. For me, it was about control. I needed something that forgave my shaky hands at 7 AM when I\u2019m still half-asleep and trying to look alive for Zoom calls. The Lineur Intense has this felt tip that\u2019s… okay, it\u2019s not magic, but it\u2019s predictable. And when you\u2019re learning, predictability is worth more than any fancy formula.The tip is flexible but not too<\/em> flexible. You know how some liners feel like you\u2019re trying to draw with a wet noodle? This isn\u2019t that. It\u2019s got some resistance, some feedback when you press it against your lid. I found that helped me figure out pressure\u2014like, how hard can I push before I get a thick glob versus a fine line. Took me maybe three tries to get a decent wing. Three! That\u2019s honestly embarrassing compared to the three weeks<\/em> I struggled with a certain high-end brand I won\u2019t name (but rhymes with “Stila”).But wait\u2014does it actually stay put all day?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Ah, the million-dollar question. Because what\u2019s the point of a perfect application if you\u2019re gonna look like a panda by lunch? I\u2019ve got combination skin, which is fancy speak for “my eyelids are oily enough to fry an egg by 2 PM.” Most liners migrate on me. It\u2019s not cute. The Lineur Intense, though? It\u2019s marketed as smudge-proof and waterproof, which always makes me roll my eyes because everything<\/em> says that. But… and I hate admitting this… it actually kind of works?I did a full day test. Office, gym (don\u2019t judge, it was a light day), grocery store, cooking dinner. By hour ten, there was slight fading at the outer corner of my wing, but no transfer to my upper lid. No raccoon situation. I was shocked. Genuinely. I\u2019ve paid $30 for liners that performed worse.That said\u2014and this is important\u2014it\u2019s not completely<\/em> bulletproof. If you rub your eyes aggressively, or if you\u2019re someone who gets really watery eyes in wind, you might see some breakdown. My roommate tried it and cried during a movie (emotional movie, not the liner\u2019s fault) and had some transfer. So. Your mileage may vary, as they say.The formula itself\u2014what\u2019s the deal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s liquid but not runny. Pigmented but not instantly opaque in one swipe. I actually like that about it? Because when you\u2019re learning, you don\u2019t want something that deposits a ton of product immediately. You want buildable. You want to layer a thin line, see how it looks, add more if needed. The Lineur Intense lets you do that. It dries down in maybe 10-15 seconds, which is fast enough that it won\u2019t transfer while you\u2019re working on the other eye, but slow enough that you can fix mistakes if you\u2019re quick.The black is a true black, not that weird gray-ish “black” some drugstore liners give you. Though I will say, if you\u2019re expecting the inkiest, most saturated black of your life… maybe lower expectations slightly. It\u2019s very<\/em> black, but not like, “I\u2019m about to be in a music video” black. For everyday? Perfect. For dramatic editorial looks? You might want to layer or go elsewhere.Okay but what about the packaging and actual application experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The tube is… fine? It\u2019s a standard pen format, which I prefer over dip formats because I\u2019m clumsy and would definitely knock over a pot of gel liner. The cap clicks on securely, which matters because I\u2019ve had liners dry out in my bag when the cap came loose. The pen is lightweight, maybe too lightweight for some people who like heft, but I found it made detailed work easier. Less fatigue when you\u2019re trying to get that inner corner tight.One weird thing\u2014the label wears off pretty fast. After a month in my makeup bag, the gold lettering was half gone and I looked like I was using some mysterious unbranded product. Doesn\u2019t affect performance, just… odd quality control there, L\u2019Or\u00e9al.Let\u2019s do a quick comparison because I know you\u2019re wondering about alternatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u8868\u683c<\/span> <\/header>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>\nL\u2019Or\u00e9al Lineur Intense<\/th>\nNYX Epic Ink Liner<\/th>\nMaybelline Master Precise<\/th>\nKiss Me Heroine Make<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Tip Type<\/td>\nFelt, slightly flexible<\/td>\nBrush, very flexible<\/td>\nFelt, very stiff<\/td>\nBrush, firm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Learning Curve<\/td>\nMedium\u2014forgiving but requires practice<\/td>\nSteep\u2014brush tips are hard<\/td>\nEasy but can skip<\/td>\nMedium\u2014very wet formula<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Longevity<\/td>\n8-10 hours on oily lids<\/td>\n6-8 hours, some transfer<\/td>\n6 hours, fades noticeably<\/td>\n12+ hours, truly waterproof<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price Point<\/td>\n~$9-11<\/td>\n~$9<\/td>\n~$8-10<\/td>\n~$12-15 (imported)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best For<\/td>\nDaily wear, building skills<\/td>\nExperienced users, precise art<\/td>\nQuick, simple lines<\/td>\nOily lids, humid climates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

See, the Lineur Intense sits in this sweet spot. It\u2019s not the cheapest, not the most expensive, not the most long-wearing, not the easiest. But it\u2019s balanced<\/em>. And when you\u2019re starting out, balance is everything. You don\u2019t want to fight your tools while you\u2019re also fighting your own unsteady hands.Some real talk about mistakes and learning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I messed up so many times with this liner. So. Many. Times. Wings that went too high, lines that wobbled, that thing where you try to even them out and suddenly you\u2019re wearing 2012 Amy Winehouse liner at 8 AM on a Tuesday. But the Lineur Intense was easy to clean up\u2014Q-tip with micellar water, done. It doesn\u2019t stain immediately, which gives you that grace period. Some liners, you make one wrong move and it\u2019s there for three days. Not this one.Also, because the formula isn\u2019t super wet, you can go over lines to correct thickness without everything getting muddy. That\u2019s huge. I didn\u2019t realize how huge until I tried a different liner recently and suddenly understood why I\u2019d been so frustrated before.But some friends want to know\u2014what about colors? Is black the only option?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

There\u2019s a brown version, which I haven\u2019t tried personally because I\u2019m a creature of habit and black is my security blanket. But I\u2019ve heard mixed things. Some people say the brown formula is slightly different, more prone to skipping. Others love it for natural looks. If you\u2019re a beginner, I\u2019d honestly stick with black first. Get your technique down, then experiment. Brown liner is more forgiving of mistakes in theory, but if the formula behaves differently, you\u2019re learning two things at once. Let\u2019s keep it simple, yeah?What should we do if we have very hooded eyes or mature skin?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This is where I have to be honest\u2014the Lineur Intense is good, but it\u2019s not a miracle worker for every eye shape. My mom tried it (she\u2019s in her 50s, hooded lids, some texture) and found the felt tip dragged slightly on her skin. She preferred a brush tip that glided more. For hooded eyes specifically, you might need to adjust your technique\u2014tightlining first, then the wing, looking straight ahead to check placement rather than closing your eye completely.It\u2019s not that the product fails, it\u2019s just… makeup is personal. Skin texture matters. Eye shape matters. What works for my slightly oily but relatively smooth lids might not work for everyone. The only way to know is to try, unfortunately. Drugstore prices make that less painful, at least.Let\u2019s keep reading below for some technique tips that actually helped me!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Because product is only half the battle, right? Here\u2019s what changed the game for me:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Rest your elbow<\/strong>
    \n\n

    on something steady when applying. Sounds obvious, but I was freehanding it like a maniac for weeks<\/li>\n

  • Look down into a mirror<\/strong>
    \n\n

    , not straight ahead or up. Changes the angle of your lid completely<\/li>\n

  • Draw the wing first<\/strong>
    \n\n

    , then connect to the lash line. Backwards from how I thought it should work, but way easier<\/li>\n

  • Use small strokes<\/strong>
    \n\n

    , not one continuous line. The Lineur Intense is buildable enough for this<\/li>\n

  • Wait for it to dry<\/strong>
    \n\n

    before opening your eye fully. Learned that the hard way with transfer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    So what\u2019s the final verdict\u2014should beginners actually buy this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    I\u2019m gonna say yes, but with the caveat that you need to manage expectations. This isn\u2019t going to instantly give you perfect wings. Nothing will. But it\u2019s going to make the learning process less frustrating than most alternatives at this price point. It\u2019s reliable. It\u2019s accessible. It\u2019s not going to dry out after two weeks (looking at you, certain other brands).Is it the absolute best eyeliner I\u2019ve ever used? No. I\u2019ve tried luxury liners that feel more luxurious, more precise, more special<\/em>. But for the price? For the accessibility? For the fact that you can grab it at any drugstore when you\u2019re in a panic because your old one dried out? It\u2019s hard to beat.I guess what I\u2019m saying is, the Lineur Intense became my training wheels. And sometimes, training wheels are exactly what you need. Not forever. But for now, while you\u2019re still figuring out your eye shape and your steady hand and whether you\u2019re a wing person or a tightline person. It gives you room to learn without breaking the bank or your spirit.Would I repurchase? Already have. Three times. That probably says more than any review ever could.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    So you\u2019re standing in the makeup aisle, right? Staring at like forty different eyeliners and your hands are already sweating because you just know you\u2019re gonna mess this up. I\u2019ve been there. We all have. And if you\u2019ve been googling “best eyeliner for beginners that won\u2019t make me look like a raccoon,” chances are you\u2019ve … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[180],"class_list":["post-1071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-loreal-best-sellers-review","tag-is-loreal-lineur-intense-really-the-best-beginner-friendly-liquid-eyeliner-for-shaky-hands-in-2025_"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1071"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1076,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1071\/revisions\/1076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestofashion.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}