Cover Girl's Smoky Shadow Blast is a great concept. It's aimed at women who don't have a lot of time to sit in front of a mirror, pull out their brushes and makeup and create a smoky look. Each stick comes with two colors, a lighter color, to be used as a base over the lid, and a darker shade, to roll over the lash line and crease. After a little bit of blending with your fingers, you get a beautiful smoky eye. And for the most part, this product achieves its overall mission. It's quick, effective and very easy. You will notice, however, that the ads say nothing about the wear-ability of this product. Here comes the bad news...it never sets!! In order for you to be able to blend it easily with your fingers, the texture of the product must be creamy. The problem is...it stays creamy. So it moves throughout the day; it gathers in the crease. If you want to use an eyeliner with it, prepare for that line to stick to the product, dull and feather. I have even tried to put a setting powder over it, but that does nothing. I love the concept of this product, but not being able to count on it to hold up for a full day out is disappointing. I say, use it on a moderately cool day while running an errand, but don't count on it to get you through a day at work. It does not stay in place and it will either fade or run, depending on your day.



Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner is a good buy! It is a waterproof gel liner that can compete with some of its brand name competitors. It's supposed to be smudge-proof; it does smudge a little, but not more than expected for a whole day out without a light touch up. The color is rich and stays throughout the day.  It does come with a brush, not a great brush, but definitely enough to fill in the desired area with small strokes. Like other gel liners, it does dry out quickly, so make sure to close the lid tight after each use. I put it on my table upside down while in between applications. Overall, this product is pretty good. I wouldn't say it's the best gel liner in world, but it does the job. It is the gel liner I am currently using for my personal use. While, I don't use it everyday, it doesn't let me down when I do reach for it.