Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner | Is it Worth the Hype?

I have been meaning to write this post for the looooongest time. But to be honest guys, I didn't really want to. I really wanted my experience with this product to go down a completely different way. I wanted to be singing my praises from the roof tops for this product, I really really did. But I feel like this is the first time I have ever been so disappointed in a product that had been so widely raved about and I just had to share my two cents worth.

When Benefit first announced that they were releasing the Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner I was admittedly quite beside myself with excitement. Firstly, I love their mascaras, especially the They're Real one which I wrote about here. And secondly, why wouldn't I be? Nearly every gal here knows THAT struggle of achieving the perfect wing, and to this day I can probably only count achieving that level of greatness on one hand (and that may even be an overstatement, sad I know). Like nearly everyone else I was itching to get my hands all over this eyeliner. I seriously looked forward to a future that held fuss-free even wings. And it sounded like it ticked all the right boxes too: innovative click pen? Tick. Smooth long-lasting gel? Tick. Flexible slanted tip? Tick - practically a fool proof one-way ticket to cat eye perfection.


When I FINALLY bought this eyeliner and decided to try it out after my trusty Stila one ran out I was seriously preparing myself for some next level stuff, I even think my heart strarted racing with excitement for a bit. So it might just be because I over-hyped myself or because everyone else loved it so, but upon first application I absolutely hated it, HATED IT. It was clumpy and came out with way too much gel - and don't even get me started on the click pen dispenser. I have never wasted so much product on a single application in my entire life. 

But I didn't let that stop me, I read the instructions again (because hey, it may have been a bit too innovative for me and I am not one to give up easily) and tried it for a second time. But no, it just wasn't happening. Everything was just so darn DRY. The gel formula was way too dry and it also dried way too fast on my lids. So much so that when I tried to build up the intensity and thickness of my line it ended up being one patchy flakely hot mess (defs not a good look let me tell you). And I kid you not, bits of flakely eyeliner would fall off my eye throughout the night - yes it was as gross as it sounds.

What I can say for sure is that this does have amazing staying power. Even with my oily lids this managed stay put on my lids after a whole night out - and not in a good way. It's staying power is in fact so amazing that it was quite frankly a pain in the ass to remove, which I guess is why Benefit released their own remover. It also hugged the lash line quite nicely so there's that.

After that first failed attempt, I flung it to the back of my drawer in disgust and didn't use it again for a couple of weeks, until one day I was feeling a little bit adventurous and decided to give it another go. But nope, it just wasn't happening for me. Round two and three and four pretty much went down the exact same way. I really tried to make it work, believe me but it just was not my cup of tea.

So the big question is, is it worth the hype? For me personally, it is a big fat no. I am honestly so disappointed in this product, especially because I have never had a bad experience with any other Benefit product before, but it baffles me how some people love this so much. For it's price, (this retails for about $37 in Australia) it is definitely not worth it and I would happily go back to my beloved felt tip liners. I guess it's back to the eyeliner tutorials for me *sigh*

Have you tried the Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner? Did you love it or hate it?  Am I the only idiot that couldn't make it work? Tell me below!

Chantalle x