If you’re a regular Makeup Files reader, you’ll know that I use L’Oreal Pencil Perfect Eyeliner a lot. I use it in almost every makeup tutorial.

Frankly, I’ve been terrified that L’Oreal was going to discontinue my favorite liner, so I decided to search for an equivalent.

Whaddaya know: I found a duplicate!

Duplicate: L’Oreal Pencil Perfect versus Maybelline Define-A-Line eyeliner

In order to have a duplicate of Pencil Perfect eyeliner, it must have a few important qualities:

1. Gel eyeliner that dispenses itself with a twist and doesn’t require sharpening.
2. Ability to line the water line of the bottom lid.
3. Smooth application.
4. Easy to apply color (so that I don’t have to keep rubbing at my lid like with some pencil eyeliners.)

Besides acting similarly, the two liners needed to look the same as well. Here’s an example:

On the left eye, I’ve got the L’Oreal eyeliner. On the right, Maybelline. As you can see, they look darn similar. The Maybelline isn’t as pronounced because there was a difference in color. My L’Oreal eyeliner is in Carbon Black and my Maybelline eyeliner is in Soft Black.

Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Consistency: The L’Oreal eyeliner goes on a bit smoother than the Maybelline eyeliner.
2. Smudger: The Maybelline eyeliner comes with a built-in smudger, where the L’Oreal eyeliner has none.
3. Water line application: While the Maybelline eyeliner can be applied to the water line on the bottom lid (between the lashes and the eye), it doesn’t go on as well as the L’Oreal liner.
4. Price: While prices vary depending on where you buy it, L’Oreal Pencil Perfect eyeliner tends to cost a few dollars more than Maybelline Define-A-Line.

Now that ve found a duplicate for my favorite eyeliner, I’m not nearly as scared of them discontinuing it.

Do you have any eyeliners that work like these? The more dupes we find, the better!