I agree with you I bought so many eyeliner pencils and makeup due to my traveling around I hate having to pack up allot of stuff and not knowing do I need this or that so I just go and if I do need makeup ect i just buy more for what i need for then and too I like to try different products, well I came to notice some interesting things with different brands but the pencils them self were the same just another name on them, I found Germany made ones was great quality right brand name your going to get a bargain, then some of the other country's that made pencils were not as good.I will do some comparing on what i have that you haven't mention and share to cause you are so so so right on point here..