Ever since MAC discontinued their brow shader, I've been sad, but also looking for a replacement. And a pencil won't do. I like using a brush and powder because I get a better shape with the brush. I use the angles of the brush to define the angles of my brows.
Eyeshadow won't do. Brow powder is not the same as eyeshadow. If you use eyeshadow on your brows, be prepared for it to smudge when you look at it, and fade throughout the day. By the middle of the day, you may not have any brows left.
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| MAC Brow Shader |
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A trip to Sephora found me a new brow powder, named Anastasia, but for $22. (Eek!)
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| Anastasia Brow Powder Duo |
I was certain that I wouldn't find a drugstore brand, as brow powder is not very popular (though, I don't know why, it's way awesom-er than pencil). Enter
Nuance by Salma Hayek exclusively at CVS. Thanks Salma! She's got nice, big brows, so as expected, she really came through with the Shape & Define Brow Kit.
This kit comes in 2 colors -
medium blonde and
brown. I paid $9.99, but it's currently on sale for $7.99. It comes with brow powder, wax, highlighter and two tools that I don't suggest using. (Get yourself a nice brow brush for this. It'll be worth it. I use this
one, but
here's one that's cheaper (though I cannot attest to it's quality).)
As you can see, it has a mirror on the front of the package. That mirror slides down to cover the contents. The packaging is sleek and attractive. There isn't a bunch of extra stuff that you don't need, taking up space.
Both color options are nice and neutral - the brown is a little warm and the blonde is cool. The highlighter is slightly gold. Keep in mind, when using a brow powder that when you apply the wax, either before or after, it will darken the powder. If you're blonde, I don't suggest adding the wax, unless you're going for an 80's Madonna look. However, if you're brunette and you're looking for a cool brown, use the blonde + the wax. You'll get that cool brown you're looking for.
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| Maybe it worked in the 80's, but not so much now. |
If you aren't sure about using a brow powder and brush, here are a few pics of the process. I hope they are helpful.
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| I start at the base and brush upwards, towards my arch |
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| I stop my brush stroke at my arch |
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| New brushstroke - I start at the beginning of my arch and brush down towards the tip of my brow |
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| Twisting the brush, to make a fine brush mark, I finish off my brows with a fine line | |
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