Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel in Strike - before & after, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Brows have been a mandatory part of my beauty routine and it's one of the few beauty products that I get really, really excited to test out. I do my brows every single day, even days I'm staying in, because it makes my face feel more complete. I recently tested the Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel and it works beautifully. Check out the before & after pic, swatches and my full review below!

Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel
Shade: Strike

 

 

Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel Info & Review

Cost: $20.50 (0.2 fl oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Illamasqua website.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

PRODUCT DETAILS...

This color-rich brow gel allows you to create perfectly defined brows. In a water-resistant, cream/gel formulation available in a range of wearable, versatile shades to suit multiple skin tones and hair colors. The soft texture and long lasting properties ensure no smudging throughout the day.

Currently available in four shades: Glimpse, Awe, Stare, Strike


MY REVIEW...

Illamasqua may not be as easy to find in the United States anymore (I used to get Illamasqua at Sephora), but I still love the brand. Some of their products are well worth trying to get your hands on, and I think their Precision Brow Gel is one of those products.

Now before you ask, yes I have the Anastasia Dip Brow, Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows and Tarte's Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse.... all of which are similar consistencies to the Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel, so when I started testing this out, those are what I compared it to.

First, let's talk about the shade - which I have in Strike. The kind of downside is there are only four shades, and as someone who has faithfully loved Anastasia for her amazing brow shades, I am always skeptical I will find another good match for my brows. Based on the shade descriptions and online swatches, Strike seemed to be the best match for my brows.

Here is how the Illamasqua website lists each shade description:

• Glimpse: auburn
• Awe: taupe
• Stare: dark slate gray
• Strike: dark brown

Basically, I knew Awe would be too light for me, as it seems like the option for blondes. Glimpse was also out because any red tones in my brow products look really noticeable on me since my natural brow hairs are a dark and ashy brown. Stare seemed to be too dark, and best suited for those with black hair or even gray hair. And then that leaves Strike, which I was skeptical if it would be ashy enough of a brown for my brows. 

In the jar, and especially in the photos under studio lights, Strike looks much warmer than it swatches or applies -- which is a good thing because I need an ashier tone. In person, this shade looks pretty natural in my brows. It's a good color match, but nothing has come as close as Anastasia has with brow color matching. 

Now let's talk about the application. I use a slanted brow brush; I think the one I use the most is from Sephora brand, but any thin angled brush will work, as I find it apply this type of product really easily.

It applies really smoothly and is easy to blend out with a spooley. One thing I did notice, in comparison to Anastasia's Dip Brow, is you can't go over the same area twice until it has had time to dry down. The Illamasqua formula is more of a gel feel with how smooth it is and how well it glides, but that also means it's a bit thinner and needs time to dry down before you build it up in sparse areas. Usually I don't have any issues; it just depends how much product is on my brush and how much time I have to do my brows. Rushed brows always result with me needing to go back over stuff because I hardly take my time.

Wear time is great! I never have issues with this brow product and never have to fuss with it or worry it's worn away or rubbed off on someone. It lasts all day on me without any smudging or budging. 

Everytime I wear this in my brows I always get compliments. I get compliments on my brows with the Anastasia too, so maybe I've just had some really good brow days or maybe this product is just so good that it makes me have a good brow day even if I don't try (and believe me, some mornings I barely try).

I really like this type of formula because it is quick, precise and easy. I rarely use brow powders any more; if I want a softer "more natural" look I will use a brow pencil. Don't get me wrong, I get a very natural look with this product, and if I want to make it look even more natural I will use this on the middle to the tail of my brow and then use a brow pencil on the inner part of the brow and blend everything together with a spooley. But to be honest, that takes more time and a lot of mornings I am just about using one product and getting it done. 

Overall, I really do like this brow gel and will continue to use this. The shade match might not be 100% ideal, but it works. I hope that Illamasqua expands their shade range and make some more ashy tones for us brunettes that need it.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Have you tried this, or would you consider adding this to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, these products were sent to me for consideration. I am not being paid to make this post, nor has the company influenced me in any way. I have made this post because I wanted to, not because I had to. These are my honest opinions, thoughts and experiences.

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil - 3 new shades! Swatches, before & after, review

Hello, Beautiful!

The Jordana FabuBrow isn't a new product, but there are three new shades that I think will better match a lot of brows. Back in December 2013 I tried the Jordana FabuBrow for the first time - and I liked it but the shades weren't an ideal match for me so I didn't reach for them. I never made an official blog post on it due to time constraints, but I did Instagram a collage of photos - including swatches - of shades 01 Taupe and 02 Medium Brown  -- CLICK HERE for that photo. However, the new shades I think are a home run hit.

The three new shades are: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, and 06 Midnight Brown. I no longer have the other shades to compare these to, but check out swatches and my before & after pic. A full review and product info after the pics!

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shades: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, 06 Midnight Brown
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

The below Before & After shows me using the shade Light Taupe at first (the top before and after set of pics) - but I felt like the shade was a little too off in tone. So I tried the shade Midnight Brown (shown in the bottom before and after set of pics) and it was a much better match for my brow hairs. I didn't use Soft Brown because it was too red in tone. 

Also - please don't mind my need to pluck my eyebrows in these photos.

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 04 Light Taupe

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 05 Soft Brown

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 06 Midnight Brown

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil Info & Review

Cost: $2.99 (0.039 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Jordana website, at Walgreens, and everywhere else Jordana Cosmetics are sold.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Kisses

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION...

Jordana's FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil fills in, defines and colors brows. Creamy, long-lasting formula. Sharpens to a fine point. Cap has a built-in brush. Made in Germany.

Available in 6 shades; 3 shades are new (shades 04 through 06 are new):

• 01 Taupe
• 02 Medium Brown
• 03 Dark Brown
• 04 Light Taupe
• 05 Soft Brown
• 06 Midnight Brown

MY REVIEW...

As I mentioned at the top of this post, I have already tried the Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencils in the past. The new shades, upon first looks, seemed like they'd be better matches for my brow hair. I was sure Light Taupe would be perfect but it turned out too yellow in tone on me. Midnight Brown, which looked so dark, use lightly was a far better match. I find they all still have a warm undertone to them. I wish more brow products out there would get on board with the ashier tones - especially for us brunettes.

As far as how the pencil works - it does a fine job. I don't really like brow pencils this thick though because I find that my brows are too thin to be precise with these, especially if they are not freshly sharpened for each use.

This pencil has a waxy consistency, which can be helpful in controlling your brow hairs but can also build up too fast if you use too much of the pencil. You really need to comb the product through - which brings me to what I really don't like about these pencils: the attached comb. I hate these little brush combs - HATE. Sure, they work in a pinch, but a spooley is just such a better choice and I'd rather pay extra for a pencil to have a spooley than this brush comb - which does only a sub-par job at combing the product through properly. For the purpose of the before and after pics in this post I did use the included attached brush comb (but in real life everyday I use a spooley).

I honestly don't reach for these pencils very much; my brows are just a bit too thin and sparse for a thicker pencil and I'm spoiled by the Anastasia Brow Wiz thinness. However, I do think this pencil will work for a lot of brows out there - and the three new shades are great additions!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this brow pencil? Have you tried this, or would you consider adding this to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, these products were sent to me for consideration. I am not being paid to make this post, nor has the company influenced me in any way. I have made this post because I wanted to, not because I had to. These are my honest opinions, thoughts and experiences.

Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows in Universal Brunette - pics, before & after, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

I'm obsessed with brow products; it seems like I'm always on the hunt for that perfect product. The Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash has been my holy grail so far but of course as a beauty blogger I really enjoy trying new products. Over the past 3 or 4 months I purchased several new brow products, one of them being the Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows -- which is what I have to share with you in this post. It comes in two shades: Universal Taupe and Universal Brunette. I have the Universal Brunette and I love the color - it's a great match for me! Not too warm toned and with a good amount of ashy base. But I have a love/hate relationship with the Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows, and I'll explain why in my review below after all the pics.

Also, I will be doing posts on each of the brow products - including Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, Anastasia Brow Powder Duo, Sephora Waterproof Retractable Brow Pencil, and the NYX Eyebrow Gel in Brunette.

Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows
Shade: Universal Brunette

 

Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $30.00 (0.07 oz full size). Available on the Too faced website, at Sephora, at Ulta,  and everywhere else Too Faced is sold. I purchased my from HSN in a special set that included a full sized Better Than Sex Mascara; for both it was $40 with free shipping. HERE is the link to that page (in case you are interested and it's still available). They also have a set that includes their Brow Bone Highlighting Pencil basically free with the Bullet Proof Brows; HERE is the link to that page.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

This groundbreaking brow definer is a powder, gel, pencil and setting wax all-in-one cashmere clay formula. It's the only brow product you'll ever need. Bulletproof Brow includes a mirror and their dual-sided angled and spooley brush for precise application. In just 60 seconds, color locks down for 24-hour, waterproof, smudge-proof, budge-proof Bulletproof Brows!

Available in two shades: Universal Taupe and Universal Brunette.

For 24-Hour Bulletproof Brows, follow these simple steps:

1. Dip brush in product, hold vertically at beginning of brow and swipe in a side motion toward the arch to shape the brow.
2. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle, and fill in the brows to the arch using light, feathery strokes.
3. Hold brush horizontally and in longer strokes, shape and extend brow tail to a fine point.
4. Finish by brushing the spooley through the hairs again to soften and blend the product.

My Review...

This is a pricey brow product with a lot of claims, so I had very high expectations going into my testing phase of this product. First, let's talk about the packaging. It's a round compact that has an inner lid to help it from drying out. The inner lid is a nice touch but I don't feel like it really closes over the product as tightly as it could - but with that being said, without that inner lid I'm sure this product would dry out quickly (as that's just how gel/cream waterproof products tend to act). There is also a mirror in the compact, which isn't necessary (since I'm usually doing my brows in a magnifying mirror) but I really do appreciate whenever a mirror is included.

Too Faced also gives you a duo-ended brush; one side has an angled synthetic brush while the other side has a spooley. I like that they included a spooley because that's a must-have for me when I'm doing my brows. However, I think the brush end is kind of terrible. Sure, you could use it but I personally prefer a thinner angled brush to apply this product. I get better results with other brushes than the one included - but depending on your brow size you may find the brush really great for your preferences. For my thinner, sparse brows, this brush just wasn't my cup of tea.

The shade, Universal Brunette, is a great match for me. It's not too warm so that's a huge plus for me. I need and want an ashy shade.

The application is where it gets a bit tricky. It goes on creamy and smooth, but if you attempt to go back over areas you will likely remove the product you just put down. I find this especially true when I'm filling in a sparse area. The only way to go back over it is to allow the product to fully dry and then add more where you need it - but that can take up a lot of time, and that's time I don't always have.

If you use too much this will cling to your brow hairs in an unflattering way. It's also easy to get little tiny balls of product in your brow hairs or even clumped up on your skin. A lot of that depends on the brush and how much product you're applying. A little goes a long way with this one, and allowing it to dry down in between building it up will give you the best results.

As tricky as it may be to get the just-right application, I will say that once I do have my brows finished with this product I don't have to worry about them going anywhere. I LOVE the staying power of this brow product!!! They truly do last all day for me. They will even last through a shower. Of course if you are scrubbing your face with face wash they will come off (although you may find you also need to use an eye makeup remover), but if you were to go swimming, the beach or a waterpark, you'd have little to worry about. The regular 9 to 5 jobs have absolutely nothing to worry about - your brows won't budge. At least they refuse to budge for me - and I really tested this in heat, sweat, etc.

So as you can see, I have a love/hate relationship with this product. Maybe I just need to work with it more - or maybe I haven't found the miracle brush to apply it with - but for now, I absolutely will continue to use it but not on days I'm in a rush.

I still prefer to use this product in combination with another product - such as using the Anastasia Brow Wiz. Or the Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows followed by a brow powder - such as the Anastasia Brow Powder or the Tat2U Brow Pow.

I also think this is a very expensive brow product; at $30 it's one of the most expensive I've tried. Compare that to other brow gel/creams and it's still high up there. I also recently purchased the Anastasia Dip Brow - which is only $18 - and in the past I've used the Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse, which is just a couple dollars cheaper than the Too Faced Bullet Proof Brows (but I find the Tarte one to be way easier to apply). And come to think of it, I've had that same jar of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse since July 2011 - that's been 3 years and the jar still hasn't dried out and the product still applies and performs perfectly. I know they've recently updated their packaging to the tarte brow mousse after the Anastasia Dip Brow came out, but I don't know if they also updated the formula.

Do I think this is a brow product you have to run out and get? No - certainly not. There are way  more affordable brow products out there that you could try first that are also long lasting. The Anastasia Dipbrow would be my next go-to suggestion for a similar product. However, if you're looking for a waterproof brow product that won't budge, this is one you should most definitely consider. There are just two shades at the moment - Universal Taupe and Universal Brunette - so if you need more color options then I'd recommend going to the Anastasia Dip Brow (it's also $11 cheaper). I love the shade and the staying power, but I think application is where I get frustrated and where I think the formula of the product could improve for smoother application; it needs more glide. Would I re-purchase this? Hmm... at this very moment, no I would not. I don't think I could justify paying the $30 price tag again when I have such a love/hate relationship with this product. But I also don't think I'd need to re-purchase this for years. I am happy I purchased this, happy to own it, and will continue to use it and form an opinion.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this brow product? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

#toofaced #brows #beforeandafter #browbeforeandafter #bulletproofbrows #swatch #swatches #review #bblogger #beautyblogger #makeup #anastasia #tarte #browgel #waterproofmakeup #waterproofbrows

tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe: swatches, before & after, pics, review

Hello, Beautiful!

If you're looking for a super itty-bitty brow gel wand, then look no further because the tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel has the smallest one I've ever used! I even compared the size to some other brow gel wands in a photo below. The color for me is what doesn't work, everything else about this brow gel is wonderful! Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel
Shade: Taupe

  

tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $21.00 (0.14 floz full size). Available on the tarte cosmetics website, at Sephora, at Ulta, at QVC (at QVC is it sold in a duo for $34), and everywhere else tarte is sold.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

Looking for a subtle brow boost? This easy-to-use tinted brow gel infused with colored clay lets you enhance, define and shape your brows like a pro for a perfectly groomed arch every time!

Achieve arch perfection with tarte's innovative, new brow perfector. The creamy formula delivers the ideal amount of color and hold to seamlessly fill-in, groom and shape brows for a defined yet natural-looking arch. Using the convenient wand applicator, precisely frame brows with a simple motion. Colored clay and peptides work to condition and smooth brows while reducing surface oil to keep pigment in place all day long.

Available in three shades: Taupe, Medium Brown, Rich Brown


My Review...

Had this been the right shade (Medium Brown), I think I would have really enjoyed this product! But this is more pigmented of a tinted brown gel, so Taupe just didn't work for me. It becomes too noticeable and too light in my brows. For the before and after pic I just used this product and nothing else, but using it on top of my normal brow products was a fail.

The brush on this is super, super, super tiny -- as you can see from my comparison pics of the brush next to a normal pen and also compared to other brow gel wands. It for sure if the smallest, thinnest wand that I've ever used and I love it for my thinner, sparser brows.

I don't find it's a one and done product for me, but I also have very sparse brows with some larger patches of missing hair. Although I do think this would be great for a lot of people as a one and done brow product for days they don't want to do a full on defined brow.

Overall, I liked the wand and the performance, but the shade is my issue. Maybe I'll try Medium Brown in the future.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this brow gel? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.