Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes (Brunette)
REVIEW and SWATCHES...
A portable brow maintenance kit that includes a sampling of some of Anastasia's core brow products.
This kit includes everything you need for perfectly groomed brows on the go. The portable palette contains Brow Powder Duo, Brow Wax, stencils, and an Angled Brow Brush with a mirror and instructions all in one convenient place.
Hypoallergenic. Dermatologist-tested.
This set contains:
- 0.04 oz Brow Wax Cream
- 0.05 oz Eye shadow Duo
- 2 x 0.056 oz Brow Powders
- 5 x brow stencils
- Angled Brow Brush
What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- GMOs
- Triclosan
- Choose the Stencil that fits your brow structure the best.
- Apply the Brow Powder using the Angled Brush.
- Remove the Stencil and tweeze the hairs outside the powdered area.
- Apply the Brow Wax Cream using the Angled Brush for a perfect shape.
- Apply the Cream Highlighter with your finger to the brow bone.
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes is one of the highest priced eyebrow kits on the market even among mid-to-high-end brands. When you factor in the individual prices of a couple of the included products you may then see a justification of the prices. The 5 stencils set is priced at $20 while the half-sized brush costs $17. The brow powder duos are a whopping $22 each when sold individually. Considering these separate prices you can then see the overall kit is a good value given what is included.
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes comes in a textured burgundy palette with a magnetic clasp. Inside there is a nice sized mirror and instructions for use on the upper flap with the brow products (wax, brow powders, highlight shadows) below. There is also a cut-out for the 5 stencils and the half-sized angled brush.
I don't find the magnetic clasp strong enough to secure this kit during travel or for tossing into a handbag for daily touch-ups. I would have preferred a better means of holding the palette closed if it is meant to be portable as is claimed in the product details.
- Apply the Brow Powder using the Angled Brush.
- Remove the Stencil and tweeze the hairs outside the powdered area.
- Apply the Brow Wax Cream using the Angled Brush for a perfect shape.
- Apply the Cream Highlighter with your finger to the brow bone.
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes is priced at $39.50 for just over 1.0 oz of product + 5 stencils ($20 value).
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes is one of the highest priced eyebrow kits on the market even among mid-to-high-end brands. When you factor in the individual prices of a couple of the included products you may then see a justification of the prices. The 5 stencils set is priced at $20 while the half-sized brush costs $17. The brow powder duos are a whopping $22 each when sold individually. Considering these separate prices you can then see the overall kit is a good value given what is included.
I still think this kit is overpriced as well as the individual products themselves. There are many many cheaper alternatives on the market. However, bear in mind that lots of kits in the $25-$30 range only have a wax and brow powder and toss-away mini (almost micro) brushes. The Anastasia kit includes full sized brow powders, wax and highlight powders, 5 stencils and a half-sized brush which is actually quite functional. So for a bit more you can get additional items that are nice additions.
Personally, I am fully aware of how great brow products can change your makeup life so I don't mind spending a few extra $ on quality items that get the job done. The stencils in this kit can definitely be of great help for beginners or even someone in the midst of changing the shape of their brows. And the brow powder duos may come in handy for those of us with troublesome brow colors and tricky undertones. Anastasia certainly provides a greater shade range of cool, neutral and ash tones to balance out the overly warm tones from other brands. Some things to think about....
Personally, I am fully aware of how great brow products can change your makeup life so I don't mind spending a few extra $ on quality items that get the job done. The stencils in this kit can definitely be of great help for beginners or even someone in the midst of changing the shape of their brows. And the brow powder duos may come in handy for those of us with troublesome brow colors and tricky undertones. Anastasia certainly provides a greater shade range of cool, neutral and ash tones to balance out the overly warm tones from other brands. Some things to think about....
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes are available in store at Sephora and Ulta locations as well as online at the Sephora and Ulta websites. This kit is also available on the Anastasia website. There are two shades available - Blonde and Brunette.
I don't find the magnetic clasp strong enough to secure this kit during travel or for tossing into a handbag for daily touch-ups. I would have preferred a better means of holding the palette closed if it is meant to be portable as is claimed in the product details.
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes "kit includes everything you need for perfectly groomed brows on the go. The "palette contains Brow Powder Duo, Brow Wax, stencils, and an Angled Brow Brush with a mirror and instructions all in one convenient place."
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes comes with a light pink brow wax which goes on clear when applied. The wax has a smooth consistency which is not overly tacky or clumpy. This makes it easier to apply and spread evenly to the brows.
There are 2 brow powders included in the kit and will vary based on the kit - Blonde or Brunette. Both powders are a natural matte finish which will provide the most natural look when applied to the brows. There is a dark and a light color included which is great to mix for customized shades and also perfect for creating a gradient effect to the brows (rather than one flat color throughout). The powders are firm yet smooth without being powdery. This will ensure that they stick well to the brows without any loose powder fallout. These colors are neutral based with just the right touch of warmth and cool tones to work well with brunette hair colors. Most dark brow colors tend to run a bit too warm (red-based) and don't work well for everyone.
There are 2 highlight shadows also included which are both light peach shades. One is a shimmery finish while the other is natural matte. They are both smooth and creamy (creamier than the brow powders) and apply beautifully to the skin. The colors actually work well on my deeper skintone without being ashy which is a great plus! I think these colors will work well with a variety of skintones except perhaps deep dark skin.
The brow stencils are a signature Anastasia products and feature 5 classic brow shapes. If you have trouble figuring out the best brow shape for your face then these will be a great guideline for you. If you already have your shape down to a science then these won't really be of that much use to you.
The half-sized angled brush is a smaller version of an average sized brush. It has an average sized brush head but a shorter handle and works well for application and touch-ups. This is a great addition to the kit and beats out the other brands that provide you with mini (read unusable) brushes that are only okay in a pinch. The bristles are tightly packed and the brush is thin enough to give great control and definition but not so thin that all you can get are fine lines. Nice little brush!
The Anastasia Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes is a decent kit albeit a pricey one. I think the products included are good quality but may not be necessary for everyday wear. My recommendation would be to check out the individual brow powders if you have been searching for your perfect shade and haven't had much luck. Anastasia provides a great shade range in cool, ash, warm and neutral tones so you are sure to find your match. The brow stencils are handy for beginners and 'start-overs' but a brow novice may not find these necessary. The brush is nice but you will be able to find a better/cheaper alternative that suits you. I think this kit may be good for beginners but not a great investment for those of us that just need a brow powder. It's pricey so you can save save some $ by grabbing just the powder you need. While I wouldn't get the kit...I think there are some great products from Anastasia that are worth checking out (brow powders, tweezers)!
*No payment was given for this review. Product sent in by PR for consideration. However, this does not affect my opinion. Duh! :) *
