Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette ($65.00 for 1.06 oz.) includes a brow wax, two brow powders, four face powders, nine eyeshadows, and a double-ended brush. The palette is neutral-to-warm in tone overall, with the contour powder leaning neutral, almost cool in tone. All of the products in the palette had fairly soft, finely-milled textures that were blendable and easy enough to use. The eyeshadows can be a little powdery to work with when applying without a primer for the powder to adhere to, so that would be my bit of advice when working with them: use a primer, though they are workable on bare skin. The more matte highlight shade may look chalky on medium and darker skin tones, and the more shimmery highlight powder has a strong white base and can be stark when not buffed out.

Brow Tech Powders

Taupe is a light-medium taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, blendable consistency, but it may be a little too soft for brows (though works nicely as an eyeshadow). It wore for eight hours. Smashbox Soft Brown (P, ) is darker. Viseart Café (P, ) is more shimmery, darker. Too Faced Nudie (P, $16.00) is lighter, more muted. Make Up For Ever M540 Gray Beige (P, $21.00) is darker. Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Kat Von D Vanish (P, ) is lighter. Divergent Radiant Initiation (LE, ) is lighter. MAC Charcoal Brown (P, $16.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Soft Brown is a medium-dark taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had very nice pigmentation with a smooth, silky texture that blended well on the skin. This one wasn’t too soft or too firm. It wore well for eight hours before fading. MAC Charcoal Brown (P, $16.00) is lighter. Smashbox Taupe (P, ) is darker. Viseart Dark Matte #2 (P, ) is more shimmery, darker. Viseart Café (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Viseart Tabac (P, ) is darker, cooler. Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (P, $16.00) is lighter. Tarte Taupe of the World (LE, ) is more shimmery. Laura Mercier Stone Taupe (LE, $23.00) is darker, cooler. Anastasia Warm Taupe (P, $12.00) is warmer. Make Up For Ever M558 Dark Taupe (P, $21.00) is cooler. Dior Mirage (761) (P, $30.00) is lighter, cooler. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Contour & Highlight Powders

Contour is a medium-dark taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque coverage that was buildable from semi-sheer to semi-opaque and more blendable in practice than it seemed swatched. It wore well for eight hours before fading. Kat Von D Sombre (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Medium Cocoa (P, ) is warmer. LORAC Light Contour (P, ) is more shimmery. NYX Taupe (P, $5.00) is cooler. MAC Taupe (LE, $21.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Bronze is a medium brown with soft, warmer yellow undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had good pigmentation with smooth texture that was slightly firmer in the pan, and I found it a little more difficult to blend out than most of the powders in this palette. It lasted for eight hours on me. MAC Sculpt (P, $16.50) is warmer. MAC Aphrodite’s Shell (LE, $33.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer. Tom Ford Beauty Terra (P, $65.00) is darker. Benefit Hoola (P, $28.00) is warmer. MAC Matte Bronze (P, $25.00) is lighter. Kevyn Aucoin Desert Nights (P, $48.00) is warmer. ColourPop Skinny Dip (P, $8.00) is lighter. MAC Golden Rinse (LE, $35.50) is lighter, warmer. ColourPop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer. Kat Von D Shadowplay (P, ) is lighter, warmer. Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is lighter, warmer. MAC Matte Bronze (LE, $70.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Highlight is a light yellow with a semi-matte finish–a very subtle sheen that gets lost on my normal-to-dry skin but may be more apparent on those with normal-to-oily skin types. The texture of this one is silky and smooth but excessively powdery to work with, so a little goes a long way and it is better to build up the color slowly. It started to fade after seven hours of wear. LORAC Yellow Highlight (P, ) is darker. Kat Von D Lyric (P, ) is darker, brighter. Dolce and Gabbana Eva (P, $51.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Glow is a muted, buttery gold with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff, but it was soft enough to be a little powdery and I felt like the shimmer came away from the powder (the two weren’t binding well), so more shimmer is pronounced on the skin compared to the underlying color–which is better for medium and darker skin tones. The shimmer didn’t emphasize pores for me, and the highlighter lasted for seven and a half hours on me. Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer. Tarte Champagne (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Photo Op Eyeshadows

Vanilla is a light beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage with a soft, lightly powdery texture that lasted for seven and a half hours before fading. Wet ‘n’ Wild Naked Truth #2 (P, $2.29) is warmer. Urban Decay Anonymous (LE, $18.00) is lighter. LORAC Nude #1 (LE, ) is cooler. Urban Decay Righteous (LE, $18.00) is lighter, brighter. theBalm #24 (P, $6.50) is warmer. Dior Sundeck #1 (LE, ) is cooler. Too Faced Heaven (P, $16.00) is cooler. Too Faced Dream On (LE, $16.00) is brighter. Zoeva Bitter Start (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Rock Candy (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #1 (P, ) is brighter, warmer. Tarte Compassionate (LE, ) is lighter. Kat Von D Damned (LE, ) is more shimmery. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Night Owl #4 (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Coconut Crème (P, $16.00) is lighter, cooler. First 15 dupes listed, see more: See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Totally Nude is a muted, medium pink with a hint of beige and warm undertones paired with a matte finish. The texture was slightly powdery but very silky in feel, while it had good pigmentation that adhered fairly well to the skin. It showed signs of fading after seven and a half hours of wear. Givenchy Rose Dentelle (3) (P, $23.00) is darker. Laura Mercier Cashmere (P, $23.00) is darker. bareMinerals Velvet Mauve (P, $14.00) is darker. Chanel Rose de Mai (P, $29.50) is darker, warmer. Urban Decay Laced (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler. Inglot #359 (P, $6.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Champagne is a brightened pop of gold with warm, yellow-orange undertones and a metallic sheen. It’s a light-medium, orange-leaning gold with a frosted, metallic sheen. The texture was soft, silky, and a smidgen powdery to work with on bare skin, as it sheered out a little, but it blended well. The color wore for eight hours before fading. Dior Contraste Horizon #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker. Buxom Gold Status (P, $12.00) is darker. MAC Natural Vigor #2 (LE, $21.00) is darker. MAC Kitties (P, $16.00) is lighter. Too Faced Nutmeg (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler. Ardency Inn Sunday (P, $21.00) is more shimmery. Too Faced Honey Pot (LE, $16.00) is darker. Tarte Golden Locket (LE, ) is darker, cooler. Divergent Golden Honesty (LE, ) is darker. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine (P, $7.99) is darker. Stila Vitality (P, ) is darker. Dior Night Golds #4 (LE, ) is darker. bareMinerals Surreal (P, ) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Stripped is a soft, medium orange with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. It had mostly opaque coverage with a silky, smooth texture that applied well to the skin. It faded after seven and a half hours, but it was easy to work with. bareMinerals Tres Chic (P, ) is lighter. bareMinerals Nirvana (P, ) is more shimmery. Buxom Famous Flirt (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #5 (P, ) is lighter, more muted. Kat Von D Ludwin (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. Kat Von D Geek (LE, ) is darker. bareMinerals Shhh… (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Posh is a medium, rosy pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It’s a muted, medium pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had a soft, smooth consistency that applied well to bare skin and wore for eight hours. MAC After Dusk (P, $16.00) is darker. MAC Rose Light (LE, $32.50) is more shimmery, lighter. Urban Decay Scratch (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. Maybelline Inked in Pink (P, $6.99) is lighter. Sleek MakeUP Sunset #12 (P, $9.99) is cooler. bareMinerals Page Six (P, ) is lighter. Inglot #399 (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker. Chanel Abstraction (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Platinum is a light-medium, golden pewter with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good pigmentation with a fairly soft, smooth texture that was easy to work with on the lid. On me, the color wore for eight hours before fading. Viseart Jeu de Paume (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. Anastasia Beigely (LE, $12.00) is lighter. ColourPop I Heart This (P, $5.00) is more shimmery. Kat Von D Delaney (P, ) is darker. Kat Von D Telepathy (P, ) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Sumatra is a dark brown with subtle, warmer undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a fairly soft, smooth texture that took a little extra effort to blend but lasted for eight hours. MAC Brown Down (P, $16.00) is warmer. Kat Von D Sytry (P, ) is warmer. Buxom Big Spender (P, $12.00) is lighter. Too Faced Sexpresso (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Becca Ombre Nudes #5 (P, ) is darker, warmer. MAC Ground Brown (P, $16.00) is warmer. Too Faced Chocolate Cake (LE, $16.00) is warmer. Tarte Eiffel for You (LE, ) is lighter, warmer. Tarte Dreamer (LE, ) is warmer. Hourglass Obscura #2 (P, ) is lighter. LORAC Espresso (Mega Pro) (LE, ) is darker. Too Faced Knockout (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Make Up For Ever M626 Neutral Brown (P, $21.00) is less shimmery. Kat Von D Shadow Box (P, ) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Aubergine is a blackened plum-purple with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. This was the hardest shade to work with, as it was a little stiffer and had trouble adhering as well to bare skin as some of the other shades. It lasted for eight hours before fading, though. MAC Black Plum (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Tarte Bombshell (LE, ) is brighter. Tarte My Own Cotes de Rhone (LE, ) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate (LE, $22.00) is warmer. theBalm #27 (P, $6.50) is lighter, more muted. MAC Dynamic Duo 4 #2 (LE, $16.00) is lighter, cooler. MAC Spellcaster (LE, $16.00) is lighter. theBalm Matt Batali (LE, $16.00) is darker. bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is more muted. MAC Shadowy Lady (P, $16.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Blackout is a deep black with neutral undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, blendable texture that wore well for eight hours. Milani Pitch Black (P, $5.99) is more shimmery. Sugarpill Bulletproof (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker. MAC Carbon (P, $16.00) is less shimmery. Too Faced Panther (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery. bareMinerals Black Leather (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery. Makeup Geek Corrupt (P, $5.99) is less shimmery. Guerlain Crazy Paris #6 (LE, ) is cooler. Wet ‘n’ Wild Three’s a Party #3 (LE, $2.29) is cooler. Urban Decay Crave (P, $18.00) is warmer. Urban Decay Blackout (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. theBalm Righteous (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Kat Von D Shax (P, ) is lighter. Kat Von D Killing Moon (LE, ) is . Anastasia Noir (P, $12.00) is less shimmery. ColourPop Roulette (P, $5.00) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette

Smashbox Brow Wax

Smashbox Taupe Brow Tech Powder

Smashbox Taupe Brow Tech Powder

Smashbox Soft Brown Brow Tech Powder

Smashbox Soft Brown Brow Tech Powder

Smashbox Contour Contour Powder

Smashbox Contour Contour Powder

Smashbox Contour Contour Powder

Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder

Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder

Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder

Smashbox Highlight Highlight Powder

Smashbox Highlight Highlight Powder

Smashbox Glow Highlight Powder

Smashbox Glow Highlight Powder

Smashbox Contour & Highlight Powders

Smashbox Vanilla Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Vanilla Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Totally Nude Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Totally Nude Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Champagne Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Champagne Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Stripped Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Stripped Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Posh Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Posh Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Platinum Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Platinum Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Sumatra Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Sumatra Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Aubergine Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Aubergine Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Blackout Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Blackout Photo Op Eyeshadow

Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadows: Champagne (inner lid), Posh (middle of lid), Stripped (middle of lid),
Platinum (outer lid/lower lash line), Aubergine (crease), Totally Nude (above crease), Vanilla (brow bone)

Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadows: Champagne (inner lid), Posh (middle of lid), Stripped (middle of lid),
Platinum (outer lid/lower lash line), Aubergine (crease), Totally Nude (above crease), Vanilla (brow bone)

MAC Morning Mister Magpie Brow Duo ($22.00 for 0.10 oz.) includes two shades of eyeshadow in a lavender-hued compact. Both shades are part of the permanent range, and they’re marketed here for brows, but they’re really just regular, powder eyeshadow. You could just as easily use these as eyeshadows as you could for filling in brows. Each shade is available in pan form for $10 each, so you could purchase them separately if desired. The advantage would be the ability to move them to different palettes/compacts as you please, as these two shades are glued in. I regularly use Brun as a brow shade, though for the past few days, I have used Soba and Brun mixed together just to try. Soba has shimmer, so it’s not my personal go-to finish for brows–I think it’s a great shade, just more as an eyeshadow, though.

Soba is described as a “soft taupe [with a Satin finish].” It’s a medium-dark, golden brown with warm, yellow undertones and a soft shimmer. The texture is very soft and finely-milled, but it is on the powdery side, so I noticed a fair amount of powder fall out when I used it as a brow shade, though it has good color payoff. Sleek MakeUP Entwined (P, $9.99) is cooler-toned. MAC Butterfudge (P, $15.00) is more shimmery. MAC Brownluxe #2 (P) is similar. MAC Double Feature #4 #2 (LE, $15.00) is darker, yellower. Burberry Pale Nude #1 (P) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Brun is described as a “dark brown [with a Satin finish].” It’s a dark brown with almost cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It’s a more buildable shade, but it doesn’t have rich, intense pigmentation right out of the gate. The texture is a little stiff and mostly blendable, but it takes a little more work to blend it than ideal, particularly for such a dark shade. Kat Von D Shadow Box (P) is similar. Tarte Dream in Chocolate (LE) is darker. Too Faced Jingle All the Way Eyeshadow #8 (LE, $16.00) is darker. Laura Mercier Espresso (LE, $23.00) is similar. Tom Ford Beauty She Wolf #1 (LE) is cooler-toned. bareMinerals Boardroom (LE) is darker, cooler-toned. NARS Coconut Grove (P, $24.00) is darker. MAC Dance in the Dark (P, $15.00) is darker. bareMinerals Foreshadow (P) is slightly darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Morning Mister Magpie Brow Duo

MAC Morning Mister Magpie Brow Duo

MAC Morning Mister Magpie Brow Duo

MAC Soba Eyeshadow

MAC Soba Eyeshadow

MAC Brun Eyeshadow

MAC Brun Eyeshadow

Guerlain Eyebrow Kit ($52.00 for 0.14 oz.) consists of three shades designed to allow you to mix and match for the perfect brow color. There is a fourth shade, which is described as a “pearly pink beige” to be used as a brow bone highlighter. The compact includes a mirror and a double-ended brush; one side has a thin, angled brush, and the other is a spoolie (to comb brows into place, blend/soften color once applied). It’s a good addition to Guerlain’s range, as I don’t think they (at least not presently) have any other brow products. The compact itself is weighty, glossy black, and slim for something that has four shades.  This kit will be best for someone who finds their brows change color over time, or they have medium to dark brows that never seem to match one shade well.

I would, of course, argue that it’s not quite universal, though it surely covers a fair amount of the spectrum. If you have really light or really dark brows, I don’t think it’ll be a good match. The lightest shade is a muted, yellow-toned, medium brown with a matte finish. The medium shade is a medium-dark, red-tinged brown with a matte finish. The darkest shade is a dark brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish.  The highlighter shade is a soft, shimmering pinky-peach with a pearled sheen.  These also worked for a quick, neutral-hued eye look in a pinch.

For my brows, I’ve been mixing the medium and dark shades, and then using the highlighter to highlight the brow bone. The more I use it, the more I find that the darkest shade is the one the suits my brows best, with just a little bit of the medium shade mixed in.  All of the brow powders are soft and blendable–they’re easy to apply with the brush included (though it’s so short, I find it more difficult to use than my regular brow brush) and look natural. The highlighter shade is very soft and noticeably powdery; I wish it wasn’t as powdery, because it sometimes looks chalky against my skin tone. On fairer skin tones, I think it would be fine. I saw seven to eight hours of wear with the brow powders, which is about average.

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow Kit (Les Tendres palette on eyes, Cherry blush, Stardust gloss)

Too Faced Bulletproof Brows ($30.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a cream-to-powder clay formula (it’s really supposed to be “a powder, gel, pencil, and setting wax all in one”) that’s “sweat-proof” and “water-resistant.” It’s available in two shades, Universal Taupe and Universal Brunette, and the latter is the shade featured in this post (I don’t have the other one, so I’m not sure how much lighter it is in comparison). It claims “24-hour Bulletproof Brows,” after you give the product a minute to set. Each shade comes with a dual-ended brush–an angled brush on one end, a spoolie on the other.

Universal Brunette is a medium-dark, neutral-to-warm brown with a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage; it doesn’t really build to more than that, even if I waited a few minutes between layers. The consistency is lightly creamy, somewhat waxy, and medium-thick. I found application more challenging than I expected. The thicker, waxier consistency made it so the product got trapped and clumped in the angled brow brush (I used the included brush as well as two other angled brushes of varying thickness). I felt like a lot more product was caught in the bristles than was getting on my brows. Because it’s waxy, it has a tendency to cling to the brow hairs more than the skin beneath. If you have sparser brows, I think it’s easier and applies better, but if you have fuller brows, a lot of stuck to the brow hairs and left little behind on the skin. It doesn’t look even, smooth, or generally, defined or well-groomed.  There wasn’t much information or particulars regarding intensity of the color in the press release, so if this was designed to give really soft, natural looking color, then it is closer.  If you want more defined brows, it’s not buildable/pigmented enough.

It sets within thirty to forty seconds, and it is budge- and water-resistant after that. I would almost say water-proof, as it’s really not going anywhere when water hits it. You really have to rub quite vigorously (I did that against the back of my hand, not my brow bone!), and you’ll get a couple of flakes, but it doesn’t smear, bleed, or the like. My brows felt soft, not crunchy, but I could feel that there was some waxiness to them, which helped to keep them in place. It lasted through a shower and blow drying my hair, so of all the claims, I would definitely concur that it’s long-wearing, “bulletproof,” and should hold up to sweat and water.

As another note, if you have darker brown or black-brown (or black!) brows, this is too light. It seems fine up-close, but in the full face photo, you can see how it’s not a match (the color not being a match didn’t impact the rating).

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows
(wearing Jelly Bean on lips, The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette on eyes)

Too Faced Universal Brunette Bulletproof Brows

Marc Jacobs Makeout (10) Lip Lock Moisture Balm ($24.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “buttery, rich lip balm with SPF 18 that locks in hydration.” Right now, it’s available in one shade–Makeout (10)–which is really just clear/translucent. If you’re familiar with Fresh Lip Treatments, I magicmarcer this will seem and feel familiar, but it’s not quite as emollient–it doesn’t slip as much, which I do like, because I feel like it’s so easy to run through a Fresh Lip Treatment and over-apply. Lip Lock Moisture Balm is lightweight, lasts about two to three hours, and is moderately hydrating. Personally, it doesn’t hydrate as much as my current (and ever continuing) favorite, Jack Black. It smelled lightly of mint (and a little herbal something rather), and depending on how much you put on, sometimes there was a slightly bitter taste (I didn’t notice it most of the time, though). (I bought this product, the other two were press samples, just to be totally clear.)

Marc Jacobs Invisible (30) Brow Tamer Grooming Gel ($24.00 for 0.23 oz.) is currently available in one shade–Invisible (30)–which is clear. If you don’t like crunchy brows, you’ll like this formula as it keeps brows soft and pliable, but still holds them in place. The brush is long, skinny, and flocked with almost a doe-foot like material–softer and finer than a traditional spoolie brush.

Marc Jacobs Blacquer Magic Marc’er Precision Pen ($30.00 for 0.016 oz.) is a pointed, felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen that delivers a rich, glossy black color with excellent color payoff and long-wear (ten hours with no flaking or smudging). I will forever loathe taking photos of liquid black eyeliner swatches, because they always appear browner in photos than they are in real life (where they’re pure, rich black!), so you’ll just have to go with it–it really is a glossy, deep black. From what I’ve been hearing, this is actually one of most raved about products (it was released briefly as a preview a couple of weeks ago). The tip has just enough give to maneuver around the lid and curves and roundness of the eye without issue, but it’s not floppy. It comes to a fine enough point to get the inner corners and lash line with precision, but because it widens as it gets to the base, thicker lines can be accomplished easily, too.

Marc Jacobs Makeout (10) Lip Lock Moisture Balm

Marc Jacobs Makeout (10) Lip Lock Moisture Balm

Marc Jacobs Makeout (10) Lip Lock Moisture Balm

Marc Jacobs Invisible (30) Brow Tamer Grooming Gel

Marc Jacobs Invisible (30) Brow Tamer Grooming Gel

Marc Jacobs Invisible (30) Brow Tamer Grooming Gel

Marc Jacobs Blacquer Magic Marc’er Precision Pen

Marc Jacobs Blacquer Magic Marc’er Precision Pen

Marc Jacobs Blacquer Magic Marc’er Precision Pen

Marc Jacobs Blacquer Magic Marc’er Precision Pen

NARS Brow Gel ($22.00 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is described as a “glossy, easy gliding gel to tame, tidy, and groom eyebrows.” It’s available in four shades Oural (clear), Athens (blonde), Piraeus (medium brown), and Kinshasa (dark brown). The brow gel is housed in a matte black tube (much like mascara), and it comes with a spoolie-wand for applying.

• Athens is a light-medium brown with subtle yellow undertones.
• Kinshasa is a medium-dark red-tinged brown. (This is the shade that best matched my brows, but it felt a little red and light.)
• Piraeus is a light-medium brow with subtle yellow undertones. I really couldn’t tell much of a difference between this and Athens. I initially thought I had received two of the same shade, but the labels showed they were two different shades. Piraeus is slightly darker, not as quite as yellow-toned–but they are very close.

The only one I liked and would consider using was Oural, which is clear. The consistency is slightly thick, takes about a minute or two to dry and set, and then it helps keep brows in place for eight hours or so. The problem I had with the colored shades was that there is way too much product in a single pull of the wand. There is so much product that you could be doing about twenty people’s brows with what is on the brush, so there is a large margin for error as you try to wipe the wand against the rim of the tube to avoid over-applying. It’s a very unforgiving product if you over-apply, because it leads to crunchy brows, stray marks all over the place, and it’s difficult to blend once it sets, so it really necessitates complete removal.

You want a pigmented formula, but you don’t it to be delivered in a way that’s wasteful or makes it so difficult to use. I had the best luck taking a clean spoolie brush and lightly running it against NARS’ wand, and then applying using my separate spoolie brush to get cleaner, even results. I think the color range is disappointing; Kinshasa is not going to be dark enough for black-brown or black brows, and Athens and Piraeus are far too similar for a range with only three colors. I’ve been using Oural on and off, and I like that it doesn’t leave my brows crunchy, but the hairs still stay in place throughout the day. I haven’t tried enough brow gels to affirmatively say it’s the best one on the market (the only other one I’ve used with consistency is MAC’s, which I also like).

NARS Brow Gel

NARS Brow Gel

NARS Brow Gel

NARS Oural Brow Gel

NARS Oural Brow Gel

NARS Athens Brow Gel

NARS Athens Brow Gel

NARS Athens Brow Gel

NARS Kinshasa Brow Gel

NARS Kinshasa Brow Gel

NARS Kinshasa Brow Gel

NARS Kinshasa Brow Gel

NARS Piraeous Brow Gel

NARS Piraeous Brow Gel

NARS Piraeous Brow Gel

NARS Brow Perfector ($22.00 for 0.007 oz.) will be available in four shades that range from blonde to black (but no redhead). The formula is described as “velvety” with a “natural matte finish” and “natural ingredients [that] ensure brows are nourished, soft, and smooth.” That last bit, I couldn’t attest to and don’t actually know what they’re referring to as far as particulars. There’s a lot of focus on the precision tip of the pencil that is oval-shaped.

• Caucase is described as “brown.” It’s a light-medium, neutral brown with a matte finish.
• Kalamata is described as “light brown.” It’s a light-medium, slightly warm-toned brown with a matte finish. I could barely tell the difference between this and Caucase, both in the pencil as well as swatched. I triple-checked the names to make sure they were, in fact, two different shades!
• Salzbourg is described as “blonde.” It’s a pale, peachy beige-brown with a matte finish.
• Suriname is described as “black.” It’s a blackened brown with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish.

I used a mix of Caucase and Suriname to fill in the right (your right!) brow, as the first was a bit too light, and the second was too dark. The consistency all four shades was very stiff, slightly waxy, but they’re skip-happy and are best applied with little dashes of product rather than trying to fill in any fluid manner. You’re just not going to get good color payoff in a single stroke, and to get any color at all, you need firm pressure. I normally use powder to fill in my brows, which I find easier, more precise, and infinitely more blendable. These pencils stick where you place them, and they don’t blend together too well. On the upside, the product lasted well for nine hours. The oval shape didn’t seem to give me added precision, but it didn’t seem to complicate matters–if you have finer or thinner brows, it may be an issue, though.

NARS Caucase Brow Perfector

NARS Caucase Brow Perfector

NARS Caucase Brow Perfector

NARS Caucase Brow Perfector

NARS Kalamata Brow Perfector

NARS Kalamata Brow Perfector

NARS Kalamata Brow Perfector

NARS Salzbourg Brow Perfector

NARS Salzbourg Brow Perfector

NARS Salzbourg Brow Perfector

NARS Suriname Brow Perfector

NARS Suriname Brow Perfector

NARS Suriname Brow Perfector

NARS Suriname Brow Perfector + NARS La Paz Lipstick

MAC Stylish Brow: Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Veluxe Brow Liner ($19.50 for 0.042 oz.) is a new and permanent range of brow pencils that can be used to fill, define, and shape the brow. It comes in five shades: Strawberry Blonde (soft muted beige-taupe), Redhead (soft brown), Brunette (muted mid-tone gray), Deep Brunette (muted blackish-brown), and Deep Dark Brunette (dark dirty chocolate).

• Strawberry Blonde is a light-medium brown with a gray-ish cast.
• Redhead is a light-medium brown with subtle warm undertones.
• Brunette is a medium brown with a subtle gray tinge.
• Deep Brunette is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm undertones.
• Deep Dark Brunette is a dark brown with subtle warm, undertones. It is only marginally darker than Deep Brunette and has less red undertones.

MAC described the pencil as a “rich powdery formula.”  It is kind of odd to think of an eyeliner as powdery, but there is a little powderiness to the pencil here.  That powderiness works well with the brow pencil, because it lends it a softer finish and feel, so it looks more natural and is more readily blended along the brow so it doesn’t create harsh lines.

After using the Brow Gelcreme, the Veluxe Brow Liner was less interesting.  It’s not too soft or hard; firm enough to give a full, opaque line of color, but not so firm that it drags or pulls.  Unlike a lot of pencil eyeliners, there is no dry-down–it’s like a pressed powder eyeshadow in pencil form.  When I wore Deep Dark Brunette, I felt it was a smidgen on the light side for my natural brow color (dark brown, slightly black)–I typically use Espresso or Brun eyeshadows to fill my brows in–and it was faded in places (about 80% remained) after eight hours.  Unlike the Brow Gelcremes, this range has more shades, though I think it is lacking a really dark shade and not enough ashy colors.

The five new pencils are permanent, per a Live Chat I did with MAC yesterday (and the website corroborates, as they aren’t listed as limited edition), so you can feel free to fall in love and make it a new staple in your routine.

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Strawberry Blonde Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Redhead Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Redhead Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Redhead Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Redhead Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Dark Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Dark Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Dark Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Dark Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner

MAC Deep Dark Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner