Review : The Project Vanity x Ellana Life-Proof Eyebrow Gel

Hello loves!

The phrase "Kilay is life" easily became popular to every beauty enthusiast in the country. Come to think of it, just a bit over a decade ago, I was only one of the few people in our college batch that wears makeup in class. But now, I see more young people who wear makeup even in school (I currently work in a university so I see students everyday). So I think it is safe to say that the beauty market grew exponentially and more and more Filipinos look for better quality products that fit their budget, which resulted to more beauty brands stepping up their game to meet these demands! It's such a good time to love beauty products!

In this light, two of my trusted local beauty brands did just that—they created a product that I'm sure many makeup enthusiast would absolutely love. I got so excited when I heard about this for the first time. It's a collaboration between Project Vanity and Ellana Mineral Cosmetics. If you love makeup and it just so happens that you also live under a rock and unaware what Project Vanity is, it's one of the leading blogs in the Philippines that writes about beauty. Ellana Mineral Cosmetics, on the other hand, is, hands down, my favorite mineral makeup brand since 2014. So as much as I just raved about these brands, I assure you that this review is not biased at all, but it did made me have very high expectations about this new product...

Introducing The Project Vanity x Ellana Life-Proof Eyebrow Gel.

Review : Maybelline Fashion Brow 2-in-1 Brow Shaping pencil in Dark Brown

Hi loves!

Since "Kilay is life," it would be awesome if we have affordable brow products that are very affordable. 

Maybelline Fashion Brow 2-in-1 Brow Shaping pencil in Dark Brown

Maybelline Fashion Brow Mascara in Dark Brown

Hello dearies!

Whenever I watch videos by makeup artists online, I usually see them say that the brows can make or break your overall look. I agree. The way you shape, groom, and apply your brow makeup can greatly influence your face. The brows just frames your face so if it's too strong, it can be too distracting; if it's too unruly, it can make your face a bit messy. 

So I try my best to make my brows look better. To be honest, I don't have problems making the brows of others look good... But I have a hard time keeping mine look good. My brows are uneven and half of it is thick and full while the outer half is... I guess more manageable...? But I happen to know what I need to keep my brows look better—a brow mascara. And the one I'm using now is...

Maybelline Fashion Brow Mascara in Dark Brown

RiRe Luxe Gel Tattoo in Grey Brown

Hey dolls!

There was a hype a few months ago on eyebrow gel tattoos. I didn't get one until the hype sort of died down a bit. I don't usually buy items just because it is popular, I buy them because I'm interested in them (or in some cases, they are hugely discounted—so what the heck, right?). Well, I bought an eyebrow gel tattoo because it is hugely discounted at the Althea website. Haha!

RiRe Luxe Gel Tattoo in Grey Brown

From PhP 760.00, it was down to PhP 320.00.

I bought the shade Grey Brown because I have dark hair right now. The other shade is Light Brown.

See below the details on the box:

I appreciate the English translation included in the packaging. For further product info, I recommend visiting Althea's website.

To sum up all the claims regarding the RiRe Luxe Gel Tattoo, it promises to:

- Enhance your brows (will stay on skin so you look good even with "bare" skin)
- It's long-lasting (can last up to 7 days)
- moisturize and nourish the skin

The product is housed in a tube that looks just like the usual mascara tubes. There's barely any design except the labels. The simplicity is pretty okay for me. I do like that the color of the tube is the shade color as well.

The applicator is a brush that's a bit flat. I like that because it makes applying at the corners easier because you can create thinner lines.

Here's a swatch:

It dries like something that's plastic. This swatch is a bit thin and I realized that peeling it off is easier if you apply a thicker amount.

When peeled-off, you do get a grey-brown shade. I dunno if it's the lighting that it looks a bit greenish in this swatch, but you get a better look on the swatch on my brows below.

Here's my brow. I have dark brow hair. You might see a hint of brown there from my previous application from days before.

Here's how it looks when I apply it.

Make sure you apply it on clean skin. I recommend that you apply it after cleansing so there's no sebum build up around the area you apply it. I have oily skin so it only takes a few hours before I get shiny.

After more than an hour, I peeled it off. The instruction in Althea's website even recommended waiting for two hours.

And this is how it looks when you completely peel the product off.

I do like how it turned out! It's pretty cool actually. It doesn't look harsh because of the absence of lines. I just apply a brow mascara and I'm ready to go!

After a day at work (I applied the night before) and removing makeup, here's how it looks like.

I like that it's still there and I think that it got too light already. I think my oily skin and my makeup remover probably contributed to the fading. With this case in mind, I think I'll have to reapply again because the faded version doesn't sit well on my eyes. So the promise that it can stay up to 7 days, I doubt it can on my skin considering how much it faded after a day. Maybe I can do some retouch with a regular brow pencil but that's pretty much like applying a brow product all over again. I do appreciate that it holds up for the entire day and you can even swim with it and your brows still look "on-fleek." 

But yeah, it still fades so having the perfect brows 24/7 for days is still not there for me yet. I still like this product and if you're looking for a brow tattoo you can try and that's also affordable, I recommend you try the RiRe Luxe Gel Tattoo!


Cheers,
DAWN

Kanebo Media Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

Hey dears!

When I was in Tokyo last January, I made sure I buy some eye products to try. I've been loving most of the Japanese beauty products I've used so far so I just bought whatever it is I find that is within my budget.

While I was somewhere in Shibuya, I went to one store that sells variety of cosmetics. While browsing their collection, I found this very affordable eye brow pencil and when I say affordable, it's around PhP 300 or maybe PhP 200 or even less when converted. I can't remember how much exactly. 

Kanebo Media Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

The labels on the back side of the packaging is not in English so I couldn't read it...

So here's a product description from AlphaBeauty.net:

A basic, easy to use eyebrow pencil with soft touch, the oval pencil tip allows drawing of different thickness of lines. Easily removed by (Kanebo) eye makeup remover, available separately from our store.

Available in Grey, Natural Brown, and Dark Brown...

Other than being so affordable, I am liking how it looks. It's so small and thin that it's so easy to carry, especially when travelling. It's only like 4-5 inches in length.  The design is pretty simple with it's very dark blue shade and metallic labels. I like that it's a twist-up kind of pencil so there's no need to sharpen it.

With it's cheap price, you actually get a decent amount of product. It's pretty much the same length as those you get from more familiar Korean brands. Although I do think Kanebo is pretty familiar already although the media collection (or is this a sub-brand like KATE) is pretty new to me. If you do know, please comment below so I can edit. Thanks. :)

Here are the swatches.

I like how light it is even when you try to build it up. It avoids creating harsh lines and too strong brows. I can see how it can create more natural looking brows, especially if you are on the lighter skin tone and finer brow hair.

Unfortunately for me, I have dark and thick brow hair as seen on the photo above.

And with the product applied, it doesn't look good at all. For one, I seriously need a brow mascara first. And two, the consistency of this brow pencil is too waxy (wax crayon-like) that it even coats my brow hair and make them stick together. This just doesn't sit well on my brows. At all. :(

As much as I want to like everything I found in Tokyo, this is just one of the worst brow products I've tried. I guess it would work well on people who have thinner brow hair, but there are other affordable pencils who can do the job better. This is just not good, at least for me.

And that's my review! Have you tried this before? What brow pencils do you like?

Cheers,

DAWN

Review : The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil

Hey loves!

When putting on makeup, I try to keep my brows groomed and if needed, shaped using brow makeup, so that my brows can frame my face better. I know many who believe that kilay is life when it comes to ones makeup look, so I try to equip my makeup stash with good brow products. 

Lately, I've been using brow pencils because it's easier and faster to use. The one/s I'm using are...


The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil
Each brow pencil is PhP 225.00, but I was able to get it on a Buy 2, get 1 promo.


I bought the darkest shades because I have dark brow hair.



Info from the website:
Description:

A rectangular-tipped eyebrow pencil with smooth application for easier eyebrow drawing without irritation
Suitable for make up beginners
 
Available Colors:
01 Light Brown
02 Gray Brown 
03 Brown
04 Black Brown 
05 Dark Brown 


It also contains the ingredients list on a sticker on the bottom cap of the pencil.


The pencil actually has two caps on each end. One has the pencil while the other houses the brow brush that helps you blend the product.

It's a twist-up product and has a triangular shape. It makes it easier to glide the pencil on your brow and will not give you a very sharp, and pointed line. We want a natural looking brow and not a dark and sharp one.


Here are the swatches. From top to bottom: Gray Brown, Brown, Dark Brown

As you can see on the swatches, the lines produced are soft and most importantly, not sharp. It creates soft lines that blend well to fill in the brows without looking harsh. What I did notice though is that it's more pigmented than the brow pencils I've used from other Korean brands.

Anyway, check out below how they work on my brows:

Bare

with gray brown

brown

dark brown

Well, I really do have dark brow hair. I need a brow mascara to make them blend well. But I do think that The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencils are very easy to work with, affordable, and fills in the brow with a soft finish.

It can last the whole day on my oily skin. I don't touch my face much so that helps a lot there. :P

What I LIKE:

- Affordable

- Locally available

- Soft, but pigmented lines

- Easy to use

- Comes with a brow brush

- Available in five shades

- No need to sharpen

- Long-lasting

- Slim and classy packaging

What I DON'T LIKE:

- Nothing... I do think that it can be more pigmented than what I expected, but just make sure to work it with light hands.

Would I recommend it? Yes!

And that's my review, folks! I hope this is helpful!

Cheers,

DAWN

Review : Hayan Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

Hi dears!

I bought this very affordable Eyebrow Pencil from Hayan Korea Cosmetics a month ago. I just had to try it out because it's Php 59.00 only (It was on sale when I bought it) and I also find Korean eyebrow pencils great in achieving natural looking brows.

Hayan Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

It comes in another shade which is Gray Brown.

I believe the regular price of this product is Php 90.00.

It's dual ended. One side is the pencil while the other is the spoolie.

Here's the spoolie.

And the brow liner. 

When I took this picture, I've used it twice already. I just mentioned that so you have an idea on how long the product is.

I prefer the triangular shape like Etude House's Drawing Eye Brow pencil but this is still easy to use nonetheless.

Swatch on Paper

Swatch on hand

When smudged a couple of times

Lasting power is pretty good. It's not waterproof though so you might need to retouch if you sweat a lot or if you accidentally wiped your brows or something.

My bare brow

with the product

It's doesn't create very bold or harsh lines. Just remember to blend it nicely. Try to do feathery strokes to achieve a more natural finish especially if you don't have thick brow hair like I do. :P 
But compared to other Korean Brow pencils I have tried, this is probably the boldest of them all. It is quite dark so be careful especially if you have heavy hands.

What I LIKE:

Affordable
Locally Available
Easy to use (no need to sharpen)
Has a spoolie
Lasting power is pretty decent

What I DON'T LIKE:

Can be too pigmented for me (for an eyebrow product)
Only available in 2 shades

Would I repurchase?
I probably will if I don't find something new that I would like to try. I love trying out new products. :P

Have you tried this product yet?
What about other products from Hayan Korea? Which ones do you like? :)


Cheers,
DAWN