All About Brow Pencils

The year of 2015 was all about the brows and there is no doubt that it will transition into the year of 2016. Whether it was defined brows, arched brows, or full brows, eyebrows became one of the biggest phenomenons in the beauty world. Eyebrows are crucial for any person's makeup routine because they frame the face and define your features.

With eyebrows being all the rage, beauty companies were releasing multiple brow products. Of all the products, mechanical pencils were a must-have for achieving polished, yet natural eyebrows. Here are two that deliver similar results with different price points.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz has quickly become a staple in every makeup lovers kit. It is also one of the most popular items at Sephora. It was one of the first mechanical pencils released in the beauty industry that featured a spoolie brush. The Brow Wiz comes in 9 colors ranging from light to dark with cool and warm undertones. The ultra-slim pencil has a waxy feel and allows you to fill in sparse areas, outline your brows, and mimic natural hairlike strokes. It's easy to apply and the formula lasts all day.

NYX Cosmetics recently came out with their Micro Brow Pencil and we can't help but notice the similarities it has with the ABH Brow Wiz. The NYX Micro Brow Pencil is also a mechanical brow product featuring very similar packaging. It comes in 8 different colors and also features cool and warm undertones. The creator of MakeupGeek, Marlena, filmed a video on her YouTube channel and made a very interesting point about the two brow products. She noticed that both products were made in the same country and that it is likely that both are manufactured in the same exact factory due to the similar formula and packaging.

So what's our conclusion after using both pencils? The NYX Micro Brow Pencil seems to have the same exact formula and packaging as Anastasia's. Same formula, same waxy feel, and the same exact consistency! We haven't noticed any difference between the two after months of using it which is mind blowing! So if you'd like to save a few dollars on your brows we would definitely recommend NYX's brow pencil over ABH Brow Wiz. Anastasia's Brow Wiz is $21 while NYX's Micros Brow Pencil is half the price at $10. Also ULTA usually has buy one get one 50% off for the NYX Brow Pencil, so you would be getting 2 for about $15. Next time you're at ULTA give both a try at the same time and see if you agree with us!

 

 Stay updated with all things beauty with our Instagram: @simply.tria

XO,

RLS

Our Must-Have Eyeshadows

Who doesn’t love a good, neutral palette? Even though Winter is in full swing, we can’t help but grab onto these warm, brown colors year round. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of great palettes out on the market, for example Tarte’s “Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Palette.” It has a perfect blend of pre-picked colors for a warm, eye-look. But if you’re a bit more selective with the colors you like, customizing a palette might be a better idea. Also, keep in mind that you can slowly build a custom palette overtime and don't have to buy all of the eyeshadows at once. You can purchase a palette for as little as 2, to as many as 15 eyeshadows.

Here's one palette we customized using MAC Cosmetics and Makeup Geek shadows. The color selections, pigments, and texture of both brand's eyeshadows are like no other. MAC eyeshadows are a cult-favorite. You can purchase them individually with packaging for $16 or the magnetic pans for only $10. Makeup Geek shadows can only be purchased in pan forms and retails for only $6 a pan.  They are nearly half the price of high end shadows without sacrificing quality. Bonus: MUG shadows are talc, paraben, and cruelty-free. Despite the price difference between the brands, they're very similar in quality and color range.

The palette in the picture is one of MAC's pro palettes that can only be purchased at pro stores. We also like using Z palettes for storing eyeshadows, but MAC's palettes are a bit more sturdy.

Here are the links you need to customize a MAC palette:
1. Choose a palette and eyeshadow insert
2. Choose your favorite shadows!

PS. If you'd like to put any non-MAC eyeshadows in a MAC palette, you have to add magnets to the bottom of the eyeshadows so they stay secure in the palette.

From Left to Right:

Top Row:
 Makeup Geek “Corrupt"

Makeup Geek “Cocoa Bear"
Makeup Geek “Latte"
Makeup Geek “Crème Brulee”
Makeup Geek “Shimma Shimma”

Middle Row:
 MAC “Carbon"
MAC “Brown Down"
MAC “Espresso”
MAC “Swiss Chocolate”
MAC “Saddle”

Bottom Row:
 MAC “Brown Script"
MAC “Texture”
MAC “Cork"
MAC “Soft Brown"
MAC ”Bamboo”



Follow us on Instagram: @simply.tria

XO,
RLS