One of my favorite things about being a makeup devotee is watching trends come and go, and I’m sure that fashion lovers feel the same flash of nostalgia when they see ‘90s styles come back in vogue that those of us who love all things makeup feel when brown lips make a comeback and are bigger than ever.
But even though I love following the trends, I’m not one for hopping on bandwagons all too often. Contouring? Only if it’s subtle. Strobing? I thought I was already highlighting — what’s different? I’m confused…
I’ll be honest with you ladies (and gentlemen), that’s why I am SO excited that brows are having their moment again. As a child, my grandmother praised my thick, arched brows and told me never to pluck them. So I didn’t (I listened to her), and though brow fashions have waned and waxed from thin back to thick, my brows have remained my own.
The MAC Brows Are It! collection is the brow collection for those who are proud of their brows, whether bold and defined or soft and natural. Whatever your outlook on brows, this collection has something for everyone!
The MAC Brows Are It! collection includes a wide breadth of products to help you create just about any brow look, in almost any natural shade imaginable. MAC’s website offers product breakdowns on different looks and recommends which of the many products released with the collection would work best for your personal preference.
For an angled brow, MAC recommends their Veluxe Brow Liners ($21 each), a smooth “classic” brow pencil that glides on without tugging to create a sheer wash of color that blends with any brow color. These pencils are creamy and easy to use, with a built in spoolie that makes product application, placement and blending a dream. For me, this is the standout product of the bunch. I love a good ol’ brow pencil, but the Veluxe Brow formula offers a smooth, much-needed twist on traditional brow pencil formulas, and it feels comfortable, fresh and modern.
Longtime MAC lovers like me will recognize the brand’s classic Eye Brows pencils ($16.50 each) that self-sharpen and provide deep bursts of color. These pencils are best applied patiently and slowly as the product is intensely pigmented — trust me, a little goes a long way. Eye Brows pencils create realistic hair strokes in sparse areas and also help reshape the overall appearance of your brows.
As part of the Brows Are It! collection, MAC has also released several new products, among them the Big Brow Pencils ($21 each), which function similarly to cream shadow crayons in that they deposit large washes of color. For those who already have thick, well-defined brows in terms of shape but are looking for an overall touch-up or tint, these pencils are ideal and make the process of filling in brows quick and easy.
Big Brow Pencils have been great for me, as I’m often rusing in the morning before work and reaching for them as a way to achieve the look of painstakingly filled-in brows in a hurry.
Among the most exciting products in the collection (other than the Fluidline Brow Gelcremes, which are not pictured) are the Brow Duos ($22 each), which are classic brow-friendly powders in MAC’s shadow duo packaging.
The powders are smooth, pigmented and easy to blend. If you’re one for applying powder to your brows and have the patience to fill them in with a brush, these duos are for you.
The MAC Brows Are It! collection is available now in stores and, as the products are permanent, you’re not likely to miss out on a hot item while deciding which brow powder or pencil will best help you achieve your perfect arch. I love the wide variety available and the consultative nature of the launch on the brand’s website. You’re sure to find something you love, and MAC has made sure to help you make that decision.
Until next time, I’ll be here peering out at you from behind an array of Velue Brow Liners and filling in my trademark arch!
Which products, if any, from the MAC Brows Are It! collection are you most likely to go for? Something you’d like to try? I’d love to hear about it.
It might be the lighting but some of those look way too warm!
You’re actually correct. There are a lot of VERY warm shades in this collection!
“Strobing? I thought I was already highlighting — what’s different?” Yes, thank you for that moment of truth! Renaming existing techniques to sell more of the same highlighters, that’s how I would define the strobing trend…
Anyways, I agree with Erin, the light shades in this brow product range look really warm, where are the ashy tones?
I love a good highlight but there was something gimmicky about the strobing trend that I just couldn’t get on board with. 🙂
There are a lot of warm shades. I have auburn hair so this was a plus for me, but I agree that more cool toned shades would be beneficial.
As others have said, very warm shades! But I do think I see some that would match my brows.
There are some nice colors here!
I have used MAC Fling before, but stopped repurchasing because it just is empty so quickly! But to be honest I never found anything I was as satisfied with, so I might need to get back to MAC again…
Try Maybelline’s “Brow Precise micro crayon” in blonde (it is the lightest color they offer). It is ever so slightly darker (hardly noticeable. It is so close to mac and half the price. I love it and was so afraid that I wouldn’t find a replacement.
Most people in India, prefer thin brows. Honestly, I don’t like brows which are too thin and overdone and it looks so unnatural. Having sparse brows turned out better for me, as I can still just get away with slight trimming and filling in. It looks polished and natural. Looks like I need to get my hand on this when they introduce it in India.
Talking about trends, oh, there are so many culinary terms used in makeup techniques. They just sound useless.
I just purchased the Fluidline Brow Gelcreme and it is to die for! I definitely like it more than my Anastasia dipbrow. It’s so creamy and more forgiving than the dipbrow, yet still lasts all day!
agreed. I’m on my 3rd pot of gelcreme (deep dark brunette) I spent months looking for a drugstore dupe and ended up repurchasing. silly me.
I’ve been a die-hard fan of MAC Spiked brow pencil for a few years now. So much so that I can’t bring myself to use anything else- even if it’s a slated cheaper dupe, or something more high-end like Anastasia Beverly Hills. Great post!
OMG Jessica is back! I was disappointed when you stopped blogging so it’s nice to see you here. I just clicked through to comment. My brows are so full I just use clear brow gel
Thank you!! We’ll see how it goes on Makeup and Beauty Blog for the next few months. I may get my foot back into the blogging pond. 🙂
Jessica
My brows are naturally blonde and a little sparse, the past few years I’ve been dyeing them which helps but I still need a fair amount of product most days to flesh them out. I’ve been intrigued by the big pencils since I heard about them, I need something quick especially with baby #2 now. Sounds like it might be a good option when my brows are relatively freshly dyed and I just need a bit more fullness. Since I recently finished a brow pencil, surely that means I can replace it with 3 new things right?! 😉
I would have been helpful if you had shown us the points on these products.
Hi Debra, duly noted, I didn’t even think of that! Thank you for the constructive criticism.
Jessica
can you comment on the wear time of each? product? maybe sort them in ascending or descending order of wear time?
I have the gel crème and this lasts all day…have been thinking about getting a pencil to keep in my purse for touch ups (if needed) or as an alternate when I don’t have time to use a gel and spoolie, etc.
awesome swatches – thanks!
Great question Yelena! The powders obviously don’t wear long without a clear brow setting gel which I think is pretty typical, and the Big Brow pencils don’t last much longer than a standard work day (I noticed some wear by the end of eight hours); however, all pencils stuck with me through work, work out, mom-ing etc. Pleasing because the Veluxe Liners are not a typical brow formula so I was happy they endured. 🙂
Jessica
thank you! I’ve been anxiously awaiting your reply lol.
I have a little spot with ZERO hair on it, so I always go for longevity. (quite embarrassing when your eyebrow disappears at the end of the day before you leave the office) lol.
I had read somewhere else that the veluxe liners were dry and patchy so I had been reluctant to try them.
thanks for your response!
I’m sorry for the delay! Juggling work and motherhood means I’m a bit slower than I’d like sometimes. 🙂
I actually find these to be really smooth, but maybe that’s because I’m accustomed to drier/waxier brow pencils? They definitely glide on more smoothly than what I’m used to.
Jessica