Where’s home base? For my eyebrows, most of the time it’s at the corner of MAC Concrete Eyeshadow and the 266 Small Angle Brush, but over the past couple of weeks, the new Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow ($20 and available in seven shades) and I have stamped some pretty impressive locations in our makeup passport, from a series of treadmill sessions in a sweltering room, to a blisteringly hot blacktop parking lot where a pack of food trucks roam, to a humid East Bay afternoon.
No matter how hot, sticky or overheated I got, Aqua Brow didn’t budge, even when I was bathed in sweat from head to toe after daydreaming about Jeremy Renner a rough 6-mile run.
From the left: #25 Ash, #35 Taupe and #40 Brown Black
Make Up For Ever made this brow-filling gel for makeup artists, but you and I can use it, too. 🙂 Designed to fill, define and intensify brows with a concentrated waterproof formula able withstand hot summer days and sudden thunderstorms, it comes in a tube and dries to a powder with a satiny finish.
A tip for the three dudes who read MBB (bless your hearts!), you can use Aqua Brow to fill in mustaches and sideburns, too.
MUFE claims the essential oils and carnauba wax (palm wax) they used render Aqua Brow virtually melt-proof.
All seven shades join MUFE’s permanent line next month, with #10 Light Blonde, #15 Blonde and #25 Ash heading to Sephora stores (but they’re available now online) and Make Up For Ever Boutiques; and #20 Light Brown, #30 Dark Brown, #35 Taupe and #40 Brown Black coming exclusively to Make Up For Ever Boutiques.
So far my brows and I have tried #25 Ash, #35 Taupe and #40 Brown Black. I think that Ash, while a tad lighter than my natural brow color, matches my dyed hair pretty well, and if you’re a brunette, it should work well for you, too.
From the left: #25 Ash, #35 Taupe and #40 Brown Black
Before (left) and after application of #25 Ash (right)
The other two shades I’ve tried, Taupe and Brown Black, are definitely darker and more intense. I bet they’d look bangin’ on raven-haired damsels and ladies/gents looking for bolder brows.
I went into this thinking that MUFE’s gel formula would be difficult to use, mostly just because I’d never worn a gel brow formula before, but it’s actually been a breeze to apply. The consistency is thin enough to work in between the hair follicles, and yet not so thin that it runs all over the place.
To apply, I drip a couple of tiny drops on the back of my hand, pick them up with an angle brush, and fill in the sparse areas in my brows.
When I’m done, I check to see if my start and end points are okay, and brush through any spots that look a little too dark.
From start to finish, if I’m not dillydallying at all, I can run through the entire brow process in less than 2 minutes.
As for how well this stuff stands up to water, WOW! It barely breaks a sweat in workouts, and I’ve even showered with it on, but what I love, LOVE about it most is how natural it looks, despite its waterproof prowess. I guess that’s on account of the satiny finish, which sits right between shiny and matte, and keeps brows from looking too fake or overdone.
Babe, Aqua Brow just might be one of those epic, life-changing products. It’s a cinch to apply, looks effortlessly natural, comes in a good range of hair colors (although I don’t see any reds) and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The 0.23-ounce tube costs $20 and should last anywhere from 8-12 months, even using it every day.
Really, really great stuff, and something to consider if you’re looking to boost your brow game.
PRICE: $20 each
AVAILABILITY: Coming in September to Sephora stores, sephora.com and Make Up For Ever Boutiques
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The title is pure genius! Hmmm a brow gel that stays on through workouts, I may have to mosey on over to Sephora when it launches. Looks great on you 🙂
That looks amazing!!! This may be my next HG brow product… After I go through my 5 backup MAC Impeccable Brow Pencils 🙂
How does this compare with MUFE other waterproof brow gel??
I just got the other one 2 months ago and why did they come out with this one. I wonder if this one is better. Now I am mad haha
I wish they had one for red hair!
Yes! I agree! Even just a more warm-toned brown would work, instead of only ashy color options… sigh….
I agree – I saw that the full release featured 7 colors, many of which were lighter and warmer, but I haven’t seen them available in the US.
They have a warm toned brown in their waterproof brow corrector which looks like its the same thing since it is also a water proof brow gel. It holds up just as great as these new ones that Karen reviewed 🙂
Wow, you really make me want to try it! I’m a little afraid of liquid brow products, but if I understand you right, it’s just as easy to apply as a powder?
I’m still not completely sold on this one…I prefer a very natural looking brow, which is why I prefer brow powder. I just feel like this would create very polished and dramatic brows, yes–but also a little obvious looking…especially for those of us with very thin, sparse brows :/
I wasn’t even interested in this until I saw your brows! It looks surprisingly natural, I thought it would be much more gunky or thick looking. Imma try this out on my next Sephora trip. Thanks for the review!
Oh my. Oh my.
I am obsessed with brows.
I *will* test this at Sephora when it launches. I hope Sephora carries both Ash and Taupe.
I’m so checking this out next week when I’m in the MUFE store! It’s so natural that I really can’t tell your brows have been filled in the pics!
I’ve never used a gel before to fill in brows. I usually use powder, sometimes a pencil. But sounds like this gel is worth giving a try!
OK, I’m very excited about this. I’ve always been a pencil gal but, after a couple of hours, my brows look like they have the mange. I’m very up for trying this gel but I’m bummed that it won’t be in Sephora until next month. I think I’ll need to swatch the colors to get a good match. 🙂
On a separate note, I used black pencil between my lashes today and think I’ll continue on with it. I also watched The Artist last night and ended up liking it a lot so, as usual, I’m glad I took your advice. Have you seen the US version of Let Me In? That little Chloe Grace Moretz is fabulous (and has been in every part I’ve seen her act).
I guess it’s time to get back to “my six mile run”. 😉
Totally excited to try this out! I usually use a brow pencil by Revlon – because it matches my hair color perfectly – but it disappears within a few hours.
I have 2 tubes of this (old incarnation) – in Taupe and Dark Blonde (I think) ; and while I do love them, there’s a bit of a learning curve here. After being used to “dryer” brow products, it took me a few days to get used to th more gel-ly texture of this.
The 266 is the best brush for this brow product – its skinny enough so that you only get the littlest amount of product in it, which is key to not overdoing it! This stuff lasts forever, too, which is a great plus!
i bought ash at imats last month and love it! it really does stay on
Amazing. All eyebrow pencils and powders fade for me. I hope this works.
Ohh I love that, thank you for the swatches!
I’m a redhead, but my brows are more of a blonde/taupe color, so I might be able to try the light blonde or blonde… the blonde on the Sephora website looks like it has a hint of warmth/ginger to it! hmmm. I’m very curious, because my brows are sparse!
I scooped the blonde colour at my local Sephora yesterday to match my dark blond hair and am finding it way to warm. Might be perfect for you! Sadly, I’ll be returning it 🙁
Lady, you just made my day! I work at Sephora and love using these…but there are none for the lighter haired ladies – until now. This is sooo great!
i was just thinking yesterday how awesome your brows have been looking! thought u just had them waxed recently 🙂
thanks karen!
I’ve been waiting for these to show up at my Sephora so I can figure out which to buy!
Awesome that they last through a workout. BTW, what lip color are you wearing? Love it!
That looks fantastic! If I didn’t already have a favorite brow product . . . never mind, I’m going to check it out anyway!
I’ve been using MUFE’s Waterproof eyebrow corrector for a while now. I wonder what makes this product different? When I check the Sephora website, both Aqua Brow and Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector are listed on there as two different products. The Waterproof Eyebrow corrector is an HG product for me
Hi Karen,
Have you tried the Laura Mercier Brow Definer? If you have, how does the MUFE brow gel compare? I’m currently using the shu hard prow pencil, but I think it’s time for me to move on to something that’ll withstand all this heat (and sweat). Thanks!
Hi Karen! Just curious…what blush do you have on in these pictures? They looked gorgeous on you! Thanks!!!
I might be coming off as stupid but i wonder if u could use this as like a super waterproof matte gel eyeliner ?
Hmm, I’ve never tried it, and I don’t know if it’s safe to use around the water line, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s already tried it!
MUFE Eyebrow Corrector is my favorite brow product of all time! And Aqua Brows looks very similar (possibly a repackaging?). I currently use Eyebrow Corrector in #4, and it’s a bit dark. #3 is too warm, and #2 and #1 are just too light. I’m so excited that MUFE is introducing a Taupe shade for Aqua Brows, but I don’t live near any MUFE Boutiques! Going to have to figure out a way to get my hands on Taupe! Thank you so much for the swatches!
Btw, I
karen, i’m nc37-40 warm wif yellow undertone, i’m asian, my hair is so dark (naturally), which will u suggest for me? the ash or taupe? then for mac eyeshadow powder, which one will u suggest for me, between the concrete of brun?
Hi! Could u tell me, if Taupe is it pure grey or with a little brown? Thx! 🙂