Yes, I really do, because Raul is hella annoying.
I’ve been filling in my brows lately with this awesome $21 MAC Brow Sculpt Brow Pencil. It’s been out a while, and it comes in shades you might recognize if you’re a MAC fan, like Brun and Cork. MAC took some of their existing eyeshadow colors that are commonly used to fill in brows, and put them in handy-dandy pencils.
The reason I think this one is all sorts of awesome is because it totes reminds me of my favorite-ist brow pencil (yes, I said favorite-ist) — well, my former favorite-ist brow pencil — the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor, which is hella expensive, dude. It’s $45 (used to be $44).
Have I told you about the time I put two of them in my cart and floated out of my body? Like, I literally floated out of my body. I had an out-of-body experience because of how expensive they are, and I’ve been scouring the makeup jungle for years looking for something similar but less pricey like this MAC pencil.
It has a twist-up tip with a skinny triangle shape (like the Tom Ford pencil) that covers a good surface area, so I’m not sitting there drawing in every little hair with a tiny tip for hours… I can finish my brows pretty quickly with this one.
I also love the level of pigment. The colors aren’t as rich or intense as some brow pencils, which I think is a good thing in this case. I don’t much like pencils that are super soft or pigmented because if I forget and keep drawing, and keep drawing, and keep drawing, I end up with Groucho Marx/scary Frankenstein brows, at which point it’s hard to go back.
You know how it is — once you have too much on there, it’s hard to remove pigment and back up. I’ve gotten in that situation many times before, and it isn’t fun.
MAC Brow Sculpt Brow Pencil ($21)
Permanent, available now at MAC stores and onlineAvailable in Omega (a light ash blonde), Cork (warm blonde), Flight (taupe blonde), Taupe (light taupe), Brun (taupe brown), Lingering (medium brown), Spiked (deep brunette) and Stud (deepest black brunette)
These MAC pencils have the perfect amount of pigment for me. I can still apply a lot of color but keep my brows looking natural.
Because these aren’t full-on, incredibly pigmented, though, they might not be right for someone who wants a bolder Instagram-style brow. If you want something like that, you’re probably better off with a gel or some kind of dramatic brow product. These are better for a natural-looking brow.
Oh, and the spoolie is also shaped like the spoolie on the Tom Ford Brown Pencil.
I think these are great. $21. Look into ’em. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kiss & Make-up says
I also quite liked it. Already used it up, oops.
Also: your eyeshadow!!!
Karen says
It’s so good! 🙂 I think I need to keep backups on hand.
LindaLibraLoca says
I will look into them Right now I am using a drugstore one, which is okay-ish, but the shade just isn’t perfect.
Karen says
Great! I hope you like them. They come in lots of colors so hopefully you’ll be able to fine one that works for you.
Efrain says
You know I’m always saving money. I really like Benefit Goof proof pencil, but I can’t justify paying 440 pesos on it. MAC pencil cost 350 pesos which it isn’t still drugstore, yet it’s cheaper. How much do you like it? Should I better do a better search on drugstore products?
Karen says
Hi Efrain,
I’ve used both the Benefit one and the MAC one and I like them both, but I prefer the MAC one because the tip is wider than the skinny Benefit pencil. I can cover more ground without having to sit there for forever and a day filling in my brows, ya know? Are you using any other Benefit brow products at the moment? I really like their clear brow gel and their brow conditioner.
lauren says
Your makeup here! Love! I don’t know why but although I can’t leave the house without coloring in my brows (I would look like Lady Gaga when she had the no brow look), I haaaate the process of filling them in. I always dlep and have a line up my forehead!
Karen says
Hi Lauren,
I’m the same way, except my brows stop about halfway through, LOL! I don’t enjoy filling them in either because it’s so tedious, but pencils like this MAC one make it easy to do. 🙂 I use it with a couple of products from Benefit and it doesn’t take long at all.
What are you currently using to fill in your brows?
Chris25 says
I would get this, but I’m now itching to get the TF one. Lol.
Karen says
Both are great! You can’t go wrong with either pencil.
Nadine says
I love the colors they have at MAC, but the staying power really disappointed me.. How does this one wear throughout the day? I really hate it when my eyebrows disappear on me (being really blond, this happens, believe me. I rather have Raoul ;))
yelena says
I am right there with you. I hate when I leave the house with perfect brows in the morning and get home with half my brow gone. (How Embarassing!) I have dark brown/possibly black eye brows but the hairs are sparse and thin so I fill them in everyday. I also have some huge bare spots which just decided not to grow in one day so there is legit no hair there. having said all that, I need a product that will stay on ALL day..and that’s where mac’s fluidline brow gel crème comes into the picture! (I use the shade deep dark brunette ). that baby stays on all day long, even through a long day in the field, and most of the time through a hot yoga class. (as long as I don’t hard core rub it off).
if you haven’t tried it, pick it up. its inexpensive and lasts a long time. I even rather it over ABH dip brow which everyone raves about but that doesn’t last half as long as the mac brow crème gel. if you are scared of using gel or pomade, just remember that less is more, use thin strokes, and always always, use the spoolie to blend out any harsh lines.
Nadine says
Thanks! I’ll try it out 🙂
Anne says
Do you get Sleek Makeup in the US? I have one of their “Eyebrow Stylist” pencils and it looks just like this MAC one. I love it for some quick definition on the days on which I’m too lazy to deal with powder products. My brows are so sparse and uneven that I can’t go out without at least a little something on them. :-(!
Tatiana says
I use the Bobbi Brown brow shaper gel in Slate. I have good brows, they’re just going gray and that makes them look like they’re disappearing on my fair skin. So I just need something to color the hairs and hold them in place. I like the Bobbi Brown brow pencil for filling in when I have a sparse patch. It’s just like the TF one, but without the sharpener and I just noticed they raised the price so it’s almost as expensive as the TF one. Will need to check out the MAC one, if and when I run out. Since TF, MAC and Bobbi Brown are all owned by Estee Lauder it doesn’t surprise me that they all have similar brow products.
Erin says
Looks good to me. I’m currently using NYX but it’s not the best shade for me.
ivy says
Hi Karen-
Are these brow pencils slightly waxy? Because theyre perfect if they are. I need that slight wax to keep it on my oily face! and btw you are so funny as always!
Chryztyners says
There’s a dupe for this from The Face Shop – a Korean makeup brand. That’s what I use, much much cheaper than MAC. 🙂
Fran says
Are these similar to the Hourglass Arch brow sculpting pencils? I have one of those and like it, but these are a much better price! A light-medium ashy brown looks best on me — do you have any color recommendations?
Karen says
Hey Fran!
I’ve tried the Hourglass ones before and they’re good, but I like the MAC ones even more. I find the Hourglass brow pencils are a just a touch too soft, and I like my brow pencils on the harder side because I find they last longer and they’re easier to control. Sometimes with the Hourglass ones, I feel like I put too much… It’s easy to get too much product on there too quickly, so I have to be more mindful. I can’t just plop it on like I can with the MAC or the TF brow pencils.
For a light medium ashy brown, I’d go with either Taupe or Omega.
Fran says
I think I need to try one of these, Karen! Thanks for the color recommendations 🙂