Some mornings I just CANNOT get it together, and even something as simple yet important as operating the coffee maker might as well be quantum physics.
I call those my makeup-for-dummies days, and when they strike I turn to instant coffee my arsenal of tools and tricks to fake a good night’s sleep.
Can’t have my neighbors mistaking me for the first wave in the coming zombie apocalypse, right?
The latest addition to my makeup-for-dummies kit, NYX’s new Eyebrow Shaper ($8.75), is one of several new eyebrow products from NYX this fall. It’s a colorless, waxy brow gel in pencil form — perfect for sculpting and taming unruly brows — and for me it takes the place of having to fill in my brows with a colored brow pencil, wax or eyeshadow, particularly when I’m tired and/or lazy (read: often).
Easy is the name of the game on makeup-for-dummies days. In my dreams, this is one of the things I grab when I’m running out the door to cash in my winning lottery ticket…
PRICE: $8.75
AVAILABILITY: At select drugstores, Ulta stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
applepark says
Oooh I need this. I think I have zombie eyebrows.
Karen says
I think we all do sometimes. 😀
Shannon says
omg WANT! I technically have brow gel, but I don’t like how it makes my eyebrows seem… shiny.
Karen says
You’re so funny! Which brow gel are you using?
Shannon says
It’s from Bare Escentuals. Just your basic clear gel with mascara wand-y type thing.
Principessa Grassa says
Oooooh! That is amazing! I think I need it, as my eyebrows are the very DEFINITION of “unruly.”
Karen says
Have you ever tried trimming the tops? I do that it makes a big difference in the unruly-ness. 🙂
Principessa Grassa says
Oh yes! I trim, I pluck, I brush them, I wax them into place … Trimming helps a LOT, but they need all the help they can get!
Karen says
You’re like my long lost brow twin — I do all that stuff too! I swear if I let mine go back to their natural state things would start looking quite jungly, haha!
NeutraKris says
I do believe I must try this! I usually one that one scraggly hair that won’t follow orders. :\
Karen says
Haha, the entire outer half of my brows revolts when left to their own devices!
lisa says
ooh! i usually use the sumita brow wax pencil which retails for $11…..i will definitely try this cheaper alternative!
Karen says
Hi Lisa,
Yay! I hope you like it.
I haven’t tried the Sumita one… is it easy to use?
Rinnie says
I need to get into the habit of grooming my brows since they do get quite fuzzy. I don’t always remember to brush them so this pencil might be easier for me to remember. I should put it on my next beauty shopping list, next to shampoo and face cleanser.
Karen says
Hi Rinnie,
Groomed brows make a huge difference; plus, you can literally get them looking neat in less than 60 seconds with this.
What shampoo/face cleanser are you thinking about getting? I need to make a Target pit stop, myself. Gotta buy some coffee and Maybelline Full N Soft mascara, among other things.
Rinnie says
I was using Lush shampoo bars for a while but found that I needed to wash more often because my hair got greasy quick with it. And I wasn’t feeling the softness in my hair. I want to buy a shampoo called “Head Organics” from Ulta after trying a sample and really liking it. I’m using Loreal’s sulfate free shampoo and kind of not feeling it. As for cleansers, if budget allows, I’m getting Dermalogica prewash and cleanser since I’m breaking out more lately and this stuff fixes it quick.
Karen says
I used to use Dermalogica in my mid-20s. I really liked it — the Daily Microfoliant rocks!
gio says
This sounds wonderful, I have to try it!
Karen says
Yes! And it’s affordable, to boot. 🙂
Kim says
Yeah, that looks really good and very easy. Definite A. I need my color because I have a couple of small spots that need filling. Not like eyebrow mange or anything, but a clear pencil wouldn’t do it for me. It’s awesome that it works for you, though – good brows make such a difference! 🙂
PS I love, love, love your animated zombie. So cute!
Karen says
I love him too and have named him “Earl.”
What do you use to fill in usually? Powder, pencil, wax?
Kim says
Oh, Earl is perfect! 🙂 I use Clinique’s Brow Keeper (pencil with wand at the other end) in Honey. It’s a couple of shades lighter than my hair so my brows still look natural and it’s very quick to fill them in.
Karen says
I think I have one of those in my stash waiting to get some love. It’s the one where you don’t have to sharpen it, right?
I like both “natural” and “very quick.” Tis music to my ears!
Kim says
Mine too! It’s actually the one that does need sharpening. I’ve used the other pencil before and don’t like it nearly as much. I find it too waxy/streaky. The needs-sharpening version always works best for me. It might just be me, though!
Oh, and I finished Hush, Hush last night and started on Crescendo. It’s nice to be reminded of teenage angst when I’m far removed! 🙂 I was laughing at myself because I had so many moments of saying “Oh, you silly girl… why would you do that? No, no, no.”.
Antonia says
I love the way you write, Karen! I think about it every time a read one of your posts, not just now. You’re incredibly witty and funny:D The quantum physics part made me laugh=) Love the title, too!
As for this wax pen, it sounds like exactly what I need. My brows are full and dark, but they can be really unmanagable! And I hate the wet feeling clear brow mascara leaves on my brows!
They say NYX is coming to Sweden Spring 2011! Yeay!
Karen says
Hi Antonia,
Thank you very much for this. I REALLY needed it. 🙂 I’ve been having some killer writer’s block and it’s so paralyzing… if I could I’d give you a big hug! And maybe some Trader Joe’s Chocolate Stars, haha!
And HUZZAH for Nyx coming to Sweden! That’s so awesome!
Antonia says
haha, thanks, Karen=)
Karen says
You have a lot to look forward to. Dunno if you’re interested, but here are some links to a few reviews just in case you want to prepare, LOL!
NYX Studio Effect Liquid Liner and a Tuesday Hello
Adventures in Drugstore Makeup: NYX Blush Dupes for Two Icons from MAC and NARS
So Who’s Duping Whom? The NYX Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit vs. Urban Decay Naked
Don’t Sweep These New NYX Makeup Brushes Under the Rug
What Do You Think of Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils?
NYX Special Effects Lashes: Crazy False Lashes at a Crazy Good Price
Jeannie says
Karen! It’s been awhile! How have you been?
I think I’m going to have to look into getting this. I love your blog, but every time I come here, I want to buy, buy, buy. =/
Karen says
Hi Jeannie!
It’s been FOREVER. What have you been up to? Anything new to report?
Things are good on this end — just busy. I guess it’s better to be busy than totally board though, right?
Amber says
I have MAC’s brow wax pencil and it always seems to tug hairs out!
Karen, I keep meaning to tell you that my workplace FINALLY upgraded from IE6 (seriously) and now every time I open a new tab the url bar says ‘about:Tabs’ and I laugh.
Karen says
BOO for tugging the hairs out. 🙁 My ghost brows can’t afford to lose any extra hairs!
Okay, it’s funny that you mention that thing about tabs, because every time I go to “new tab” I think, “Aww… a new Tabs.”
Sonja says
I totally read this as ”eyebrow sharpener ”. And was like ”why would i want my eyebrows to be sharper?!”
Karen says
LOL, Sonja. Hmm, maybe someone with dull eyebrows that need some spicing up? Haha!
lo says
Oooh, I could totally use this… my eyebrows like to go a little crazy sometimes, too! Yours look seriously great, and I really like that it’s clear and not a gel. For some reason that zombie smiley is cracking me up! I feel like that a lot lately.
Karen says
Hi Lo,
Not gonna lie — I’ve been a little more than obsessed with zombies lately. 🙂 (I’ve named that one Earl, btw). I blame it on the new show on AMC, The Walking Dead!
lo says
Oh my gosh, me too! I’m loving that show. I was so afraid it would be cheesy or lame, but it looks like it’s going to be great… and apparently it’s already slated for a second season 🙂
Princesa Livia says
Hmm this sounds like a very useful product. Instant brow tamer! 😀
Karen says
It’s *so* useful. Best of all — it’s a snap to use. 🙂
Megan W says
How does this take the place of a filler? Is it b/c it moves the brow hairs into place and you don’t need the filler?
Ruchita says
Nice. I like this! A while ago, I used clear mascara to tame my brows. Unfortunately, I inherited my dad’s unibrow. 🙁
Recently, I found a place to get my eyebrows threaded, and that’s really helped keep them groomed.
Lee says
I like! I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂
Nina says
i likey a lot …. brows and me – always up for that!
i have those days too : and its my hair that bears the brunt of my cannot put it together ness.
SaraJane says
This looks awesome. I use Revlon brow gel, but by afternoon it always starts to flake. I really only use it because I can’t find anything else. Have you tried using this over top of powder-filled brows? I’m wondering if it’ll make things all gunky.
Whitney says
Oooh very keen to try this one
I rember when I was younger I tried to “trim” my eyebrows. . . . The result was not pretty!
How do you do it without taking giant chunks of hair? I think I can be a little heavy handed sometimes 😀
makeup morsels says
awesomee, this reminds me of the Anastasia clear brow pencil, but obviously at a much more reasonable price. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for this next time I hit ULTA.
Vonvon says
It’s amazing! The difference is so visible.
Karen says
Hi Vonvon,
It IS amazing! Plus it works fast!
Aubs says
I would love this, but how am supposed to sharpen it?
Vesna says
Why, oh, why isn’t NYX available in Croatia? Argh!
I definitely need this 😀
knownever says
I like to use the Bee Bar (some online solid moisturizer that lots of people have been talking about) as a brow wax but this seems like a much more convenient form for a brow wax
Mandy says
I’ve used Origins Brow Fix for years. You should give it a try! You put it on with the built-in brush rather than a pencil.
Annabella Freeman says
I hope I can find this in the UK, it would help tame my caterpillars!
Kristen says
You’re killing me with these brow products lately! I am obsessed with brows, and now this is just another product I have. to. have.
Fefe says
I need this. I have one eye brow that doesn’t behave so maybe this will tame that bad boy.
Fefe says
I went to my local Ulta. They said they probably won’t get this item and if they do it’ll be in January 🙁 So sad.
xiao says
You’re before and after pictures look phenom! My brows (in addition to being nonexistent) are splayed in every possible direction every morning 🙁 Do you think I can use a brow pencil to color in the aforementioned nonexistence after using this?
Ana says
Ooh, nice! My brows are so dark & thick that I don’t need a pencil to color my brows… that would be pretty ridiculous for me… but this looks handy! I’ve used clear mascara / brow gel before but this seems a lot quicker if you’re in a hurry! I have the double-ended brow pencil from ELF and I love the highlighter side but the “dark” pencil side is pretty useless for my brows.
Question: Where do you buy your NYX goodies? The only place I know to get NYX is Ulta and my Ulta has a limited supply and not many of the cool items 🙁
sophie says
I bought this and was disappointed. My brows stay flat for fifteen minutes and then they are sticking out or up and I see little whitish flakes not longer. I wanted to make my brows stay flat but this isn’t doing that.