NYX Eye Brown Push-Up Bra on brows
How do you feel about glitter brows?
My gut reaction when I saw the NYX Eyebrow Push-Up Bra pencil ($10) was a big, fat OH, HELL YEA! I’ve probably worn glitter just about everywhere else, so I figure brows won’t be that much of a stretch.
The dual-tipped Eyebrow Push-Up Bra, called that because of how it’s supposed to lift brows, is one of five fall products from NYX to shape, define and highlight eyebrows. The side with the darker tip, the one for defining sparse areas, sports a sheer taupe with silver glitter; the other side’s a creamy, peachy pink that appears to lift the brows when applied beneath the arch (also works as a brow highlighter).
The definer’s silver sparkles aren’t exactly what I’d call in-your-face glitter. They’re barely noticeable, really, which could either be good or bad, depending on your point of view. I was hoping for a little more oomph!, but I guess without it the pencil’s actually more wearable.
See how sharp the definer tip looks in the picture? It also feels hard against my skin, and because of how sheer the pigment is it takes several layers to adequately fill in my “ghost brows.” In other words, if you’re a fill-and-go girl, this may not be your ideal brow pencil. Yeah, it’s been a tad frustrating to use.
One advantage, however, of sheer pencils like this one is control. Lighter layers mean having more control over how light/dark you go, and if you’re a newcomer to brow filling and don’t want to look like Morticia Adams, a sheer pencil like this could be a good place to start.
I get the feeling from the taupe definer tip that NYX was trying to pick a universal shade, something that would work for most skin tones, mine not included. On me this particular taupe has a cool gray tint, and one that I’m afraid may lead strangers to refer to me as “ma’am” instead of “miss.” BOO!
The highlighting tip is much creamier and pigmented than the definer, and it looks like a total ripoff of Benefit’s High Brow Lifting Pencil ($20), except in a warmer, darker shade.
NYX was kind enough to include a few pictures with the instructions on the box (see below). Following them, I get a subtle brow lift, but every little bit helps.
If NYX sold the highlighting tip separately and charged $5 instead of $10, I’d stock up, because I think the color is a closer match to my skin tone than High Brow’s shade, and I’d be able to get four of them for $20 instead of one. Plus, I think it has a slightly more pigment, yet it’s even easier to blend.
Swatches on NC35 skin: Eyebrow Push-Up Bra Brow Pencil (left) and Highlighter (right)
Eyebrow Push-Up Bra Highlighter (left) and Benefit High Brow (right)
Clockwise from upper left: naked brow; filled in brow and unblended highlighter; filled in brow with blended highlighter
Without filled brows and highlighter (left) and with (right)
If you’re interested, brace yourself for some bad news, though. I had a tough time tracking down the Eyebrow Push-Up Bra. It sold out last week on the NYX website, and according to the company won’t be available again online until mid-January (yikes!).
If you spot it somewhere, please share in the comments to help anyone reading who’d like to give it a try.
LOL, it’s like a makeup Yeti…
PRICE: $10
AVAILABILITY: Limited. Could be sold out on the NYX website through mid-January 2011
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Paris B says
Oh I actually found High Brow too light for me too. It sometimes gives me an unexpected look especially in photos. In real life, its not as bad… I just have to be careful not to use it when I expect photos to be taken 😛 So this NYX one looks like a better option too 🙂
Karen says
Hi Paris B,
Oh, I know what you mean. It can pop up especially when the flash goes off!
Appu says
I am quite happy with my Milani Easy Brow.Not sure if this color is gonna suit me anyways 🙂 Btw, if any one is interested, this is still available at cherryculture.com!!!
Karen says
Thanks, Appu! That’s awesome. 🙂
vonnie says
i don’t even see the glitter, interesting. i’d think it’d be overpowering but I don’t even see it at all
Karen says
Hi Vonnie,
You gotta look *really* closely to see it. It’s very subtle.
Karen says
Hi everyone,
The product’s available for purchase on the Cherry Culture website. Here’s the line for those who are interested:
Nyx Eyebrow Push Up Bra
Thanks to MBB reader Appu for the heads up!
Hedy says
Anyone able to compare this to Anastasia’s Go Brow – Universal Brow Pencil ?
Karen says
Hi Hedy,
I haven’t tried that one yet — would also love to hear the comparison.
Nina says
im always up to try brow products — this is promising!!!
Karen says
Hi Nina!!
Yay, you’re back!
Are you guys officially moved in?
Nina says
yes we are! 🙂
we got the absolute last stuff last night — whc was the stuff in the refrigerator!
however – the hubs forgot the butter and onions in the refrigerator drawer so i was saying last night that were only 99.8% moved in. he said – let the butter go, ninaaaaa!!!
LOL im happy to be back!
Karen says
Hi Nina,
LOL! We did something similar when we moved last year. 🙂 My BFF, Jen, would admire your devotion to your butter (she LOOOOOVES butter).
Glad the move is over and that it went smoothly.
Nina says
you know what sucks – that was 2 HUGE packs of butter of the sweet cream kind … i <3 butter soooooo much! 😀
Karen says
I didn’t quite understand the allure of butter until I tried a homemade at a French restaurant… then I GOT IT!!!
Nina says
theres a french place here that allegedly makes its own butter!
makeup morsels says
hahah a glitter brow pencil…interesting concept. The highlight shade looks nice on you, what do you usually use to fill in your brows? Off the top of my head, I’m remembering MAC concrete and an angled liner brush? could be wrong…
Karen says
Hi Makeup Morsels,
Yes, I used to use Concrete and the 266 brush until I lost them both (gah!). Lately I’ve been using Benefit Instant Brow. Here’s the review:
Benefit Instant Brow: I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost… Brows
Magi says
Did you sharpen the pencil already? How does it behave?
I like the colors but I am a more brow gel gal…
Karen says
Hi Magi,
Hmm, not sure what you mean by how does the pencil behave. Do you mean while it’s being sharpened?
Kerry says
If you want to give this a try, check out E.L.F.’s version of this product. It’s in their studio line, so it’s $5 (I think), but I really like it!
Karen says
Hi Kerry,
Thanks! Here’s the info for anyone who’s interested:
ELF’s version is called the Eyebrow Lifter & Filler. It’s $3, and comes in four shades — ivory/light, ivory/medium, ivory/dark and ash/ivory.
Kerry says
Thanks for correcting me on the price — I knew $5 didn’t seem right.
I like it so far, but to those interested, beware: The cap of the filler end tends to fall off. :/
It’s also pretty creamy, so you don’t need a lot of pressure (which I like). And there’s a built-in sharpener.
Tiffany H says
Interesting product. Too bad it’s sold out.
Karen says
Hi Tiffany,
It’s still available on the Cherry Culture website, yea! Here’s the link:
NYX Eyebrow Push-Up Bra
Kim says
It actually does lighten you up a bit, but I don’t like the sound of that scratchy, old-lady-eyebrow-color side. Now if they’d only come out with an eyelid lifting stick. That’s something I could get behind! 🙂
Karen says
Yeah! Or an under-eye wrinkle eraser stick!
Kim says
Now you’re talking! Imagine what we’ll sound like in 20 years? I’ll probably be contemplating stapling my eyelids to my brows and wearing really tight ponytails. Sorry, that was a horrific mental image!
knownever says
I tend to think that those eye brightening sticks make people look older. Like I remember watching QVC or something showing before and afters with the benefit one and thinking the models looked worse after. Maybe high schoolers can get away with it but no one after that. Maybe it’s as some people said a weird reaction the product has to cameras that makes people’s skin look sort of translucent/thin ish
Kristen says
I am obsessed with brow fillers, and I have to say, I would NEVER think to put glitter on my brows. I would be so hesitant to test-drive that, even though I adore glitter, but it looks fab on you! Really subtle, actually. I may have to give this pencil a whirl.
jen says
I had the Anastasia Brow Go Brow which I loved and thought would be my HG until the lead in the pencil flew out of the wood and wouldn’t sharpen so it only lasted about a month before it was un-usable. Like NYX it also has the same glittery color in the filler and is also more of a lighter buildable sheer universal taupe color. The highlighter side also looks just like NYX very blendable and soft. Unlike NYX this pencil cost $21 more than twice the cost of NYX. So I’d be interested to try NYX to see if it couldnt be a cheaper dupe.
YooJin says
oh i never noticed the glitter until this review! i don’t see any when i use it! As a very pale girl with brunette hair, i find that the colours match very well on me, but i can definitely see that it wouldn’t be universally flattering.
also, i bought mine in store from LOFT in japan, but i just bought a new one from Amazon! The prices are marked up, but only to $12, which i don’t mind because this is the only eyebrow filler i go for!