My inner urban girl, the one who after 10 years living in the surburbs still tells herself that “it’s only temporary,” loves that Anastasia gives a shout-out to city girls with the name of her $39 Bright Eyes, Big City Brow & Eye Collection kit.
The kit, one of four available now from Anastasia for the holidays, comes with a nice array of eye and brow products put together to create natural, wide-eyed looks.
The kit includes…
- One pan with a trio of matte eye and brow powders
- Another pan with a trio of baked shimmery eyeshadows
- A travel-size mascara
- A full-size Cooling Eye Brightener
- A full-size Clear Brow Gel
- A tiny tweezers
- A mini dual-tipped brow brush
- And a mini dual-tipped eyehadow brush
Anastasia’s known for bodacious brow products, and they’re my favorite pieces in this kit. With the brow/eye powders, gel, tweezers and mini brow brush, perfect brows are just a minute or two away.
As for the rest of the eye makeup here, well, I feel like it’s just okay. I do dig the glowy effect I get with the shimmery eyeshadows, but it’s accompanied by some fallout. That, and I feel like the mascara, despite the great lash separation it creates, doesn’t deliver the drag queen length and volume I crave.
And when I applied the Cooling Eye Brightener, a creamy highlighting serum designed to soothe, de-puff and brighten the under-eye area, on my dark circles, my eyes protested by watering for about 10 minutes (it felt like when I get products containing menthol too close to my eyes).
Overall, I like the kit’s vibe — like Sunday brunch with the gals — but feel just so-so about some of the eye products. It’s a practical, mostly neutral, aesthetic that looks natural, not fussy. A girl could pair these pieces with neutral cheeks and lips for no-makeup makeup look, or add a brighter red lipstick for dramatic contrast (perhaps Lancome’s new Caprice?).
PRICE: $39.50
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Nordstrom stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Not that your nephew, international kitty supermodel Tabs the Cat, needed another feather in his cap, but now he can add LOLcat to his impressive resume. 🙂
Appearing now on I Can Haz Cheezburger…
I have no idea who posted this or who wrote the caption (to quote Shaggy, “It wasn’t me!”), but I 
love it! He’s my little Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
stephanie says
November 9th, 2011 at 2:28 pmthat is bright! nice for summertime glow or winter shimmer… maybe not all in one for me.
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 3:13 pmIt does do a pretty good job of brightening. 🙂
How’s your day going so far?
Alison says
November 9th, 2011 at 4:30 pmLoved to see tabs when I was perusing LOL cats this morning! He’s totally famous. Anastasia brow gel is on my wish list for my next trip to Sephora (maybe thursday for the VIB party), but I think I’ll skip the kit. My brows are super unruly, though, and are calling out for more than my benefit brow zing kit can offer.Thanks for your review, Karen!
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:50 pmHi Alison,
You’re welcome! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed seeing Tabs this morning. I was really surprised when I heard about it… I feel like a proud stage mom. 🙂
Anywho, what else is on your Sephora VIB wish list?
Alison says
November 10th, 2011 at 4:06 pmPacifica body butter (maybe the shimmery one?), korres lip butter, and I’m checking to see if they carry those fabulous brazilian peels that do wonders for my face. I really should be buying christmas gifts, though. Maybe a fresh sugar gift set for a friend? We will see!
EsteeDarla says
November 9th, 2011 at 4:40 pmHow is the brow set they have? Or what’s you take on it
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:49 pmHi EsteeDarla,
Ya know, I’ve still yet to try it.
Can anybody here weigh in on the brow kit? I’d love to hear what you think.
Beauty and Bows says
November 9th, 2011 at 4:59 pmThe kit looks amazing! This is going on my Christmas wish list!
Kisses, Melanie
Beauty and Bows
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:46 pmHi Beauty and Bows,
Awesome! What else is on your wish list?
Kimberly says
November 9th, 2011 at 5:06 pmI think what I’m most excited about in this post is Tabs on LOL cats! I’m sure he’s very pleased that he can now add that to his kitty resume. 🙂
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:45 pmHi Kimberly,
I was thrilled when I found out! Tabs, of course, is now using it as an excuse to be even more of a diva than usual. 😉
How’s your evening going? I’m not doing much… just gonna chill and watch Ringer.
Gina says
November 9th, 2011 at 5:24 pmI LOVE that mini brow brush! I bought it on its own, and at the time, I thought $18 was a bit pricy for such a little brush. But it’s so worth it! I use it everyday, and since it’s small, I can tuck it into my makeup bag to brush out my brows if they get unruly during the day. Also, it doubles as an AMAZING gel liner brush since it’s so thin!
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:44 pmHi Gina,
I didn’t even think to try it with a gel liner! Thanks for the heads up. 🙂
You’re so right about it being a great little brush. I think it’s gonna be a staple in my travel makeup kit.
Have you used any other makeup from Anastasia?
Kaelin Chan says
November 9th, 2011 at 6:05 pmOh my goodness you’re skin looks amazing! I saw that top picture and immediately thought of the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Campaign. You know, inner strength, polished features, glowing skin and all that.
Kaelin Chan recently posted … Collab’d Style and a Kick in the Butt
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:41 pmThanks, Kaelin.
I just started using a new combo: Cover FX’s Skin Prep Primer, MAC Studio Sculpt and Tarte Provocateur Pressed Mineral Powder. I’m liking it so far.
What face products have you been using lately?
Emily says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:36 pmI’ve been into fine-shimmered eyeshadows lately for that “bright-eyed” look. It’s surprisingly work-friendly! 🙂 This kit looks good on you!
Karen says
November 9th, 2011 at 7:39 pmHi Emily,
You’ll probably like this kit, then. 🙂
What eyeshadows have you been wearing to work?
Emily says
November 9th, 2011 at 10:15 pmI’ve been doing a quick sweep of MAC’s Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear shadow over my lids. I felt that the shimmer in it perked my face up without going overboard haha
P.S. Tabs is too cute! Congrats!
Jenn says
November 9th, 2011 at 8:12 pmTabs is such a cutie patootie LOL
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peach_ says
November 9th, 2011 at 9:43 pmOMG, congrats to Tabs on the I Can Haz Cheeseburger debut! Hope to see many more. 😉
As for the kit, it looks like a no-makeup makeup look! Very fresh!
peach_ recently posted … Dior Vernis Exquis 611 (Holiday 2011 Les Rouges Or Collection)
Nina says
November 10th, 2011 at 5:56 amomg … i love that picture of Tabs and the accompanying caption!
the look you did w/ the kit is pretty, but im not one for watering eyes. i mean — my eyes are watery enough as it is, i dont need to make it worse!
Kim says
November 10th, 2011 at 7:58 amHAHA! I love the bell ringing comment. It’s too funny. You know Tabs’ modeling career is getting a little out of control when his assistant can’t keep up with his gigs. 🙂
I’m feeling so-so about the Anastasia kit too. You look great and it seems perfect for a no-makeup makeup look, as you say. I guess I just didn’t see anything that really jumped out as a must-have.
Bun Bun Makeup Tips says
November 10th, 2011 at 9:01 amLooks like a great kit to bring around, too bad the quality of the products are only so-so~
Brian McD aka Roulette says
November 10th, 2011 at 9:07 am“doesn’t deliver the drag queen length and volume I crave”
BUAHahahhahahhahah!! I <B U Karen!! 🙂 Hope things are well!!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) says
November 10th, 2011 at 12:30 pmToo bad this kit doesn’t live up to her other offerings. The Beauty Express kit is FAB-U-LOUS! The shadows are great, and the brow products are awesome (love using the stencils). Her eye shadow palettes are good quality too.
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