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I’ve Got Anastasia Bright Eyes, Big City in My Suburban Sights

November 9th, 2011 by Karen 25 Comments

anastasia bright eyes big city (5)

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.

anastasia bright eyes big city (3)

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.

anastasia bright eyes big city (2)

anastasia bright eyes big city (1)

anastasia bright eyes big city (4)

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 love it! He’s my little Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve Got Anastasia Bright Eyes, Big City in My Suburban Sights / Originally published November 9th, 2011

There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: anastasia

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. stephanie says

    November 9th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    that is bright! nice for summertime glow or winter shimmer… maybe not all in one for me.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 3:13 pm

      It does do a pretty good job of brightening. 🙂

      How’s your day going so far?

      Reply
  2. Alison says

    November 9th, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    Loved 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!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:50 pm

      Hi 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?

      Reply
      • Alison says

        November 10th, 2011 at 4:06 pm

        Pacifica 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!

        Reply
  3. EsteeDarla says

    November 9th, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    How is the brow set they have? Or what’s you take on it

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Hi 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.

      Reply
  4. Beauty and Bows says

    November 9th, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    The kit looks amazing! This is going on my Christmas wish list!

    Kisses, Melanie
    Beauty and Bows

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Beauty and Bows,

      Awesome! What else is on your wish list?

      Reply
  5. Kimberly says

    November 9th, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    I 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. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:45 pm

      Hi 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.

      Reply
  6. Gina says

    November 9th, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    I 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!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:44 pm

      Hi 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?

      Reply
  7. Kaelin Chan says

    November 9th, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Oh 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

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:41 pm

      Thanks, 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?

      Reply
  8. Emily says

    November 9th, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    I’ve been into fine-shimmered eyeshadows lately for that “bright-eyed” look. It’s surprisingly work-friendly! 🙂 This kit looks good on you!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 9th, 2011 at 7:39 pm

      Hi Emily,

      You’ll probably like this kit, then. 🙂

      What eyeshadows have you been wearing to work?

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 9th, 2011 at 10:15 pm

        I’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!

        Reply
  9. Jenn says

    November 9th, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Tabs is such a cutie patootie LOL
    Jenn recently posted … Get Naked! MAC Shy Girl, Revlon Soft Nude, YSL Rose Bergamasque

    Reply
  10. peach_ says

    November 9th, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    OMG, 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)

    Reply
  11. Nina says

    November 10th, 2011 at 5:56 am

    omg … 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!

    Reply
  12. Kim says

    November 10th, 2011 at 7:58 am

    HAHA! 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.

    Reply
  13. Bun Bun Makeup Tips says

    November 10th, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Looks like a great kit to bring around, too bad the quality of the products are only so-so~

    Reply
  14. 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!!

    Reply
  15. Cindy (Prime Beauty) says

    November 10th, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Too 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.
    Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted … Guest Review: L’oreal Absolut Repair Cellular Cleansing Balm

    Reply

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Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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