innisfree Brow Master Pencil - Gray

12:08:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

We, consumers, like to believe that we pay more for a better quality product: well thought out, superior formulation, and sturdier packaging to name a few. Yet as the competition grows even the more affordable and smaller brands have gems hidden amongst the rough. We hope for something of similar quality minus the costs of the luxury brand name and frills.

That is precisely what I wanted the innisfree Brow Master Pencil to be. At half the cost of the previous eyebrow pencils I tried and loved, how wonderful would it be if it works and lasts just the same?



innisfree's description:

You multi-task, so should your brow make-up. Define, shape and volumize eyebrows with this unique 3-in-1 brow tool.

On one end, an angled tip pencil fills brows with a thin or thick stroke (up to you!)
In the center, a sponge-tip applicator loaded with brow powder creates fullness.
On the other end, a spooly brush styles and defines your brow look.

Directions
1. Define: Fill in brow using pencil, using light, feathery strokes.
2. Volumize: Using brow powder applicator, lightly press sponge tip over brow to set pencil and add dimension.
3. Set: With brush, sweep color out and downward to shape the arch and elongate the tail.

Ingredients
Pencil
HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES, POLYETHYLENE, ZINC STEARATE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), MICA (CI 77019), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), METHICONE

Powder
MICA (CI 77019), CERESIN, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, TALC, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, TRIETHYLHEXANOIN, C12-15 ALKYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), POLYISOBUTENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), METHICONE, DIMETHICONE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491)

Pencil cartridge 0.12 g
Powder pan 0.4 g

innisfree (Korean retail): ₩10,000
innisfree (USA retail): USD $11.00

Packaging

A double-ended eyebrow product with a retractable pencil on one end, a spoolie on the other, and a shadow with a sponge-tip applicator in the middle. This pencil does not come with a sharpener and probably wouldn't work well with the pencil formulation anyway. The pencil isn't shaped in any special way, just ovular and blunt cut. The sponge-tip is squishy and bulbous, unlike the JUNGSAEMMOOL one that is more firm and shapely. If I were to choose, my preference lies with the latter sponge-tip as it seems to apply the powder in a more effortless, even, and a lighter layer of color.

I understand that cream and brown are the brand colors of innisfree. However, I wish they showed the pencil colors on the tube instead as the names are printed fairly small and written in Korean only (the English names are just on a stick-on label that is attached to the security plastic wrapping). It would make the shopping experience easier especially for non-Koreans.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

"Gray", the shade, is an ashy-gray with hints of brown. The powder swatches very similar to the JUNGSSAEMMOOL "Smoky bony" shade.

Both the powder and the pencil have matte finishes and unscented. I found no faults with the powder itself, just didn't particularly like the sponge-tip delivery. The pencil, on the other hand, was one of the driest pencil products I have ever experienced. The new pencil tip was hard and difficult to draw with. One swipe doesn't give a strong color; it does build up well after a few more swipes though.

How I Apply

Unscrew the middle part of the brow pencil to reveal the powder portion. I "color" in my brows with the sponge-tip applicator to fill in the empty spaces. Afterward, I take the pencil portion and outline the desired shape and finish it off by brushing out the hairs with the spoolie to feather the edges out.

Thoughts & Recommendations

I was not kidding when I said the JUNGSAEMMOOL eyebrow pencil set new standards. innisfree was one of the few brands, Korean and Western, to have one of a similar design (with pencil, powder, and spoolie all-in-one). Trying it out was a no-brainer since I would practically be guaranteed a shade match plus it's cheap.

Color-wise, "Gray" was a great match for my black hair. Formulation-wise, the pencil could be greatly improved upon. It snapped into pieces way too easily and the pigmentation with one swipe isn't very high. I lost a quarter of the pencil the first day I started using it and about half of the remainder of the product a month or so later. It also seemed like I was using up the pencil far quicker since I had to draw more strokes to build up the color.

*Disclaimer: the printed expiration date was the same month and year I bought the pencil in (June 2018). I am positive it says expiration and not manufacture date. I don't know how much of a factor that plays into how dried out the eyebrow pencil was. If so then the NYC store is kind of at fault for selling a product that was days away from expiring. The remainder of the fault was my own for not looking closely before purchase. Regardless, if the formulation becomes so brittle overtime it means this pencil cannot be stockpiled and hoarded for long.

The innisfree Brow Master Pencil is a nice low-end option, especially for those new to eyebrow products and are intimidated by ones that are too concentrated in color. I can see those who prefer stronger brows may find it too faint and natural. The blunt cut made it difficult to draw thin, hair-like strokes. It was fine outlining a general brow shape and tail. This isn't on my repurchase list anytime soon. If I do reconsider I will have to remember to double check the expiration before giving it a second chance.