Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Review: Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec. Finish Browcara (Natural Brown & Dark Brown)

Swatch Swatches How to apply browcara

Browcara. As you can probably tell from the word, it is a mascara for your eyebrows. Browcaras aren't new in the market. The first time I came across a browcara was in 2012, but I didn't think of giving it a try as I was perfectly comfortable with using a pencil to fill in my eyebrows.

Occasionally, I would come across reviews on how a browcara is a must-have item in a girl's makeup bag. I decided to give it a try.

This review is on Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec. Finish Browcara. I will be reviewing two shades: Natural Brown and Dark Brown.

Let's take a look...


Description

- Natural colors in 4 different shades for a perfect match of hair and eyebrow color.

- Easy 1 second application, correction and touch up.
- Quick dry formula, does not clump or turn sticky.
- Special two-way brush creates a refined makeup look.





Ingredients

I could not find their official list of ingredients, and the words printed on the browcara tube are in korean. Korea Depart listed two main ingredients for this product:

1) Aloe vera - Lots of skin benefits. Aloe vera gel is typically used to heal wounds, sooth skin, and treat a variety of skin conditions.
2) D-panthenol - Also known as Pro Vitamin B5, it penetrates readily into skin and hair, and acts as an amazing moisturizer and softener.


Price

RM 36.00 for 4.5g of product. I bought this directly from Korea at 4,720 won (RM 15.90 after conversion)
If you can't get it directly from Korea, I would definitely recommend getting it online from Korea Depart or Tester Korea . Korean cosmetics get a crazy price mark-up here in Malaysia.


Packaging

It comes in a plastic tube just like most browcaras. These tubes are very similar to a standard mascara tube. Screw the top off and you can see a brush wand attached to the cap. Browcara tubes are generally about 2/3 the length of a mascara tube.



The plastic tube has a matte finish. I only wish it wasn't completely opaque. I would definitely prefer if the body of the tube was transparent. It would be good if I was able to see how much of the product is left.


Review

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec. Finish Browcara is the first browcara I got. I bought two shades, Natural Brown and Dark Brown. I did not read any reviews prior to buying this product, nor did I even know how to use and apply browcara.


How to Apply Browcara
Being a total newbie at this, I expected my first application to be messy. To my surprise, it wasn't messy. It was easy to apply. There are different "techniques" out there on how to apply browcara, but I do it in my own way which is a little less complicated than the methods taught from other sites. Here is my way:

*Prep*
Shape and comb through your eyebrows using a spoolie brush.

*Apply*
Angle the brush wand at 45 degrees and start combing from the middle section of your eyebrow to the outer tip. Comb lightly in one direction along your hair growth, not against. Once that's done, start again from your inner brows all the way out again. Always use short strokes.

*Finish*
Comb your eyebrows again using a spoolie brush. If you want your brow to look more defined, you can always use an eyebrow pencil for the tips.


Color
Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec. Finish Browcara comes in 4 different shades. Below are swatches of the two shades I got: Natural Brown and Dark Brown.



Natural Brown is a lighter shade. It is pretty close to a brown/ash grey color.
Dark Brown is their darkest shade. It is a dark pure chocolate-y brown.
Both colors look good on my skin tone (my skin profile can be found on the right side of my blog homepage)

Both colors are a good match for me. My hair is dyed to a brown/copper color. I like both equally. I know it's totally weird because there is usually a favorite shade for something, or when a shade is more suitable for certain occasions etc. But i love both shades! Both of these colors are so natural looking and both can be worn for daily activities.

Here are a few before and after pictures:



The picture below shows how my eyebrows are after applying just the browcara alone:



I personally prefer my eyebrows to look more defined with sharper tips, so I use an eyebrow pencil as an extra step:



Formula
The main factor about what makes a browcara either "Great" or just "Meh" is the formula. This Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Browcara nailed it in that department. It's formula is amazing.

The formula isn't too wet, which plays a huge part in getting that perfect application. I have gotten more browcaras from various brands since then, and I still prefer this Holika Holika browcara because of its formula. When a browcara is too wet, it tends to feel heavy and clumps easier during application.

It is normal for the brush to sometimes scrape against your skin, and because of that, you definitely do not want a browcara that is too wet. I have tried wetter formulas from other brands, and have gotten a blobs of browcara staining my skin, thus making my eyebrows appear patchy.

Holika Holika browcara has a drier formula which definitely helps in preventing clumping. I have not had any problems in achieving natural looking and even eyebrows.




Pros


  • Easy and fast application
  • Quick dry formula
  • Consistency of formula prevents clumping
  • Gives eyebrows an even finish
  • Color shades are very natural looking
  • Contains moisturizing ingredients
  • Does not irritate skin


Cons

  • Have to purchase online for a much cheaper price
  • Can't see remaining product due to opaque tube
  • As with all browcaras, a pencil is still needed to define the tips


Final Verdict

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec. Finish Browcara is a product I will definitely repurchase. I will most likely purchase both of the same two shades again. A browcara is now something which I really can't live without - there is just no way to achieve filled, even eyebrows just by using a pencil. Of course there are other ways such as using an eyebrow powder or pomade, but using a browcara is the best and quickest option for me. The only limitation with all browcaras is having to also use a pencil to define your outer eyebrow tips.

- Crystal




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