When I first read the packaging for Maybelline Tattoo Brow Long Lasting Tint after plucking it out of my #LDBeauty PR sample stash, visions of having microbladed brows without the microblading danced in my head. This paint-on, peel-off brow tint promises natural-looking results that last up to 3 days. I got very excited about being able to do my brows at night twice weekly while I was masking or watching Netflix and then being able to skip this step during mornings. What's more, these brows would stay put through exercise classes, showers, and facial cleansing. I mean, this product practically has Lazy Girl Approved written all over it! Alas, reality did not quite live up to fantasy in this case.
The instructions were straightforward enough. Paint the product on using the slim brush applicator. Leave on to dry for at least 20 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you want results that will last for up to 3 days. The longer you leave it on, the darker the tint develops. When you're done, gently peel off the product, working from your inner brows to the outside.
There's nothing quite like a "before" iPhone selfie in terrible lighting to truly highlight what a difference a beauty product can make, is there? Here you can see that my natural brows are fairly good. There are a couple of sparse spots through the arches though, and the inner brows are practically bald (which was why I was applying lash serum to my brows in the first place).
I'm using the dark brown shade here. For the best results, you really want to paint it on thick so that you look like you've drawn in your brows with a Sharpie. If you're nervous about getting the shape right, you can use a brow pencil to faintly mark where you want the brow tint to start and stop beforehand. Yes, there's a good chance your significant other will laugh at you while you have this on. No, you probably don't want to go out in public for the next 2 hours. Best to curl up at home with a good book.
Now here's the "after": Natural-looking, slightly more defined and filled-in brows! If you've left it on too long or the brow tint got too dark, not to worry: Just lightly rub face cleanser over your brows, rinse, and pat dry to remove the excess dye.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the inner corner of one eyebrow is slightly lighter. That's because (as I discovered through multiple tests during the last few weeks) Maybelline Tattoo Brow Long Lasting Tint is better at tinting and darkening individual brow hairs than the underlying skin. The bald/sparse spots are the hardest places for colour to stick to and the first places to fade. Waking up with partially filled brows was still a time-saver, but as the "up to 3 days" wore on and the fading increased I relied on my brow pencil more and more. Maybelline Tattoo Brow Long Lasting Tint is a fun and affordable product to try, and it did shave a few minutes off my morning routine, but your mileage may vary and it's definitely not a substitute for microblading.
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