A while back a friend told me about going to a brow shaping studio. To me, this was an unknown concept. My history with eyebrows in general started with an older sibling teasing me about my growing unibrow somewhere in my tween years in the early 90’s. My mother started plucking my eyebrows for me since at that age I had no clue what I was doing. Bless my mother. Luckily she didn’t go overboard in the 1990’s pluck-o-thon. Some didn’t get out of the 90’s so easily though, and have been left with a very thin line.

Some were left with nothing. My grandmother told me her older sister shaved off her eyebrows when she was sleeping and they never grew back! Luckily, I still have something to work with though. Whew! She always used a pencil as a result.

Anyways, I like the brow shaping studio because they can do tints (to color or fill in the brows), laminations (to straighten and lift the hair), or just shape with tweezing or waxing) depending on retinol use or lack thereof). The brow shaping gives you that arched brow you see on the movie stars of the 60’s.

After the brow studio plucks, trims, and shapes my brows, I use a pencil to fill in the spaces on my brows moving forward for the daily make up look. Sometimes I’ll use a brow gel, at times I have used pomades, and other times I have lifted with a clear gel.

It’s a common misconception that good makeup costs more money. You don’t have to spend a fortune on making those brows look great. But if you want to splurge on some products then that’s okay too! Below is a list of some that I have used along with some personal ratings.

Splurge worthy

Anastasia

Anastasia Brow Whiz comes in at $25 USD per pencil. Pencil on one end, spooly on the other end. Pigment is good. A little pricier than other brands.

Anastasia Dip Brow is $20 USD. The eyebrow gel is pigmented and almost looks like mascara but for your brows. (When I was in my early 20’s I actually used mascara on my eyebrows!) but now we are advanced! I like this product. It fills with pigment but not as much as a pencil. The gel glosses the brow, and gives a lift.

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade comes in at $21 USD, and is best used with the brush is $18 USD. The brush has an angle on one end and a spooly on the other end. I think this is the most pigmented out of them all. The rich pomade also gives a little lift. I really like this one, but it’s kind of a splurge.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel is $22 USD, and gives some shaping and lift. I was able to see some shaping with this. No flaking which you get with some clear gels. Doesn’t make your brows stand on end like some of the laminated effects though.

Kosas

Kosas Brow Pop is $24 USD. This highly pigmented pencil glides on well. Spooly included for shaping as you will.

Kosas Air Brow is $24 USD. Looks like clear mascara. I was pleasantly surprised receiving this from Sephora for my birthday. Goes on clear. Lifts, and shapes. Doesn’t flake. Is a solid go to.

Kosas also has an Air brow Tinted in a variety of brow colors at $24 USD. I have not tried this one yet though.

Middle of the road price point

Glossier

Glossier Brow flick – $18 USD. Not my favorite. Dried out quickly. Didn’t give a high grade of pigment. No spooly due to ink pen trying to give that microblading look. Just fell flat for me.

Glossier also has Boy Brow at $20 USD if you want the lifted/laminated look. Honestly, the pigment and lift wasn’t worth the money to me.

Billion Dollar Beauty

Brows On Point® Micro Brow Pencil is $16. Like most brow pencils, one end has the spooly. The pencil has broken, and become somewhat dry at times. The price point is okay. The product is okay. It’s not my favorite, but will do in a pinch.

Billion Dollar brow also has other products, however I haven’t tried them. This is an okay middle of the road price point with good pigment.

On a budget

NYX

Control Freak Eyebrow Gel is $7 USD. It shapes and lifts nicely… but can be a flakey friend so to speak.

Tame and Frame Brow Pomade is $9 USD. The pigment is pretty good. The pomade is okay. I think I got spoiled by Anastasia’s brow pomade. I think this is an okay substitute though if you need something a little cheaper.

Micro Brow Pencil is $11 USD. Pretty good brow pencil. Spooly comes on the other end. Glides on well. Pigment is as good as Billion Dollar Brow. A good option on a budget from your local drug store.

Wet and Wild

This brand used to be a firm go to for a lot of people in the 80’s and 90’s. The price is good too! I got excited about this brow pencil!

Wet and Wild ULTIMATE BROW™ MICRO BROW PENCIL is just under $5 USD. The pencil has the standard spooly on the end. The pigment is great. Glides and fills well. This is a great go to on a budget! This is the overall winner on a budget.

Wet and Wild has a lot of other brow options which I have not tried out yet. Click here to see their other options.

The cut

On a budget and my favorite pencil overall, go for the Wet and Wild Ultimate Micro Brow Pencil. It works just as well as the others and is just under $5 USD at your local drug store.

The clear brow gel, I would go for the Kosas Air Brow. Sure, it is a little splurge at $24 USD. However, it gives a good lift and doesn’t flake at the end of the day.

The tinted gel, Anastasia’s gel is a good option at $21 USD.

The pomade, Anastasia’s Dip Brow Pomade is a clear winner for me due to the pigment and texture of the pomade. A little splurge at $21 USD with the Brush at $18 USD, but lasts a long time.

-Keri

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