I Never Pluck My Brows, But This One Product Has Got Me Loads of Compliments
I haven’t had my eyebrows professionally tidied in approximately seven years. And it’s not through lack of need—trust me. My brows are dark, coarse and unruly. Straggly hairs sprout at all angles and are a far cry from subtle. But truthfully, I kind of like their wild ways. I have always been an advocate for big, bushy eyebrows, and I simply found that with every salon appointment, I got further and further away from the wild brows I craved. However, ever since going on brow strike all of those years ago, I have seriously struggled to find products that work for me.
You see, while growing your brows wild sounds great in theory, in practice, they require quite a bit of styling to make them passable. While pencils only make my already dark hairs look even darker, putties and pomades seem to give too much structure, resulting in a stencil-like finish. So for the most part, I’ve exclusively used brow gels, which hold the hairs in place without depositing too much colour, for the past few years. While I’ve had favourites, it wasn’t until I tried Charlotte Tilbury’s Brow Fix earlier this year that I really got to experience greatness.
The first time I used Brow Fix, I was just expecting it to be another bog-standard brow gel. In honesty, I’d learned to live with the fact that most brow gels are little more than satisfactory. But when I applied it to my brows, I realised this stuff was different. First up, it’s a clear gel, which is perfect for my no-makeup makeup preferences. While so many clear gels out there turn white and crusty once dry, this stuff does no such thing. It applies like a silky balm that makes brows look conditioned and glossy. For me it’s a brush-it-on-and-go sorta product, but for those who like their brows to look a little fuller, it’s ideal for use over pencil or pomade.
Secondly, I want to talk about the brush because I think it’s the pièce de résistance. For so long, my brow routine had to involve an additional spoolie. I would brush my brows up first, really getting into the root and lifting them up and out, and then I would set them with my gel of choice. The reason being that the majority of brow gels have tiny brushes that are great for depositing product but truly terrible at combing brows into place. This brush, however, is big and really works into the root of the brow, meaning I have been able to ditch my additional spoolie.
Finally, I want to talk about the finish because it wasn’t actually until the fifth person complimented me on my brows in one week (trust me—this never happens) that I realised just how great this stuff is. It sticks hairs in place all day long without turning them stiff and crunchy. It’s much more lightweight and low-maintenance than some of the new soap-like balms and has serious staying power. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll never need to use any other brow product ever again.
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Ideal for those who want a high-impact, laminated finish, this stuff is the equivalent of glue for your brows. Plus, it’s adored by basically every beauty editor I know.
The thing I love about this gel is that one side of the spoolie is a little fluffier to help give extra lift.
I used this product for years before finding Brow Fix, and I still think it’s one of the best products around, especially if you like a tint.
Okay, this isn’t technically a gel, but it’s handy enough to be included here. It has a solid balm on one end and a super-fluffy brush on the other for an effortless, feathery finish.
The thing that sets this stuff apart from so many others is its clever brush. It’s small but mighty thanks to its long bristles that really grab the hairs as you glide it through.
Mist some water or setting spray onto the soapy block and work it through brows with the accompanying densely packed brush. Results are soft, feathery and really quite impressive.
This stuff is considered one of the best brow products of all time, and for good reason. The long wand makes it super easy to work it into brow strands and gives a perfectly preened finish.
Not too dissimilar from Brow Fix, this stuff is clear and has a super-fluffy brush to help give lift.
Next up, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's facialist just shared these 7 amazing skincare tips with me.
Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.
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