i know what you’re thinking. that girl still blogs?! don’t worry, i almost forgot too. my blog and working out at home have this in common: you’d think i’d be more motivated because i have more time, but alas, my idealist plans don’t always work out how i hope. i also haven’t been feeling as creative in the blog and writing world of things so i, like many other people in the world, have turned to tiktok for a creative outlet. i love it and how hype it is but it’s also just adding to my trust issues with all the talk about it being banned. anyway, i just really wanted to talk about some d*mn brow products. and typically when i’m feeling spicier, i like to add in product pics and/or links but YA GIRL JUST DOESN’T HAVE IT IN HER. so just enjoy this ultra non-aesthetically pleasing blog of legit all paragraphs. it’s like reading a text book with no pictures. whatevs, at least i’m posting.
brow pencils:
my OG fav is the ABH brow wiz. i started my long-term committed relationship with the brow wiz back in 2015 and it’s been wonderful but also like any relationship, some ups and downs. for starters, the brow wiz is the flimsiest thing ever. it breaks apart if you even breathe on it the wrong way. whatever you do, do not drop this from any height. you’ll crack the caps and it won’t close like it should, or worse, the pencil will totally fall out. this happened to me once when i was on a trip and didn’t have any back ups. this is when i learned i always ALWAYS need to have a back up. girl probs, am i right?
anyway, i love this pencil but there are times it’s not as creamy as i would like. if you’re looking for that straightforward pencil that is very forgivable because while it is pigmented, it’s easy to manipulate, this one is for you. the shade range is pretty good but could definitely be better. i wear dark brown and there are times it feels too light, but the next shade up is too dark. the brow wiz would have been my one and only if it wasn’t for the fact that there was a time some moons ago that i needed a new one and every ulta i went to was out of stock, don’t even get me started on sephora and the resulting anxiety attacks, and i couldn’t wait for it to be delivered.
enter: benefit precisely my brow pencil. first of all, i just wanna know why it looks like some kind of weapon. i feel like the component is just doing the absolute most. BUT because of that, it’s far more sturdy than the brow wiz. i feel like the brow wiz is more refined and the precisely my brow is the wild child. it’s ultra pigmented and creamy, and for that reason, i wouldn’t really recommend for beginners because the pigmentation and formula can be intimidating at first. so back to my story, i had to go for the precisely my brow when brow wiz was out of stock and i hated it at first. but after some getting used to, it earned a special place in my heart and i’m sorry brow wiz, no hard feelings, but my brow is now my go to. it’s okay, there’s room in my life for both. the variety keeps my life interesting (sad, i know).
now onto brow gels:
my absolute favorite brow gel (shout out fellow loreal brow stylus plumper lovers) is now discontinued and i don’t want to talk about it because they completely changed it for god knows why because IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT. let’s talk about what i actually use because so far it hasn’t abandoned me (my fav products changing or discontinuing is one of the reasons why i have trust issues). the hourglass arch brow gel is SUPERIOR YALL. it has the fibrous and volumizing quality i’m looking for, and a shade that matches me perfectly. i’m not a clear brow gel girl. my brows need all the life and color they can get. this one is pricey but until i find another brow gel that works as well for me, at a more affordable price, i will keep repurchasing. sephora sends me emails when i’m in need of a repurchase because that’s the extent to which i buy this damn thing.
i recently attempted to venture into drugstore brow gel territory again (because i started to question whether the hourglass was worth my monies) so i tried the new-ish maybelline browfast sculpt. i fell in love at first and was convinced i was going to be able to replace my hourglass brow gel and it being half the hourglass price was obvi the point. i would be all for this one if it wasn’t for the very important, very unforgivable fact that IT RIPPED OFF MY BROW HAIRS WHEN I TOOK IT OFF. only after a couple days of using it!!!!???!!!! i had to wait a couple weeks before my brows grew back!!!! so back to my beloved hourglass i went. i had to apologize for ever doubting it.
another time i tried a brow gel that had potential but just didn’t make the cut was when i was really in my benefit kick and tried the gimme brow gel. this has good pigment and fibers but just didn’t keep my hairs in place. i don’t have the most voluminous brows so i need the fibers AND stay in place power to really create the brow vibes i’m looking for. this is a few dollars cheaper than the hourglass gel but with way less reward. so really, i’d rather pay more for the hourglass gel to get the trusted outcome.
now let me mention a brow gel that i thought was absolute ass. i love colourpop. do not for one second doubt that. but their clear brow gel (remember when i said i’m not a clear brow gel girl so like this already wasn’t going to be it) did nothing for me. like it didn’t even keep my brow hairs in place. if you’re going to be clear, you need to at least keep my hairs up so i look alive and not like i’m struggling.
this was my saga on brow products. my everyday makeup routine has really become condensed into like 2-3 steps since quarantine. but despite how lazy i am, brows are still essential. anyway, i hope y’all are hanging in there and taking care of yourselves. and if you’re feeling any kind of creativity slump or just burnout in general, i encourage you to try something new. sometimes that’s the brain’s way of communicating a need for change through doing something different and/or learning a new skill or hobby entirely. yes, i consider learning how to tiktok a skill because that sh*t is not easy at first. do something, anything, all the things, that spark joy. that’s all from me today, see y’all in the next post which could be anymore from 1 week to 6 months from now!
