If you're curious or overwhelmed by the eyebrow-enhancing options out there, allow me to suggest some brow products worth the effort.
Like many, I also suffered a regrettable period of over-plucked unibrow paranoia. Once, my sister asked if I was going for a 1950s Hollywood starlet look (I was not). To this day, I am still recovering from the fall out (pun intended) and have not touched a tweezer to my brows in years.
After seeing how some truly enviable brows can wake up a face, I've taken it upon myself to trial (with much error) nearly every Sephora brow product and soap brow method. Here is a roundup of the brow products that can help you achieve fluffy, feathery brows.
Mascara-like brow products that are great for beginners:
Glossier Boy Brow ($17 for .1 oz.)
This is a really phenomenal product esp for newbies. It's easy to apply, hard to fuck up, and most likely has your shade. My issue is the tube doesn't last very long (buy multiples) and they've been direct-to-consumer...until now. In 2023 Glossier hits Sephora.
Benefit Gimme Brow ($24 for .1 oz)
This product is slightly superior to Boy Brow because of the hold (if you want that slightly laminated look where your brows stand up a little). I don't love how tiny the wand is but the formulation and shade matching is amazing.
E.L.F. Wow Brow ($4 for .12 oz.)
If you're looking for a Boy Brow drugstore dupe, this is it. It dries up a little too fast but for the price and accessibility, it's pretty great.
NYX The Brow Glue ($9 for .17 oz.)
I had to try this because it was suggested by Boy Brow's product developer Annie from Eye Witness Beauty podcast as her product of the week. This literally did nothing but leave me with glue-like residue which was embarrassingly pointed out on multiple occasions. Hard pass.
Brow sculpting products that require a little finesse and maybe some additional brow products:
Refy Brow Sculpt ($24 for .28 oz)
This is a newer product from model Jess Hunt who has the most genetically blessed (everything) brows, so I was suspect it could be an influencer play.
Exhibit A:
Thankfully, it's not. The product is legit and possibly the closest you'll get to a laminated looking brow that does actually last all day. There are a few caveats, the main one being this is more of a brow primer. It's white and the applicator dispenses wayyy to much product at one time. It requires a light hand and a follow-up product that's pigmented. Refy Brow Pomade is a cream-based pot similar to Anastasia Dip Brow, neither of which I like, they're messy and not really natural looking. I'd try going over the refs Brow Sculpt with Benefit Gimme Brow or Glossier Boy Brow.
Benefit 24 Hour Brow Setter ($14 for .11 oz.)
I like this product in theory. It's marketed as a finishing step to set everything in place or it can be used as a clear sculpting gel. I find that if this is applied too heavily, it will leave a crusty visible residue (gross, I know). I suggest either applying this lightly on its own or apply a pigmented product like Gimme Brow and follow it up with this for a longer lasting hold.
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