Eyebrows are something I think about a lot in my day-to-day life. I’m obsessed with them – my own and everyone else’s. As that old saying goes, eyebrows really do frame the face. And, unfortunately, they can also ruin it, especially as we get older and things start to shift (or, let’s be honest, move south).
So, you can imagine how much emphasis I place on finding good brow products. And I mean really good ones. Not the mountain of mediocre, streaky, poorly pigmented, dried-out products that many brands churn out just to stay in the “brow product” category. I’m talking about the high-quality, well-designed, precise products that make the difference between, “Ooh, who does your brows?” and “Oh God, did you see her brows?” You know what I mean.
I try new brow products almost every week. And these are the four I think are truly worth your money.
E.l.f Cosmetics Brow Lift
Starting off strong (literally) with E.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Lift (€7 from Boots). This unassuming little pot offers the most powerful hold for brow hairs I’ve come across. Whether you’re going for that extreme, lifted, laminated effect – where your brows are essentially plastered flat against the skin (which, I must say, is quite a youthful look when done right) – or just a regular tame, shape and hold, this is the product for you. And it’s an absolute steal.
Brow Aid Power Pomade Pro
Who better than Ireland’s arguable queen of brows to bring back pomade – and do it brilliantly? Kim O’Sullivan made waves last year with the Brow Aid Power Pomade Pro (€17 from browaid.com). A modern twist on the often heavy, flaky pomades of the past, this lightweight version is smooth, creamy, and allows for the quick, easy creation of sleek, defined brows without harshness or heavy build-up. The packaging is brilliant, too – the lid features a built-in, angled brush for precise application. Available in three shades.
Poco Beauty TFD Brow Pen
If you’re lacking in hair in the brow department or have leftover blobs of pigment from very old microblading that you absolutely regret (hi, it’s me) then you need to try Poco Beauty Brow Pen (€20 from pocobeauty.com). This is so fine, so sharp and so pigmented that it allows you to create real-looking hair strokes in seconds. Little pressure is needed, and flicking upwards from the base of the brow elicits excellent results. Available in three shades.
Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen
I must also give an honourable mention to the most recent excellent brow product I have tried, Mighty Fine Brow Pen from Benefit Cosmetics (€31 from Brown Thomas). Of similar ilk to the aforementioned brow pen but still quite different, this three-pronged brush allows for the creation of multiple, evenly spaced hair strokes throughout the brow. If you just need a few hair strokes here and there, this might not be the best option, but if you need a whole lot of hair strokes (like me) then you will love this. Happily, it’s available in eight shades, which makes finding the perfect colour match easy.
This week I’m loving ... & Other Stories Cream Eye Colour
Not always the first place you’d think to shop for beauty, but I found myself in & Other Stories recently, browsing their surprisingly extensive selection of make-up and skincare. The brand’s Cream Eye Colour pots immediately caught my eye, so I picked one up to try at home – and it is excellent. Creamy, pigmented, long-wearing and easy to apply with your fingers. They’re available in a variety of shades and are reasonably priced too, at €22.
