Tools of the Trade: The Best Brow Products

In the second installment of my What About Brows series this post is all about shopping and selecting the best brow products and tools for your busy/expensive or inexpensive/crazy lifestyle. Before we can dive in to topics like, how to shape your brows at home, waxing versus threading, etc. etc., I thought it would be best to break down the best pencils, powders, gels, and tools. I rounded up the best brow products for every personality, every hairy situation, every budget, etc. Just call me the Goldilocks of brow worthy products. ; )

The Pencils:

Why you need one: Brow pencils are typically long-wearing and a quick and easy way to fill sparse and uneven areas.

Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer— If you’re new to the brow game, I highly recommend this glide-on color stick. No sharpener needed and my brows look perfect… but not overdone. I have had my fair share of harsh pencils but the texture of this pencil is jusssttt right (cue the Goldilocks ‘tude).

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor—If I were to recommend one super lux brow buy it would be this. It’s the perfect multitasking calligraphy tip (I know, so fancy), grooming brush and secret sharpener.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil—My eco-friendly makeup friends would love this paraben and sulfate-free pencil that combines the benefits of a powder, pencil and wax. The double-ended brush is pretty decent too.

The Powders:

Why you need it: Brow powders tend to look more natural than pencils, so it’s a more subtle way to frame your face.

Benefit Brow Zings—The mini tweezers, hard angle and blending brushes are just little perks compared to this duo powder shadow kit. One shade has a soft, pigmented wax for defining and shaping, while the other is a complementary setting powder to keep them in place.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo—Brow powders can be hard to choose from (and sometimes pretty limiting in shade options) but this brow duo comes in eight different shade options. I like the texture of this powder (whether you’re using it for a sheer finish or medium opacity).

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder Kit—OK so the ‘cake’ in the name of this product kinda threw me off but I was actually pretty impressed with this $6 steal. It blends easily and can be removed with just the swipe of your makeup remover.

The Gels:

Why you need it: Whether you choose to tint your brows is up to you, but taming them is just as important.

Benefit Gimme Brow—I have a couple sparse areas that I had a hard time filling in without it looking unnatural. Enter this Benefit brow game changer. This brush-on fiber gel makes it easy to apply, blend and build.

Cailyn Gelux Eyebrow—I discovered this product in my Wantable box. While I like the waterproof gel formula and built-in brush, I would recommend it only if you’re a brow shaping expert. If you’re a brow beginner, this application may be a little too intense, but that’s just my opinion.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Brow Tamer Grooming Gel—I totally underestimated Marc Jacobs’ beauty line. I am addicted to his gel eyeliners so naturally, his grooming gel is no different. It’s a clear gel so if you’re one of the lucky ducks that doesn’t need much brow grooming, this baby will do the trick.

The (Brow) Highlighters:

Why you need it: Brow highlighters can easily turn back the clock by giving your face a more youthful and dewy complexion.

Benefit High Brow Glow—This pencil is my holy grail of brow lifting pencils. This champagne pink shade gives brows an instant lift (no surgery required) and a pretty glow for a dewy look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duality—Here’s another double-ended brow product that does no wrong. With matte and shimmer pencil highlighter options, you can totally use this for day and night.

Revlon Colorstay Brow Enhancer—The tinted wax end is OK but I love the highlighter portion. It wears well, especially during those brutal extra long days at work.

The Tools:

Why you need it: You may not always have time to book an appointment with your brow aesthetician and stray hairs can pop up anytime, so why not be prepared?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tweezers— I slip when I hold most tweezers but I always get a good grip with this tool. The slanted top can handle even the tiniest of eyebrow hairs.

Sally Hansen Now Brow—While I really recommend spending the few extra dollars on some nice brow tools, Sally Hansen’s brow kit is a decent drugstore buy. The angled brow scissors makes it easy to snip those extra long hairs—definitely the star product in this kit.

Mark Hook-Up Brow Factory Cleary Brow Gel & Just Tweezing—Portable beauty products are a must for my on-the-go schedule so naturally, this Hook-Up concoction Mark came up with makes my busy beauty routine a cinch.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Classic Stencils—OK back to Anastasia again. I mean, what can I say, she’s a brow wiz and her brow products are pretty legit. If you don’t frequent the salon that much, these stencils are a foolproof guide to achieving artist level brows at home.

Have a question about brows? Need some help on deciding on a brow product? Tweet me @politics_pretty #whataboutbrows