Imagine it: It’s 2011. You’re in eighth grade and decide to do something about your bushy brows, so you head down to a very popular brow bar and put your life in the hands of someone who is supposed to be an eyebrow wizard. When you walk out, your face as you once knew it is wrecked. It’s red and irritated with a few layers of skin missing from above your brows (this lasted for weeks). No foundation or concealer can cover it because there’s nothing for it to stick to. What other choice do you have besides never let your brows be touched ever again?
When Cara Delevingne, Barbara Palvin, and Lily Collins started to be known for the natural shape and thickness of their brows, a revolution began in the beauty community. We put down the tweezers, canceled our waxing appointments, and walked with our heads down passed the threading kiosks in the mall. Thick eyebrows were in and none other than Glossier knew they could capitalize off us in our time of natural gal need.
I remember my first tube of Boy Brow. I didn’t wipe off the brush the first time I used it and ended up looking insane. When I gave it another shot, angels appeared, a choir started singing, and I was crowned Queen of Brows. Okay, maybe not, but in my head!!! Over the last two years, my love for Boy Brow has flourished. I’ve bought tubes for friends, changed their lives and became their favorite person. I’ve read countless routines where Boy Brow was the tentpole of someone’s makeup game. After all this, I decided to branch out and try something new. I thought, “Okay. Glossier nailed it. Can other equally as capable companies get me out of my eyebrow rut?”
First, I tried the Essence Make Me Brow Eyebrow Gel Mascara because it’s $2.99 and I thought, “Why not?” While I think this is actually supposed to be a dupe for the Benefit Gimme Brow due to the fibers dispersed throughout the gel, it works just fine as a Boy Brow dupe too. That’s how I feel about most eyebrow products that aren’t Boy Brow. They’re just fine. I’m looking to be WOWED. I want my socks to be knocked off and fireworks to be displayed outside my window. Sadly, none of those things happen when I fluff up my little caterpillars with this product.
After that, I tried the Milk Makeup Kush Brow. Milk Makeup’s marketing is MADE for people like me because I love editorial looks. I thought this would be a great replacement because it’s cruelty-free and easily accessible at Sephora. I was so excited to try it that I politely asked a Sephora employee where it was and she grabbed it from the back of the store before the display was even put out. At first use, I liked it but my eyebrows soon fell flat. I like my brows to be almost feather brows and this just couldn’t keep up. Thank u, next. I’m sorry. I had to.
After Milk’s rendition came out, I started to think about the clear version (I tried Dutch) and decided I’d pick up e.l.f.’s Clear Brow and Lash Mascara to see how big I could get my brows without adding any color. For $2, I didn’t think I had much to lose. This stuff did absolutely nothing for me. No volume. No hold. For $2, I learned I wanted to stick to gels with color because of my sparse spots in the tail end of my brows.
At this point, you would think I had learned my lesson, but nope. I’m always on a mission to improve my routine and give better recommendations. When I saw ILIA come out with their Essential Brow Natural Volumizing Brow Gel, I figured I would give it a shot. I’ve been getting more into organic beauty and thought I could trust. Much like when I trusted an outside source with my brows before, I was betrayed. This stuff says on the packaging “no flaking” but guess what it does. It flakes. Finally, after giving many brands a change, I’ve decided to stick with my tried and true.
Glossier Boy Brow is like a friend or significant other you compare everyone else to. There’s a space in my heart for this product that nothing else can replace. I’ve come to realize my eyebrow rut is the best rut I’ve ever been in.