Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium to Full Coverage Radiant Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid in 4.5 – I ended up returning this because it was too light
bareMinerals BAREPRO 16-HR Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation in Light 25 Neutral – I returned this one as well because it was too dark lol
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil: Eye, Lip & Brow Pencil in 612 Dimension Dark Brown
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Joy
Urban Decay Mini Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer in Shade 6
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in Stone Gray 05
Did you pick anything up from the friends and family sale
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
HITS
Buxom Lash Mascara – I really loved this mascara when I tried it and seeing the cost per ounce, it’s actually a better price than other high end ones.
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara – This is an expensive one, but I bought one of those Sephora Favorites kits and redeemed a full size tube of this mascara. The mini size had such a short wand, so I look forward to using the full size wand.
L’Oréal Voluminous Original Mascara – This was one of the first drugstore mascaras I tried. I know the first mascara for everyone would probably be the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, but I skipped straight to trying this one. It’s still one of my faves.
Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara – Here’s another mascara that I tried a mini of, but the curve of the wand made it easy for me to apply to my lashes. I would purchase the full size of this one.
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara – I really loved the wand of this mascara and it separated my lashes nicely for a natural look (but with an extra oomph). However, this is the most expensive mascara on this list (cost per ounce).
Essence Volume Stylist 18 hr Lash Extension Mascara – I tried this one out because Tati recommended it. If Tati, someone who tries out tons of mascaras, likes this then you know it’s a pretty good one.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara (read my review) – This is a great mascara that lifts the lashes. I tried the washable one, but I’m sure the waterproof one would be even better.
Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara (read my review) – I know there are probably better fiber mascaras out there, but this is one that I’ve tried and enjoyed. It easily washes off with warm water.
LIKES
Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara – I tried this mascara before I started reviewing products. From what I remember, this was a great mascara. I’d have to try it again to see if it would get bumped up to my HITS list.
Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara – Maybelline mascaras are some of my faves. This one isn’t my fave out of the ones I’ve tried, but it’s still a good mascara.
L’Oréal Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara – My friend recommended the telescopic mascara, but I bought the wrong one. I think she likes the black one and I bought the gold tube. This one has a nice, thin wand that’s great for bottom lashes.
Essence The False Lashes Mascara (read my review) – This mascara is not my favourite. While I rated it 3.5/5 in my review, I probably wouldn’t purchase it again. Even at its low price.
Essence Get BIG! Triple Black Lashes Mascara (read my review) – This brush is too fat for my lashes.
Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (read my review) – While I liked this mascara, I would prefer if the wand was a bit more tapered. It’s quite a fat wand and my lashes aren’t that long.
Clinique High Impact Mascara – I think this was one of the first mascaras I tried. My mom used to buy mostly Clinique makeup and she would buy the makeup during the bonus makeup bag at Hudson’s Bay. The ones that come with eyeshadow, lipstick, perfume and mascara.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Smart Gifted Mascara (read my review) – This is a great mascara for a natural look.
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – I liked this mascara, but I probably wouldn’t buy the full size. There are ones I prefer more.
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara – The makeup artist for my sister’s wedding used this one. If a makeup artist uses this, then you know it’s a good one.
Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara – Benefit mascaras and brow products are some of the best. I enjoyed this mascara and would get it again.
Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara – I’d say this one is my least fave of the Benefit mascaras, but it’s still a good mascara.
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – This makes your lashes look darker and not clumpy at all. This is one of the few mascaras where I’ve tried a mini that has a fairly long wand.
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara – I was excited to try this one because I know a few people who really like it. It wasn’t anything special for me. I’d rather buy a drugstore one that I like more.
Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara (read my review) – This one is cool because you can get two different looks by twisting the brush. It’s not my favourite though.
MISSES
L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (read my review) – I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t like the shape of the wand. I need a cone-shaped/smaller wand because I don’t have long lashes.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (read my review) – This mascara dries out too quickly (the tubes I’ve tried at least) and I don’t like the shape of the wand.Covergirl Total Tease Mascara (read my review) – While I did like this mascara, I didn’t like the tip of the wand.
Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara – I didn’t love the smell of this one (not that it really makes a difference because you can’t smell it on your eyes). The brush was quite hard and there are better mascaras for a similar price.
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
My brow products of choice are pencils and gels. A few times I’ve used an matte shadow as eyebrow powder, but I prefer pencils. I’m not patient or skilled enough to use pomades.
Two years ago, I wrote a similar post reviewing brow products I’ve tried (read my post). I’ve tried quite a few products since then and found some that I like more.
I’ve also written a few comparison posts (with swatches), check them out below:
I don’t think they sell the Dior Diorshow BoldBrow anymore, they came out with a new product to replace it.
HITS
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel – My friend recommended this clear gel and it’s my favourite clear gel that I’ve tried. It comes out of the tube white, but dries down clear. It leaves my brows feeling soft and not crunchy at all!
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 5 Deep – One of my favourite tinted brow gels.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (read my review) – This has been one of my favourite brow pencils I’ve tried.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – A great drugstore micro brow pencil. This is a fave of mine as well.
LIKES
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel– This brow gel does get a bit crunchy, but it keeps my brows in place. I just wish the wand wasn’t so huge. It’s like a mascara wand. I would prefer a thinner one.
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil in Soft Black 09(read my review) – I liked this brow pencil, but it felt like a waste to sharpen so much of it away. I prefer retractable pencils that you don’t have to sharpen. This pencil is nice for a natural look.
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette – I wanted to try a different brow pencil, so I grabbed this Kevyn Aucoin one. It’s the first product I’ve tried from the brand. The shade is a good match for me, but it wipes off more easily than other brow products. I wouldn’t repurchase it.
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil in Ash Brown – In my NYX Hits & Misses post, I put this in the HITS, but this is going into the LIKES section for this post. It’s a HIT for the products I’ve tried from NYX, but there’s other brow products I prefer. This is another pencil that I like from NYX. Although I prefer the Micro Brow pencil because it comes with a spoolie. This one comes with a little oval/paddle brush so you can diffuse what you drew on. You get a more filled in look with this pomade pencil.
MISSES
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (read my review) – I don’t know if it was just the sample I got of this, but it was kind of tacky. When you pull the wandout, you would see a string of product from the wand to the tube. It kind of reminded me of clear lash glue in that way.
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color in 5 Deep – I got a deluxe sample of this and it’s just too intense for me.
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill in 5 Deep – I prefer micro pencils so this was too thick for me. I prefer hair-like strokes instead of the filled in look.
Burt’s Bees Natural Brow Pencil in 1610 Brunette* – This only comes in two shades and the darker shade is too light for me. It was too waxy for my liking.
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown – This pencil was way too waxy for my liking and it never sharpened nicely.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brown – I just wanted to try some Charlotte Tilbury products so I bought this during the sale. I love the size of the brush and the colour was nice. It’s a nice product, but I don’t think it’s anything special and it’s the most expensive gel I’ve tried.
Brow Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per gram
# of shades available
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel
7 USD = 8.85 CAD
3.10g
2.2
clear, 4 tinted
Anastasia Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel
29.50
7.85g
3.8
clear
L’Oréal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara
13.49
3.2g
4.2
4 tinted
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel
32
7g
4.6
clear
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel (mini)
12
2,5g
4.8
clear
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (value)
51
6g
8.5
3 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
19
3.5g
5.4
clear
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
32
3g
10.7
10 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
18
1.5g
12.7
10 tinted
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel
30
1.33g
22.6
4 tinted
Brow Pencils/Pomade Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per ounce
# of shades available
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
32
0.1oz
320
8 shades
Burt's Bees Brow Pencil
13.99
0.04oz
349
2 shades
Mini size Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
19
0.05oz
380
3 shades
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil
10.99
0.02oz
550
4 shades on Maybelline,
2 shades on Shoppers Drug Mart site
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil
12.49
0.007oz
1784
8 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill
32
0.01oz
3200
12 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill (mini)
19
0.005oz
3800
3 shades
NYX Micro Brow Pencil
12.49
0.003oz
4163
8 shades
Anastasia Brow Wiz
28
0.003oz
9333
10 shades
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
32
0.003oz
10667
4 shades
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil
35
0.003oz
11667
9 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define
32
0.02oz
16000
12 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define (mini)
19
0.001oz
19000
12 shades
To Try
I have the Anastasia Brow Wiz in my collection, but I haven’t tried it yet. I bought it earlier this year and wanted to finish my Kevyn Aucoin pencil first.
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
Each primer has a small blurb on why I love, like or didn’t like. Some I’ve grouped together because they were similar to me. First, I’ll start with Hits, then Likes and end with Misses.
HITS
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This one is great for my dry skin. Before I started using facial oils and drinking more water, my nose was super dry and flaky (ew). It’s still a bit dry and can get flaky at times, but around the nostrils aren’t as bad as they used to be. This primer was the first that would keep my nose moisturized enough by the end of the day. You can also use this as a moisturizer if you’re in a pinch and need some moisture.
Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* & Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review) – These are also 2-in-1 primers that can double as moisturizers. I wouldn’t say that these should be used as your only part of your skincare routine, but they can definitely be one of the steps in your morning routine to help prep your skin. The Sonia Roselli Water Balm is more moisturizing than the Good Molecules. I wouldn’t use the Good Molecules as a moisturizer on its own though. I usually pair it with a face oil.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – This is a nice hydrating primer that has a bit of tackiness. You can also use at the end of your makeup routine, but take note that the spray nozzle isn’t the finest so don’t get too close to your face. It has a slightly citrus scent from the Limonene, so if you don’t like citrus, you’ll want to skip this one!
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is a nice smoothing/blurring primer that smells really nice. I use it on my cheeks and forehead where my pores are larger.
Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer (read my review) – This is one of Tati’s fave blurring primers. So I thought I’d give it a try. This is a thicker primer and it’s easy to use too much – Less is more! Sometimes I would get too much on my fingers and then just apply it to areas I didn’t really need it. I would notice my makeup would look more cakey in those areas. That was totally my fault though. This is a great primer if you need to blur those pores. If you do end up trying it, press it into the skin, do not rub.
Winky Lux Whipped Primer – Tati also tried this one to compare. I can’t recall exactly what she said, but I think she liked it. Although not as much as the Tarte one. This one is a softer texture since it’s whipped – It’s like this one is whipped cream cheese while the Tarte is regular Philly cream cheese. It might be easier for a beginner to try this one first and then upgrade to Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer when you’re ready.
Mac Strobe Cream (Pink) – I guess this is more of a liquid highlighter than a primer. If you have larger pores, you might want to use a blurring primer before applying this to the face. You can use this underneath foundation, mix it in with foundation or apply as a liquid highlighter. This pink is so pretty to give you that ‘glow from within’ look. The Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7 is also really pretty and I haven’t personally tried it, but the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is so pretty too.
LIKES
Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer – I don’t really like the silicone-y feeling blurring primers, but if you don’t mind them, you’d like this one.
Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer – This one broke me out, but it blurs really nicely. If it works for you, this is one of the cheaper primers available at Sephora and in this blog post.
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primers (Nourishing & Hydrating – These two primers were both really nice, but again didn’t provide my dry skin enough moisture. The Nourishing one is a bit richer in texture while the hydrating one is more of a gel cream texture.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I really loved this primer when I first tried a sample, but once I bought the full size bottle, I didn’t reach for it as often. You could use any facial oil you already have instead of spending money on a primer oil. Also, this isn’t the best smelling facial oil I’ve used either. I ended up having to use it as a facial oil and then ended up decluttering because I had it so long that it started to smell off.
First Aid Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, Stellar Brilliant Primer & Mac Prep + Prime Natural Radiance – From what I remember, these three primers were illuminating and they had similar textures. They weren’t shimmery or anything, but there was a glow to them. While they were nice, they didn’t provide quite enough hydration for my dry skin. Also, I didn’t like the smells of these primers. I’d rather use a really good hydrating primer and choose to add in some liquid highlighter on my own instead of getting an illuminating primer like these ones.
MISSES
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I know some people love this one, but this smells like school glue to me and that just turned me off. I also didn’t notice anything special about it.
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer – Similar to the Smashbox pore minimizing primer, this is silicone-y. It’s a good drugstore alternative to the Smashbox one, I believe. I didn’t compare them so I don’t know if Smashbox was better at blurring, but they both have the same texture.
Make Up for Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer – Redness Correcting & Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer – Redness Correcting(read my review) – I didn’t really find these two primers to work that well at concealing redness. If you need to colour correct, use a colour corrector instead of a primer that corrects.
L’Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream (Anti-Redness) (read my review) – This smells really bad, but it does work great if you have a slightly darker skin tone than I do. It works well for my mom. It starts out green, but then it turns ‘skin-coloured.’
Maybelline Facestudio Master Primer Blur + Redness Control Primer – This did nothing to conceal redness OR blur.
Nude By Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – Even though I rated this a 3/5 in my review, the smell is too sweet. It smells like Rockets (or as the Americans call them ‘Smarties’).
The Body Shop Moisturizing Primer – I don’t think this is available anymore, but it was basically a moisturizer. It had a similar texture to the First Aid priming moisturizer.
The Body Shop All-In-1 Blurring Primer – Again, this is silicone-y and one of the first primers I tried.
Smashbox Photo Finish Under Eye Primer – Originally, I loved this primer because I thought it made my under eyes look illuminated and bright. After a while, I didn’t notice anything. I don’t know if I was just imagining things in the beginning. This was meant to illuminate the under eyes. You don’t need this (even if it did work)…just get a good eye cream that already illuminates. This one has a similar texture to the First Aid/Stellar/MAC illuminating primers.
I’ve also tried the Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer and Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer in samples. I think the POREfessional was dried out by the time I tried it, but I know a lot of people love it. I think it’s similar to the Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer, so I might give the hydrating version a try. I really liked the Silk Canvas primer and would definitely consider purchasing the mini. I know the full size is more cost effective, but I don’t know if I could get through the full size one fast enough. I’d rather spend a few dollars more per ounce than buy the full size one and end up throwing it out because it expired.
To Try
Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer
Becca Velvet Blurring Primer
Benefit The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer
Bite Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer (normal to dry skin)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (This was on my 2020 Beauty Wishlist)
Cover FX Gripping Primer
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Blurring
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating
Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer
In my next Hits & Misses post, I’ll be writing about foundations!
Today, I’m sharing makeup and skincare products that have become favourites of mine. Either I already have repurchased or plan to repurchase in the future.
In no particular order, here are 15 of my beauty favourites:
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – I love this primer water so much, that I actually bought 3 during a sale on Smashbox.ca! It’s one of the few products that I’ve bought backups.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define* – Love this brow pencil. Benefit is one of the few brands that carries brow products with more than 3 shades and also different undertones.
Colourpop Boss Brow Clear Gel – My friend recommended this brow gel and I love it. It doesn’t make your brows feel crunchy at all!
Bioderma Sensibio H₂0 Make Up Removing Micelle Solution – The Garnier and Bioderma Micellar Waters are my favourites. The Garnier one is cheaper, so I repurchase it more, but I do see why everyone loves the Bioderma one too.
Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes* – I think this would be a great eye cream for the spring/summer time for me. It was very nice and light, but wasn’t quite hydrating enough for Canadian winters.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This is one of my favourite primers that keeps my dry skin hydrated throughout the day.
Good Molecules Pure Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil* – I have been loving facial oils for my dry skin and this one is a great one from Good Molecules.
Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* – I love that brands are coming out with primers without silicones. This one is a great 2-in-1 product.
Gummiband Hair Cords – I was originally gifted some hair cords, but I have since purchased more because I love them. Also, they’re a Canadian brand.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – This is a beautiful powder to set your makeup.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – This is the only lip mask I’ve tried, so I can’t say it’s my favourite. It is a great lip mask that keeps my lips hydrated at night.
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer – A favourite concealer of mine for spot concealing. It blends beautifully into the skin.
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I really enjoyed this eye cream. It made my under eyes feel smooth and hydrated. I also loved the metal applicator.
Rael Miracle Patches (read my review) – Love these patches!
Volition Strawberry-C Brightening Serum* (read my review) – Loved this serum!
Perricone MD Cold Plasma+ Face Serum* (read my review) – This was a nice product, but it’s way too expensive for what you get. I used this up in about a month (used it day and night). Because it comes in a tub and it’s very fluid, I used way more than I needed to and therefore finished it quicker than a bottle of the same size.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic* – I enjoyed this and my sensitive skin didn’t have any reactions to it.
Repurchase? I would definitely buy this in the future.
Heimish All Clean Balm (read my review) – I don’t know if the cleansing balm went bad or something, but it smelled very different from when I first got it. My skin was reacting to something and I don’t know if it was the cleansing balm or something else, but now I won’t know because I probably won’t repurchase it.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Amorepacific Treatment Cleansing Foam – It was nice, but my face felt quite dry after using it. It wouldn’t become my everyday cleanser, but I might use it once a week to get a good clean.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6* (read my review) – Love this!
Repurchase? Absolutely.
Elle Derm Anti-Stress Age Perfector Rejuvenating & Brightening Cream* (read my review) – This cream had salicylic acid. I prefer having a salicylic acid in a cleanser or a serum instead of my creams.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo – I’m picky when it comes to coconut scents, but this is one of my favourites. it doesn’t smell like fake coconuts or plastic.
Repurchase? Probably.
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser – I like this exfoliating stick. It’s gentle on the face and easy to travel with.
Repurchase? Yes.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – Love these. If you haven’t tried them, you should get acne patches!
I finished a few masks and scrubs this month! Keep reading to find out what I would repurchase.
Oceà Natural Skincare Ocean Mineral Complex Masque (read my review) – I don’t really know if this did anything for me. While it felt nice and cooling, I don’t know if it brought out any impurities or did anything special.
Repurchase? Probably not.
L’Oréal Pure Sugar Scrub (Kiwi) – As much as I enjoyed this sugar scrub, I could make this myself and there wouldn’t be kiwi seeds going down the drain.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask(read my review) – This was way too rough on my sensitive skin. Even using it on the body felt quite rough.
Repurchase? No.
Tula Kefir Cleansing Oil – I really enjoyed this cleansing oil. It didn’t break me out and it lasted a while.
Repurchase? Yes.
Tula Dual-Phase Skin Reviving Treatment Pads – This was an interesting exfoliating product. You use one side to disperse some serum and flip it over and then use the exfoliating side.
Repurchase? It has witch hazel which I think I am allergic to, but if it didn’t have it, I would consider repurchasing.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Night Mask– This mask has a strong smell. While tea tree does work to prevent and improve acne, it’s just such a strong smell. I feel like the tea tree blemish stick (read my review) worked better for me as a spot treatment. I don’t think I used this enough for it to work really well.
Repurchase? No.
Benefit 24-Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel– I got a deluxe sample of this and I did like the brush of this, but I didn’t love the gel itself. It was sticky like glue. Once it started to dry out, it was flaky like when glue dries. It did make my brows look very natural when combined with a pencil.
I have another brow pencil comparison review for you! I have previously compared the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define with the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. Check it out below:
Today, I’m comparing the Benefit Precisely, My Brow with the Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil.
Benefit, Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6
Available in 8 shades, twist-up & retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end (mini doesn’t come with a spoolie).
This ultra-fine eyebrow pencil draws incredibly natural-looking, hair-like strokes that last 12 budge-proof hours.* A few strokes of the rich yet blendable colour will transform brows from shapeless & undefined to filled & defined eyebrows.
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil in 09 Soft Black
Available in 9 shades, needs to be sharpened & comes with a spoolie.
A powder pencil that softly fills in and defines brows with quick, easy strokes, and features a spoolie brush at the other end to help create a neatly-shaped, natural finish.
As the name suggests, this pencil is like a powder. It’s not waxy, it’s very much the same feel of the Benefit pencil, but your brows are filled in more because it mimics the look of using a powder.
The two shades (6 for Benefit and 09 Soft Black for Lancôme) are very close. It may not look like it in the picture, but when you just do a hair stroke, they look very similar. The Benefit one might be just a tad cooler (it might match 10 Black in the Lancôme). Both brow pencils are the same price at $32 CAD, but the Benefit one is probably a better value since you don’t have to sharpen it. I feel like you’ll lose a good amount of the Lancôme pencil when you sharpen it.
I have to say that the Lancôme’s spoolie is fatter, but it’s also firmer. Personally, I prefer the Benefit spoolie. The Benefit one is also easier to travel with since you don’t need to carry a sharpener.
WINNER (if you like the filled in look while still being natural): Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil
WINNER (if you prefer hair-like strokes): Benefit Precisely, My Brow
I think it really depends on what you want. While the Lancôme pencil does fill in your brows, it still looks very natural and it’s easy to comb out if you make a mistake. For me, I don’t like brow pomade because it just scares me, but this is a good alternative for a starter. If you like powders, you might want to consider this pencil because it can fill in like a powder, but you get more precision with the pencil tip.
The first time I used the Lancôme pencil, my brows looked the best they’ve ever looked! A clear brow gel looks great with it because it already fills in the brows really well. With the Benefit pencil, it’s more precise so it’s useful for filling in gaps. The Benefit pencil can fill in your brows, but it just takes more time to do it since the pencil is so thin. Sometimes I go a bit overboard and my brows are just way too dark. I think I need to get a lighter shade in the Benefit one (especially if I were to use it on the head of the brow).
I know Lancôme has a Brow Define Pencil that’s similar to the Benefit one; it’s retractable and has a spoolie. I wonder how that one compares.
I would definitely repurchase both, but if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I have #NoRepurchaseRule this year. Brow products take me a long time to finish, so I will probably just keep trying out different brow pencils until I’ve tried as many as possible. If you can believe it, I still haven’t tried the Anastasia brow products. I think those are next on the list!
I’m on a no buy/low buy this year, but it doesn’t mean I can’t window shop and get a bunch of samples to test out until I find my HG (holy grail) products.
I have quite a few primer/foundation/concealer products on my wishlist since I want to have a selection of different things, i.e. different formulations (liquid, powder, cream), different coverages (sheer, medium), mattifying vs. smoothing vs. hydrating…the list goes on!
Also, as a beauty blogger, I want to keep trying new things (even if I’ve found something I love). Maybe I will find something else even better!
I have some new products on the list and I have some cult faves that I want to try (I’m slow to the game, I know!):
Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer
RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Milk Makeup Flex Concealer
Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder
Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick
Here are some products that I’m planning to get samples of:
Dior Forever Skin Glow 24h Wear Radiant Perfection Skin-Caring Foundation
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation
Do you use brow gel in your brow routine? I’ve tried a few different ones: clear and tinted. I prefer a tinted brow gel because I find that the clear ones I’ve tried make my brows look glossy/shiny in the sunlight? Plus, tinted brow gels give a more natural, filled in look (especially if they have fibers) whereas the clear gels sort of separate my brows and tend to wipe off the brow pencil I used beforehand.
Benefit Ready, Set, Brow Deluxe Sample of the 24 Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel
An invisible brow gel that shapes, sets, and locks in brow color for 24 hours. Hold eyebrows in place and keep them perfectly polished all day with this clear setting gel. The custom brush features long bristles that evenly coat brow hairs from root to tip and short bristles to sculpt and shape hairs into place. The flexible, flake-free and quick to dry formula applies easily to brows and locks on makeup for 24 hours.
Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark
Update: They no longer sell this and they’ve replaced it with another brow gel.
A brow mascara to achieve lush, full, and groomed brows immediately. Quickly and easily create a natural brow look that highlights lids and emphasizes the eyes. The formula coats each hair for a strengthening effect, and the mousse-serum format is enriched with microfibers to coat skin and brows for an instant, lush look. The natural shades match any skin tone: Light, Medium, or Dark, while the micro-brush coats each fiber for fuller, perfectly shaped brows.
I think clear brow gels are great if you just want a 1 step routine and you already have great brows. If you’re someone who has gaps in your brows, then a tinted gel with fibers is really useful.
I love the Benefit Gimme Brow and the Diorshow Bold Brow gels. I bought the Dior one because it has a little more product in it than the Gimme Brow, but sometimes the shade looks a bit gray-brown. The Gimme Brow expanded their shade range and they have a darker shade that would match my dark brows. Next time, I think I will try the Anastasia and Hourglass ones. I know Essence has one for a fraction of the price, but I feel like the darkest shade will be too light for me. I know Glossier Boy Brow is a fave for many people, so I might give that one a try at some point. Since brow gel is okay to keep longer than mascara (because it doesn’t go close to your eyes), I don’t mind a high end one.
WINNER: TIE!
After trying the Colourpop Boss Brow Clear Gel, I’ve changed my mind. Initially, I chose tinted brow gels, but now I love clear gels.
Between the Diorshow Bold Brow and the Benefit one though, I prefer the Diorshow Bold Brow.
OPI Nail Lacquer in Step Right UP! – This is a beautiful sheer pink. Perfect for a bride/bridesmaids.
Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark (read my review)- I really enjoyed this tinted brow gel. You get a bigger tube than Benefit Gimme Brow, but there’s only three shades to choose from and the darkest one is a bit gray (cool toned). If they come out with a shade that’s closer to my brows, I would definitely repurchase it. Until then, I’m trying out other brow gels.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (read my review) – This has become one of my favourites since I received it from Topbox Circle. A good drugstore dupe for it is the NYX Micro Brow Pencil.
Pixi By Petra + Aspyn Ovard Glow-y Powder in Santorini Sunset – I spotted this at Winners and it’s a beautiful champagne highlighter. Unfortunately, since it’s a collaboration, it’s not available any more.
Last month, I received the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil from Topbox Circle. I thought I would compare it to my fave, the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. Keep reading to find out which one I prefer!
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black (brown-black)
Available in 8 shades, twist-up & retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end.
Build full beautiful brows with our ultra-thin Micro Brow Pencil. So precise it coats even the finest hairs with color for a natural-looking finish.
In the picture, I don’t have a cap on the spoolie, but it does come with a cap.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (cool soft black)
Available in 8 shades, twist-up & retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end (mini doesn’t come with a spoolie).
This ultra-fine eyebrow pencil draws incredibly natural-looking, hair-like strokes that last 12 budge-proof hours.* A few strokes of the rich yet blendable colour will transform brows from shapeless & undefined to filled & defined eyebrows.
Top is the NYX Micro Brow Pencil (you can tell it’s slightly more brown).
I have the darkest shade for both pencils and the NYX pencil looks darker and more brown while the Benefit pencil is more gray-black.
For both pencils, they are available in 8 shades. No need for a sharpener, you twist it up and you can retract if you need to. They both come with spoolies on the other end (although the Benefit mini size doesn’t have a spoolie).
WINNER: Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil
It was a very close competition, but I have to give the win to Benefit. They are known for their brow products and they just came out with more shades for each of them!
My brows are black (and my hair has grown out since I last dyed it), so when I use a brow product that has brown, it looks like I’ve obviously filled them in with a pencil. The Precisely, My Brow looks more gray and looks more natural on me. My brow pencils last a long time because I’m fairly low maintenance when it comes to brows. I only fill in the gaps and nowhere else and then I’ll go in with a brow gel to keep them in place. So, for me, I’m okay with spending a bit more on brow products because they last so long.
If you don’t want to spend $30 on a brow product, then NYX is a great alternative, but I personally think the Benefit pencil works better for my brows because it’s not as harsh-looking. I think the NYX pencils cater more to blondes and brunettes whereas the Benefit ones just came out with more shades and they have the different undertones (warm, neutral and cool). I haven’t tried the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but I’m interested to see if it’s better than or performs the same as the Precisely, My Brow. Once I finish some of my current brow products, I will probably pick up a Brow Wiz pencil to compare (especially since it’s cheaper and you get a little more product).
I have a new review up! I compared the Benefit Precisely, My Brow with the Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil (click here)!
Let’s talk about brows! First, a little history of my brows. You can skip ahead if you want to see what products I use!
My Brow History
My brows have gone through a lot over the years. I only started using brow products in 2016. Before I started grooming them, my brows were very thick (they were shaped like triangles, I had the arch where it was supposed to be, but then there were lots of hairs that needed to be tweezed underneath). Look! Triangles! →
I started tweezing them in grade 8 (aged 12/13). I overplucked them, and I don’t mean they were too thin, I mean I plucked them so they were too far apart (wide gap between brows). They were like that in my high school years too- they got closer though. I don’t know when the first time I got them professionally waxed was, but I assume high school or university. Twice I’ve gotten them done where the lady waxed them and they were too thin. The head of my brows are a bit sparse and in pictures, it makes my eyebrows look farther apart than they are in person. The tail of my brows sometimes has gaps if I overpluck or trim the hairs too short. In the past, I used to overpluck underneath the head of my brows and it would look like the head of my brows had a hook. My eyebrows are arched, so when I overpluck and have a hook, my brows had a ‘C’ shape.
I may need to just let them grow out and then get them done professionally.
2010- they’ve started to grow closer together
2013- too thin and far apart
2016- eyebrows have a hook
2017- success at last! No hook and not too thin
Brow Products
There are so many different brow products out there: Pencils, Mascaras, Gels, Pomades, Powders and more!
Micro pencils are the most natural, in my opinion, because you can do feather-like hair strokes. They’re great for filling in gaps.
Brow mascaras/gels are good if you want to darken your brows, but don’t want them filled in.
Tips: For tinted ones, make sure to only touch your hairs and not the skin, or it will tint your skin and you’ll get random spots filled in that you don’t want. If you like clear ones, Maybelline’s Clear Great Lash Mascara is great because it’s duo purpose (brows and lashes in one) and good for throwing in your bag.But I prefer using a tinted gel though because it has a matte look. I’ve used a clear gel that hardened and made my brows feel crunchy.
Powders are good if you want to fill in the brows, but still have a natural look.
Tip: You can use a matte eyeshadow, just use an angled liner brush
Pomades and cream gels give you the most colour. They’re great if your brows are non-existent or if you want a more dramatic look.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – The spoolie side comes with a cap too, but I took it off because it was annoying taking it off everyday. The cap is useful if you throw it in your purse though, it keeps the shape of the brush intact.
Build full beautiful brows with our ultra-thin Micro Brow Pencil. So precise it coats even the finest hairs with color for a natural-looking finish.
Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown – I bought this because I heard good reviews on it and it was on sale. I don’t like this, I don’t like the waxy feel. Now I know what I don’t like and won’t be buying anymore wax pencils. I use it for taking makeup selfies.
This natural wax pencil creates fine, hair-like strokes while the grooming brush blends and softens for a natural finish.
Benefit ka-BROW! Eyebrow Cream Gel Colour in 5 Deep – This is a deluxe sample size, the full size looks different. I should’ve just saved this for a giveaway or given it to someone. It’s so dark, but it’s good if you like to fully fill in your brows.
Brush on rich, buildable colour! This all-in-one eyebrow cream-gel easily fills, sculpts and defines brows.
Here’s an idea of what the three different products look like. Obviously the cream gel is the darkest, while the micro brow pencil is the lightest.
From Top: Maybelline Brow Precise, NYX Micro Brow, Benefit ka-Brow
Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara – This is a great 2-in-1 product. You can use it for your lashes and brows.
The classic Great Lash brush cnditions, grooms, and separates eyelashes and brows.
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fibre Gel in 5 Deep – This was recalled back in 2017 (I was able to return mine). Since recalling it, they’ve reformulated it and released more shades.
Our cult-favorite gimme brow tinted eyebrow gel contains tiny microfibers that adhere to skin & hairs, creating natural-looking fullness and definition. The custom, tiny tapered brush blends easily while the precision tip shapes hairs into place.
My Brow Routine
I personally prefer using a pencil or tinted brow gel. I use a pencil to fill in gaps and the brow gel to tame hairs that are unruly.
My favourite is the NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black and the Benefit Gimme Brow in 5- Deep. My eyebrows are dark to begin with and I just need help with the gaps. I’ve tried samples of pomades and cream gels, but I just look scary because they make my brows so dark. The only time I would use them is if I’m trying out a look and taking a picture for Instagram.
My routine is fairly quick since I’m just filling in gaps here and there. I comb out my brows with a spoolie and then I use the NYX pencil. Then go over with a spoolie to soften any darker lines. Sometimes I will use the brow gel if my brows are being particularly unruly. At the very least, I use the pencil.
I’ve written a few comparison blog posts on brow products, check them out:
I just received my little haul from Sephora. I went crazy buying things at the MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale in September, I didn’t buy too many things from the sale. I just couldn’t resist buying something…20% off was too good to pass up. I bought the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, the Sephora Mighty Minis Brush & Sponge set, and the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer for my mom.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (comes with a replacement pad)
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium
Sephora Mighty Minis Brush & Sponge set
Total Coverage Sponge
Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5
Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner
I chose foundation and concealer samples for my three free ones:
Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in 9 Neutral
Hourglass Immaculate® Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free in Shell (light, neutral undertone)
Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer in No.2 (light medium)
I also received the Sephora PRO Flawless Airbrush #56 (mini) as a VIB Rouge Welcome Gift.
My brows have gone through a lot over the years. I only started using brow products in 2016. Before I started grooming them, my brows were very thick (they were shaped like triangles, I had the arch where it was supposed to be, but then there were lots of hairs that needed to be tweezed underneath). Look! Triangles! →
