Anastasia - DipBrow Pomade | Professional Brows Made Easy

Ohhh you cannot fathom the excitement I felt when I finally got my mitts on this little pot of joy. Prepare yourselves for a rave n' a half! Anastasia is a brand that's become rather renowned for its brow products the past year or so and as soon as I heard of their 'Dip Brow Pomade' - I knew I simply had to have it (cue stalking the CultBeauty website daily until my shade was 'back in stock').  Now, let me just say that my eyebrows leave much to be desired - Cara Delevingne I certainly am not! I must have got quite pluck-happy with the ol' tweezers in my teenage years because I've been left with quite possibly the shittest brows known to womankind (pardon my french). I need all the help I can get and without filling them in, you'd need to squint down a microscope to see them (think Homer Simpson's two tufts of hair but on the brow area). Ok. So maybe I'm exaggerating slightly - they're not a complete lost cause but if I could click my fingers and get them to sprout a few extra hairs here and there, I'd be a happy chappy.  That's why I put a great deal of hope in Anastasia's Dip Brow. Claimed to be the 'long-lasting answer to eyebrow perfection whatever the state of your arches' I was sold on words alone.  It's said to be smudgeproof, waterproof and ideal for creating a defined, professional brow shape that won't budge if you're caught in a downpour or are lucky enough to be jetting away to sunnier climes.  Well. My eyebrow prayers were answered.

Does it do what it says on the tin? Ohh yes it does indeed. I'm addicted.  I remember the first time I used it and I rushed downstairs to show my mother my new eyebrows - I kid you not - it's comparable to a push-up bra for your brows.  I've never been able to achieve such a defined, professional looking brow - ever.  I've also never been able to keep my eyebrows looking groomed all day but this product eliminates the need for touch-ups or taming  - once it's on, it's on and it's not budging for nobody. It also seems to keep the hairs in place which takes away the need to apply setting mascara or wax.  When I remove my makeup at night, I have to go over my brows a good couple of times to get it all off - just goes to show how well this stuff sticks around!  The consistency is like a gel/mousse - it's really quite hard to describe but one thing I will say is that it's incredibly pigmented (check out that bad-boy of a swatch!).  Seriously, this pot might not be cheap at £15 but it will last you ages. I've been using mine for about 2 or 3 months now and I've hardly made much of a dent.   To apply, I use my Eco Tools Angled Liner Brush (found here) as it's really thin and precise to work with (Anastasia also do a brush to use alongside it if you're in need of one) - I simply dip into the pot and trace the shape I want in small strokes to mimic brow hairs, and then fill in using the remainder of the product on my brush using similar movements.  Anastasia says that the formula 'adheres to every single hair' - making your brows appear fuller - I can definitely vouch for this and I've noticed such a difference since Ive started using Dip Brow - I don't think I'll ever go back to using a pencil now as it's near on impossible to achieve the same results. One thing I will say though - if you're a bit cack-handed and make a mistake, it can be quite a kerfuffle to correct! If you're a bit of a brow novice, you might want to stick to pencil instead but personally, I've found that this product has made doing my eyebrows of a morning so much quicker.  What used to be a chore is now a quick, swift job and I'm left with perfect looking brows that I know won't fade or smudge throughout the day.   After I've applied, I'll sometimes apply my Benefit 'Gimme Brow' (review here) as I find it finishes the look off perfectly - to be honest, it's not really needed but I really enjoy the finishing touch it creates as my eyebrows are fairly light in colour.

Even though I'm blonde, I do like a defined brow and I'll often use a light brown to fill them in (we aren't talking scouse brows here but I do prefer the slightly darker look). The shade 'Blonde' is perfect for me as it isn't so dark that it looks false, but it's dark enough that it provides a good bit of definition.  It has a grey/ashy toned hint to it that keeps it looking natural (something I struggle to find with brow products) and there's no shimmer or sheen to it - it's just perfectly natural looking.  The shade range isn't incredibly vast - which is the only issue with this product as if you're after something lighter, you'll be at a bit of a loss unfortunately (there's also a big jump between this 'Blonde' shade and the lighter brown).  This being said,  I personally think that most people will be able to find a shade to suit them as they're all very natural in colour and there's a couple of brown tones to suit different shades of brunette.  Apologies I haven't included a photo - I'm currently in the process of attempting to grow my brows out so as you can imagine, they aren't really in any state to be photographed despite how fabulous Dip Brow makes them appear! 

Overall, I've been wow'ed by this product - i prefer it over my HDBrows palettes which really is saying something.  The little glass pot finishes it all off nicely - it's luxurious, elegant and small enough to take with you if you're going away. Yes, it might be a little more hassle than simply taking a pencil but for the effect is gives - I couldn't care less.  I'm definitely going to be bringing this with me to Crete in 2 weeks - for once I might actually be able to have decent eyebrows whilst sitting round the pool (not that I wear makeup in the day but I'm all in favour of a little light cheating if needs be). If you already have a cracking pair of brows then you might not need this but it's definitely worth a look if you favour the defined, 'HD Brow' look.  I shan't ramble on any further but if you're at your wits end with your brows like I was, I'm pretty sure you'll join me in the 'product rave' camp! In fact, I almost don't want to share this post with anyone in case everyone discovers my little secret and DipBrow will be forever out of stock...but some secrets are too good to keep, right? ;)  You can find Anastasia on CultBeauty and also on BeautyBay for £15.00 - and dare I say it but it's worth every single penny.

Have you tried anything from Anastasia? Recommend me some more good'uns, girls!

Brow-WOW | My Thoughts on Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'

Benefit | Gimme Brow | £17.50* | Link

If I could go back in time and offer my teenage self any beauty tips, (aside from staying away from the blue sparkly eyeshadow...) it would be to put the bloomin' tweezers down and stop over-plucking my brows within an inch of their life.  Skip forward a good few years and I'm stuck with rather sparse eyebrows that lack shape, fullness and definition - being blonde also doesn't do them any favours as they're very light in colour and without being filled in with a pencil, well, you'd question whether or not I was actually eyebrow-less. So, this being said, I think it's safe to say that my eyebrow routine is an important part of my daily getting ready process! As soon as I heard of Benefit's 'Gimme Brow' being released, I was intrigued.  I'm all for a good brow product, me. There's been a lot of brow products released onto the market just recently, and I have to say I'm always left feeling a bit disappointed - I'm a toughie to please! However, I can genuinely say I think I may have finally found one of my 'holy grail' brow products...

'Gimme Brow' is more than just a brow gel. Which is why I like it so much! Not only does it do a fantastic job of keeping the eyebrow hairs in place, but it's also buildable.  The fiber-gel attaches itself to the skin and hair and instantly makes your brows appear fuller - perfect for someone like me who's brows are definitely on the more 'sparse' side. Not only this, but Benefit have hit the nail on the head when it comes to the perfect wand - finally no more faffing around with awkward sized brushes (I've always been a fan of Mac's Brow Set and although I like it - the size of the wand can be hard to work with). The brush is just the right size to comb through your brows with precision and the ease of use is definitely one of its selling points for me.  It also contains no shimmer, and although it only comes in 2 shades, both are extremely universal. The pigmentation is actually really impressive - usually, brow gels can be quite sheer but these little beautys actually manage to provide instant colour pay off. I actually suit both colours - I've found it works for me when I use the lighter shade on the inner half of my brows and concentrate the darker one into my arch and the outer half for a perfect natural look.  Personally, I still have to fill in my brows either with a pencil or with the Benefit 'Brow-Zings' kit beforehand just because mine are so incredibly light, but I can image if you're blessed with good eyebrows already or have dark brows to begin with, a touch of this might be all you need.  Gimme Brow is the perfect finishing touch for me - the hairs appear much more defined and natural, and the fact it's buildable is such a good aspect. It's easy to apply 2 or 3 coats to build up definition to the level you desire without the finish going crispy (something I've found with other brow gels). My brows appear much more full after use and don't budge out of place all day.

So, are you fed up of me singing Gimme Brow's praises yet?! I really do think I've found my perfect brow gel and I will definitely be grabbing more when these run out.  I think that Benefit have ticked all the boxes for a perfect brow mascara and I'm still yet to try anything else on the market that's amazed me as much as this.  The fiber-gel concept is one of its main selling points for me - and it's made such a difference to the overall appearance of my eyebrows.  If you struggle with sparse brows, or have been a little bit disappointed with current brow-mascaras on the market, 'Gimme Brow' is well worth a try.  For £17.50, it isn't the cheapest, but definitely worth that extra bit of money. I wouldn't think twice about buying it again and I cannot fault a thing about it - it's very rare that a product really does impress me like this!  Ok, praise singing = complete. I think you've all got the picture now so I shall tottle off before I reel off anymore gushy phrases of adoration...

Have you tried Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'? Did you like it as much as me?

Current Eyebrow Favourite | HD Brow Kit in 'Bombshell'

Even before I started blogging, I wanted a HD Brows kit. When I saw this kit in a blogsale a good while back for around the £6 mark I practically snapped the fellow blogger's hands off for it.  Sadly, I wasn't handed the naturally amazing eyebrows card in life, and after a serious over-plucking mishap when I was about 13 I think it's fair to say that I'm definitely not blessed with the most defined, full brows in the world. Trust me - without a little bit of colour whipped through them they look quite sparse to say the least.  Being blonde, my eyebrows haven't got a great deal of colour to them as it is, and as eyebrows essentially frame your face, I find that I do need a selection of products in order to give me a helping hand. I like them to look naturally defined and noticeably darker than my hair, but not so much so that I end up rocking a scouse brow.  For a good while now I've been happy using my Sleek Eyebrow Kit which comes with the wax and the powder - but ever since I purchased my HD Brows I've been switching back to pure powders a little more.

I bought my palette in the shade 'Bombshell'. I'd always had my eyes peeled for the brunette version (I believe it's called Foxy?) as I must admit I'm partial to a slightly darker brow, but when I saw this I thought I'd just throw caution to the wind and give it a try whilst I had the chance.  I'm so glad I got the blonde version now - the colours are actually quite pigmented and look dark enough without look false. I won't harp on about the kit too much as I'm sure you can all recall the rave reviews that hit your laptop screens a couple of years ago now when people received these palettes in their Glossyboxes, but I really think it's worth a mention on my blog as it's something I've really been loving recently.  The powders themselves are very soft to the touch and really highly pigmented, making them perfect for definition. You definitely don't get any 'fluffy' smudgy edges with these shadows and it's very easy to get a crisp, even line.  Usually, I don't use the brushes that come with kits and palettes, but I actually really like the little brush in this one - the slanted edged one is particularly useful for getting that perfect shape and defining the arch - and the fact it's so travel friendly means it's great for on the go (you even get a mirror in the lid). I personally find a mixture of the two brown shades works a treat for me, and I use the slightly darker one for the arch of my brow.  I pop on a little bit of Mac's Brow Set in 'Beguided' on afterwards to add that finishing touch and I'm good to go. If I want an even more defined look, I will apply a little bit of wax from my Sleek kit beforehand and apply the powders from this set over the top to set the colour from the wax.

The nude shade doesn't show up on me too well unfortunately - and for that reason it doesn't get a great deal of use but I often pop a little bit under the brow bone for a subtle finishing touch.  What I love about the HD Brows kit is that it's so versatile.  You can use the powders as long wearing eyeshadows also - meaning Carbon is perfect for a smokey eye on a night out.  I've used eyebrow powders in the past and have always been a little bit disappointed with the finish and the wear time, but the HD Brows kit really does last all day and stays in place whilst looking natural and groomed. I'd go as far as to say I couldn't be without it in my makeup drawer now. I really do think it's worth browsing blog sales every now and then - I've certainly grabbed some bargains! If you spot a product you've always wanted to try but never been able to get your hands on or never been able to justify the price tag - then it's a really good way to try something out. I picked up an barely used Nars Multiple the other week and am so glad I found it as I'd never felt entirely sure about parting with £30 for one! I shall be doing a post on blog sales soon - I've found some really good things from my fellow bloggers and it's a really good way to discover things you might not have discovered before.

Have you found any bargains in any blog sales recently? If you have one running currently then let me know - I'm getting quite the bargain hunter! David Dickinson eat your heart out, pal!

Mac Brow Set in 'Beguile' | Review, Thoughts & Swatches

 Mac Brow Set in 'Beguile' - £12.50

If there's one thing I often struggle with - it's my eyebrows. They're ridiculously light due to me being blonde, and this compared with the fact that I was once ridiculously pluck-happy with them when I was about 13 means that I don't have a great deal to work with. Damn you, tweezers! On a recent cosmetic splurge, I decided to give Mac's Brow Set a whirl. Now then, I'm not going to tell you fibs - it took a good fortnight or so for me to fall in love with this product - and it's one that you're either going to love or loathe. I'd read a handful of reviews previous to buying it, and the feedback is so mixed that it's impossible to come to a conclusion without trying it for yourself. So, obviously I had to try it! It would be criminal not to...

I've tried clear brow gels in the past - and although they work in the sense that they keep the hairs in place, they do nothing for my barely there little shoddy excuses of brows! I opted for the shade 'Beguile' - the mid-brown shade. A lot of people get put off by the slight shimmer that's in the product - it is quite obviously there, as you can see by my blended out swatch. However, don't worry your little noggins off - you won't step out of the bathroom with eyebrows to rival a disco ball - the product applies so thinly, that any shimmer is barely noticeable, even in bright sunlight - and the finish is both professional and natural.

The only thing I struggled with is application. This takes some practice - especially when you're still bleary eyed and half asleep in the morning like myself. Unlike clear gels, you can't just merrily comb this through your brows! The first few times I used this I had to grab a cotton bud to wipe off any blotches I'd accidently applied to the area underneath my eyebrow - you have to be quite gentle with it, especially if your eyebrows need plucking - as this will pick up the tiniest of hairs. It took a good week of persevering for me to begin to like this product due to the tricky application - I find the brush slightly too big but I've learnt to work with it now. I tend to just use the end of the bristle brush to apply the brow gel, and any excess on the tip i scrape back into the tube to avoid a heavy handed application. I find the best way is to apply bit by bit rather than in one swift movement.

I still use a brow powder to fill in the arch of my brow using my Sleek Brow Kit - and then go over the hairs using the Brow Set. I've been so impressed with how this product manages to keep my eyebrows in place all day. One problem with having lighter coloured brows is that towards the end of the day, product wears off and you tend to find your eyebrows don't look as defined as they once did. For me and my cruddy eyebrows, the Mac Brow Set solves that problem, as the hairs are actually defined and coated in product, rather than just the skin underneath them.

Top: Finished result - more defined eyebrows

Bottom: 1. Dull light / 2. Natural light / 3. With Flash - swatches of my natural brows filled in with Brow Set - before addition of eyebrow wax. Swatchin'ell!

Please excuse my unshapely eyebrows - I'm aware they are in need of a good plucking ;) I've recently tinted them and I've had to avoid shaping them at all for 72 hours prior.. eep! (If you want a run-through of how I did this let me know) The days of drawing my brows on are long gone - this product just gives them the definition they need. I usually apply a touch of powder or wax from my Sleek Brow kit to achieve a slightly darker look than you can see here in my swatches (I have a review of the product here - I've since bought the 'dark' version as it seems to work better for me). It's entirely up to you how dark you go with them - but the Brow Set provides the perfect finishing touch and adds so much definition that is impossible to achieve through brow powder alone. I've had a few comments on my eyebrows since using this - and I'm so glad I didn't just throw this back into my makeup drawer when it didn't work for me at first. Eyebrows are such a key part of makeup application - they define your face - it takes different products for different people to get it right, but I think I've finally found the last step in my brow routine that generally makes my whole face look more groomed and perfected.

Apologies about the long review - I don't think there's much on the bloggersphere about this product currently - so I felt the need to chatter a bit more than usual!

Have you ever tried Mac's Brow Set? What were your thoughts? 

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