I don’t wear a lot of makeup but one aspect of my routine that is always changing is for my eyebrows. A few months ago, I shared the products I was using to get my brows to a presentable state. And, once again, that has changed.
During the latter part of 2018, I started to test out Project Vanity and Ellana Mineral Cosmetics’ Life Proof Eyebrow Gel. Honestly, the words “Life Proof” got me really excited. I am one who likes to head out after work or stay out late on the weekends, so I need brow products that will last through all of that. But, before I get into the review, let me talk about the product’s claims. It is said to be infused with hair-strengthening marula oil. “This blend of waxes and botanical extracts defines eyebrows and tames unruly hair.” The part that caught my attention was that it is “waterproof and budge-proof, you’ll have flawless brows all day, every day!”
When I first started using the brow gel, I had to learn the best way to apply it for my eyebrows. I started using an angled brush, which seems to be the best. I also use a spoolie to blend everything together and make it look more natural and even.
Pros
I find this is the quickest way to do my eyebrows now. If I’m in a hurry and I don’t have time to make hair-like strokes with a pencil, I reach for this. Also, I feel like I can get away with using just this product. Although, if I want a bushier look, I comb the front of my brows with a mascara. For the most part, this is indeed life proof. I have taken disco naps before going out with it and have to touch up just the tail end of my brows. I also touch my face a lot (I know, it’s bad) but the gel still manages to cling to my brow hairs. After a long day of going to an event, work, dinner, and then out with my friends, it did last until about two in the morning. I have a difficult time making the front of my brows look “natural” with other products, but with the gel I can easily blend it out to a gradient. I also usually have a difficult time filling in my brows when they’re not groomed but I find it easier to outline the basic shape with the gel.
Cons
After using it a few times, the product starts to get very dry, making it hard to apply. The solution that I found works best is adding the tiniest drop of castor oil to get the gel to workable consistency. Bonus: Castor oil is actually really good for conditioning hair. I have very little hair on the tail end of my brows so the gel does fade in that area. I think this is because it doesn’t have hair to stick too. Using a pencil over that area helps to keep it in place. I think they could have more shade options. I use light brown, which is the middle shade. I find that the lightest shade, red brown, has too much of a red undertone and won’t match a lot of people. It’s always good for brands to come out with a variety of shades and tones.
Overall rating: 8/10
All in all, I do recommend this brow gel. I have been using every day for over a month. However, don’t forget to consider your own brow needs. But, if you want to try something new that will last, grab a pot of this in your shade.
Art by Marian Hukom
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