I used my NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in Ash Brown to death, so when it came time to repurchase I picked up the Espresso shade.  Ash Brown is a lovely neutral medium brown, but I need something with a little more oomph on these dark brows! 

NYX
Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen Swatch

NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen Espresso Swatch

INFO SHEET

Brand:  NYX
Product:  Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen

ETUDE HOUSE
Drawing Eye Brow Pencil Review

Etude House Drawing Eye Brow in Dark Grey Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Etude House
Product:  Drawing Eye Brow Pencil

Drawing Eye Brow Triangular Applicator

Comes with a convenient spoolie brush at the end.

I can't remember where I first heard it from, but apparently you can use lash glue on your brows instead of brow gel or the soap brow method.  Lash glue is affordable enough, so I figured why not give it a try?  I'm ready to board this train to fluffy brow town.  

DUO BRUSH-ON ADHESIVE
Lash Glue Brow Gel Hack!

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Duo
Product:  Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins
Scent:  Like glue... but not noticeable after application.
Price:  $6.49
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Target, Ulta

I've used many different brow gels in the past, but just couldn't get them to work for me.  They wouldn't make my brows straight enough and would get all gunky.  I liked the results from the soap brow method, but alas my skin is too sensitive to leave soap on it and would get very itchy.  Plus if you intend to go swimming or live in a hot climate then just forget it.  It won't last. 

Well, well, well.  What do we have here?  Another brow pen review?  Oh it's from NYX?!  Alright then carry on... But really though NYX has some great affordable makeup so it was only a matter of time until they released their own brow pen.

NYX
Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen Review

NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen Review with Swatches!

INFO SHEET

Brand:  NYX
Product:  Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen

Why do I keep buying brow pens?  I guess I just really like writing brow pen reviews.  I threw the Milani Weekend Brow Pen in my cart on a whim just to get free shipping.  It was affordable enough and my Ardell Stroke a Brow pen was running low.  

Milani
Weekend Brow Pen Review

Milani Weekend Brow Pen Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Milani
Product:  Weekend Brow Pen
Shade:  Medium Brown
Color Payoff:  Good Pigmentation
Waterproof?:  Mild to Moderate
Price:  $8.99
Where to Buy:  Milani, Ulta

The Milani Weekend Brow Pen comes in the cardboard backed drug store makeup packaging that one would expect, but don't let the packaging fool you.  Milani makeup is actually pretty nice!  Especially their blushes.  I didn't even know Milani made a brow pen, but when I saw it I said to myself "yes."

SWATCH

Milani Weekend Brow Pen Shade Medium Brown Swatch

Milani Weekend Brow Pen Applicator

The first thing I noticed about the Milani Weekend Brow Pen is how small the brush tip is.  The tip is the smallest out of all the pens I have tried, but also not overly flexible allowing for the ability to make fine lines.  I also have to say this thing is super precise!  It's probably up there with the Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen; which was up until now, the most precise brow pen I have tried (out of Urban Decay Brow Blade, Ardell Stroke A Brow, and Stila Stay All Day).  

Another brow pen review!  Yay.  This was more of an impulse buy.  I knew nothing of Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen before I purchased it; so I don't really know what to expect going in!  How exciting.

Lime Crime
Bushy Brow Precision Pen Review

Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Lime Crime
Product:  Bushy Brow Precision Pen
Shade:  Baby Brown
Color Payoff:  Good Pigmentation
Waterproof?:  Not at all!  Rinsed off completely.
Price:  $20
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Bloomingdales

Lime Crime has this to say regarding the Bushy Brow Precision Pen:  "...our pigmented eyebrow filler and definer makes it easy to draw individual hairs, one superfine stroke at a time." Every time a company says that about their brow products, I get a little giddy.  I truly hope they are right but many times I found that the company is just pulling my leg.  You wouldn't do that to us, would you Lime Crime?

SWATCH

Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen in Shade Baby Brown

Lime Crime Bushy Brown Precision Pen Applicator

The Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen uses a brush tipped applicator like many other brow pens.  The biggest difference I have noticed with this pen versus the others I have reviewed (Urban Decay Brow Blade, Ardell Stroke A Brow, Stila Stay All Day), is that the Bushy Brow pen is *very* precise.  When I was swatching it, I actually said "wow" out loud because I was able to get incredibly thin and well defined hair-like strokes.  Lime Crime wasn't lying when they named this product a "precision pen".  As with all brow pens, the Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen requires a steady hand.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Lime Crime Bushy Brow did not pass the rinse test.

Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen Before & After

Can we say "brows for days"?  Really now.  The Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen brush has the perfect amount of stiffness.  Not too flexible, not too hard.  You barely need to use any pressure at all and yet you still get good color payoff.  I did not need to go over the same spot twice.  In fact, if you do so then the brows may end up being too bold.

Sadly, Bushy Brow is not waterproof.  Though Lime Crime never claimed that it was; I was still hopeful.  We can't have it all, can we?  I let the swatch set for about 20 minutes before performing the water test; where I just pass my hand under running water to see what happens.  The swatch rinsed off instantly and completely.  You can see above that it's really hard to tell where the swatch was.  I don't think this product would be good to use at the pool or gym where you would sweat a lot.

As far as whether or not Lime Crime Bushy Brow is long lasting, I am happy to say it is!  It performed well on my combination / oily skin and did not seem to fade or pill after a few hours of wear.  Oddly enough the color did change slightly.  Initially, shade Baby Brown was upon application but as the day went on it seemed to neutralize a little bit.  Strange.

I also found that application was a bit easier due to the brush not being too flexible.  It was able to push through my brow hairs without much interference.  Light flicks is really all you need since it is so pigmented.  All in all I had a good experience using the Bushy Brow Precision Pen and was able to do my brows quickly.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So far the best brow pen I have ever used.  Lime Crime Bushy Brow Precision Pen is the first product I have purchased from this brand so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Color me impressed.  I'm not sure how long the Bushy Brow Pen itself will last, but I like it so much it has been elevated to "date night" status when my eyebrows need to be on fleek.  I think it's definitely worth the price!

Rating

I'm obsessed with brow products and am always looking for the next big thing to provide the coveted microbladed look.  I just cant stop trying them!  Stila came out with a brow pen of their own so of course I had to buy it.

Stila Stay All Day
Waterproof Brow Color Review

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Stila
Product:  Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color
Shade:  Dark
Color Payoff:  Light but Buildable
Price:  $21
Availability:  Amazon

The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color boasts that it can create a perfectly defined brow with a long-wearing, waterproof formula.  Another thing that it claims is that it wont smudge or run... maybe on dry skin.  But how will it fare on combination oily skin?  We shall see... 

SWATCH

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Shade Dark

Close up of brush applicator tip.

Like Ardell Stroke A Brow, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color also utilizes a brush tip.  +1 to Stila for not going the felt tipped route as brush tips seem to be better for more accurate applications.  One thing that I did notice is that the brush applicator for Stila is a bit more flexible than other products I have tried.  So applying fine lines requires an extra steady hand.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color is *not* waterproof.

Before and After in Shade Dark

I want to start out by saying the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color is absolutely not water proof or even water resistant.  I drew a few lines on my hand to take photos, then continued to take more product shots.  After about 15 minutes I decided to see how the swatch on my hand reacted to water so I went to the sink.  As soon as the water hit my hand the product instantly rinsed off.  Didn't even last a second.  I wouldn't trust wearing this stuff to the pool, beach, or even through sweat.

The flexibility of the brush tip made it challenging to apply because my brow hairs would easily interfere with each stroke rather than pushing through them.  So in the end I couldn't get the micro bladed effect that I was able to achieve on my hand.  Application is a bit frustrating to say the least - and this isn't even my first rodeo.

The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color didn't seem very pigmented.  The color looks more like a medium brown and comes on pretty sheer.  I had to go over the same spots to get enough coverage.  So in the end my brow ended up looking tattooed on rather than micro bladed.

It did last all day though and didn't fade too much with my combination / oily skin.  However it did kind of dry out a little bit.  You can see in the "After 6 Hours" photo, the product went from an even application to dark little dots.  Very strange.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I didn't like the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color.  In the end I just couldn't work with it to get the look I wanted.  It's better used for a feathered brow or ombre effect, and wouldn't be useful for those with very sparse or no brows.

Reading other reviews about it makes me wonder if I'm taking crazy pills or if I just got a bad product.  However when I sorted by negative reviews my experience was very much on par with what others are saying in that regard.  The general consensus is:  1) Definitely not waterproof, 2) Not very pigmented, and 3) Dries out very quickly.  What happened to you, Stila?  You were supposed to be the chosen one!

I feel that the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color is not worth the $21 price tag.  It's performance is about what I would expect from an unknown drugstore brand; certainly not something Stila would make.  I'm giving it two stars because it can be used for feathered or ombre brow - so it's not completely useless.  I mean, you can probably use it if you're sitting at home alone and still want to have eyebrows in case the UPS guy shows up.

Pricing & Availability

AmazonBloomingdalesNordstrom

Rating

Continuing my search for the perfect brow, I turn my focus to Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen.  After already trying Urban Decay's Brow Blade and many other brow products, I am interested in seeing how well this affordable alternative can perform.

Ardell Stroke A Brow
Feathering Pen Review

Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Ardell
Product:  Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen
Shade:  Medium Brown
Color Payoff:  Highly Pigmented
Price:  $8.99
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Sally Beauty

Ardell claims that this product is both waterproof and smudge proof.  It's affordable too!  I picked mine up from Sally Beauty Supply since Ulta did not have it in stores (shame).  Sally does not have any testers so I had to rely on the swatch on the box as well as online swatches to make my decision.

SWATCH

Ardell Stroke A Brow - Medium Brown Swatch

Ardell Stroke A Brow Brush Tipped Applicator

Notice that there is practically no feathering in the swatch; which is a good sign.  Ardell Stroke A Brow has several shades to choose from:  Taupe, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, and Soft Black.  Worrying that Dark Brown and Soft Black would be too dark; I went with Medium Brown.  When I first swatched it, it was practically black!  I think that since it was new, a lot of product was coming out of the applicator.  But as time went on, the product coming out lightened up a little bit into a dark brown... If this is Medium Brown then what the heck does Dark Brown look like?  Vanta Black?  A void in the universe?  I guess my brows will just be darker than usual today.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen has good staying power.

The applicator is a brush tip instead of a felt tip - which is nice for accuracy.  The brush holds it's shape very well, not too soft, and allows fine lines to be drawn.  There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using the Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen.  If you take too long during the application process, then the ink flows towards the back of the pen; so the brush tip will appear to dry out.  You will have to put the cap back on and tap it gently against the counter to bring it forward again.  This was really frustrating to me when I first started using Stroke A Brow since I was still learning and I was slow.  While the pen does allow you to draw individual hairs; it can take too long to apply it this way and cause it to dry out.  To get around this, it is best to apply the product using a lot of short, quick strokes to fill the brow areas that look "thirsty" and then go back and draw a few fine hairs at the end and beginning of the brow.

Another thing I noticed is if you have any skin care products or sunscreen on your brow it will hinder application and won't really adhere to the skin.  I suggest wiping the brow area clean prior to using the Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen in order for the product to transfer better.  It dries quickly so there isn't much of a waiting period after application.

The product is highly pigmented so a little goes a long way.  I found that it is long lasting and does not fade throughout the day.  It also performs well on combination / oily skin.  I did apply it before bed to see how well it would do in that scenario, but found that the product did flake a little bit over night due to contact with the pillow.  No transfer, though!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I like the Ardell Stroke A Brow Feathering Pen a lot.  I find myself reaching for it far more than my other brow products (DiorShow, Urban Decay Brow Blade, ABH Dipbrow, etc.).  The formula is nice and has good staying power.  If you can get past the learning curve then it will work quite well.  You are probably wondering if you can redraw your entire eyebrow one hair at a time with this product.  While it CAN draw individual hairs, drawing one hair at a time can take too long and cause the tip to dry out while in use.  The best way to use this product is to sweep the brow quickly with short strokes, and then add more definition at the beginning and end of the brow.

The shade range is an issue though.  Medium Brown really is very dark.  Since the product is highly pigmented it can be easy to overdo it.  If you have patchy brows like I do, I recommend using Stroke A Brow to even out the patchy areas first and then do the rest of your brow with a pencil or ABH Dip Brow.  This will give your brow a little more structure and depth; resulting in a natural look!

Pricing & Availability

AmazonSally Beauty

Rating