NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Thick It Stick It Thickening Brow Mascara, Eyebrow Gel – Brunette

My brows have never been particularly thin or sparse- I’m one of those xennials that refused to pluck’em pencil-thin in the 90’s and I’m so very grateful for that! As I’ve gotten older, however, I am noticing the sparseness. I’ve always loved having full brows because it just compliments my face better.Before this product, if I was wearing a full-face of makeup I would pencil in, use brow powder or pomade in those sparse areas, followed by a tinted fiber gel (like Glossier Boy Brow or the ABH tinted brow gel) to set them. I don’t particularly enjoy spending too much time on my brows since it’s one of the last things I do before mascara & walking out the door and this NYX gel just checked all the boxes, especially considering the price point and the amount of product you get. You just can’t beat it!If I’m wearing a more day-to-day no-makeup makeup look, I used to limit my brow products to just Glossier’s tinted boy brow, or brow powder with wax to set.This NYX product changed it all! It does an incredible job of filling in any of those gaps with fibers and setting the brow. It works for full-glam and for everyday looks (with a light hand). One of my biggest concerns, since it is quite pigmented, was it running if I sweat, and just the overall longevity. I’m happy to say that once the gel dries, it stays put all day. On particularly long days (16 hrs) I did notice some fading, but the tube is small enough to carry in my bag and it was easy to touch up without looking clumpy or out of place.I love the shade range, and the darker colors are quite forgiving so if you have dark brows, chances are that a few of the darker shades will work for you.Now, if you’re new to the world of fiber brow gels, follow these tips before you decide if this product works for you-1. The wand picks up quite a bit of product and, like I mentioned before it is pigggmennnted! Wipe off the excess on the sides of the tube just as you would with mascara so you’re working with a little bit of product at a time. It’s easier to add more than to remove.2. Start at the outer ends of your brows. The outer-ends should always be the darkest part of your eyebrow. DO NOT apply this to the inner brow first. Work from the outer tail of your brow in.3. To make sure you get an even gel & fiber distribution, I suggest first combing the hair downwards, then to the side (against the way the hair grows), then up (the way you would normally brush your brows). This method works exceptionally well for those who don’t have a lot of hair to begin with. Again, take off a bit of the product on the side of the tube so you have more control until you get the hang of it.4. Keep in mind, this will give you a very fluffy, full brows- if you don’t particularly like this look, you will not like this product.5. If you feel that you’ve applied too much, take a clean eyebrow or mascara spoolie brush (elf, dollar stores, and even Amazon sells them for cheap), and just brush away the excess.6. You can always use a thin, angled eyeliner/eyebrow brush with a bit of this gel to make more hair-like strokes if need be, or to outline your brow. No need for a pencil or pomade.Although this product is long lasting, it’s easy to remove at the end of the day with a makeup remover (Bioderma is my go-to) or face cleanser.