Brows are still having their makeup moment. And if you haven't understood the hype of stunting a good brow yet, understand that brows can make or break your whole look. However, with all the brow products available on the market, it can feel a little daunting to decide which brow tool will give you the effect you desire. Still, you don't want to be out here with mediocre brows just because you don't know what product to use to get your perfect brow!
That's where we come in. These four brow products will give you all the versions of achieving the perfect brows, ranging from "I woke up like this" to "This took me two hours." Let's find the perfect product for your brows, shall we?
Which Product Should You Use To Achieve The Perfect Brow?
How to Achieve the Perfect Brow: Brow Gel Review
Brows x Eylure Brow Gel
The Product:
A gel is perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. Your hairs won't be out of place, but your brows won't be filled in at all. It's like your brows, but slightly better.
The Verdict:
My brows are pretty full, so when I want my most natural looking brow, I just brush through my brows with clear brow gel to make them stay in place. I have some unruly hairs that pretty much refuse to be tamed without a gel holding them where I need them to be. My new go-to brow gel is Eylure Brow Control and Shape Gel. The wand is incredibly easy to use and coats my brow hairs well, so I know they won't budge.
How to Achieve the Perfect Brow: Brow Powder Review
Brows x NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder
The Product:
Brow powders are an incredibly easy way to make your brows look fuller when you don't have a lot of time to put them on or don't feel comfortable doing more advanced techniques. Essentially what a brow powder does is fill the little gaps created by the way your hairs naturally grow to make them look more perfect. It looks almost like a shadow underneath your natural brows.
The Verdict:
Powder isn't my favorite product because it can get messy if you get too much product on the brush you're applying it with. Plus, since I already have full brows, it doesn't do much for me. I'll mostly use it on the head part of my brows when I get a little too tweezer happy. NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder has been the only brow powder I've used for a while now. You get a lot of product for the price and they have enough shades to choose from that you know you'll find a good match, but won't feel overwhelmed choosing.
How to Achieve the Perfect Brow: Brow Pencil Review
Brows x Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
The Product:
A step above a brow powder, eyebrow pencils can make your brows look more realistically dense to fill in gaps, instead of just shading in the spaces like a powder does. A pencil is perfect for when you want to go for a "is she wearing brow product or nah" look. Unless they know you.
The Verdict:
I used to hate brow pencils. Then, I learned how to use them properly. I used to try to get them to fill in my brows like a pomade, but I quickly learned that I wasn't letting the product be great in the way it was intended to be used. Once I figured out how to make small hair-like strokes with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz to fill in gaps, the whole game was changed for me!
How to Achieve the Perfect Brow: Brow Pomade Review
Brows x Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade
The Product:
Brow pomades will give you the least natural looking brow. Nine times out of ten, a pomade was used to create the pervasive and highly sought after Instagram Brow. They will create that perfectly filled in and shaped brow using nothing but an angled brush.
The Verdict:
I like to use a brow pomade when I need my brows to look like absolute perfection from every angle. To me, that's not special occasions only. Sometimes I just want to look like I'm THAT chick in the grocery store too. The current reigning champ of pomades in my stash in Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. That little tub lasts a super long time and glides on so easily.
There's no rule that says you can only use one brow product at a time. My personal favorite combo is pomade on the tail and pencil at the head with some brow gel to keep everything in place. It's like a toned down, more everyday version of the IG brow.
If you're unsure about what shade of product to get, it's best to use one that's one shade lighter than your brow color. That will look the most natural. Don't let that stop you from having some fun though! Sometimes I like to go a little darker to be dramatic.
Don't forget to clean any uneven edges with concealer and a flat brush or concealer brush if you want an absolutely perfect looking brow and you don't have the steadiest of hands.
Featured image via Giphy
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RELATED
And why is it so rough during the spring season? The main reason is because the spring and fall seasons are when pollen likes to run amuck. And although there are medications that you can take to help to ease your allergy symptoms, there are also natural remedies that are proven to provide you with some much-needed relief as well.
Below, I have 12. Ones that are easy on your system, don’t have side effects, and can help you to enjoy spending time outdoors without all of the…allergy-related drama.
1. Consume Local Honey
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I can’t say enough how I think it’s amazing that we live in a country that will push all kinds of medications down our throats (billions of side effects and all) and yet when it comes to natural remedies, “experts” will go out of their way to disprove those. Take consuming local honey, for instance. Although I am fortunate to not have to deal with allergies (food, seasonal, etc.) at all, many people in my world do and, in spite of folks who say that using local honey in order to treat them minimizes their symptoms (because there is local pollen in local honey), some health folks think that is just a myth.
However, there are some studies that say there is some truth to this approach, especially since honey contains enzymes that help to boost your immunity and as well as reduce inflammation. My two cents: take a teaspoon of local honey every morning and see how you feel. If it works, awesome. If it doesn’t — well, with all of the other benefits that come from honey (its antioxidants, how it improves gut health, how it aids in sleep, etc.), you’re still doing your body a world of good by consuming it.
2. Use an Essential Oil Blend
I’m telling you — no matter what is going on in your life (that is health or beauty-related), there is going to be an essential oil, somewhere, that can improve it. When it comes to allergies, specifically, you should look into using a blend of sandalwood, frankincense, and Ravensara oils. Sandalwood is good for you because it helps to reduce inflammation, it has antimicrobial benefits and antioxidants and it helps to relax your system.
Frankincense has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antiseptic properties; it contains compounds that can bring relief to asthma-related symptoms, boost immunity, and reduce stress; frankincense makes it easier to sleep at night. And although you may not be familiar with Ravensara, it’s one that you want to get familiar with because it also strengthens your immune system and it helps to keep your lungs clear. You can put this blend into a diffuser or you can mix it with a carrier oil and rub it onto your chest before turning in for the evening.
3. Make Some Stinging Nettle Tea
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If you’ve never heard of stinging nettle before, it’s a plant that is used for a variety of health-related issues. Aside from the fact that it’s packed with vitamins A, C, magnesium, iron, calcium, amino acids, potassium, beta-carotene, and flavonoids (plant pigments that have antioxidants in them), stinging nettle also has anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties that help to lower your blood pressure, regulate your blood sugar and it can even help to treat prostate issues in men.
The reason why you should consider taking it as a supplement or drinking some stinging nettle tea during allergy season is it helps to reduce inflammation, and block histamine (the chemical in your immune system that causes your body to have allergy-related symptoms like sneezing, itching, and having a runny nose) receptors and reduce symptoms that are directly associated with hay fever.
4. Put a Cold Washcloth on Your Eyes
If one of the things that irks you to no end about allergy season is how itchy your eyes can get, it’s always a good idea to keep a cold washcloth close by. Not only will it help to soothe your irritated eyes as it reduces mild inflammation and puffiness, but this type of cool compress can also help to wipe away the pollen, dander, and whatever other allergens that are causing your eyes stress in the first place.
5. Eat Foods That Contain Quercetin
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There are certain foods that can help to get you through the allergy season. For instance, foods that are high in quercetin are good for you. And just what is quercetin? It’s a plant pigment that contains properties that help to lower your blood pressure, improve the quality of your workouts, and even slow down signs of aging. As far as allergies go, quercetin can help you out because it also has anti-inflammatory properties; plus, it helps to block the production of histamine. Foods that are high in quercetin include apples, kale, broccoli, red onions, and green tea.
6. Decrease Your Dairy Consumption
Something that allergies are prone to do is produce mucus. That’s because mucus is your body’s way of trying to keep allergens from going too deep into your system. And even though mucus is needed (whether we realize it or like it or not), dealing with thick mucus can oftentimes make you feel pretty miserable. That said, if you’ve heard somewhere before that consuming dairy will only produce more mucus and make it thicker too — here’s the deal. What science states is dairy doesn’t so much cause mucus to transpire so much as trigger additional production of mucus — meaning, most research says that there isn’t a direct correlation between dairy and mucus.
HOWEVER, since research also reveals that milk contains properties that are linked to diabetes and heart disease, a lot of it is full of hormones and pesticides and milk can increase inflammation in your system and inflammation is what happens when you have allergy symptoms (although yogurt is a dairy-based food that decreases inflammation) — sounds to me like it can actually work in your favor to decrease your dairy consumption during allergy season and go with some dairy alternatives (like coconut milk, almond milk, hemp milk, oat milk or cashew milk, etc.) instead.
7. Try Some Butterbur
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If you’re looking for some all-natural allergy relief, you definitely should give (the plant) butterbur a try. As I was doing some research on it, I noticed that it has a pretty solid reputation when it comes to treating migraines, hay fever, and asthma as well as bringing relief to symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion. Although many people are fans of it, if you choose to take it in supplement form, make sure to run it by your doctor first.
For one thing, it could affect how other medications are processed in your system. Also, too much of it has the potential to stress your liver out. Oh, and if you are allergic to ragweed, it won’t help you much because it is actually a part of the ragweed plant family (sorry).
8. Enjoy Outdoors Before Noon
If you’re someone who enjoys the great outdoors yet wants to keep allergens from getting on your last nerve, it’s best to spend time outside between the hours of 4 a.m. and noon. Apparently, that is the time of the day when pollen is at its lowest. And when does it like to show out the most? That would be between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., to be exact. So, if you like to meditate or exercise outdoors, doing it before lunchtime is going to be your best bet…as far as your allergies are concerned.
9. Change Your Clothes As Soon As You Get Home
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Some of us are old enough to remember having grandparents who hated the mere thought of us wearing “outside clothes” for too long after coming inside their house. Well, if you’re someone who deals with allergies, you should actually keep that tradition going because your clothes probably have pollen all over them. And, if you wearing those same articles while sitting on the couch or resting on your bed, you’ve just tracked all of that into your house…and your body will react similarly to how it did while you were outdoors.
10. Take Your Showers at Night
Just like it’s a good idea to change your clothes during allergy season, you should consider taking a shower before turning in at night as well. Not only does that significantly decrease your chances of ending up with allergens in your bedding, but showers before bedtime also help to reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, and clear up any nasal congestion that you might have. For tips on how to have a fabulous nighttime shower during the spring season, check out “How To Turn Your Showers Into A Tranquil DIY Spa.”
11. Close Your Windows. Turn on an Air Purifier.
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There is nothing like fresh air, I ain’t got no lies to tell you. Still, if you’ve got allergy issues, opening up your windows is going to bring some of what’s outdoors indoors. That’s why it’s best that you keep your windows closed as much as possible and that you turn on an air purifier. Air purifiers are bomb because they help to decrease allergens, contaminants, and dust particles and they can even reduce the spreading of certain viruses that may be in the air.
Just keep in mind that although air purifiers are effective, they can’t totally remove any of these things nor are they the best at getting rid of mold, nicotine, or animal dander. Just something to keep in mind.
12. Have Sex
I mean, you can check out articles like “10 Irrefutable Reasons To Have An Orgasm A Day” to see why it can never hurt to get some (safe) nookie in as much as possible; however, when it comes to your allergies, specifically, science says that engaging in sexual activity can help to strengthen your immune system.
Case in point: one study revealed that participants who had sex no less than three times a week ended up having more of the antibody immunoglobulin A in their saliva which helps to fight off viruses, bacteria, and health-related issues like bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, eye and ear infections too. Hmph. As if you needed convincing to have more orgasms, right? I’m sayin’.
BONUS: See a Reputable Allergist
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And finally, definitely one of the reasons why allergy season is irritating for so many is because they aren’t able to find the proper relief — and that is because they are playing “Google expert” instead of actually making an appointment with an allergist. Why should you do that? Because they are professionally trained to test you in a way that will help you to get to the root of what you actually are allergic to.
So, if you do indeed have allergy symptoms yet you’ve never been officially diagnosed with what is causing them, it’s worth the investment to see a specialist in the field. The sooner you know what the issue is, the sooner you can find some much-needed relief. Zocdoc is one site that can help you find an allergist who is in your area and network. Go here for more info.
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