Brow Gels Guide & Comparison

So as you might have seen from other posts, I like to take care of my eyebrows. I don't know why but I like them to stay in place all day so I've been using brow gel for many many years now. My brows have been from very thin to thick and natural but I've always used a gel to keep them groomed.

I've tried a lot of them and I wanted to make a small guide and comparison to help you choose which one will be the best option for you the next time you go to a beauty counter! The list goes in descending order from my top favorite to the least one.

1. Brow Gel by Nars 

My favorite, yet the most expensive one :( I really like this one, it has a strong hold, keeps my eyebrows in place all day long and dries to a natural finish. It doesn't leave a sticky feeling even though if you touch your brows you can fell it's there. It has a small sized classic groupillon and is super easy to shape your brows with it. There's also three different colors available, apart from the clear gel, which help to define a bit more the brows. The only downside of this product is that you have to wipe the wand off to avoid getting too much gel on the brows.

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2. Speed Brow by Benefit 

After Nars this is my second favorite. It also makes my brows stay in place all day and its small brush makes the application really easy. This one doesn't have the "too much product on the brush" problem but (an here comes the reason why it's not my favorite) it finish up really soon. Seriously sometimes I think some bushy brows fairy comes at night and uses it while I sleep! And since it's so expensive, I don't like to repurchase this so often and splurge so much money on a brow gel almost every month. That's why I have tried so many different ones. Still I totally recommend it if you don't mind to repurchase it often. Also is the perfect size to carry it in your bag and the packaging is the cutest one of the seven gels (as always happens with Benefit's products).

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3. Lash & Brow Gel Mascara by Essence 

This is the cheapest option of the bunch. Is an ok product, not my favorite but good enough for its price. It has a classic groupillon that can be used on brows or eyelashes. It doesn't curve my lashes and since it doesn't have color I just use it for my brows. You should be careful since there's a lot of product on the brush and you may end up with gel all around the brows area. It's not a super strong hold but it has a natural (not shiny) finish that you might like if you just need a little help to groom your brows and set any other product you may have used on them like a pencil or powder. This one is my favorite low cost gel.

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4. Brow Drama Mascara (clear gel) by Maybelline

I've tried their color version twice on the shop and ended up buying the clear option since I already have bushy brows, but it turned out to be a bad decision. While the colored version did fix my brows, the clear gel is not strong enough (at least for my taste) and it doesn't hold my brows in place for more than two hours. After that time I can no longer feel the product on the small hairs. If you want to try this one I advise you to choose the color that matches your hair since it will give you the illusion of bolder brows and will help you to keep them in place.

Red Lips - Look 2: Golden Hour (Pleasure Me Red by Maybelline)

For this second red lips look I opted for a classic golden eye combined with deep red lips, exactly the shade Pleasure Me Red by Maybelline. This is a look I would wear to a formal dinner or event and during Christmas holidays. This look has some more steps than the other one since I added a bit of contouring to add some depth to my cheeks. I hope you enjoy the step by step guide!

I started by applying foundation to even my face. I used the Studio Fix Fluid in NC20 by M·A·C and applied it with the Stippling Brush by Real Techniques. I'll do a review on this foundation later this week so stay tuned!

After that I prepped the eyes with an eyeshadow base (Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base by Nars) to make the eyeshadows last longer. And then the steps begin!

1. Apply with your own fingers the Color Tattoo eyeshadow in 75 - 24K Gold by Maybelline. This will create a golden shiny base that will last for hours.

2. With the brush PRO-62 by Burlesque go over it with the S2 Gold Gleam shadow by Shiseido. I know this shade is discontinued so you can use any other powder gold eyeshadow instead.

3. From the Tamanna Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills (you can read my review here) take Gilded (a vintage gold) to add some depth to the crease, and apply it with the brush Eyes 212 by Kiko. The flat shape of this brush adapts to the crease and makes it easier to apply the eyeshadow on that area.

4. From the same palette take Chocolate (a deep dark brown) and go over Gilded to add even more depth to the outer crease. I used the 219 brush by M·A·C which has a pointed shape that allows you to control exactly where you put the eyeshadow. Then, blend with the brush 217 by M·A·C.

5. To even out the skintone under the browbone and create a softer crease cut, apply the Microshadow in Desert by Make Up Store (you can read the review here) with the fluffy brush 213 Eyes by Kiko.

6. Time to add some eyeliner! I used the Felt Tip Liner in Jet Black by NYX and darkened it with the Noir Eyeshadow from the Tamanna Palette (I used the 228 brush by M·A·C for this).

7. Under the lower lash line, use a brown liner to define your eyes a bit more without going overboard. For this I used the Eyebrow Pencil in 2 by YSL. Also add mascara on your top lashes, you can use whatever you want, in this look I opted for the Passioneyes Mascara by D&G.

8. This time I wanted some really natural brows so I just brushed and fixed them with the Brow Gel by Nars, but if you want to you can draw them or shape them however you want.

9. Highlight the browbone with Nylon by M·A·C. You can use any other highlight shade you own but if you haven't got one, this is a beautiful shade and I recommend you to try it the next time you visit a M·A·C counter. I used the 239 Eye Shader brush by M·A·C for this. 

10. The final step for the eyes is concealer. I used my Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20 by M·A·C and applied it under the eyes with the Concealer Brush by Beter. Then I blended everything with the Stippling Brush by Real Techniques which still had some foundation left.

11. Contour your cheeks with the Contour Kit by Anastasia Beverly Hills (read the review here). Apply the color Fawn with the PRO-39 brush by Burlesque under the cheekbone and then highlight the undereye area with the shade Banana from the same palette with the 190 brush by M·A·C. I know it's a foundation brush but it's flat surface helped me to press on the powder shade on the skin.

12. To add a pop of colour on the cheeks use the Angled Blush Brush 40 by Sephora and softly apply the Powder Blush in Mauve by NYX from the apples of your cheeks up to the highest part of your cheekbones.

13. The final steps: the lips! First draw your mouth with the Cherry Lip Pencil by M·A·C. You can fill in your lips to make your lipstick stay longer.

14. Finish the look with the Lipstick in Pleasure Me Red by Maybelline. I applied it directly from the tube ut you can use a lip brush to create sharper lines.

I hope you have enjoyed this new look from the Red Lipsticks Series and I hope you use the tutorial to recreate this makeup at home. At the end of the post you can find a big picture with all the steps together so you can save it or Pin it to use it as a reference in the future. Do you have any specific look or idea that you would like to see on the next tutorial? Please tell me in the comments! Kisses and I hope you start the week with energy!

PS: As always, click on the names of the products to buy them.

New In! Brow Satin by Maybelline - Review // Reseña

This is the last week to enter my GIVEAWAY! Click here to participate! // Ésta es la última semana para participar en el SORTEO! Haz click aquí para entrar!

Recently Maybelline released a new brow product, the Brow Satin. Is a double ended plastic pencil which has 2 products in 1, a liner and an eyeshadow. The wax liner is very skinny, perfect to fill in gaps and define the shape of your brows a little more. The shadow comes out of an sponge, it gives a soft and natural look to the brow and also sets the pencil. 

It comes in four different colors: dark blonde, medium brown, dark brown and mahogany red. I picked up dark brown and it matches my hair perfectly. The formula is water resistant from what I've tried, I wouldn't say that is waterproof but I can assure you that your brows won't melt under the rain!

It's really easy to use, if you turn it, the pencil comes out and you can easily draw small hairs. The sponge fills itself with more eyeshadow everytime you push it in. I have some doubts with this auto-filling design, I'm not sure how long it will last before it dries out. I'll have to figure it out with time...

It's not super pigmented (as you can see on the pictures) but I think it gives a really natural look to the brows, so if you're looking for a product that helps you to define them without going overboard, this one is for you. If you like really strong and defined brows you should check any other option, like the Dipbrow Pomade from Anastasia Beverly Hills (you can read my review of it here). I also think that is a nice product to take it with you on the bag or to travel without needing much more products, just a gel to fix the brows.

It costs around 8 € which I think is a fair price for the product. I just hope that the eyeshadow would last and it wouldn't get dry too soon. Have you tried this product? Do you fill your brows daily? Kisses!

My Red Lipsticks Collection // Mi Colección de Labiales Rojos

These are all the red lipsticks I own. As you can see the range goes from a bright orange-y red to a deep oxblood. I'm starting a new series where I will make a different look wearing each of these lipsticks so you can see different types of makeups with red lips. But first let's talk about the shades!

1. Rouge Dior in Rouge Flamboyant (638) by Dior: This is the brightest one and has an orange undertone. It's a bit sheer so you have to apply two to three layers of it to be completely opaque on the lips. Is really hydrating and feels really smooth on the lips. It lasts around 6 to 7 hours on the lips without moving, even after drinking or eating.

2. Rouge Coco in Cambon (31) by Chanel: This was the first red lipstick I ever bought and I still love it. It gravitates towards the pink hues, like a cherry red. As the Rouge Dior, it has a moisturizing formula and you nedd two to three layer to cover completely the lips. It lasts 6 to 7 hours but I recommend using it with a lipliner otherwise it tends to feather a bit.

3. Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo by NYX: The latest one to enter into my stash. After trying other soft matte lip creams I fell in love with the formula and applicator and I couldn't resist to grab two more colors. This was one of them, a deep crimson red that has a velvet finish. It covers the lip with just one swipe and lasts around 4 hours, but is so easy to reapply that I don't mind doing it.

4. Retro Matte Lipstick in RiRi Woo by M·A·C: A limited edition lisptick from the first Rihanna's collaboration with M·A·C. I was so lucky to get it, it was sold out everywhere! Its a completely matte lipstick, in a deep red color with cool undertones. It's similar to Ruby Woo but I prefer the cool undertones of this one better. It's a bit drying so you have to use balm underneath to keep your lips perfect through the day. It lasts around six to eight hours so it's the perfect red to go out. I always get asked about it when I wear it and probably this is my favorite of the bunch with Chanel's Cambon.

5. Color Sensational in Lady Red (527) by Maybelline: I was living abroad and I didn't have any red lipsticks with me but I didn't want to spend a fortune so I went to the Maybelline stand and I checked out the reds. I love their neon colors so I thought that the quality of their red lipstick was going to be as good and I was completely right. They're super pigmented and soft. They have an hydrating formula and a beautiful sheen finish. The first one I got was Lady Red, a medium deep red with cool undertones, what I would call a classic red.

6. Color Sensational in Pleasure Me Red (547) by Maybelline: Days after trying Lady Red, I went back to the counter and got a second lipstick, Pleasure Me Red. This one is darker and deeper, I would decribe it as a blood red. With both of them I get around 6 hours of wear.

7. Matte Lipstick in Russian Red by M·A·C: One of the most famous reds by M·A·C with the Ruby Woo. It's an intense lipstick with a rich deep color with blue undertones. With one swipe it completely covers your lips. It has a matte finish but is not as drying as RiRi Woo. Even though I love the color, the problem with this texture is that you need a perfect skin on your lips because otherwise it emphasizes any crack or flake you might have. It lasts 6 to 8 hours without fading.

My Everyday Look // Mi Look de Diario

Morning beauties! In this post I'll show you the eye makeup I wear the most on a daily basis. It's super easy to make so it's perfect  for an everyday look when you don't want to spend too much time getting yourself ready to work. This is the step by step guide of how I create this look:

1. Apply the Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base by Nars all over the upper lid (up to the browbone) and on the inner corner of the eye. I distribute it with my own finger and then wait a bit until it dries completely.

2. With a big fluffy eyeshadow brush (213 by Kiko), I apply the microsadow in Desert by MUS again all over the eyelid so I even out my skintone and create a perfect base for the next eyeshadows.

3. Again, using my fingers, I apply on the center of the lid the Color Tattoo shadow by Maybelline, to add some shine to the eye. I make sure that it's well blended.

4. With the same fluffy brush I apply Hustle (dark brown) eyeshadow from UD's Naked palette just on the outer corner of the eye to add some depth and dimension to the look. I blend it following the crease of the eye.

5. I draw a subtle cat eye with NYX's eyeliner, just a thin line, very close to the top lashes.

6. Next, the eyebrows. I define them a bit with the pencil by L'Oréal. Not too much, just enough to make them look clean and combed.

7. With the same brow pencil I draw a small line from the outer corner up to the middle lower lash line to open up the eyes.

8. I add two coats of mascara to my lashes using Passioneyes duo by Dolce & Gabbana (It's so easy to remove at night...you only need some water!)

9. Finally with the Concealer brush by Beter I draw a triangle under my eyes with the Pro Longwear concealer by M·A·C and then I blend it with the 224 brush.

* I've added a tweezer because before doing my makeup I always check out that my brow shape is even.

Everyday Look // The Glow Lab

Everyday Look Products // The Glow Lab

List Of Products

Color Tattoo 24hr in On and on Bronze (35) by Maybelline (5,95 €)

Microshadow in Desert by Make Up Store (16,30 €) You can find its review here.

Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base by Nars (26 €)

Passioneyes Duo Mascara in Nero by Dolce & Gabbana (27 € approx.)

Superliner Brow Artist in Brunette (03) by L'Oréal ( 7 € approx.)

Felt Tip Liner by NYX (9,50 $) Not available in Spain yet, I bought it in Germany.

Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15 by M·A·C (18,50 €)

Hustle Eyeshadow from Naked Palette by Urban Decay (49,90 €)

Classic Black Slant Tweezer by Rubis (24,99 €)

Concealer Brush by Beter (2,99 €)

Eyes 213 Brush by Kiko  (9,90 €)

224 Tapered Blending Brush by M·A·C (33,50 €)