Beautiful Brows with NUDESTIX!

Hi, everyone! Regular readers will know that dealing with my brows is a continued struggle. I plucked them ultra thin in high school (it was the late '90s and I was trying so hard to look like Drew Barrymore) and they simply haven't grown back. They're ultra wimpy! That means that filling in my arches is a daily must for me and while I've been using and loving Anastasia brow products for years, I'm always ultra eager to test new options. So when I received NudeStix's Eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Gel* and Brow Wax*, I couldn't wait to put them to the test. 

Both of the NudeStix brow products come in reusable mirrored metal tins and the Brow Wax* also comes housed alongside a sharpener. 

First off, the Eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Gel* is touted as a "waterproof 2-in-1 brow pencil with tri-angled tip for precise application and clear strong-hold gel to tame unruly brows or to make tame brows unruly... creates the perfect brow in just a few seconds" (from nudestix.com). Thus, it promises to be quick, easy, multi-tasking, and long-wearing, with the ability to tame wild brows or add a bit of oomph and drama to lackluster arches. 

It comes in a sleek, dual-ended tube. Upon removing the cap on one end, the brow pencil is revealed and unscrewing the other end reveals a small spoolie-type brush coated in the brow gel (pictured above). Quite handy packaging! 

As you can see, the tip of the brow pencil is teardrop-shaped, allowing you to customize how thick or thin you'd like the line to be. 

Inside the tin is also an insert that outlines how to create "Beautiful Brows" in four easy steps:

Second, we have the NudeStix Brow Wax*, which is a "soft, clear wax that styles even the most stubborn and coarse hairs... creates the (im)perfect 'Cara' brow in seconds" (from nudestix.com). It comes in a simple chubby pencil format that needs to be sharpened after use, but luckily, as mentioned above, it comes with a compatible sharpener. It also comes with an instructional insert, which shares some pretty simple tips for use. 

Now for some swatches! The shade I received was Dirty Blonde, a mid-tone neutral brown. It is definitely warmer than my go-to Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe, but is decidedly less reddish than other brow pencils I've tried (like this option from Chantecaille). The accompanying brow gel is not completely clear (it has a subtle golden tint), but is much more subtle than the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel that's a regular in my routine. Finally, as you can see (or not see), the Brow Wax is completely clear! 

Now onto how they actually look on the brows! 

Here I am wearing zero brow product. As you can see, my brows are the bane of my existence ultra patchy and sparse:

Here I am wearing only the NudeStix Eyebrow Stylus Pencil* in Dirty Blonde. I used a rather heavy hand, which led to a somewhat unnatural finish. I could have been a bit gentler, but given that the tip (even the thinner angle) is on the wider side, I found it a bit difficult to create natural, hairlike strokes. 

And here are my brows after layering on some of the accompanying Brow Gel*. I was so happy with how this worked! Brushing through the gel not only removed some of the excess brow pencil (making things look much more natural), but also really brushed brows into place without a crispy feel. 

And finally, here is the NudeStix Eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Brow Gel in Dirty Blonde* in the context of a completed makeup look. As a finished look, it is much more polished and natural than the initial application of the pencil suggested. 

Here are a couple "Before" and "After" closeups to give an even clearer sense of the shade, finish, and texture: 

In a nutshell, I wasn't blown away by these products, but was definitely not disappointed either. Here's a breakdown of my thoughts: 

Pros:

• The Eyebrow Stylus Pencil truly is waterproof and long-wearing. It lasted through a sweaty yoga class without budging, which was truly impressive! 
• The brow gel is amazing! The spoolie applicator helps to comb out excess brow pencil while truly holding brows in place. Plus, no flaky residue!
• The packaging of both products is truly sleek and handy. The included sharpener that accompanies the Brow Wax is an extra nice touch! No one likes to buy a sharpener separately. 
• These products really help to create a bolder brow look with minimal effort

Cons:

• Even the more narrow tip of the Stylus isn't ultra thin, which can make precise application a bit tricky at first
• Dirty Blonde might be too warm-toned for those with truly dirty-blonde hair like me (but would suit those with warmer dark dark blond or light brown hair)
• Given how awesome the Brow Gel was for me, I found the Brow Wax to be unnecessary. Though those with thicker brows might disagree! 

While Dirty Blonde was not a perfect colour match, it's definitely still wearable for me, especially when layered with the gel. While the tip makes it a bit difficult to create precise lines, the more I use the Eyebrow Stylus Pencil, the easier it becomes to get a natural effect. A bit of a learning curve, but worth it! And seriously, the Brow Gel- it's totally fab! Truly grooms without any flakies or without removing too much of the brow pencil beneath it. As for the Brow Wax, I don't think it's a product for me, but only because my thinner brows don't really need it. For guys and gals with thicker, more coarse brows, however, I think it would work wonders! So while these products won't be usurping my go-to Anastasia brow items, they will definitely retain a place in my stash. 

What are you go-to brow products at the moment? Have you tried any goodies from NudeStix?

*These products were sent to me for consideration and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are 100% authentic and my own!