For eyebrow obsessives (Benefit High-Brow)

Member Name: glitter_princess

Product:	Benefit High-Brow
Date:	23/04/09 (260 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to apply, gives a lovely natural, subtle look and highlights brows perfectly

Disadvantages: Can cling to hairs if your brows aren't perfectly groomed, expensive for what it is

When it comes to my eyebrows I can border a little on the side of obsession - I ensure my eyebrows are always plucked to perfection and there is nothing more I enjoy than sitting in front of the tv with a pair of tweezers and a mirror and just chilling out and getting my brows in shape. Of course, I realise this isn't everyone's idea of a good time, but there is no underestimating the importance your eyebrows have in defining the shape of your face. Just think what Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent or that one from the Apprentice might look like if they got their eyebrows sorted!

My eyebrow obsession was what lead me to purchase Benefit's High Brow Pencil - a pale pink / ivory coloured pencil which is used as a highlighter just under the brow to achieve better definition. Some might consider this a waste of money a £12.50, but not I! I happily shelled out the money in my quest to achieve even more perfect brows.

The pencil itself comes in a mass of completely unnecessary packaging, which seems to be Benefit's style. The pencil comes in a box, complete with instruction booklet. Does an eyebrow pencil really warrant an instruction booklet I ask?! Well apparently Benefit have decided that yes, yes it does. Once you have made your way through the unnecessary packaging and located the pencil you are away! The pencil itself is nice a chunky and long, and easy to get a good grip of. It uses a nice black and cream colour scheme and comes with a black plastic lid to protect the pencil tip. It looks like a classy product and one that looks stylish in my makeup box.

To apply, you simply use the pencil to draw a line all the way under your brow. Application will vary depending on the natural shape of your brows, but I like to apply a little more just underneath the highest point of the arch for definition and then just two small lines of it over the top of the brow on either side of the arch. You can blend in with your fingers or with a blending brush - I find that a brush is preferable here as using your fingers tends to overblend, reducing the effect somewhat. The pinky colour suits the pink undertones in my skin well, although I think it would work with any skintone as it's pretty versatile, and I love the subtle definition it gives to the brows. The consistency is lovely and soft and makes it so easy to blend.

I also like to use this on my eyelids on days when I don't want a really made-up look - just a smidge in the corner of the eye works well to brighten up the eyes, or I like to use it as an eyeliner with a line just above the eyelashes to really make my eyes pop. I love the look that this gives - really natural, perky and wide awake.

In terms of staying power, the consistency of this meant that I wasn't expecting miracles and it performed about as well as I expected. I find if I apply in the morning (about 6.45), it will last on both my eyelids and my brows until about lunchtime when a reapplication is needed. It doesn't smudge or smear though once applied and seems to just fade gradually from the skin.

The pencil requires manual sharpening and you will need to invest in a large sharpener - not a problem for those who use other Benefit pencils (I had one already to use with my Bad Girl eyeliner) but is an extra expense to consider. It sharpens nice and cleanly, with no nasty harsh bits, and I would estimate that one of these pencils will last me about 8 months with daily use.

All in all, I would highly recommend High Brow for anyone who suffers from an eyebrow obsession - it helps to achieve a perfectly groomed look for your brows and leaves them looking really defined. However, for normal people, this will probably be seen as a waste of money, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it for those who don't take special care to keep their brows tidy, as it will cling to any loose or stray hairs and highlight them. When it comes to the crunch, you could quite easily achieve them same effect with a pale eyeshadow or MAC pigment, but there is something about this pencil that I really love and it's fast replacing my vast collection of eyeshadows as the thing I most regularly wear on my eyelids!

Summary: How groomed are your brows?