Joining this party with a resounding Yes to Neubrow. I use it once a day (because stingy) and my brows have grown in beautifully - even at the tail end. I buy it during the Nordstrom two for one sale in July (Anniversary Sale). Another tip I used before I discovered Neubrow: my esthetician noticed I had tiny new hairs growing in that I couldn't see so she died them. It worked really well. I stopped doing it when I went gray because dye looked too dark. Enter NeuBrow.
Bare legs are everywhere here since our weather has gone warm (some days flat out hot) and mine are TalesOfTheCrypt white so those tanning towelettes are mighty tempting. Say, yes, to NeuBrow––you will not be disappointed. And to whomever it was that recommended the moisturizer, Vanicream, I hope you win a hefty lottery because that stuff is awesome!! And, as long as I'm here, I rarely make music suggestions because my taste in music is so eclectic and slightly weird, but a recent release came to my attention that I find myself playing often particularly when I'm doing one of my "fast walks"––I'm not a huge fan of Beyonce or Miley Cyrus and most definitely not a fan of country music, but their duet on the Cowboy Carter album––II Most Wanted––has just captured me for the moment so wanted to pass that along.
I always value your recs, Kim, and will check these out. I’m curious about your devotion to matte lipsticks. Every time I try one, it ends up dry and crackly and comes off, becoming an unsightly rim around the lips. How do you avoid these pitfalls??
I have a bunch of matte lipsticks that I like the color of and didn't want to waste due to dryness, so I've started putting the Merit sheer lip oil over them, which is working really well.
Ali, I LOVE matte lipsticks, and what's worked for me so far is to use a primer/liner (Sephora has a clear lip liner/primer for cheap that I like) on my lips and just outside, and, in the case of *very* matte lipstick like Ruby Woo, apply it with what I think was supposed to be a brow brush (stiff bristles, flat, diagonal across the top), and then blot once with a tissue.
With liquid matte lipsticks I also start with the liner, but I try to leave very little lipstick on the applicator before applying it, wiping the excess on the insides of the tube. This is especially helpful with Rihanna's liquid lipsticks, as they're rather runny. I think the key for me is maybe using very thin layers? And perhaps my oily skin contributes to preventing drying and crackling? I hope that any of this might help!!
I love matte lipstick and find NARS consistently the best. My favorite is the shade Jolie Mome, which looks nothing like the photos online. It's a berry plum, and truly unscented. I keep a rotating, lifetime supply of this stuff because I'm afraid it will be discontinued.
PS. I see other comments now. I use only the NARS lipstick -- no liner, no under or overcoat, no brush -- and it never cracks, flakes, runs, etc. I love it.
I really only wear matte lipstick when I do a red lip, and for this I highly recommend Lisa Eldridge's Velvet Ribbon (and her whole True Velvet range in general). It doesn't dry my lips and it stays on through eating, drinking, etc. I usually try to gently buff my lips before I apply it, and I always use liner and then apply the color with a lip brush, which helps keep things tidy.
I love Lisa Eldridge’s entire line. Everything is amazing. The lipsticks and lip liners especially. I also have the skin tint which makes my skin look amazing.
I live in a place where it’s hard to impossible to find most of these things. Reading your article and the comments feels like watching a big sister and her friends getting ready to go out clubbing, and me wishing I was old enough to join them.
Excellent curation. I’ve really fallen in love with Merit in terms of ease of use and performance but also so curious to try Gen See. Also wanna toss in a recco for mascara- if you haven’t tried it yet, Caliray come hell or high water mascara. It’s tubing but also so so good.
I just ordered some NeuBrow. I'm on this new kick where I try one thing at a time, use it all up and then decide whether to reorder. Keeps me organized and pragmatic.
Thank you for these recommendations! Mascara refresher? Who knew! I love the idea. Sometimes if I’m going out at night I don’t put mascara on in the morning, cause as you know it gets kind of crumbly after a few hours. And I can personally vouch for the NeuBrow. One caveat: It not only thickens brows, it grows the hairs LONG. I had to trim them! But they do look great!
I love Merit blush. I'm fair skinned so I wear Beverly Hills and Stockholm (more of a subtle pink than it seems). Just a nice sheer flush of color. Neubrow is expensive but I do think it's helped!
Mascara refresher!!! I too had never heard of such a thing, and now I need to add it to my beauty arsenal! I also had a good experience with NeuBrow - I'm fortunate to not *really* need it, as my brows miraculously mostly grew back from the horrors of the 90s, but I still ended up with patchy spots filled out after I grabbed a double pack from a Nordstrom sale on a whim. May it work for you as well, Kim!
I don't wear mascara much these days, but I love the idea of mascara refresher. Also intrigued by the lipstick—I prefer the way it looks but do struggle with it being too drying.
I've been interested in trying the Merit blush. And how magical is that mascara for touch ups?! Genius. I didn't know about it. I'm a big fan of RapidBrow and RapidLash (I get a two pack of each from Costco for the price of one elsewhere). I bet you will be amazed at the brow hairs that starts to pop out. :)
I’m so glad you tried the Erborian Red correct cream - I use their regular CC cream and CC under eye cream and they are both fantastic! Hoping they will be on store shelves in the US soon so it’s easier to try other products.
I’ve had great success with the NeuBrow. I used it morning and night until my brows grew back in, now twice a week or so for maintenance.
Nordstrom usually has a 2 for 1 sale of Neubrow during the holiday season. Two last me for a year. And I have brows again!! Highly recommend.
Joining this party with a resounding Yes to Neubrow. I use it once a day (because stingy) and my brows have grown in beautifully - even at the tail end. I buy it during the Nordstrom two for one sale in July (Anniversary Sale). Another tip I used before I discovered Neubrow: my esthetician noticed I had tiny new hairs growing in that I couldn't see so she died them. It worked really well. I stopped doing it when I went gray because dye looked too dark. Enter NeuBrow.
Same. Same routine. It's a wonder.
Bare legs are everywhere here since our weather has gone warm (some days flat out hot) and mine are TalesOfTheCrypt white so those tanning towelettes are mighty tempting. Say, yes, to NeuBrow––you will not be disappointed. And to whomever it was that recommended the moisturizer, Vanicream, I hope you win a hefty lottery because that stuff is awesome!! And, as long as I'm here, I rarely make music suggestions because my taste in music is so eclectic and slightly weird, but a recent release came to my attention that I find myself playing often particularly when I'm doing one of my "fast walks"––I'm not a huge fan of Beyonce or Miley Cyrus and most definitely not a fan of country music, but their duet on the Cowboy Carter album––II Most Wanted––has just captured me for the moment so wanted to pass that along.
I really enjoyed Cowboy Carter and especially that song.
My favroite song on the whole album!
I always value your recs, Kim, and will check these out. I’m curious about your devotion to matte lipsticks. Every time I try one, it ends up dry and crackly and comes off, becoming an unsightly rim around the lips. How do you avoid these pitfalls??
I have a bunch of matte lipsticks that I like the color of and didn't want to waste due to dryness, so I've started putting the Merit sheer lip oil over them, which is working really well.
Ali, I LOVE matte lipsticks, and what's worked for me so far is to use a primer/liner (Sephora has a clear lip liner/primer for cheap that I like) on my lips and just outside, and, in the case of *very* matte lipstick like Ruby Woo, apply it with what I think was supposed to be a brow brush (stiff bristles, flat, diagonal across the top), and then blot once with a tissue.
With liquid matte lipsticks I also start with the liner, but I try to leave very little lipstick on the applicator before applying it, wiping the excess on the insides of the tube. This is especially helpful with Rihanna's liquid lipsticks, as they're rather runny. I think the key for me is maybe using very thin layers? And perhaps my oily skin contributes to preventing drying and crackling? I hope that any of this might help!!
I love matte lipstick and find NARS consistently the best. My favorite is the shade Jolie Mome, which looks nothing like the photos online. It's a berry plum, and truly unscented. I keep a rotating, lifetime supply of this stuff because I'm afraid it will be discontinued.
PS. I see other comments now. I use only the NARS lipstick -- no liner, no under or overcoat, no brush -- and it never cracks, flakes, runs, etc. I love it.
Bette, I envy your matte lipstick serendipity!! I might have to try NARS. Do you have a favorite to recommend?
I really only wear matte lipstick when I do a red lip, and for this I highly recommend Lisa Eldridge's Velvet Ribbon (and her whole True Velvet range in general). It doesn't dry my lips and it stays on through eating, drinking, etc. I usually try to gently buff my lips before I apply it, and I always use liner and then apply the color with a lip brush, which helps keep things tidy.
I adore Lisa Eldridge!! Is it possible to try her stuff on in an actual store? Or is it an online gamble (can makeup be returned?)
As far as I know, the only stores that carry her makeup are in the UK, but her website is pretty good about returns.
I love Lisa Eldridge’s entire line. Everything is amazing. The lipsticks and lip liners especially. I also have the skin tint which makes my skin look amazing.
I am very tempted by the skin tint, but I never do allover complexion makeup, so for now I'm holding off. The reviews seem universally enthusiastic!
I live in a place where it’s hard to impossible to find most of these things. Reading your article and the comments feels like watching a big sister and her friends getting ready to go out clubbing, and me wishing I was old enough to join them.
Excellent curation. I’ve really fallen in love with Merit in terms of ease of use and performance but also so curious to try Gen See. Also wanna toss in a recco for mascara- if you haven’t tried it yet, Caliray come hell or high water mascara. It’s tubing but also so so good.
I just ordered some NeuBrow. I'm on this new kick where I try one thing at a time, use it all up and then decide whether to reorder. Keeps me organized and pragmatic.
Thank you for these recommendations! Mascara refresher? Who knew! I love the idea. Sometimes if I’m going out at night I don’t put mascara on in the morning, cause as you know it gets kind of crumbly after a few hours. And I can personally vouch for the NeuBrow. One caveat: It not only thickens brows, it grows the hairs LONG. I had to trim them! But they do look great!
I use the Merit blush in Beverly Hills. A nice subtle pink that works well with a bronzer. 😀. I second the NeuBrow eyebrow serum!
I love Merit blush. I'm fair skinned so I wear Beverly Hills and Stockholm (more of a subtle pink than it seems). Just a nice sheer flush of color. Neubrow is expensive but I do think it's helped!
I second the Gen See matte lipstick. it's one of the best I've tried.
Mascara refresher!!! I too had never heard of such a thing, and now I need to add it to my beauty arsenal! I also had a good experience with NeuBrow - I'm fortunate to not *really* need it, as my brows miraculously mostly grew back from the horrors of the 90s, but I still ended up with patchy spots filled out after I grabbed a double pack from a Nordstrom sale on a whim. May it work for you as well, Kim!
I don't wear mascara much these days, but I love the idea of mascara refresher. Also intrigued by the lipstick—I prefer the way it looks but do struggle with it being too drying.
The self tanner things are sold out! Oy and Egad!!
cw, they're still in stock (alongside the version for face) on the brand's site! https://drdennisgross.com/products/alpha-beta-glow-pad-for-body-intense-glow - not sure/hopeful that the link benefits Kim!
I've been interested in trying the Merit blush. And how magical is that mascara for touch ups?! Genius. I didn't know about it. I'm a big fan of RapidBrow and RapidLash (I get a two pack of each from Costco for the price of one elsewhere). I bet you will be amazed at the brow hairs that starts to pop out. :)
I’m so glad you tried the Erborian Red correct cream - I use their regular CC cream and CC under eye cream and they are both fantastic! Hoping they will be on store shelves in the US soon so it’s easier to try other products.