From the skinny, overplucked look from the 90s, to Cara Delevigne-inspired bushy brows in the 2010s - who knew the facial hair that tops our lids would become such a major part of beauty trends over the years?
In 2023, there’s been talk of bleached brows - made popular by Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga - as well as the new Gen Z ‘straight’ brow. But there’s a general consensus that low maintenance brows are the new ‘in’ thing, with many opting for lamination treatments, or the more affordable, but more laborious choice of brow gels.
Up until recently, I had always used a £2.50 Natural Collection ‘dark brown’ brow gel from Boots - but when I saw REFY’s new 12-hour brow tint blowing up on TikTok, I knew I’d have to give it a go.
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I’m a sucker for a viral beauty brand - but would the £16 product replace my go-to gel that’s six times cheaper?
Naturally, I have white eyebrows, so I started to have them laminated and tinted about three years ago. But you can only have them done every eight weeks, so in between appointments, I need to use a brow gel to complete my makeup look - particularly after the four-week mark.
You can see from my before photo below that my brows are currently very pale - I’ve my appointment booked for a week's time, so this is essentially the ‘worst’ they ever look. Although I suppose I could hop on that bleached brow trend.
This means that the REFY brow tint had some pretty hard work to do - but it’s safe to say that it valiantly stepped up to the mark.
REFY launched the brand’s Brow Sculpt in November 2020, which quickly became a cult must-have and revolutionised brow routines. I received it in a Glossybox Advent Calendar last year and have really enjoyed using it to fill in my brows for a bushier look.
Now, the brand has unveiled the REFY brow tint, the water-based tint that makes for a powerhouse product duo when used in conjunction with the brow sculpt.
Initially, I was pretty surprised to hear that it was just £16. I know that I use one of the cheapest available on the market, but it seems very affordable when you put it in a lineup of other drugstore beauty brands. While budget brand Revolution offers brow gels for £5, Boots’ No7 tinted gel comes in at just under £12, Maybelline’s offering is £12.99.
But REFY’s gel is cheaper than more premium offerings from brands like Benefit and Anastasia Beverly Hills, whose brow tints cost £24.50 and £23 respectively. It finds itself somewhere in the middle, offering luxury quality, but at a reasonable price.
Available in four shades, the REFY tint comes in soft brown, medium brown, dark brown and black. I opted for dark brown as I do prefer a more defined look, but your decision will mostly be determined by your natural hair colour and desired outcome.
Unlike its cream based competitors, REFY’s tint is a water based formula, which means one swipe of the brush gives the most natural finish, but it is relatively buildable, too, so you can get a thicker, fluffier look with a few coats.
The non-permanent gel formula applies quite wet, but the unique, round applicator has been designed to coat and define each individual hair quickly and easily, helping to avoid any product transfer to the skin. I managed to do both of my brows without the need for a cotton bud, which was a huge success.
Its quick application and fast acting formula, allowed me to create textured, natural looking, but defined brows in less than 30 seconds, which is far less than when I use similar products, where I have to be much more careful and precise.
Once dry, the formula feels ever so slightly tacky, but not stiff or glued down. The tint contains Peptides to help leave brows feeling and looking conditioned, fuller and stronger. The hairs still feel flexible, but well held in place.
The brand promises 12 hours of hold, which I can attest to after wearing it all day, heading out for food and drinks before going to see a gig and regrettably sleeping in my makeup. But, in the morning, my eyebrows still looked great - the panda eyes not so much.
REFY said the product will keep your brows tinted until washed out and can be removed with any makeup remover. I used my Aldi cleanser to remove all of my makeup, and it melted away effortlessly.
Overall, I was really pleased with the colour of the tint after a bit of work, and think that these four shades will be pretty universally loved for their buildable coverage. It’s suitable for all skin types and is fragrance free, as well as being vegan and cruelty free, certified by the Leaping Bunny program.
My Natural Collection gel typically gives the desired coverage in one swipe, making it better for when my brows are due a lamination, however, it's quite smudgy and doesn't last all day, so the REFY product definitely outperforms it on longevity and durability.
I love that it enhances my natural eyebrows quickly and easily, offering a thick and fluffy look and a strong hold without them giving me hairspray flashbacks from my dancing days.
The applicator is ingeniously innovative, it’s like witchcraft how it doesn’t smear up your forehead, and at £16, it offers luxury beauty that actually performs at an affordable pricepoint.
You can shop the REFY brow tint exclusively on their website here.
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