This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift. Content is the same but may have been edited for clarity and readability. Any additional commentary is noted in line.
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade hasn’t been new in a while, but I didn’t bite when it first came out. Although I love the idea of creme and gel products for eyeliner, I wanted to observe the market and opinions for taking the plunge. Despite not being the first product of its kind, it quickly achieved cult favorite status.
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade
I eventually decided I would go for it, but hadn’t gotten around to buying it. Then, I won a contest in a community I am a member of – and won Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe. Taupe is the, “safe,” shade that, if you aren’t sure or can’t go get color-matched, you should pick (it will work on the widest variety of brows). That was six months ago (from the original 4/24/2015 posting).
In the pot is a creme that lies on the firmer side that is best applied with a stiff, angled-bristle brush. The above pot shows about 75 uses to get a good shot of the depth of the product, but it just wasn’t happening (but I tried! See below). I’m nowhere near hitting pan, and this will almost certainly get dry before I can use it up (2018 edit: did definitely dry up), and that’s even if I wore it daily.
Application
It applies with ease – upon my first use, it felt familiar to me, like gel eyeliner (which I’ve talked about a lot). It is just as easy to achieve either a sculpted, carved brow as it is just to enhance what your brows do on their own. Anastasia Beverly Hills sells a brush (their #12 brush) that is recommended for use with Dipbrow; already having spent $18 on the product, I was reluctant to shell out for the brush without making an opinion. At first, I fumbled with the bdellium Tools 760 but was not impressed with it for brow use, but eventually moved on to my Sonia Kashuk liner brush (another cult item) and LAB2 Get In Shape Brow & Liner brush.
As shades go, ABH offers a respectable range of shades of Dipbrow Pomade – the full complement of eleven shades can be seen here and ranges from light to dark, warm to cool. The color itself is buildable, so if you want that strong, defined brow you can effortlessly achieve it.
Wear
I was intrigued by Benefit Gimme Brow when it was used on me when I got waxed at the Brow Bar; while it is an expedient and no-thought solution, Dipbrow Pomade beats its pants off. In terms of hold and wear, it stays on all day (16+) hours – and my brows stay in place. (2018 Update: Even though I LOVE Gimme Brow, I stand by my assessment of Dipbrow having better staying power. It’s just the truth!) It has not once protested when my T-zone has gotten on the oilier side. It was steadfast, it remained in place through oil, through rain, through absentminded rubbing of my face that I should really stop doing at some point. I haven’t needed to retouch it.
Despite its longevity, Dipbrow Pomade isn’t inconvenient to remove.
**2018 Update**
I ultimately discontinued use of Dipbrow; over time, I found that the formula was difficult on my sparse-ish brow hairs. As my usage (and, therefore, removal) increased, I found that precious brow hairs became casualties to the process.
I still recommend Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade IF you:
- Have oily skin because it. doesn’t. budge.
- Don’t mind your brows either becoming more sparse or not growing in or
- Have lush brows to begin with
–neither are me. I since graduated to Gimme Brow, had a roller-coaster relationship with it, but am currently using Ulta Brow Tint (due to Gimme Brow’s temporary discontinuation) and like it enough to save money by using it.
The Bottom Line
I will (2018 update: did, several times before I broke up with it.) repurchase Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade gladly, and recommend highly especially to those with oily skin. As far as I know, there isn’t a competent drugstore dupe (2018 update: Still true! There ARE other drugstore products out there, but Dipbrow still takes the cake) – so I think this stuff is worth it. The tiniest bit goes such a long way; when properly cared for you’ll have it at least a year before it dries out, if not more. No need to worry about annoying sharpening, or mushing a twist-up. Easy.