Organic Brow Gel
Despite the fact that eyebrows are just little patches of hair on our face, they are a defining feature that makes a person unique. They also go through fads and changes just like any form of fashion and makeup! With that said, you need to try a good organic eyebrow pencil if you’re looking to get on the clean beauty train.
If you already know a fair amount about clean beauty, good for you! You already know way more about your beauty and personal care products than most consumers. But if you’re looking to dip your toes in the world of non-toxic beauty products, this is a great place to start.
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Are Eyebrow Pencils Toxic?
Yes, unfortunately. Eyebrow pencils cannot escape the corruption of the cosmetics industry. Due to the lack of power from the FDA and a corrupt government, companies have almost completely free reign over what goes into their products.
This means that they can do whatever is necessary to get ahold of ingredients in mass quantities as cheaply as possible. What do those ingredients do to you over time? No one knows! But we are starting to get evidence, and it’s not pretty.
There are thousands of ingredients in our beauty and personal care products that have absolutely no data about what effect they can have on our system long-term. On the other hand, there are hundreds of ingredients in which we know for certain that they are detrimental to our health!
Common Toxic Ingredients in Eyebrow Pencils Include:
- Coal tar—A colorant for darkening makeup products like eyeliner and mascara, as well as eyebrow pencils or gels. It’s a carcinogen that can cause skin irritation at best, and different kinds of cancer at worst.
- Carcinogens—Any kind of substance (like coal tar) that has been proven to cause cancer. You won’t find this word on an ingredient list, but the most common carcinogenic substances include quarternium-15 and 1,3 dioxane.
- Formaldehyde—Another common carcinogen in which quarternium-15 and 1,3 dioxane will slowly release it into the product. Formaldehyde reactions are most commonly skin rashes.
- Parabens—A preservative that is in almost every beauty product out there. They mimic the hormone estrogen when quickly absorbed into the skin. As a result, hormonal imbalance and infertility can wreak havoc on a person’s body.
- Heavy Metals—Aluminum and mica are most commonly found in eyebrow makeup to give it some kind of shimmer or shine. Heavy metals have been found to cause ailments ranging from birth defects to nerve damage.
There is no formal or regulated definition of “clean” or “natural” which means that clean beauty looks more like a spectrum rather than a set rule. I tend to be more on the strict end of the spectrum, but I also know when to not be “that girl” in certain situations.
What is the Most Natural Eyebrow Pencil?
There isn’t one organic eyebrow pencil that I would recommend. In fact, I recommend several! There are so many options for a good organic eyebrow wax that I have my favorites listed down below. And yes, this list covers both gel and pencils.
You’ll find that most eyebrow pencils are made with natural ingredients like beeswax or a more plant-based type of gum. This makes for a flawless application that manages to stay on your face all day long.
I personally don’t think that it’s a good idea to compare products that have been vetted to be “clean” to see which one is the most natural. It creates a toxic mindset that nothing is ever good enough. As long as you know they are natural, then test them out to see which color suits you best, or how long they stay on your brows. Test for performance rather than purity!
If you’re still unsure of how to tell when a beauty product is actually free from toxic ingredients, I have a whole guide on greenwashing, one of the first things you should know about clean beauty. I also recommend you try shopping at clean beauty marketplaces, like Credo Beauty or The Detox Market for more ideas.
What Color Pencil Should I Use for My Eyebrows?
This one can get tricky, and I’ll admit that I’m no makeup artist! But I’ve found that most organic eyebrow pencil options have their colors named with the hair they correspond to. So in my case, I usually go with whatever says “blonde,” and that works best for me.
But because I have dirty blonde hair, I’ve found that I can get away with any shades that are meant for brunettes or light brown hair. And hey, when in doubt, I recommend going darker if you’re stuck between shades.
Bold brows are super trendy right now, so it won’t be the end of the world if they come out a bit darker than they usually do. But please take this tip with caution! You obviously don’t want to pick a dark shade that doesn’t match your hair color at all.
What is The Best Eyebrow Pencil for No Eyebrows?
I’ve personally never shaved my brows before, but I might as well not have any at all. Only the inner half of my eyebrows are somewhat noticeable, and those hairs are almost light blonde! On the rare occasion that I do my makeup to go out, I often forget what I look like with eyebrows and catch myself off-guard.
But I digress. As someone with minimal eyebrows, I highly recommend you go with a fine-point organic eyebrow pencil over a brush gel applicator. This gives you more control to draw in those tiny hairs to make it look more authentic.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good eyebrow gel, but in my experience, I’ve found that I look more like I painted my brows on with a paintbrush rather than drew them in myself with a pencil. I love using a gel for a more dramatic look, but I find myself reaching for a good pencil on a regular day.
Now let’s get into some of my favorite organic eyebrow pencil options! All are vetted to be completely non-toxic with zero questionable substances. Plus, I’ve tried all of them, so I have some thoughts that might help you choose your favorite. So let’s dive in!
Alima Pure Eyebrow Pencil
A cult favorite, Alima Pure is well-known for their clean makeup that works just as well as traditional big-name brands. Their eyebrow pencil is one of their top products because it goes on smoothly, stays all day, and even blends well if that’s your kind of look.
I also personally love this eyebrow pencil for natural makeup in the sense of it creating a natural look. The blonde color of this organic eyebrow pencil fits my hair perfectly, as if I wasn’t wearing any eyebrow makeup at all. There are no weird ashy or red undertones, which make it look very authentic.
This pencil also gives me a good amount of control for drawing in little hairs for a more authentic look, which I appreciate. I’m more of a no makeup kind of person, so this fits my daily makeup routine perfectly.
Inika Eyebrow Perfector
The first organic eyebrow gel on this list is definitely one of my favorites! I know I’ve mentioned previously that I’m more of a pencil person rather than a gel person, but this product makes me think otherwise every now and then.
My main qualm with natural eyebrow gels is that I don’t have enough control. What I usually end up getting is an overdone brow that looks like I painted it on, which doesn’t fit the natural look I like. This brush, however, actually gives me control!
It’s small enough that I can create little strokes that look like hair. And the plus is that the natural waxes in the formula set in place quickly. I’ve never had a problem with this eyebrow gel smudging, even on days when I’m dripping sweat!
If you have unruly brows that need some extra control, this natural brow gel is for you. It will put all of your hairs where they belong and make sure that they stay there until you take it off.
W3ll People Expressionist Brow Gel
This brow gel is likely the cheapest product on this list, but don’t let that fool you! I’ve been using this brow gel on my brows for years and I keep finding myself reaching for it at the store. It’s also one of the most accessible products on this list, because you can usually find it at Target. I have an in-depth W3ll People review about more of their products. They’re definitely worth looking into!
While the ingredient list on this product is great and I absolutely love W3ll People’s brand message, this eyebrow gel isn’t my favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I think this gel is totally worthy of being on this list! My biggest problem is that I don’t have the right amount of control that I like.
The first time applied this gel to my thin, sparse brows was a disaster. The size of the brush left me with overdrawn brows that looked completely fake. I’ve since learned that I need to take off a good amount of the gel that comes on the brush, and to use small strokes in very precise directions, but the margin for error is still pretty small.
I still use this brow gel on days when I want a slightly more dramatic look and I have time to put on some makeup, but those times are far and few these days. But hey, I still think that those with thicker brows would love this stuff!
Jane Iredale Eyebrow Pencil
This was one of the first clean makeup products I ever tried, and I loved it! In fact, it ran out rather quickly for me and I was really sad about it. This organic eyebrow pencil has a little brush at one end for you to comb everything in place. I don’t have much to comb, but I appreciate the idea.
What’s at the other end is the star of the show. I would argue that this natural eyebrow pencil has the finest tip out of all these options. Plus, you just twist the little opening where the makeup comes out to get more, so you don’t have to worry about messy pencil shavings!
Because of the fine tip of this eyebrow pencil, it’s one of the best options for people who have no eyebrows because you can draw in those tiny hairs perfectly. It worked great for me, and I achieved my most natural-looking brows with this stuff.
The only downside of this pencil is that it does run out fast, like I said earlier. There’s only so much makeup you can fit in that tiny pencil holder! I would start by buying one to see if you like it. If you do, go for two the next time around so it’s less annoying when you run out.
Ere Perez Almond Eyebrow Pencil
If you have blonde to brown hair, this is a great option for you! The almond eyebrow pencil by Ere Perez is a lovely medium brown that goes well with just about any hair color with brown tones.
I personally love this eyebrow pencil because it matches my hair perfectly. I’m in that awkward range of my hair being not technically brunette, but it’s definitely not blonde either. This eyebrow pencil brings out the color of my hair in a very complementary way.
It also goes on very smooth and stays put all day long. I hate it when eyebrow pencils either take a lot of effort for a bit of color, or make you look like a clown with one stroke. This organic eyebrow pencil rides the fine line in-between the two ends of the spectrum very well for seamless application.
Final Thoughts on These Organic Eyebrow Pencil Recommendations
Although big, bold brows are in right now, there are so many ways you can dress them up and make them your own! I think we live more in a time where pretty much everything goes, so do what makes you happy and feel good.
I have days where I want just a little bit of definition and go for a simple brow pencil. And I also have days where I want my brows to match my made-up eyes and I go for a dramatic gel. It’s all about what you want to feel like on a particular day.
It also might take some time for you to get a good handle on application with a few of these products. Once I learned how to apply the W3ll People eyebrow gel, it became one of my favorite brow products!
Do you prefer an organic eyebrow pencil or a gel? Let me know in the comments below!