Brow Gels
Description
November 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
Although I have never plucked my eyebrows, I nonetheless have very sparse and challenging brows that look almost non-existent if I do not put any makeup on them.
Filling in my eyebrows with pencil and then using brow gel to darken the few brow hairs that I have seems to give me a maximally natural look. Those who have less sparse brows may be able to use brow gel alone, though.
Because I use brow products almost every day and have been motivated to put in work to get an optimal look, I have tried out a wide variety of eyebrow products – including more than 25 different eyebrow gels.
Unfortunately, it has been my experience that brow gel has been by far the worst makeup category that I have looked at, in terms of the percentage of products that I have tried that have turned out to be totally unusable to me.
Many of the brow gels (even when purchased directly from the manufacturers) arrived at my home so dried-up that they were totally useless, and many of the others were toxic enough that they gave me reactions.
In addition, I have found that some brow gels seem much more suited to my own sparse brows than others. For instance, while I can see why some people might have success using Glossier Boy Brow to darken or groom their existing fuller brows, that product did not work for me at all.
Brow gels rated as “Living Clean Superstars” have worked for my brows. Those listed in the “Additional Possibilities” category did not work for me, but I think that they may have potential for people who do not have my own particular brow challenges.
Products that were too toxic or dried-up for me to use are listed in the “Trash Can” category.
An additional challenge with regard to brow gels is that some of these products are available in a very limited number of shades that may not be appropriate for everyone.
For instance, while it often is suggested that women who have ash blonde or greying hair may want to choose a cooler brow color (such as ash blonde or taupe or grey), some companies do not even offer these shades in their brow gels.
The available color selection therefore is discussed for each brow gel product as well.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars:
Beautycounter Brilliant Brow Gel ($26)
+Ere Perez Argan Brow Hero ($31)
+Jane Iredale PureBrow Brow Gel ($24)
+Kosas Air Brow Clear ($24)
+Kosas Air Brow Tinted ($24)
Merit Brow 1980 ($24)
+Persona SwipeUp Brow Gel ($19)
♦ Additional Possibilities:
+Boom Brow ($26)
Glossier Boy Brow ($17)
+Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Brow Envy Gel ($22)
Tarte Busy Gal Brows ($19)
+W3LL People Expressionist Brow Gel ($17)
♦ Not Yet Tried:
Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper ($29)
Burt’s Bees Power Brow ($10)
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Tinted Eyebrow Gel ($25)
♠ Trash Can:
Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Gel ($20)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22)
Bare Minerals Strength & Length Brow Gel ($22)
Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen ($25)
Benefit Gimme Brow ($24)
Honest Honestly Healthy Brow Gel ($15)
Ilia Essential Brow Natural Brow Gel ($26)
Milk Makeup Kush Fiber Brow Gel ($20)
Rose Inc. Brow Renew Tinted Shaping Gel ($26)
Saie Brow Butter ($20)
Thrive Causemetics Instant Brow Fix ($24)
Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel ($54)
♥ Lisa’s Choice:
Beautycounter Brilliant Brow Gel ($26)
√ Kosas Air Brow Tinted ($24)
Merit Brow 1980 ($24)
Persona SwipeUp Brow Gel ($19)
Tarte Busy Gal Brows ($19)
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
The next section contains affiliate links. Living Clean in a Dirty World may receive a commission if readers click on these links and then purchase products. Living Clean in a Dirty World also may accept product review samples but receives no other compensation from companies mentioned on this website.
Beautycounter Brilliant Brow Gel – $26
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Groom your brows and get a natural tint with our light-hold formula made with conditioning plant-based waxes and butters. Flake-proof, foolproof, and easy to use, a tapered applicator allows for precision, while our buildable formula coats hairs for the appearance of thicker, fuller, natural-looking brows. Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, and Jojoba Oil condition brow hairs to keep them soft and flexible. Carnauba Wax and Sunflower Seed Wax add structure to help define, groom, and condition brow hairs. Elderberry Extract is a superfruit extract rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants that protect and condition.”
This product worked pretty well for me, going on smoothly without any flaking and without getting dried up too fast.
I somewhat prefer the Kosas product but this one also has been satisfactory for me in terms of performance.
I did not notice any negative reactions to the product.
Currently available colors are Light (“neutral beige”); Medium (“neutral medium brown”); Dark (“neutral deep brown”); and Soft Black (“cool soft black”).
I have the Light color and it seems okay for me.
I purchased the product directly from Beautycounter.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Available Shades: Clear, Light, Medium, Dark, Soft Black
Beautycounter Rating: 4.8 Stars (1893 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Sodium Benzoate)
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3), Sodium benzoate (3), Titanium dioxide (3).
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Coconut Alkanes, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Carnauba Wax*, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Glycerin*, Sorbitan Olivate, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Sunflower Seed Wax, Shea Butter*, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Gluconolactone, Magnesium Myristate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Stearate, Grape Seed Oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Coconut Oil*, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Tocopherol, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides. *Organic Ingredient.
Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper – $29
Performance Rating: Not Yet Tried
Ingredients Rating: 
(3 / 5)
The description of this product reads, “A flexible brow gel that lifts, shapes, and sets hairs for fuller, natural looking brows. The lightweight formula glides on smoothly in a range of clear to brow-true shades, that effortlessly fill, while shaping from root to tip. A tapered spoolie helps ensure easy, precise application, while our Brow Conditioning Complex helps nourish brows with a blend of Castor and Coconut Oils.”
This product was slightly reformulated in early 2022, and several new shades were introduced.
Although I have not yet tried the new version, the ingredients for the old version were very similar and the product did not feel noticeably toxic to me.
It seemed to have gone on fairly smoothly and to look fairly nice.
The product does include a few ingredients (including SLS and polysorbate-20) that would disqualify it from being sold by Credo, however.
I’m glad to see that they have re-introduced some additional shades since none of the ones that were previously available seemed to be appropriate for me.
I purchased the old version through the Bobbi Brown website.
Size: 0.14 oz.
Available Shades: Clear, Slate, Blonde, Neutral Brown, Espresso, Mahogany, Rich Brown, Soft Black
Bobbi Brown Rating: 4.2 Stars (162 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (SLS, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Polysorbate-20 (3), Sodium laureth sulfate (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Simethicone.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Pvp, Polyisobutene, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Panthenol, Caffeine, Coconut Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Oryzanol, Simethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sorbitan Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Boom Brow – $26
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Lightweight, subtle definition that’s easy to apply. Defining your brows can be tricky—and unnatural-looking brows can change the look of your face. Boom Brow makes it easy. This lightweight brow mousse adds subtle volume, shape and definition for a naturally beautiful look that’s easy to achieve. With a few simple swipes of the eco-friendly wand, you’ll enhance your natural browline to frame your face beautifully, every time.”
Boom states that their products are designed for women who are 50+ (with many of the spokesmodels being much older than that). This is their only brow product.
Compared to most of the other brow gels that I have tried, this one is on the thin side. Although I have managed to get most of the product on my brow hairs rather than on the skin underneath the hairs, it has taken a bit of special effort to do that.
I think that this product may work much better for people who have relatively abundant brow hairs and are just trying to darken them a little bit, while maintaining a natural look.
Probably many of the older women that Boom is targeting are wanting to do just that, actually.
I purchased this product during the introduction period, when apparently it had just arrived from the factory.
The product did seem considerably fresher to me than many of the eyebrow gels that I have purchased. The container (which is made of glass) seemed entirely full and the product did not seem dried-up at all.
The ingredient list looks pretty good to me, and I have not found that the product has felt problematic to me or caused a reaction.
The product is available in two shades. I have Taupe and it seems fine for me.
The company website states about the colors, “Some brow products come in lots of different shades, making it hard to know which color is right for you. The wrong color can leave you with too little or too much definition. Boom Brow makes it easy, with two shades that work for every woman—one for light to medium brows called Taupe and one for medium to dark brows called Medium Brown. Just choose the color closest to your current brow shade and brush it on. It’s that simple. An extra bonus? Either shade of Boom Brow complements silver hair!”
Size: 0.18 oz.
Available Shades: Taupe, Medium Brown
Boom Rating: 4.8 Stars (1076 reviews)
Credo Clean:Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3), Acacia senegal gum (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3).
Fragrance Ingredients: Acacia senegal gum
All Ingredients: Water, Coconut Alkanes, Corn Starch, Bentonite, Propanediol, Tricaprylin, Methyl Dehydroabietate, Sunflower Seed Oil, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Silica, Xantham Gum, Shea Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dilinoleic Acid/Glycol Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Polyglyceryl 6-Polyricinoleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Castor Oil/IPDI Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate
Burt’s Bees Power Brow – $10
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
The description of this product reads, “Take charge of your brows! Fluff, sculpt and set for fuller-looking, amped-up brows. Burt’s Bees Brow Gel helps you enhance, define and hold your natural brow shape and color for fuller, more powerful looking brows. Nourishing Brow Formula: Get more powerful brows from nature’s most powerful ingredients, like nourishing safflower seed oil that conditions and moisturizes brows. Flexible Hold: The hydrating formula gives you a flexible hold, buildable color and depth without flakes. Take on the go: Great for an on-the-go lifestyle. Easy to apply.”
I have yet to try this product.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Ulta Rating: 5.0 Stars (2 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Ingredients Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Sodium Hydroxide (4), Sodium Benzoate (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium Dioxide (3). (Also contains Alcohol Denat.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, alcohol denat., beeswax, rice bran wax, caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearic acid, glycerin, carnauba wax, polyhydroxystearic acid, behenyl alcohol, polyglyceryl-3 stearate, cellulose, xanthan gum, silica, sodium hydroxide, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol. May contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides.
All information is for the Deep Brown shade. Other shades are very similar.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Tinted Eyebrow Gel – $25
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
The description of this product reads, “New Formula! Tinted brow gel with micro-precision brush to add texture and fullness mimicking natural brow hair..”
The formula for this product was changed very slightly in 2022 but seems to be about the same as the one that I tried in 2021.
That product had a very tiny brush that was similar to the one on the Tarte Busy Gal Brows product that I really like, and so I was somewhat hopeful that it would work well for me.
However, although the product did an okay job in toward the center of my brows where I have more hairs, I don’t feel like it did a very good job in the areas where my eyebrow hairs are more sparse.
It seemed like I needed to use a fair amount of pressure to get any coating of the hairs and that when I did that in the tails of my brows, the color just had a tendency to smear on my skin.
Some of the problem seemed to be that the product (which I purchased from Sephora) seemed a bit dry to me. I don’t know if that is intentional or if it was starting to get dried out.
Although I don’t feel that the ingredient list is especially clean, I didn’t have any major problems in terms of the product causing irritation or aching to my eyebrow area.
I tried the Soft Brown color and think that it was okay for me, though probably the Taupe would have been better.
Size: 0.04 oz.
Available Shades: Taupe, Soft Brown, Dark Brown, Black Brown.
Sephora Rating: 4.6 Stars (322 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Phenoxyethanol, PEG)
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isododecane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Dextrin Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyethylene, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Ere Perez Argan Brow Hero – $31
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of the product states, “An one-for-all tinted textured gel uses tiny vegan fibres designed to build for fuller coverage and boost your brows with volume. The fibres adhere to skin and hair to build a fuller look and fill in gaps.”
Although the description seems an exaggeration to me, I do think that it has done an adequate enough job of coating my sparse brow hairs that adding just a little extra eyebrow pencil has created a nice look.
It is a thin product compared to most of the others that I have tried, but somehow I still have managed to get be able to coat my brow hairs without getting a lot of the product on the underlying skin.
A big plus is that this is one of the cleaner eyebrow gel products that I tried in terms of both the ingredients and how it has felt to me.
In addition, there seems to have been a much more ample amount of usable product inside the container than with most of the other eyebrow gels that I have tried.
The product is available in only one color, a sort of medium ash brown called Perfect that is supposed to be appropriate for everyone.
I feel like it is darker than would be ideal for me and that it likely would be too light for those with brown/black or black hair.
Still, I like the fact that this is a relatively clean product and think that it might be a good choice for those with medium brown brows.
I purchased this product from Pharmaca.
Size: 0.12 oz.
Available Shades: Medium Ash Brown
Ere Perez Rating: 4.5 Stars (30 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: None
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Aqua, propanediol, pullulan, mica, microcrystalline cellulose, nylon-66, xanthan gum, castor seed oil, argan kernel oil, panthenol, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, cellulose gum, potassium sorbate, sodium gluconate, silica. May contain: Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide.
Glossier Boy Brow – $17
Living Clean Rating: 7 out of 10
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Fluffy, instantly groomed brows. A brushable, creamy wax that visibly thickens, shapes, and grooms brows into place. Inspired by traditional hair pomade, it gives brows soft, flexible hold in one easy swipe, and doesn’t stiffen or flake. Contains Oleic Acid, Lecithin, and Soluble Collagen to condition and moisturize brows.”
Glossier Boy Brow apparently is a pretty popular product among younger people and gives the brows definition by depositing a coating of wax on them.
It thus is basically a pomade for the brows, which makes it different than most of the other products on this page (which are more like mascaras for the brows).
Although I can see how this kind of product would work well for someone with fairly thick brow hairs, my own brows are so sparse that it just makes a big mess and (in my opinion) looks really terrible.
This product also has a number of problematic ingredients (including some that Credo includes on its “Dirty” list).
While I wouldn’t say that the product feels great to me, I still would be willing to use it if it looked good on me.
I have the Blond version and the color seems okay for me.
I purchased the product directly from Glossier.
Size: 0.11 oz.
Available Shades: Clear, Blond, Auburn, Brown, Black
Glossier Rating: 4.4 Stars (4409 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Glyceryl Laurate, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Ferric Ferrocyanide)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Dimethicone (3), Glyceryl laurate (3), Polysorbate-20 (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3), Ferric ferrocyanide (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients (Blond): Water, Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Carnauba Wax, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Isostearic Acid, PVP, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Oleic Acid, Mica, Silica, Polybutene, Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Laurate, Sorbitan Laurate, Soluble Collagen, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Iron Oxides.
Jane Iredale PureBrow Brow Gel – $26
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A creamy brow gel to add flexible hold and fullness while grooming brows into place. Creamy gel provides flexible hold while grooming, shaping and visibly thickening brows. Micro-spoolie brush allows for targeted, manageable application. Proprietary blend of sea minerals helps make brows healthier, smoother and more manageable. Available in Clear and six natural-looking shades to add color, depth and highlights.”
I purchased this brow gel a while back and it seemed to work well for me in terms of performance.
There seemed to be plenty of liquid product in the bottle and it brushed onto my eyebrows pretty smoothly.
I didn’t have any noticeable reactions to the product and it seemed to wear well.
The only issue I had with it was that only three shades were available and the only light version was too reddish to be ideal for me.
Fortunately, the product was re-introduced with the same formula but some new shades in October 2022.
The blonde shades are Ash Blonde and Neutral Blonde, which seems to me confusing because I always thought that Ash Blonde and Neutral Blonde were basically the same thing.
A Jane Iredale website consultant explained to me, “Neutral Blonde is described as a light to dark blonde with cool or grey undertones. Ash Blonde is for light to dark blonde hair with warm or red undertones.”
I am looking forward to trying the Neutral Blonde version soon, therefore.
Size: 0.17 oz.
Available Shades: Clear, Ash Blonde, Neutral Blonde, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Auburn, Soft Black
Amazon Rating: 4.4 Stars (565 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Chromium Oxide Greens)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3), Chromium oxide greens (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil
All Ingredients: Water, Algae Extract, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Radish Root Extract. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Chromium Oxide Greens
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Brow Envy Gel – $22
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
This relatively clean product from Juice Beauty seems more like a brow pomade than a mascara to me, with a waxy texture that never seems to fully dry down.
However, I think that it goes on better than (say) the Glossier Boy Brow product, coating all my eyebrow hairs nicely and without making a mess.
I have found that the look that the product has given me has been attractive, even if I don’t use an eyebrow pencil along with it.
However, I feel that I need to be somewhat careful not to touch my eyebrows when I am wearing it since the product feels more like a wax that is coating my brows rather than a pigment that is firmly adhering to them.
As a result, I have been disinclined to wear it much.
It seems to me that this is an especially poor choice for (say) hot weather or working out, due to it not being very stable on my eyebrows.
I bought this product from the Juice Beauty website.
I do not see it on the website any more and so wonder if it is in the process of being discontinued.
Size: 0.06 oz.
Available Shades: Medium, Medium-Dark
Credo Rating: 3.5 Stars (34 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Apple fruit cell culture extract, grape fruit cell extract, false daisy extract, false daisy leaf extract, moringa oleifera seed oil
All Ingredients: Aloe juice*, corn starch*, carnauba wax*, methyl dihydroabietate†, polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate†, coconut alkanes, glycerin*, sorbitan olivate†, octyldodecyl oleate†, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, jojoba seed oil*, cocoa seed butter*, shea butter*, grape seed oil*, potassium cetyl phosphate, coconut oil*, apple fruit cell culture extract, grape fruit cell extract, rice powder, soybean oil, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tocopherol, magnesium myristate, sodium chloride, c18-36 acid triglyceride, tribehenin, coco-caprylate/caprate†, sodium phytate†, nelumbo nucifera seed powder, silica, false daisy extract, false daisy leaf extract, moringa oleifera seed oil, may contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica. *certified organic ingredient †plant derived
Kosas Air Brow Clear – $24
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product on the Kosas website reads: “A clean, longwear, clear brow gel boosted by hair care actives that fluffs, lifts and sets brows for a lamination effect all day, while helping brows reach their full growth potential.”
The product includes biodegradable plant-based microfibers (“boosts brow volume + fullness”), panthenol provitamin B5 (“helps revive brows”), biotinoyl tripeptide-1 (“supports healthier, fuller hair”), hyaluronic acid (“strengthens hair”), and trehalose (“hydrates and conditions hair”).
Kosas suggests that this product can be used either on its own or in combination with the company’s other brow products (tinted brow gel and/or pencil).
I’ve tried the product on a few occasions and felt that it gave my brows some nice texture.
Whether this product actually works to make eyebrows stronger and thus to grow out more, I’m not sure. Probably it would take a long time for brows to grow out like that, and I have not used it consistently enough to see if it would happen for me.
I also am not crazy about the inclusion of trehalose in the product since that was recently found to be associated with the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
However, I do not feel that this product has been irritating to my eyebrows at all and would be inclined to use it more often if I were not already using two other products (eyebrow pencil and tinted gel) on my eyebrows.
Ellen’s Comments: “This seems to work as well as other brow gels. It does not seem vastly superior. It has cool packaging.”
Size: 0.13 oz.
Available Shades: Clear
Sephora Rating: 4.3 Stars (463 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Acacia senegal gum (3), Sodium benzoate (3). (Also contains Citric Acid.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Aqua, Pullulan, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Trehalose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polylactic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.
Kosas Air Brow Tinted – $24
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A clean, longwear, tinted moussey-gel for airy, feathery brows, boosted by hair care actives that condition and support full brow health. Create a bold, full, yet effortless-looking brow that looks like you’ve added real hair. Easy to use, with controlled, high-payoff pigment, soft & flexible hold, and a finish with a slight sheen for dimension.”
This is a popular eyebrow gel that gets many rave reviews online, and it has worked well for me also.
The container seems amply filled with liquid product.
The product has brushed on smoothly, without flaking and without much smearing.
It has seemed to work well with pencil products and to hold up well throughout the day.
Although EWG lists three ingredients that it feels are problematic, these are traditional natural substances (tree sap, lye and minerals) rather than laboratory-created chemicals.
Although I am sure that some people may react negatively to this product, I do not see any ingredients listed that especially concern me personally.
The product is currently available in 10 shades – Taupe (“cool blonde”), Honey Blonde (“warm golden blonde”), Soft Brown (“light brown/dark blonde”), Auburn (“true auburn”), Medium Chocolate Brown (“warm medium brown”), Medium Brown (“neutral medium brown”), Dark Brown (“rich dark brown”), Brown Black (“soft brown black”), Black, and Grey.
I have the Soft Brown, which was a mistake for me since it is considerably more reddish than my hair color.
Probably I will buy this eyebrow gel again, except next time I probably will try Taupe.
I bought this product directly from Kosas.
Size: 0.12 oz.
Available Shades: Taupe, Honey Blonde, Soft Brown, Auburn, Medium Chocolate Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Brown Black, Black, Grey
Awards: Byrdie Best Eyebrow Product 2021
Sephora Rating: 4.5 Stars (480 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trehalose)
Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Acacia senegal gum (3), Sodium hydroxide (4), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Trehalose, Citric acid.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary leaf oil, fennel fruit oil, acacia senegal gum
All Ingredients: Aqua, Carnauba Wax, Candelilla Wax, Castor Seed Oil, Pullulan, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Sorbitol, Glyceryl Oleate, Silica, Mica, Panthenol, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Shea Butter, Tocopherol, Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Fennel Fruit Oil, Trehalose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polylactic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide
Merit Brow 1980 – $24
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A nod to the brows of the ‘80s, this pomade adds color and volume for healthy, fluffy arches. Shapes and grooms brows into place for bold yet natural-looking brows. Mineral-based formula provides flexible, all-day hold that doesn’t smudge or flake. Nourishing vitamin B5 conditions and strengthens brows. Kaolin clay and mineral pigments build natural-looking color. Tapered precision brush makes it easy to coat every hair.”
Although this product is described as a “volumizing pomade,” I have found that it coats my sparse eyebrow hairs much more nicely than some other pomade products such as Glossier Boy Brow have tended to do.
I have purchased this product twice and have found that it worked for me quite well both times.
I did find that the first tube that I purchased caused my eyebrow area to ache in the same way that I have experienced as a result of using other eyebrow gels with problematic ingredients during the time when it was starting to get dried up.
The packaging says that the product should be discarded 12 months after opening it, and this was long before that deadline was approaching.
EWG points out two preservatives (phenoxyethanol and chloroxylenol) as being of possible concern.
The product also contains an ingredient that is not in EWG’s database, called polyacrylate-21. While some acrylates can be especially problematic, the fact that the product is listed as Clean at Sephora makes me feel that maybe this one is okay.
It also brings up dimethicone and tocopheryl acetate (neither of which seem very problematic to me).
While I don’t feel quite as comfortable with this brow gel as I have with some of the others that I have tried due to the irritation issue at the end of the product’s life, I like it enough that I would consider buying it again.
This brow gel is available in three shades: Blond (“blond with cool undertones”), Brown (“light to medium cool brown”) and Soft Black (“dark brown/black with warm undertones”).
I have tried both the Blond and Brown shades, and have found both to work okay for me.
I bought this product directly from Merit.
Size: 0.08 oz.
Available Shades: Blond, Brown, Soft Black
Sephora Rating: 4.2 Stars (211 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Unclear
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Phenoxyethanol, Chloroxylenol)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Chloroxylenol (3), Dimethicone (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3). Also contains Polyacrylate-21 (not rated by EWG), Triethoxycaprylylsilane (silicone).
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Mica, Carnauba Wax, Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-21, Kaolin, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Beeswax, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Myristic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Nylon-6, Butylene Glycol, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Hexylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Silica, Quartz, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chloroxylenol, Iron Oxides
Persona SwipeUp Brow Gel – $19
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “SwipeUp tinted brow gel, a clean and ultra-comfy, lightweight, water-proof brow gel that tints, shapes & sets brows in one swipe. Flexible medium hold for a comfortable all day wear, never stiff or crunchy.”
This brow gel has been a pleasant surprise, in that it is a relatively clean product that is priced fairly reasonably and that has worked well for me.
The product is available in four shades: Blonde (“taupe blonde”), Warm Brown (“medium warm brown”), Cool Brown (“cool dark brown”) and Charcoal (“cool soft black”). I have the Blonde and it seems fine for me.
Although the product contains dimethicone (silicone), I do not really consider that to be a problem in an eyebrow gel product.
This is the first product from Persona that I have tried but I would be interested in trying more in the future based on this experience.
I bought this product via Ulta.
Size: 0.17 reviews
Available Shades: Blonde, Warm Brown, Cool Brown, Charcoal
Ulta Rating: 4.3 Stars (4 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Dimethicone (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, VP/VA Copolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Carnauba Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Castor Seed Oil. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Tarte Busy Gal Brows – $19
♥ Lisa’s Choice
Living Clean Rating: 8 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “3-in-1 tinted brow gel for effortless, fluffy arches. Shapes, gives flexible hold & tints in seconds. Gel formula doesn’t stiffen or flake for a natural look. Ultra-precise speed spoolie for subtle definition. Waterproof formula holds brows in place for 12 hrs.”
I really like the way this brow gel performs, maybe even more so than the Kosas product.
It has an unusually small brush that is bent at an angle, and this seems to make it easier for me to use it on my sparse eyebrows.
The product has gone on smoothly and has worn well for me.
Interestingly, I think that the look that I have gotten on my own brows is much better than the one depicted on the Tarte website (which shows more of a painted-on look than one where each brow hair is individually emphasized).
Perhaps the natural brow look that I am trying to get is considered by some to be out of fashion, but this product nonetheless has been one of the best that I have found in terms of allowing me to achieve it.
This formula contains three kinds of silicone, which perhaps partially explains why it is easy to apply.
The product also contains phenoxyethanol (a preservative that some people cannot tolerate but that I seem to be okay with); talc (which is mostly a problem when used in powder form in larger quantities); and some commonly used coloring agents (ultramarines and titanium dioxide).
The remaining two EWG Problem Ingredients are ethyl hexandeiol (a solvent) and propylene glycol (a humectant commonly used in antifreeze). Although I don’t feel entirely comfortable with these substances, I haven’t felt like I have had a reaction to this product at all.
Currently available colors are Ash Blonde; Golden Blonde; Taupe; Medium Brown; Medium Cool Brown; and Black Brown.
I have the Golden Blonde and though that probably is not the best color for me, it seems to have worked okay. Probably I will try Ash Blonde next time.
I bought this product directly from Tarte.
Size: 0.135 oz.
Available Shades: Ash Blonde, Golden Blonde, Taupe, Medium Brown, Medium Cool Brown, Black Brown
Ulta Rating: 4.5 Stars (405 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Unclear
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Cyclic Silicone, Talc, PEG, Ethyl Hexandeiol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Ultramarines)
EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Talc (5), PEG-10 dimethicone (3), Dimethicone (3), Ethyl hexanediol (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Propylene glycol (3), Ultramarines (3), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Laminaria japonica extract, blueberry fruit extract
All Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Digenea Simplex Extract, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethyl Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Kaolin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Magnesium Sulfate, Mica, Montmorillonite, Rice Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopherol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract. May Contain: Ultramarines, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
W3LL People Expressionist Brow Gel – $17
Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Perfect eyebrows, naturally. This tinted brow gel instantly thickens, tames, and fills in your eyebrows for a fuller-looking finish. It features a micro-precision brush, designed to help you effortlessly tame and groom your brows. The creamy wax-based formula is infused with plant-powered ingredients to condition brow hairs, hold them in place, and provide natural pigment for a boost of color and definition.”
This brow gel is like a pomade in that it puts a coat of sticky wax on the brows, but it nonetheless seems to be working better for me than some of the other pomade products such as Glossier Boy Brow that I have tried.
My sparse brow hairs look very thick and full when I am wearing this product, and I seem to be able to manage to get most of the product just on the hairs rather than on the skin underneath the hairs.
While I have been able to put on eyebrow pencil after applying some eyebrow gels, in this case the eyebrow pencil needs to go on first.
If I use a good pencil along with this product, the look seems to be bushier (in a fashionable way) than with most other eyebrow makeup I have tried.
On the downside, the product gives my eyebrow hairs a sticky feeling that does not dry down. Although I know that many people do not mind that at all, I am personally not that crazy about it.
In addition, while this product has not caused the obvious aching in my eyebrow area that some of the products containing problematic ingredients have, I still feel that it is not optimally clean and that it is not something that I would want to wear on a daily basis.
The product is available in five colors: Blonde (“blonde to ash brown hair”), Brown (“light to medium brunette hair”), Dark Brown (“dark brunette hair”), Warm Brown (“warm brunette hair”), Black (“black hair”) and Clear.
I have the Blonde color and feel that it has worked fine for me.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Available Shades: Clear, Blonde, Brown, Warm Brown, Dark Brown, Black
Credo Rating: 4.4 Stars (158 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil
All Ingredients: Water, c9-12 alkane, polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate, butylene glycol, glycerin, carnauba wax*, brassica campestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer*, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, sorbitan olivate, cocoa seed butter*, octyldodecyl oleate, shea butter, silica, sunflower seed wax, magnesium myristate, sodium chloride, zinc stearate, tocopherol, polyglyceryl-3 ricinoleate, coco-caprylate/caprate, sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil*, meadowfoam seed oil, coconut oil, sodium phytate. May Contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides. *Organic Ingredients
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
100% Pure Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder – $26
Fitglow Plant Protein Brow Gel – $28
Kjaer Weis Feather Touch Brow Gel – $30
Milk Makeup Kush Clear Brow Gel – $20
Pacifica Dream Big Brushed Up Brows – $14
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Brow Gel – $13
Trash Can
Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Gel ($20): I found that the area around my eyebrows hurt a bit when I was wearing this product. In addition, although it looked okay the first time that I wore it, within a week it dried up to the point that it went on erratically and with a lot of flaking. EWG cites talc (5), dimethicone (3), ultramarines (3) and yellow #5 (6) as problem ingredients.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22): As with the other Anastasia product, the area around my eyebrows ached when I was wearing this product. I thought that it looked okay on me but that some of the other products with cleaner ingredient lists looked better on me. EWG flags triethanolamine (5), phenoxyethanol (4) and titanium dioxide (3) as potentially problematic.
Bare Minerals Strength & Length Brow Gel ($22): This product went on very nicely and easily, but unfortunately it irritated my eyes and gave me a headache. The product also comes in only three shades (plus clear) and I do not think that any of them are appropriate for me. EWG gives the product a 4 (yellow), citing as problematic polyacrylamide (4), amonomethyl propanol (4), laureth-7 (3), phenoxyethanol (4), Saccharomyces/zinc ferment (3), and titanium dioxide (3).
Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen ($25): This product was recommended to me after I filled out the quiz on the Benefit site and so I gave it a try. I felt like it gave me a mediocre look the first time I tried it; almost immediately after that, it entirely dried up to the point that it didn’t work at all. EWG gives the product a 7 (red), citing the following ingredients as problematic: phenoxyethanol (4), laureth-21 (3), PEG-11 methyl ether dimethicone (3), aminomethyl propanol (3), PEG-60 glyceryl isostearate (3), Yellow #5 (6), Blue #1 (7), ultramarines (3), Black #2 (10), chromium oxide greens (5), chromium hydroxide green (4), ferric ferrocyanide (4), ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (4), and titanium dioxide (3).
Benefit Gimme Brow ($24): In terms of the ingredient list, this is one of the more toxic products that I have tried recently. It did also feel toxic to me (in terms of making my eyebrow area ache and also giving me an odd taste in my mouth). I will say that this product performed particularly well though, allowing me to create a very nice, natural-looking brow with hardly any effort at all. So I can see why this product is so popular among those who are not concerned about toxicity issues. EWG gives the product a 7 (red), citing as problematic a long list of ingredients: PEG-100 stearate (3), polyacrylamide (4), laureth-7 (3), sodium benzoate (3), Yellow #5 (6), Blue #1 (7), aluminum powder (9), ultramarines (3), chromium oxide greens (5), chromium hydroxide green (4), ferric ferrocyanide (4), ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (4), and titanium dioxide (3).
Honest Honestly Healthy Brow Gel ($15): This looks like a really clean product in terms of the ingredients but arrived from Honest totally dried up to the point that no color was deposited on my brows (or my hand) at all. Reviews on the Honest site suggested that many other people had had the same experience; additionally concerning to me is the fact that all of these reviews have since been deleted without any indication that the product quality has been improved. The product is EWG Verified, with only titanium dioxide (3) listed as a problematic ingredient.
Ilia Essential Brow Natural Volumizing Brow Gel ($26): I purchased this product direct from Ilia and it arrived at my house so dried up that it just made a flaky mess on my brows without coating them at all. Many reviews on the Ilia and Sephora sites stated that other people had had similar problems. I also didn’t really like the fat brush provided, though maybe I would have felt differently about it if the product had otherwise been working properly. EWG gives the product a 4 (yellow), listing as potentially problematic sodium benzoate (3), aloe vera (3), sodium hydroxide (4), and titanium dioxide (3).
Milk Makeup Kush Fiber Brow Gel ($20): This product (which I purchased directly from Milk Makeup) arrived dried up to the point that it just deposited lint-like pieces in my brows without coating the brow hairs. In addition, it contains a number of chemicals generally considered to be problematic. EWG gives the product a 5 (yellow), flagging the following ingredients: PEG-100 stearate (3), phenoxyethanol (4), polyacrylamade (4), laureth-7 (3), sodium benzoate (3), and titanium dioxide (3).
Rose Inc. Brow Renew Tinted Shaping Gel ($26): This product turned out to be quite a bit thinner than every other eyebrow gel I tried. As a result, most of the color went on the skin under my eyebrow hairs rather than coating the hairs, giving my eyebrows an artificial look. Then almost immediately after I applied the product, I started to feel a mild burning sensation and an aching in my eyebrow area. Later, when I tried the product again, the same thing happened. Perhaps this product would work better for someone who has thick eyebrows that just need some extra color than it did for me, but still, my experience suggests that it is not as clean as I would like to see regardless. EWG gives this product a 4 (yellow), citing as problematic C13-15 alkane (3), sodium hydroxide (4), sodium benzoate (3), and titanium dioxide (3). It contains a few other chemicals that I think could be problematic as well.
Saie Brow Butter ($20): This product (which I ordered directly from Saie) arrived so dried up that I could barely get any of the cream to show up on either my brows or my hand. In addition, after I worked for quite a while to get the small amount of cream on the spoolie to show up on my brows, they started to ache in the way that they have when I have used certain conventional eyebrow products. EWG gives the product a 4 (yellow), mentioning as potentially problematic glyceryl hydrogenated rosinate (5) and titanium dioxide (3). There are quite a few other substances listed on the ingredient list that I consider to be suspect, however.
Thrive Causematics Instant Brow Fix ($24): This is a “semi-permanent” eyebrow color that went on nicely and looked very attractive, but that felt extremely toxic to me. It took me a whole day to recover from the exposure. EWG gives the product a 4 (yellow) and flags as problematic lactic acid (4), phenoxyethanol (4), and titanium dioxide. The product also contains PEG-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, which to my understanding is perceived to be unacceptable by Credo.
Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel ($54): This product caused my eyebrow area to ache in the way that other problematic eyebrow products also have done. It contains Teflon, which I have come to believe should not be permitted in cosmetics products at all. Black #2 (which has been strongly implicated as a carcinogen) is listed on the “may contain” list. In addition, while the fibers in this product are designed to make eyebrows look thicker, in my own sparse eyebrows it just looked like I had little pieces of lint in my brows and thus was not attractive at all. EWG gives the product an 8 (red), flagging as problems the tocopheryl acetate (3), PTFE/Teflon (5), phenoxyethanol (4), titanium dioxide (3), black #2 (10), chromium hydroxide green (4), ferric ferrocyanide (4), chromium oxide greens (5), ultramarines (3), and yellow #5 (6).
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: 100% Pure, Amazon, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bare Minerals, Beautycounter, Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Boom, Burt’s Bees, Charlotte Tilbury, Credo, Ere Perez, Fitglow, Glossier, Goop, Honest, Ilia, Inika, Jane Iredale, Juice Beauty, Kjaer Weis, Kosas, Merit, Milk Makeup, Pacifica, Persona, Pharmaca, Physicians Formula, PYT, Rose Inc., Saie, Sephora, Tarte, Thrive, Tom Ford, Ulta, Vapour, and W3LL People.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean shopping site!
Links on this page are in orange (no underlining).
