Every person who has watched their perfectly carved eyebrows go away by lunchtime can understand the disheartenment. Sadly, waterproof is often an empty promise in beauty, and nowhere is this more true than with brows. However, there’s no real water-resistance to be had where some of these formulas are concerned – and the sooner we figure out why, the better.
What It Means to Be “Waterproof” in a Brow Product
Waterproof is a term thrown around awfully loosely in beauty. In regard to brow products specifically, waterproof means that the formula will withstand water, sweat, and oil as well as not smudging or becoming invisible. Where it gets complicated is that there are no makeup standards for something to legally be deemed waterproof; a product can withstand the spray of water on a face without it disintegrating but could wash away in a pool or during an intense dance party.
In truth, waterproof brow products are often made with film-forming polymers that dry down and keep color locked on the skin and hairs; as scientifically proven, these film formers work to wrap around each brow hair to create a water-resistant covering. However, at lower costs, some manufacturers will throw in traces of these polymers that are not enough to have any impact. Thus, they create their own formula claiming it’s waterproof, and it’s anything but when you smear your brows when it’s raining.
The Different Types & Their Strengths
Even as far as pencils are concerned, they’ve been a longtime comfort for filling in brows for years – and while they’re available in waterproof versions, they’re wax based and tend to disappear with heat and oil before brow definition gets fading. Thus, while the color might stick on the skin, it’s not reliable for shape.
Pomades & creams are more reliable because they’re usually more pigmented and filled with greater binding agents. This works well for professional makeup artists who need long-lasting coverage for a day-long photoshoot or event before touch-ups can happen. However, pomades and creams have a greater learning curve and may need to be applied with more delicacy for things to look natural instead of painted.
Eyebrow gel has become incredibly common as a middle ground option that offers durability yet relative ease in application. Such gels typically are made with synthetic polymers that dry down to lock color into place. When done correctly, gel formulas truly can withstand a dip in the pool, an intense workout at the gym, and several days without fading.
Powdered options, however, even powder option waterproof ones are the weakest link for true staying power. These work well for temporary wear or achieving that bushy brow look but don’t count on them surviving moisture or substantial contact/rubbing.
Proving The Claims: What Should Happen
With practical use, here’s what should happen vs reality. The ideal waterproof brow product should survive:
If someone runs water on their brows for 30 seconds; this should not cause immediate color drift. If it starts falling apart? It’s water resistant at best.
Someone goes for a sweat-drenching workout; while sweat is worse than regular water (sweat is filled with salt and particles that break down formulas more than simple H2O), if something claims to be waterproof but not sweat-resistant, it’s not equipped for the gym either.
Someone takes a dip in the ocean; nothing worse than chlorine/salt water/Baywatch style action where water is constantly pounding in brows. Waterproof products should at least adhere somewhat over even half of the day of swimming.
Someone walks outside, it’s humid; humidity shouldn’t be too extreme of a test but it should be resistant. Humidity can begin to break down these “waterproof” products after several hours.
Why They Fail & Others Don’t
Where some products work and others fail come down to quality and quantity. The cheapest options tend to use fewer film forming polymers because companies want to cut costs; thus even if they technically make the formula waterproof or good enough to be waterproof, it’s not high enough in percentage for it to matter.
Application matters more than people think. If there’s oil on someone’s skin beforehand or excessive products exist from previous applications, there might not be enough “grip” for something proven waterproof to actually stick. That’s why cleaning brows beforehand works wonders.
The age of product comes into play; the best waterproof formulas exist when they’ve just been opened vs when they’ve gone through their drying out periods from excess air time – they’re meant to work from the beginning.
Where To Look & What To Consider
High quality ingredient lists go a long way; acrylates copolymer or film former should populate the ingredient list early on – those are the magic makers that make things truly waterproof.
Truthful reviews matter more than vague supposition – which products have worked for other users depend on their willingness to state they’ve survived their beach trip versus saying it’s just “long lasting.” Find someone who got it tested in climates/interior conditions like yours.
Price doesn’t always matter – but with waterproof brow products it usually does; the high quantities needed to make certain ingredients waterproof cost money due to quality vs disqualification rates – just because something sounds great doesn’t mean it is at lower price ranges.
The Truth To Paying Up
Waterproof brow products that are worth it cost more and require special removal – but when applied properly in certain climates and made good enough for personal use, they’re worth every penny. Anyone who’s a regular worker-outer or has thinner brows finds incredible value in creations like these because there’s nothing worse than constant touch-ups. It’s all about understanding realistically what waterproof claims mean vs what’s helpful in application, then trusting proven formulas over controversial claims.
There are brow products out there that actually stay perfectly in place – but until consumers get down to the bottom of things without fancy packaging or enticing descriptions, they’ll never truly learn what’s what until it’s too late. When getting to the inside of what’s helpful about these formulas makes all the difference when discussing how they’ll truly be put to the test on a daily basis!
