PSA: Here's How to Get Microbladed Brows Without a Single Needle
Rebecca Sullivan worked as a lifestyle and beauty journalist for almost a decade, before crossing over brand-side to work behind-the-scenes in the beauty industry full time. Now, she works in PR, Communications and Content strategy, and literally gets paid to play with lipstick and highlighters all day.
On paper, microbladed eyebrows seem like a total dream.
Imagine having permanently perfect brows, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without having to even touch an eyebrow pencil? Sounds bloody tempting!
That said, if you’re like me - aka lazy, time poor, risk-averse and on a budget - microblading just isn’t realistic.
But thankfully for us, there’s a new genius brow microblading pen that's been specifically designed to mimic the exact look of microbladed brows. It might just be the best microblading pen.
Introducing, the Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen
I decided to give it a road test and of course, give you a full report on how it works.
Keep on scrolling for everything you need to know about this microblading eyebrow pen.
What Is Microblading and Feather Brow Tattooing Again?
Microblading is a semi-permanent tattoo technique used to create the illusion of fuller brows, where a tool made up of tiny needles gently pierces the skin and colour pigment is added to mimic the look of real brow hairs.
It’s extremely popular with those of us who over-plucked our eyebrows in the 90s or just naturally have sparse hair growth. Microblading fills in those gaps and creates a natural-looking, permanently arched brow.
While microblading is awesome and its success undisputed, the reality is this treatment isn't for everyone. Here are a few of the cons:
- Microblading can be quite expensive, with just the initial appointment often costing around $1000.
- There is some downtime and multiple follow up appointments required.
- You cannot wet your eyebrows for about two weeks after each session, so you have to be extremely careful while washing your face and you cannot exercise. No touching them or putting pressure on them, either.
- It’s basically a tattoo on your face, so it’s impossible to reverse if something goes wrong.
What Is the Benefit Microblading Pen?
The eyebrow nerds at Benefit (yes, the same brand behind the amazing Benefit Gimme Brow + Volumizing Gel and Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil products) have come up with a product that helps you fake microbladed brows, without having to spend a month’s rent on a single treatment.
Microfilling eyebrow pens are designed to mimic the structured look of microbladed brows. Rather than a traditional eyebrow pencil, the Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen is almost like a very, very fine-tipped coloured texta.
It has a three-pronged tip, so when applied to the skin, those three tiny “prongs” help create little brush strokes that mimic actual brow hairs.
It comes in four shades - Blonde, Light Brown, Medium Brown and Deep Brown. If you’re wondering about which colour to pick, if in doubt the rule of thumb is to always go lighter, rather than darker.
My Benefit Microblading Pen Review.
I normally hate using eyebrow pencils because I find they’re never thin enough to actually create a natural-looking brow. I find them super difficult to use, so I always revert to brow gels, because they’re a lot more idiot-proof.
But this was surprisingly easy and the fine-tip really is like a pin point, meaning you won’t get harsh thick lines.
Here's a look at my Benefit Microfilling Pen before and after results.
If you make a mistake, it’s also not a nightmare to remove the product. Just wipe away with your finger or a cotton bud, or gently brush through the brow with a clean spoolie to even things out.
The really great thing about this pen is the texta-like finish of the formula. While the tip applies the product in a fine, brush-like stroke, after a few seconds it naturally bleeds out a little, so it looks less like a firm line and more just like the natural shape of your brow.
It’s this “bleeding” quality that helps the brush strokes blend in with my actual brow hairs, making it difficult to tell the difference between where the product begins and where my real hairs are.
And really, that’s what microblading is all about - creating the illusion of fuller brows so no one can actually notice that you’ve done something to your face.
How To Use The Benefit Microblading Pen.
Here are some step-by-step instructions for how to use this brow microfilling pen.
Step 1: Brush your eyebrow hairs through with a clean spoolie. You can buy these in bulk from the chemist, otherwise many eyebrow products come with these attached to the end.
Step 2: I like to start with filling in the top of my eyebrows. Brush all of your eyebrow hairs downwards, then fill in the top of the eyebrow with the pen using fine brush strokes. You want to stay as close to your actual brow hairs as possible and avoid creating too many strokes on your skin. If you make a mistake, simply wipe away with your finger or a cotton bud. If the stain persists, dip the cotton bud in a little micellar water or makeup remover for some extra grit.
Step 3: Once you’re done, brush your eyebrows back up again with the spoolie, so the hairs are standing up in the correct direction.
Step 4: Now fill in any gaps underneath the bottom of your eyebrows. Experiment with which size of the pen you prefer to use. I like to hold the pen upside down, so the shortest of the three prongs touches the skin first. Draw little light strokes wherever your brows need filling in and quickly wipe away any mistakes. Brush through at the end with a spoolie to ensure everything is even and natural-looking.
Step 5: This step isn’t essential, but you could set your brows in place with a clear or tinted brow gel like the Benefit 24 Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel
And just like that, you've got microbladed(ish) brows on a budget.
Want more help with your brows? Check out these great tutorials and eyebrow product recommendations from our Adore Beauty staff below!
