Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit VS.The ELF Essential Eyebrow Collection

I have tried many shadows and slanted eyeliner brushes from an array of brands and had trouble making my brows completely and utterly stellar. I've used pencils and had worse luck with those. Either the colors did not match or my skills were less than ideal,  I completely gave up testing products for my brows. 

My brows were thin from over plucking and having them threaded. I would try to let them grow in but couldn't do it because it looked so awful. After some lengthy research I came upon a site with products for growing your eyebrows back. After reading the reviews I decided not to take part in that. The side effects were horrible. That lead me to search at home remedies for growing brows. I finally came across something I already had in cupboards: olive oil. Many people have claimed that olive oil grew their brows back so quickly and their brows became thick and full better than before so I could not help but try it for myself. 

Every night before bed I would use my fingertips to apply olive oil to brows then sleep the night away. After about a month to a month and a half, my brows were back. They did come back thicker and darker in some spots than before I ever started plucking them. Although those spots were full and darker, I still had some problems areas that looked so thin and bare. I believe I ruined the follicles there so there was nothing I could do. I began looking around cosmetics sites and YouTube-ing brow kits once again. I decided to give the ELF Essential Eyebrow Collection a try.

The ELF Essential Eyebrow Collection which includes a nice amount of brow items to achieve the "perfect" brows. I no longer have any of the items in this kit because I have either used it until there was none left or I simply threw parts away so here is a picture of the kit so you can see what is included. ( I hate posting pictures that are not my own, but I simply have to because all these items are literally gone)

This kit is retailing for a flat $5.00

Collection Includes:

• 4 Reusable Stencils
• Tweezers
• Eyebrow Brush
• Brow Setting Mascara
• Eyebrow Gel & Powder
• 
  

Directions:

Begin by using the tweezers to pull any unwanted stray hairs.

Choose the stencil that best fits your natural eyebrow shape.

The stencil should align closely to the beginning and end of your brow 

and much of your natural brow hair should be inside the stencil cutout.

Use the same stencil for both eyebrows; simply flip to fill in your other brow when ready.

Fill in the Stencil brow by blending the Brush with the Eyebrow Gel to help define and shape your arch for smooth precise lines.

Set the color in with the Eyebrow powder by brushing onto brow with the Brush for a natural finished look.

Lastly, apply the Eyebrow

I bought this kit with tons of other items, but this is what I was looking most forward to . Unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I can honestly say I gave this a try for about 3 months and finally let the thought of this working, go. 

Review of each item and the kit as a whole:

Stencils: These were so difficult to place perfectly on each brow without them being uneven. I know people say your brows should be sisters and not twins, but using these stencils did not even make them look like they were in the same family. Even looking back, it was silly to think stencils would work because when you are filling in your brows, you should stay as close to the shape that they already are for a natural look. If you want dramatic brows then I would believe these would help master that look, if you could get them to stay in place without one brow being higher/lower than the other.

Tweezers: These tweezers were good for assistance when applying false lashes, but not actually tweezing you're brows. They are slightly small and could not grip the hairs. Besides, I stopped plucking my brows once they all grew in because there were not any strays around.

Eyebrow Brush: This brush was labeled as a concealer brush and I found that quite odd because the description lists it as an eyebrow brush. I did YouTube the kit to see if other people's brushes were a concealer brush and they were. The brush is not angled obviously, since is a concealer brush, so i figured it would be harder to apply the powder and gel but it wasn't. The brush was easy to use and I like that it was a long and not a travel size, like the tweezers. I find it easier to apply the shadows with a longer brush because the colors don't seems to look so harsh as they would with a smaller sized brush. The brush was not a miss for me.

Brow Setting Mascara: This product really did what it was supposed to do: make you're brows stay in place. It did tame them and shape them. It also made the colors long lasting. I tried the powder and gel with and without this mascara and it does make a difference using this. It truly does last longer. All day almost!

Eyebrow Gel and Powder: The gel did shape and define my brows, as it is intended to do. It also went on with a slight hint of color and made the powder stick. I did not like that it made the powder look clumpy. It sure did stick, but in tons of small collections rather than smoothly and all over the brow.

The powder did not match my brows. The color was to light and made me look silly. There were no other colors to choose from although there is a drop down menu on the website, there is only one option which is disappointing because one color cannot be universal for everyone. 

Conclusion:

As whole I like that this kit is affordable for anyone a budget and easy to order. It can be found online or easily Target. Sadly, those are the only aspects I like about this kit.

I would rate this kit a 2/10 simply because there are too many reasons why it did not work for me. I would honestly not recommend this kit to anyone. Sorry ELF! I love plenty of other products you have available!

Now we are moving onto the Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit

This kit retails anywhere from $1.99-$5.00 depending where it is purchased. 

(Click on the pictures to enlarge)

          

I purchased this kit at Five Below for $1.99. I purchased this with a few other items. You can view that mini haul HERE.

The Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kits come in two colors: in Ash Brown & Dark Brown. 

This kit comes with:  

Clear Gel

Tweezers

Brow Brush

Slide Out Mirror

2 powder colors, one dark and light

           

The Clear Gel: I do not use the gel and haven't tried yet. I just don't like gels anymore so If you like gels I am sorry I cannot inform if this is great or not.

Tweezers: Lacking quality as the ELF tweezers do, but they are great for applying false lashes.

Brow Brush: This is a very stiff brush and very small. It fits in my palm but it is not easy to use for applying the shadows. I was not expecting much with the brush because typically smaller brushes do not work for me. I like applying the shadows with a longer medium-full size brush because it easier to create light wispy strokes.

Slid Out Mirror: This mirror is actually useful especially if you are in a car or wanting to do a touch up when you are out and about.

Powders: The lighter color seems to work perfect for me! It stays on without the gel, and is not too light. It blends evenly and perfectly, matching my brow color. It is long lasting, and does wipe off easily. The darker color is a bit harsh but with some blending with the light color it can make my brows look amazing specifically on the tails of my brows where more definition and color is needed, as those are more sparse areas of my brows. These powders alone or together do not leave a reddish tone as the ELF kit did for me so that is another major plus.

Before & After when using this Brow Kit:

In this pic (before) you can see the gaps where the hair is sparse, 

which is why I need to use a brow kit.

In the after pic, you can see how the gaps are filled in and seem to match my natural 

brows.As you can see, I do not have a dramatic look. I just want a natural looking brow 

that doesn't draw too much attention, but frames my face well.

Conclusion:

I like that this kit is affordable and easily found at local drugstores. It is also lightweight and portable. The mirror is useful also. I do not like the cheap tweezers or brush, but that is not anything to really complain about because this kit is so ridiculously cheap I didn't expect wonders from those two items to begin with.

All in all, this kit is perfect for me. It is now my holy grail for eyebrow kits. I have never seen or heard of this kit until purchasing it at Five Below, but after some Googling, it seems to be a universal product for pretty much everyone!

I rate this product a 9/10, 1 point loss for the tweezers and brush. Even thought I'm not totally upset about those items, I'm rating this kit as a whole. Those items might mean something to someone else and for the quality being low, the products did lose one point for that. 

I would suggest this kit to anyone who is looking for their perfect brow kit, or looking for a more affordable alternative.

I apologize for the lengthy review. I just wanted to give background on my hunt for the perfect kit, and why it was so important for me. I am so thrilled to have finally found one that is absolutely perfect for me. Wet n Wild has won me over!

Thanks for reading! 

Be sure to let me know what you think of these kits. What products do you use for your brows?

Five Below Mini Haul

Five Below is a relatively NEW store that has been opening locations all over the upper east coast and other states such as (but not limited to) Illinois, Georgia, the Carolina's, etc. Everything Five Below sells, retails in price from $1-$5.

So, as you can see Five Below has a crazy arrangement of items they sell. They have sunglasses, tons of over sized candy, toys, clothing, crafts, etc.

The store I went to is located in Pennsylvania, since that is where I am located. I live in a very small town and have to travel an hour away just to shop at target. When I go on shopping trips, I make sure I hit up any store possible because I never know what they have. My sister lives in the town this Five Below is located and she's told me quite a few great things about it.

I totally underestimated this store. Walking in they play newer music, and there are TONS of colors around. The store is so bright and colorful. My boyfriend had a blast at this store. They really have something for everyone. They sell Monster Energy Drinks, Cookbooks, Graphic T's, etc.

I hit the Jackpot at this store. They had bins full of cosmetics including brands such as Almay, and Maybelline, and an 8x8 table display with T's and Nail Polish. They had Sally Hansen polishes and many other bright colored brands I've never had before. Granted some of these brands can be lower end, it was still fun to look around. I know my nieces would love it regardless.

I found a bin full of Wet n Wild products including eye shadows, eyeliners, blush, makeup remover, and so much more.

I picked up 3 Wet n Wild  Color Icon Eyeliner Pencils. There were tons of colors and they were all priced at  $0.49! I only picked up three. I'm sure your thinking why only 3? That's because most did not have seals or lids on them, Many were damaged but there a few gems in there. I picked up a white, brown and black pencil (be sure to click on the pictures for larger views:

These Color Icon Pencils are NOT tested on animals. Yay! They have a really nice fine tip and they are very smooth and creamy. These really do glide on nice and easy still maintaining control. Smudging should be fairly easy. 

I chose black, white and brown, because they are staples to my everyday makeup looks. I wear black and brown on my lids and white on my bottom waterline because it makes my eye appear more wide and open.

I give these pencils 2 Thumbs for my initial impression, we will have to see if the color lasts all day on my lids. If they don't I only spent 49 cents on each pencil. These pencil normally run from .99 cents-$3.

The next item I purchased was the Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in Brown Ash:

My initial thoughts on this Brow Kit are looking good! I've never even heard of this kit before. I like that this kit includes a mirror on the bottom and two shades to really get a great match on you brows. Also, the brush really isn't bad. It is really tiny, but the bristles are nice and stiff. The tweezers really lack quality but what can you expect for such a small pair. Playing around with it, it seems to d the job, and good job at that. 

I purchased this for $1.99. This normally retails for around $4. This kit comes in Ash Brown & Dark Brown. I think this kit will work great for me but only time and use will tell. I did Google it a bit and most reviews seem very positive.

Next I saw tons of imitation perfumes. I can be a sucker for these because I hate paying $60+ for a perfume. Sometimes I do pay for the original version because the quality is obviously better.

I came across Five Below's version of Taylor Swift Wonderstruck. 

Theirs is called "Wonderful." After having tested Wonderstruck through my April Birchbox, I fell in love with it. I can honestly say it smells almost exactly like Wonderstruck. 

I purchased this 3.4 Fl Oz bottle of Wonderful for $5. I couldn't pass it up. Sure it's not the real thing, but it sure makes me feel pretty and that's all that matters. I'm on a tight budget. I work a job barely over minimum wage and I am in college. So if this is where I pinch, I'm okay with that.

The packaging is very similar to Wonderstruck a you can see here:

The last item I purchased was a wrist wallet/cell phone holder. I've been wanting something like this for a long time. I don't like carrying purses all the time, especially when shopping all day. This is perfect for me because it fits my iPhone perfectly along with my license, debit cards, and cash. It makes less carrying and more comfortability shopping.

All together I spent $13.21 at Five Below. 

I'm pretty impressed with this store and look forward to future trips to Five Below. If you'd like to visit their website click HERE and for store location click HERE. Five Below has over 200 locations and are building more!

What do you think of my purchases? Have you tried any of these products?

Is Five Below a store you'd shop at?