Our process
Methodology
Every recommendation follows the same sequence: independent selection, cross-skin-type testing, ingredient review, scoring, and refresh. This page documents that process.
Selection and purchase
Products are chosen for relevance, not outreach
The strongest category sites decide what to test by search demand, gaps in coverage, and editorial relevance. They are not driven by PR distribution lists.
Skin type mapping
Performance should be judged across contexts
Hold, finish, and flaking vary heavily by skin behaviour. Recommendations become more credible when they acknowledge those differences instead of pretending one product suits everyone.
12-hour protocol
Wear should be measured, not guessed
A specialist review needs checkpoints for hold, smudging, flaking, finish drift, and touch-up requirements over time.
Ingredient scrutiny
The formula matters as much as the finish
Because brow gel sits close to the eye area, ingredient transparency and irritant awareness should be built into the editorial process.
Scoring and ranking
Rankings should come from criteria, not vibes
| Criterion | Weight | Measured through |
|---|---|---|
| Hold and integrity | 30% | Wear duration, flaking onset, and consistency |
| Finish quality | 20% | Natural result, colour fidelity, and brush control |
| Skin type performance | 25% | Behaviour across oily, dry, and combination wear |
| Ingredient quality | 15% | Irritant profile, transparency, and formulation logic |
| Value for money | 10% | Price, longevity, and market positioning |
Refresh cycle
Good rankings are living documents
Formulas change. New launches appear. Strong category pages are reviewed and updated when the facts move, not when traffic drops.
Methodology
How products are evaluated
Every eyebrow gel covered on this site is scored against the same five weighted criteria below. The goal is a consistent, checkable framework rather than a different set of adjectives for every product.
| Criterion | Weight | What’s checked |
|---|---|---|
| Hold | 30% | Published hold claims, formula structure, verified-purchase review patterns, and hands-on wear observations only where the article explicitly identifies them. |
| Skin-type compatibility | 25% | Documented performance differences across oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin. |
| Finish | 20% | Natural vs. stiff/crunchy set, visible flaking, and any white-cast residue on darker brow hair. |
| Ingredients | 15% | Full INCI list reviewed for known irritants, fragrance load, and hold-polymer type. |
| Value | 10% | Price per use relative to tube size and average wear time, not sticker price alone. |
What “evaluated” means on this site
Each product page states plainly whether a pick reflects hands-on use, or is based on ingredient analysis plus aggregated verified-purchase reviews. Both are useful, but they are not the same thing, and this site does not blur that distinction the way a lot of “tested” content does.
Sourcing standard
Products used hands-on are purchased at retail price where possible. Research-only recommendations are labeled and rely on current ingredient lists, official product information, and corroborating public evidence. If a product is provided by a brand for review, that will be disclosed on the specific page it appears on — see the full policy on Why Trust Us.
Revisions
Formulas change. Any page with a materially updated formula, price, or availability status is re-checked and the “last updated” date on that page reflects the actual revision, not a rotating placeholder.