This or That: Benefit Gimme Brow Vs. Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara

One of the very first pieces of beauty advice I ever heard was about my brows. "Don't pluck your brows. They're gorgeous like Brooke Shields' are." I remember thinking, "Who?" but the advice stuck with me, and there are some, shall we say, bold brow pics to prove it. Years later, the brows are maintained and I'm thankful for that advice, since I don't have to really fill mine in. But I do use brow mascara and I'm comparing 2 products in this week's This or That.

Benefit Gimme Brow

• Brow-volumizing fiber gel
• $22, 0.1oz.
• 2 shades
• Water-resistant
• Long-wearing
• Natural-looking
• Buildable
• Award winner
• Sephora, Ulta, online
• • Love the size of the wand, the fact that it is buildable without crunchiness, water resistant.
  • Don't love the price, it can clump if too many coats are applied, only comes in 2 shades.

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara

• Colored gel Sculpting Ball Brush
• $5.99 for .23 fl. oz, 7.0 ml
• 4 shades
• Clump-free
• Smudge-proof
• I have been waiting for this to hit the States after hearing of it in the UK.
• I purchased mine at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Drug and Box stores, as well as online will follow soon.
• • Love the price, pigmention, staying power, it comes in 4 shades
  • Don't love the wand at all, it gets crunchy with more than 1 coat

Same/Different:

• I have tested these together and individually, in temps from 65-92 degrees, and both products have lasted with no smudges or flakes.
• Both products have been worn a maximum 16 hours and lasted.
• I had no reactions to either product.
• The Maybelline seemed to have almost a mousse consistency whereas the Benefit is more like a gel. I didn't detect the fibers really in Benefit, but that isn't a negative or positive.
• Both are pigmented products and are removed easily.
• The ingredients do feature some basic similarities, but are different. Please check packaging for specifics.

makeup after 16 hours: BB cream, currently testing a mascara, MAC shadows
both pics feature the same order:
Benefit l, Maybelline r

This or That?

• I love the price of the Maybelline as well as the results, but cannot stand the wand, wish it didn't feel so crunchy and that it was water-resistant (just in case!)
• Benefit has a tiny wand that I love, and those with sparse brows will love as well. It is water-resistant and was never crunchy, did clump in a couple of spots with excess product. The crunchiness and clumps were solved with a clean spooley, but I didn't want to have to add another step to my routine. I have about 10-15 minutes to get ready in the morning.
• This really comes down to preference. As you've noticed, I can argue for both. I know some readers refuse to purchase anything that isn't high end, and there are some who wouldn't dream of spending $22 on something so small.
• While the Maybelline is no dupe, it really is good for the price (minus the wand--am I the only one not a fan of the ball?). I would repurchase this because my brows don't have a "routine" and a quick brush through is all I need. But I am keeping the wand from Benefit or using an interdental brush to use with it.

PS: I can't believe you haven't entered my $100 giveaway yet!