It’s no mystery that I love famed beauty blog Into The Gloss.

I was lead to discover it one day as I read an interview with Derek Lam in Allure magazine; he suggested it as a beautifully curated beauty blog from an insider perspective (that of beauty editor Emily Weiss).  I was in a classroom when I first searched the blog; I remember exactly what computer I was on.  At the time I’d been reading junky, more celebrity focused blogs here and there, but that deep craving for real product knowledge and in-depth discussion over the nitty gritty stuff in beauty wasn’t really satisfied by such content.  I also loved seeing what other people used in makeup and hair, but I didn’t have much of a broad platform for these discussions other than my friends and magazines.  I loved going through other people’s makeup bags and medicine cabinets (still do!) to see what they used; finding a fancy bottle of shampoo behind someone’s shower curtain is like finding hidden treasure!  And yes, that’s me sneaking behind your shower curtain like Norman Bates’ mom so leave out all your good stuff for me to see and play with.

Anyhow, Into The Gloss, and particularly their interview features, successfully scratched this itch that I’d apparently been dealing with and it had me addicted around February of 2011.  The site seemed to clarify my perspective and ideas about beauty and the specific things I love about it.  For instance, not liking makeup for the sake of makeup, but enjoying it (and shampoos and perfumes and facewash) for the environment it creates and the ability you have to curate your own special little collection.  It’s like an expression of your identity- the eyeliner you like to wear, the way you like to wear it, when you choose to wear it.  ITG felt like it had more philosophy and nuance behind it than blind allegiance to a certain look or brand; more discussion and just plain sharing than crazy video tutorials.  ITG also played a large part in building my confidence in going makeup-free.  I came to see that your bare, well-treated skin could be just as great a luxury as a rich, smoked-out eye.

So when Emily announced the birth and creation of a beauty line in late 2014 based on ITG philosophies and the desires of their readers, I admit that I reacted in a somewhat possessive manner.  No!  No no no.  The blog had gotten too big and too well-known already since I’d begun reading; it was no longer my special little secret and now there’s a product line coming out?  Too much!  Can’t handle it.  I basically hipstered out on the whole thing for a while.

But the line- named Glossier (say glossy-YAY)- is just so beautiful and is marketed just so well.  You cannot help but be impressed by the entire experience that Glossier gives its customer.  The packaging and social media interactions are unique and adorable, down to the very cardboard box your shipment arrives in and the emojis they use that come as stickers with your order.  Their “skin is in” philosophy comes through loud and clear with products like the Skin-Perfecting Tint that seeks to just keep your complexion even and glowing in a way that doesn’t cover up or even “make up” your face.

Glossier has a vision that feels clean, fresh, and also very French (which you know I love).  The focus is on items like masks, face mists, and balms, like a no-nonsense-but-somehow-still-indulgent spa day for your face.  You can tell how much careful thought and editing went into this line, with my favorite example being the trademark shade of “Glossier pink” on all their packaging which reminds me of that pink door in Palm Springs.  In fact, that’s what all of Glossier reminds me of- Palm Springs.  Modern, luxurious, and yet still a little raw thanks to it’s natural environment.

I just can’t help but applaud the whole innovation of Glossier, even if I am feeling a bit jealous of how popular and awesome they’ve become and how everyone now knows it and wants to have them in their medicine cabinet.

Today, however, I am celebrating Glossier’s newest addition to its line, and it’s their very first color product.  This is Boy Brow!

I knew a color product was on its way from the line, but when I discovered that it was a brow product, I might have done a mid-air heel click.  Brows are having their moment, and I feel like we’re all looking for that one product (ideally not two or three or four) that takes care of the whole picture.  As shown in my post from just a few weeks ago, I sometimes use up to four products at once on my brows (dry brush, two pencils, and gel), and that’s not counting tweezers and any browbone highlighting I choose to do.  Even my CK One product that I love so much still has two steps to it.

So when Glossier announced Boy Brow as “brows goals achieved” in one step, I was skeptical.  If it was to be an all-in-one, this meant the following needed to be true: the brush would need to be strong enough to brush brows into your desired shape without leaving too much product behind, the formula pigmentation would need to be concentrated enough to not need more filling in with some other product, the formula would need to leave a nice finish with some shine, and the formula would need to last without being stiff.

I purchased Boy Brow in black because I perceived the brown to possibly be too auburn/red for my brows.  I received it yesterday, and …

BOY BROW!

To have my brows look the way I want with just a couple literal strokes of a wand is pretty dreamy.  The wax formula is inspired by traditional hair pomade with beeswax and canauba wax, which makes sense since guys typically use a creamy but tough pomade when they want their hair to stay in place; why not the same for brows?  The formula also lasts all day, as in I’m looking at myself hours later as I write this and my brows haven’t moved.  However, Boy Brow doesn’t stiffen in the way that one other product I use does.  I enjoy this other formula-that-shall-remain-nameless for its shine qualities, but it can leave my brows very stiff and you can feel the gel stretching when you make expressions with your face.  Not so with Boy Brow.

Application was a cinch.  A couple tiny, gentle strokes with the tiny, gentle brush delivered enough pigment to my brows without leaving clumps of goop behind, and my brows were given a thicker, more full appearance which meant no need for extra filling in with a pencil.  The finish has a slight shine to it without looking wet, and the small, tapered brush separates every hair.

After using Boy Brow with completely successful results for the past two days, I’ve placed this puppy on my bathroom counter, where I try to leave the products I don’t want to leave home without applying first.  If it’s going to be that simple, why not keep this out where it’s always handy?

Boy Brow comes in three shades, and I’ve left no filter on the first selfie above so you can see how the black shade matches my brows spot-on.  I’m sure there’s a Boy Brow match for you, too.  To shop Boy Brow or to browse more of their awesome products, go to Glossier here.  Thanks for the fun, Glossier!  xo, MR