High five to the bad-@ss Benefit High Brow Glow Pencil that has been taking names and kicking butts in my makeup bag for the past few months, because it has taken my brow (and other) highlights to greater heights!
What is it?
Well, Benefit High Brow Glow, a member of the brand’s brow product line, is a shimmery $22 champagne pencil intended to be worn under brow arches to make them look more arched and lifted.
How does it work?
It’s the shimmer, man! It makes wherever it’s applied appear brighter and closer to the spectator’s eye. It’s an illusion.
Yes, you could also use a shimmery eyeshadow to do the same thing, but a handy pencil makes it easier, and when every second counts, easier is awesome-r.
The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.
I definitely use it for its designated purpose — I think it’s a great brow lifter if you buff it down a tad with a finger or a domed eyeshadow brush because it’s VERY shimmery — but I think its other abilities are what elevate it into Unsung Heroes territory.
Like…
It’s also a fantastic face highlighter! I friggin’ lurve the ethereal, pearlescent sheen I get with this pencil.
I heard about this from makeup artist Jordan Liberty. Just draw a thin line of High Brow Glow down the bridge of your nose, along your Cupid’s bow and into the inner corners of your eyes. Then softly buff out the edges with a finger for concentrated highlights, and the overall effect still looks natural…and not like you just got glitter-bombed by a gang of mischievous fairies hopped up on sugar.
Sometimes I also wear High Brow Glow on the tops of my cheekbones, in the middle of my forehead or on my chin. Just gotta remember to always blend away the obvious edges.
And it’s also a good highlighter for “no-makeup” makeup looks, where I’ll blend a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream all over my face along with a little concealer under my eyes, fill in my brows, then, to open up my eyes more, I’ll push a bit of black eyeshadow into the roots of my lashes and apply a couple coats of mascara. After that I’ll apply blush and a veil of shimmering bronzer to warm everything up, highlight with High Brow Glow, and finish with lipstick or gloss.
Easy and elegant, so it looks like you tried…but not like you tried too hard, you know what I mean? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I never paid much attention to this product, but it sounds really cool and versatile!
Lately I’ve been highlighting under the brow arch using Clinique Lid Smoothie in Bit O’Honey, with a domed blending brush, and it works pretty well too!
I have never paid much attention to this product either but it sounds awesome ad really versatile. Sephora makes similar pencils and a lot of reviewers said they are as good as the Benefit ones and cost half the price!
Does this blend well with powder shadows?
I already loved wearing now then! too beautiful
I already loved wearing now then! too beautiful Karen
i love multi-taskers like that pencil! Such a pretty look
Multitasks are great, but I not that much into highlights. I tend to look like I met the gang of crazy fairies when I try using them…
You look smashing, per usual 🙂 Gotta confess that the sight of glitter terrifies me, though. With my oily combo skin, I never use highlighters. Kinda feel like I have a “natural glow” from Mother Nature- that I’d like to give back. Sucks also because I’ve swatched Becca’s Opal every. Single. Chance. I get. But the fear of shining like a diamond in the sky unnerves me.
It’s a legit fear. Once upon a time when my skin was crazy oily I never touched highlighter. Now that it’s more dry I can finally wear it. I think you can still do Opal as long as you’re careful to leave most of the skin very matte. If you want to wear it go for it!
Oh, Karen, you’re so good for my makeup hoarding habits. Seriously, I swatched Opal today while at Sephora. It’s so gorgeous to me. I love how it seems to lean cool-toned on me but still works. A matte face is my favorite. I do have the Ambient powder palette & I lurves it. Maybe because it gives me a slight ethereal glow or a soft light look. Opal will one day be mine!!!!! 🙂
Thanks for the cool tips, that I will be trying tomorrow!
You’re welcome, Pamela! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Highlighting your brow bone makes such a difference, it instantly lifts the brow and makes you look more awake. I haven”t tried the Benefit High Brow Glow but I’m currently using a similar product from Clinique.
Hi Beti,
You should give it a try sometime. It’s also great for highlighting other areas of the face. 🙂
Hmmm…I’m going to have to swatch this next time I head into Ulta. Thanks for mentioning how useful this is for precision spots. I like High Beam/Moon Beam but it can get messy bc it’s a liquid (drop a little on the back of my hand, apply with brush, blend out with sponge/fingers, then wash EVERYTHING)
Hi Maggie,
You’re welcome. There’s also a regular High Brow that’s a matte cool pink; be sure to look for High Brow Glow.
By the way, have you ever tried blending High Beam with Benetint on the cheeks? That used to be my jam back in the day.
I like that it has so many uses as a highlighter, eye shadow, or eyeliner.
xx,
India
Yup, it’s certainly a multi-tasker.
I’ve tried it in the inner corners of my eyes many times, but a few hours outside and it melts away. I have a lil bit oily skin though.
I love it down the nose!
It’s a very ‘Karen’ product! Not sure if I’d get much use out of it. I don’t highlight very often.
I’ve been using a Bobbi Brown white eyeshadow as a brow highlighter for a zillion years. And I really love it. But I’m going to have to give this pencil a try.
I have the Benefit High Beam, which I’ve tried to use as a brow highlighter in the past but I think it’s too pink for that purpose, at least on my skin.
Plus, I so often am doing my face in the car in the parking lot at work because I’m in a rush and I really like having the natural light to work with so the pencil is really convenient.
This looks really pretty! I’m glad you decided to share because I rarely pay any attention to Benefit lol. I’ve probably walked past it a million times. I’m gonna play with it a bit the next time I go to work
I’m going to purchase this next time I’m in Sephora or Ulta. I use watts up currently but I like the idea of a thin lined pencil effect to lift brows. Thanks for your suggestions, blog and Instagram ❤️
Hi! Thanks for a good post. I really like the lipgloss you are wearing, which is that? /Maria 🙂