I did it! I had my first waxing experience!
But its not down there – oh no! Not that brave 😛 Instead its “up there” where my brows are.
We are familiar with brow trimming and there are lots of cosmetics counters that offer this service. However, I now know of only one major cosmetic brand that offers brow waxing – Benefit Cosmetics.
I’m told that waxing is better because it actually grabs and pulls the hair out by the roots thereby reducing stubble and instances of ingrown hair. But it also sounds painful (and if you are the sensitive sort, it probably will be).
I got mine done by Michelle at the Benefit Brow Bar in Parkson Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Apparently, there are just 2 Benefit Brow Bars for now – Parkson Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and at 1 Utama. Wanna know just how painful it was? 😛
First off, the brow stylist will draw on the shape of your brow using mysterious techniques known only to brow stylists. I kid. There is a specific manner of measuring your brow in comparison to your eyes, and Benefit Cosmetics says that they base it on an Asian eye shape, which is different from a Caucasian eye so you get a more natural brow shape.
Michelle tested the wax on my skin first to see if I might suffer redness and as I did not, she proceeded to wax off the excess hair outside the drawn shape. Benefit Cosmetics also waxes in between your brows – which is a nice touch because sometimes, stray hairs grow there and looks weird 😛
The whole process is fast and for me, relatively painless. The wax is warm on the skin and it smarts a little when they rip the wax off, but otherwise, I suffered no pain. Then, your brows are trimmed and drawn in nicely with the Benefit Brow Zing and you’re done! If you want to know how it feels, take a piece of cellotape (preferably one with strong adhesive), and paste it on the back of your arm (where you see some hair) then let ‘er rip! Now multiply that sensation that by about 5 and you know how what it feels like to have your brows waxed 🙂
From start to finish, it takes just 15 minutes max so its great when you don’t have the time or just want to get your brows done during lunch time. My brows looked decently cleaned up once I was done, and yes, it does take longer for the hair to grow back. I did not have to pluck any stray hair for at least a week after waxing, which is really great! 🙂
A Brow Wax at the Benefit Brow Bar costs RM38. My suggestion if you’d like to try this, is to let your brows grow wild before going. Firstly, for waxing, there has to be a minimum hair length before they can pull off the hair effectively. Secondly, you’d appreciate the effect more 😉 That however is one of the set backs – you’d have to endure your brows looking unkempt for a while before they look purdy and neat again.
Have you tried eyebrow waxing or any services at the Benefit Brow Bar? That was my first time and I do think I might like it, just because it takes so much longer before I have to do anything to my brows except draw it in 🙂 The only problem is the followup – now I have experienced tidy brows, I can’t grow them out enough to go back!
Paris B
Benefit Eyebrow Waxing is RM38/session and is available at Benefit Brow Bars at Parkson Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and KLCC 1 Utama.
Yep, I tried eyebrow waxing once and loved it too! Looks very natural…
🙂
It does (and I like the minimal upkeep) but I can’t imagine the pain of waxing “down under” 😛
As tempting as this sounds, I think my skin is too sensitive for waxing. 🙁 Are you going to review the brow maintenance kit though? I’d be interested in that one. 🙂
Yep your skin won’t be able to handle this unfortunately. I’m still feeling my way around the kit. Will update! 🙂
I tried this once a long time ago, yes its clean as it removes the dead skin cells around the eyes. the problem is you have to wait form a while for the hair to grow to the required length and that is something which is not practical for me. So I do tweeze the hair. Once you get your right shape you just need to get rid of the extras. I find that through time these hairs have ceased to grow and its easier to maintain now.
I do the same as you do. Tweeze it into an approximate shape once I see them start to grow. I can’t quite bear the “going wild” thing with brow waxing hence I haven’t been able to go back coz my hair doesn’t grow long enough!
RM38 is a tad expensive isn’t it? Waxing salons charge RM15-25 depending on shaping or upkeep. Maybe since they help fill it in afterwards. Benefit Brow Zings used to be my HG before discovering Shu Uemura’s Hard 9 pencil. Personally prefer to tweeze as am not patient enough to wait for it to ‘go wild’!
To be honest, I don’t know if its pricey or not. I guess compared to RM50 for the brow-miester at Shu Uemura or RM30 otherwise, its alright as prices go. Also, I don’t forsee myself going every month so that again cuts back on the cost. Haven’t tried any waxing salons – I’m afraid of ending up with unbalanced brows!
My eyebrows is looking quite unkempt now. So, this post comes at a right time. But between Benefit and Shu Uemura, which do you prefer ?
Honestly, it depends on how adventurous you are and which you have tried. Shu is pretty good but the hair does grow back quite quickly. Waxing is less maintenance but is likely more painful if you have a low pain threshold. Both are decent places to go to for brow maintenance.
i’ve done Shu Uemuras, after Connie’s post. but i think it’s the same cause she plucks instead of shaves, so is plucking diff from waxing?
but sheesh, Rm38 is so much better than Rm60, especially when i dont have pain nerves in my eyebrow area. nothing hurts there. lol.
on another note,
yay! finally got to meet Paris! and i read ur comment on Kahani’s blog abt elephantine skin, and u r so lucky. saw ur skin yesterday, looks really good. =(
mine is gonig thru a realy crappy time. for some reason, my skin looks blotchy and uneven, my usual combo of primeordiale, clinique’s MS and Dior’s sunblock is not working!
i think it’s gonig thru a change again? nooo. and i think it’s the moisturizer. but i tried using my old kanebo and it isnt working either. sigh.
I find even with plucking, waxing is just cleaner. But I’m fine with both. Maybe I can go for waxing once a year and just maintain at Shu for RM20? Best of both worlds 😉
And yay for meeting you too! Sorry didn’t have time to hang around and chat – I had to beat the jam (not that I did but I think I made it before the worst of it) Hope to see you around again soon!
As for your skin, maybe try a scrub? I used to have really bad skin – anything broke me out but recently *touch wood* few things do *clings onto wood*
hey! pass me some of that wood. i need it. *snatches a few twigs from paris*
*hands Sugar logs*
It’s a gimmick.I was told that the shape of the brow can last me three weeks without worrying the growth of the unwanted eyebrow. But mine grew and can be seen visibly just 5 days. NEVER EVER WILL GO TO BENEFIT for BROW WAX AGAIN…
Golly, that’s quick! Mine lasted me a good 2 weeks before I saw any new growth. I guess we all have different growth rates for hair 🙂
Hi Paris, you know my sister has been there in KL and she mentioned what a beautiful city Kuala Lumpur has. She also mentioned there are a lot of makeup there in Parkson Pavilion. Next time will visit your very beautiful place 🙂 She also showed me her pictures with her husband at Petronas Towers in KL. I told my sister there’s a great beauty blogger out there in KL (mentioning you and your site) 🙂
Aww Anna that’s terribly sweet of you! I hope your sister had a great time and I hope you have the chance to visit here soon too! 🙂
yes definitely will keep you updated 🙂 I’d love to travel and explore different countries but I need to save up for that! 🙂
Oh we all do! Travelling is so expensive but ultimately so enriching 😀
THIS IS EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!! you should go STRIP !!! it’s much cheaper, i think is less than RM20( never try) but i do get my upper lip wax there and it’s only RM12
Thanks for the tip
For me, I go for threading – lasts me a month and only RM10 – try Vaanis at Bangsar but it does burn if the stylist is not careful but they will apply some cooling lotion before and after.
may i know where is the location? I’ve been wanting to do threading but dont know where to go. Does it hurts?
Vaani’s is the same row as McDonalds in Telawi area.
There are also plenty of places in that area that offer threading…
Pain wise it depends on your threshold/sensitivity…
i think i’ll give ti a try!!!!!! thank you!
I prefer threading.
hi. Parkson KLCC also has Benefit Brow Bar.
ooh, I might wanna try this someday. though, growing out my brows is something very difficult for me to do…
I’ve always wanted to try waxing “down there” but after reading your Cellotape (x5!!!) comparison, I’m definitely thinking twice hahaha
I’m told waxing down there is cellophane x100 😛 Hence I dare not try
I’ve tried waxing my eyebrows at Benefit too. The staff was very friendly and she did a great job. But I really didn’t like how it was very open. So, it was for all to see when you’re getting your brows done. A tourist actually came up to where I was getting my eyebrows done and was observing me getting my brows waxed while asking the brow stylist some questions about the eyebrow services. Talk about awkward and uncomfortable. I’m sure that it doesn’t happen all that often but still.
I would probably go back if they prepare a room, just for privacy’s sake.
Don’t you agree? 😀
LOL! Yes yes! I felt a little awkward too being out in the open. Perhaps Benefit should bear this in mind!