How to avoid brow soap residue

Are you using brow soap but struggling with brow soap residue? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Brow soap residue is one of the main brow soap mistakes committed by both beginners and pros. As you might know, until recently, brow soap was only used by professional makeup artists, so it’s kind of a pro-product. Hence, the application often needs some trial and error, especially if you’re a beginner.

Either way, one thing is for sure, if you’re struggling with brow soap residue, then you’re definitely doing something wrong.

But to start with, there’s something called the “normal residue”.

Normal residue? I thought your brow soap is residue-free? Yes! Our brow soap is residue-free, and don’t worry, your brows will soon be too. However, having teeny-weeny amounts of soap residue in your brows can actually be normal. Whether or not you have residue depends on your application, brow color, hair texture, makeup routine or even whether you’re tweezing above your brows. But don’t worry, you can easily remove it. After styling your brows with brow soap, simply wait a minute or so to let the soap dry. Then take a clean spoolie brush and brush through your brows again. This will take off any excess product and give you residue-free brows. To achieve the laminated brow look and an extra strong hold, you can then use your finger or the wooden side of the spoolie to press your brows against your skin. Voilá, residue-free brows.

Now, if this doesn’t help and you still have brow soap residue in your brows, here’s what you’re doing wrong:

1. The right consistency
If you get white brow soap residue or clumps in your brows, your brow soap is probably too dry. Brow soap is solid when dry and needs to be wettened to achieve a wax-like consistency. Never ever miss this step! Brow soap only works when it’s slightly damp. To wet the brow soap, take a setting spray (e.g. BROWLY Face Spritz) and spray one to two pumps from approx. one hand-length away directly onto the brow soap. Make sure you cover the mirror with one hand to prevent it from getting wet. Alternatively, you can also wet the brow brush. It’s a matter of preference…

But how do you know when the brow soap is wet enough? Well… the rule of thumb is that you want to achieve a wax-like consistency. If the soap is super moist, slimy or even starts to foam, then you definitely went overboard and used too much moisture. On the other hand, if you notice that dry clumps start forming when picking up the product with the spoolie, it’s a sign that the brow soap is too dry. In general, less is more. One to three pumps is all you need.

2. The right amount of product
Another reason why you might get brow soap residue is that you’re using too much product. Once again, less is more. The Soap Booster has such a strong hold, you only need a tiny amount of product.

How do you know when you have enough product?

Wet the brow soap and rub the spoolie over it until the consistency becomes wax-like. Then gather some product until you can see a thin layer of brow soap on the brush - there shouldn’t be any chunks, gooey consistency or foamy soap. Also, be careful not to use too much pressure when gathering the product, as this could cause the brow soap to be pushed too deeply into the brush’s bristles and, in turn, prevent it from being applied correctly

3. A clean brush
It seems like an obvious question, but is your brush clean? Product residue in the spoolie can lead to unclean results. Before use, make sure your brush is clean and free of soap residue. In general, we recommend cleaning the spoolie from time to time. To do so, simply hold the spoolie under lukewarm running water and gently rub off the soap residue. Since the product is already soap, you don’t need any additional brush cleaners. Let the brush dry while lying down.

4. Too many baby hairs
Do you have lots of tiny and barely visible baby hairs above or around your brows? The baby hairs on our face are also known as peach fuzz – you might have already heard about it. Peach fuzz can make your makeup look cakey, your skin looks dry, and your brow looks dirty. Why? Because makeup products, including brow soap, often get stuck on the tiny hairs on your face and around your brows. The result, a messy look! That’s why you must pluck above your brows and remove any excess and unwanted brow hairs. We recommend using our straight brow tweezers as they are perfect for plucking the area between and above your brows.

5. Wrong makeup application
The residue you see in your brows might actually not be soap residue but makeup residue. We recommend using brow soap as the first step of your makeup routine before applying any other makeup. Plus, make sure to wait for a minute or two after styling your brows to ensure that the brow soap has dried completely. This will prevent any foundation, powder or other makeup products to get stuck on your brows. Alternatively, if you prefer to start with your usual makeup routine, that is totally ok. Just make sure to clean your brows before styling them. To do so, take a cotton swab or pad and remove any excess product (e.g. foundation residue, powder, cream etc.) on your brows.

As mentioned before, when it comes to brow soap, it’s all about trial and error. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. If you follow the above tips, then brow soap residue should be a thing of the past.

Btw, make sure to check out our interactive brow soap guide, where we talk about the main brow soap mistakes and how to avoid them. And, if you need more help, have other application issues or want a 1:1 call with one of our brow expert, you can always contact us. Just drop us a message - we’re here to help!