Ask any beauty blogger on Instagram what the secret is to consistently fabulous brows, and they’ll likely answer the same thing: microblading.

The expensive semi-permanent tattoo procedure sees a trained brow technician use a blade to etch micro-cuts into your skin before going over the area with ink. The result is feathery, full and defined brows with absolutely no work needed on your part.

Looking at photo after photo of perfectly microbladed brows on Instagram can be tempting, but the thing that puts most people off is the price of the procedure. Microblading typically costs around $1000 to $1800, and while results can last up to two years, this isn’t guaranteed for everyone.

Here’s what You Beauty’s Leigh Campbell tells people when they ask her about microblading. Post continues.

For those who do decide the cost of microblading is too high, there are a few makeup products promising the same DIY results.

One launch that’s been particularly buzz-worthy is Urban Decay’s Brow Blade.

It contains two products: a waterproof pencil and a very precise ‘ink stain’ pen. The idea is that you use the pencil to fill in any sparse areas of your brow and then go in with the pen to create defined hair-like strokes.

Urban Decay sold out of Brow Blade within days of its US launch in February, so we just had to give it a try now it’s available in Australia. Spoiler alert: it’s very good.

At $40 a pop, it’s not the cheapest brow product on the market, nor is it the only product of its kind. Last year, Maybelline and L’Oréal launched their own microblading-inspired pens that copy the nibs used for microblading, and Kat Von D’s eyebrow brush lets you use your shadow or pomade of choice to create similar results.

The product lineup.

In the interest of perfect brows (a pretty big interest, tbh), we decided to try these microblading-inspired products. Here's how they stacked up.

Urban Decay Brow Blade

Brow Blade promises perfectly-shaped brows that won't budge until you want them to. Here's how we went.

The pen combines a pencil (left two swatches) and a very fine pen (right three swatches).

While my natural brows are okay... they're a bit sparse and definitely need a little help. Urban Decay recommend you use the product on 'clean' brows for the best results, so I avoided applying foundation and powder around my brow area before using the pencil end to lightly fill in my brows. I then further defined my brow with the ink stain - this was especially great on the 'tail end' of my brow as the pen's fine point was great for a precise tip.

In my experience, the trick is to use light, feathery strokes and build up the colour for my most natural results.

Applying the product... Bare brows (left) only the pencil (right).

PROS:

CONS:

Buy it here: Urban Decay, Brow Blade in Dark Drapes, $40.

Maybelline Tattoo Brow Tint Pen

This product mimics the microblading treatment as you're essentially creating individual 'hairs' with the four-prong pen. You then comb the brush through your browset voilà, they're much fuller.

I saw a few online reviews that said the pen didn't distribute enough product, but putting a bit of pressure into the tip solves that.

The innovative nib mimics an actual microblading pen to give similar non-permanent results.

PROS

The Maybelline alternative didn't have the best lasting power, but I was still happy with the results.

CONS:

Buy it here: Maybelline, Tattoo Brow Tint Pen in Deep Brown, $22.95.

L'Oréal Paris Brow Artist Micro Tattoo

The L'Oréal Paris Brow Artist Micro Tattoo looks very similar to the Maybelline pen but the formula separates the two products.

The ink stain in the L'Oréal alternative is a bit more sheer in colour which makes it more forgiving. You can build the colour up in layers - just wait for the product to dry in between applications.

The nib was very similar to the Maybelline Tattoo Brow Tint pen.

PROS:

Although the application takes longer, you have more control over the intensity of your brow colour.

CONS:

Buy it here: L'Oréal Paris Brow Artist Micro Tattoo in Cool Brunette, $27.95.

Kat Von D #75 Powder Brow Brush

If you are a brow powder or pomade kinda girl, this brush was great.

The fine nib of the brush means you can use fast-paced and whispy strokes to mimic your brow's natural hairs or you can gently 'stamp and flick' the brush in an upwards motion to create a full and fluffier brow. Just think Cara Delevingne.

Kat Von D recommends you use the brush with powder products only - like their Brow Struck Dimension Powder, $30 - but you could also use it with a brow pomade (like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, $32). Personally, I paired it with my very old (and now discontinued M.A.C. Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Mystery) but any matte eye shadow will also do the trick.

I tapped both sides of the brush into the shadow before applied it on my brows using gentle, light strokes.

PROS:

The shadow and brush combo gave my brows a fluffy and blended result.

CONS:

Buy it here: Kat Von D, #75 Powder Brow Brush, $28.

Will you be jumping on the microblade effect beauty trend? Tell us in a comment below.