There’s no denying that when it comes to brands, the beauty industry is an oversaturated market. There are thousands of skincare, make-up and hair care brands already in existence, with new ones launching (and failing) on a weekly basis. It takes a lot, therefore, for a beauty brand to not only come to market but to make an impact with consumers—but that’s exactly what Refy did when it launched back in 2020 with a small collection of eyebrow products that took the world by storm. The Refy Brow Collection was made up of just three products, inspired by founder Jess Hunt’s own fabulous brows, and filled a gap in the market for consumers to shape full and fluffy brows at home. Capturing the attention of beauty editors, influencers and make-up artists, it went viral and Refy’s first drop was a sell-out.
Since then, Refy has continued to launch carefully curated collections of make-up products with widespread appeal. The line now includes everything from glow-boosting highlighters and tinted SPFs to pout-plumping lip liners and cream blushers, but I’ve yet to try a single dud product. Even better? Not only are the formulas easy-to-use and perfect for everyday wear (Refy has that minimalist clean-girl aesthetic nailed) but they’re affordable too.
The brand’s Black Friday discounts have just dropped and they’re really great. From now until midnight 3rd December the brand is offering 20% off across the Refy website. Plus, if you spend over £30 and £60 you get some rather nice free gifts.
So what better time to take a walk through the line to share the very best Refy products that I think are truly worth investing in?
Refy Black Friday: QuickLinks
- Refy Lip Gloss, £12.80 (was £16)
- Refy Brow Sculpt, £14.40 (was £18)
- Refy Cream Blush, £12.80 (was £16)
- Refy Brow Pencil, £12.80 (was £16)
- Refy Concealer, £17.60 (was £22)
- Refy Lip Sculpt, £14.40 (was £18)
- Refy Skin Trio SPF50, £27.20 (was £34)
- Refy Brow Pomade, £12.80 (was £16)
- Refy Blur and Hydrate Face Primer, £19 (was £24)
- Refy Lip Blush, £12.80 (was £16)
Ahead, the 10 best Refy products in my make-up bag
1. Refy Lip Gloss
Brows might be the first thing you think of when you hear Refy, but it’s actually its lip gloss that I’m never without in my make-up bag. I am the kind of person who has to have something on their lips before leaving the house, whether that be a full-on lipstick or a tinted lip balm, and this is a perfect everyday option for me. Packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and jojoba seed oil, it feels incredibly nourishing and moisturising on the lips, yet it adds a really nice slick of colour and shine at the same time. I like the more vibrant shades like Papaya and Guava, but there are some nice neutral options too and even a clear gloss for a more natural sheen. Oh, and bonus points for the metal applicator which feels so nice to apply.
2. Refy Brow Sculpt
The product that put Refy on the map, Brow Sculpt was a real innovation in brow products at the time—replicating the effects of a brow lamination in one effortless formulation. Effectively, it’s a clear wax-gel that can be used to sculpt, shape and set eyebrows in place. And if you have rather unruly brows like I do then it’s a bit of a game-changer. You use the applicator to brush a small amount of the product through your brows then switch to the comb to create that upwards, fluffy brow finish. The best thing about this is that whether you like a really statement brow or more of a refined polished finish, you can create whatever look you like. And once you’re done you can trust that your brows will be in place all day long. As someone that finds it hard to fit in time to go and get my brows done professionally, I swear by it for keeping my eyebrows in check.
3. Refy Cream Blush
When it comes to creating easy, natural make-up looks, Refy’s products really do deliver in terms of effortless formulations with blendable textures. And while I know many a beauty editor that raves about the Refy Cream Bronzer, as someone with pale skin who doesn’t gravitate towards the sun-kissed look, it’s the Refy Cream Blush that I love. An instant complexion enlivener, this blusher has a delightfully creamy texture that melts into skin to deliver a dewy, glowy wash of colour to cheeks. It’s fairly sheer, so you can build it up if you want a really impactful pop of pigment, but it means there’s no risk of looking clown-like if you apply it in a rush or on-the-go. And while it isn’t the longest-lasting blusher I’ve ever tried, it makes up for it by helping me look like I’ve actually had a full night’s sleep when I apply it on a tired morning.
4. Refy Brow Pencil
I’m seriously fussy when it comes to brow pencils, having been loyal to one for a good eight years, but unsurprisingly Refy really does have it covered when it comes to high-performing brow products. Firstly, this pencil has an ultra-fine tip—I’m talking teeny-tiny—which is where I find so many others fall short. It means that you can draw really precise and accurate brow hairs exactly where you need them so your brows never look too overdone or blocky. The spoolie brush at the end is brilliant too, for both brushing your hairs up before you start filling them and blending the pencil pigment out when you’re finished filling.
5. Refy Concealer
Concealers need to work hard for me to be impressed with them—I want something that brightens but also covers and, most importantly, looks natural. Thankfully, this lightweight liquid concealer from Refy delivers on all fronts. It’s a silky-smooth formula that’s infused with smoothing and moisturising ingredients like phytosqualane and algae extract to give it a serum-like quality, and it has a buildable consistency that means it works just as well at illuminating under-eyes as it does at disguising blemishes. As someone with oily skin I would say that a little dusting of powder does wonders at improving the longevity of this product as it is quite dewy, but it fades so evenly throughout the day that even when it does start to wear off there’s no chance of it clinging to fine lines or dry patches and looking cakey.
6. Refy Lip Sculpt
Finding a decent lip pencil can be hard as really longwearing ones can be a little drying, while ones that apply like butter can smudge quite easily—defeating the purpose of using one. The Refy Lip Sculpt takes a different approach to most with a two-step application process. First up, the creamy liner itself which applies so beautifully to lips, has a precision tip for easy application, and blurs over fine lines to deliver a crisp, sharp finish. The pencils are so creamy that you can even use them to fill your entire lip with colour if you like. Next, there’s a setter which you apply over the liner and leave it to set for a few seconds. This locks the liner in place for up to 10 hours meaning there’s no smudging or touch-ups required. And, even better, it isn’t drying in the slightest despite its staying power. The red is one of my favourites for layering beneath a bright lip, but the more neutral shades are beautiful too—even layered beneath a balm or sheer gloss.
7. Refy Skin Trio SPF 50
We all know the importance of wearing SPF daily, so while I personally wouldn’t rely on a tinted SPF entirely for my sun protection needs, there is something lovely about such products for days when you want a really pared-back make-up routine or during the winter months when UV rays are lower here in the UK. Launched in the summer, this skincare-makeup launch from Refy has become a bit of a staple in my daily routine which I really wasn’t expecting. Effectively, it’s a moisturiser-SPF-skin tint hybrid which melts into skin to offer hydration, protection and brightness. The peachy-pink hue has been formulated to be suitable for all skin tones, which means this isn’t a product to reach for if you want coverage. But if you want a sheer base that leaves skin looking glowy and fresh then I can’t recommend it enough. Plus, the lack of coverage means you really can apply this generously to tick off your sunscreen needs for the day too.
8. Refy Brow Pomade
If you want really high-definition, perfectly shaped, full-looking brows then this is the product for you. I tend to reach for it on special occasions or nights out when I’m going for more of a full face of make-up, but if you love a really polished look then it would definitely work for daily wear too. The packaging design of this is really great with an angled brush at one end and a teeny pot of pomade at the other. All you need to do is sweep the brush through the pomade and then brush it through your brows to fill and shade any gaps that you have. You can apply it as lightly or as liberally as you like, depending on your desired finish, but there’s no denying how easy it is to use. And if you do have sparse patches (I had so many after having kids) then it really does blur and fill them in a way that blends beautifully with your existing brow hairs.
9. Refy Blur and Hydrate Face Primer
There are two primers in the Refy product lineup, but it’s this oil-control one that’s my pick over the glow-boosting formula. First up, a special mention to the tube which makes it so easy to squeeze out the product, and the rounded metal applicator which is joyous to apply on mornings when your face feels tired or puffy. A little goes a long way with this, but once it’s on it leave skin satiny (not shiny) and smooth, almost like your skin has had a velvet filter applied over it. I have quite large open pores around my T-zone and it definitely has a blurring effect on the area. But best of all is the way that it helps any make-up applied on top to stick around for longer than it would otherwise.
10. Refy Lip Blush
This is the product I’d recommend to people who don’t love wearing lipstick but want to start experimenting with colour on their lips—although as a huge lipstick fan myself, I still adore using this product. It has a balmy texture, thanks to ingredients like coconut emollient and tocopheryl acetate to moisturise and condition the lips, but also uses a blurring technology to smooth over fine lines to create a really smooth and full-looking pout. To me, this creates a really modern lip look—slightly blurred at the edges and a soft cloud-like veil of colour on the lips. It’s so pretty, easy to apply, and you can touch it up effortlessly throughout the day without a need for a mirror. There’s a great range of colours too, whether you want to create a moody ‘90s brown lip, a playful pop or orange or a wearable soft pink.
