It’s easy to underestimate the importance of eyebrows to the overall structure of your face. We all have them and they’re just sort of there, being eyebrows, naturally growing into whatever state they please. Some of us take it a step further by waxing, tweezing, or threading our brows, or maybe even all of the above. What many women don’t know, however, is just how much a tiny tweak of the brow can change your entire look. Spending a little extra time on your brows in the morning can take years off your face. It can make you feel prettier and look more put-together, even on your worst days. In fact, I find that if I do nothing else with makeup, simply grooming and filling in my brows makes me look worlds better than if I had left them be. Fixing them up isn’t hard — in fact, once you figure out what works for you, chances are it’ll become the easiest step in your makeup routine.
It’s up to you to decide how to shape your brows. Chances are you already get them waxed or “done,” but if you don’t, this should be your first step — get thyself to a professional, ASAP! Seriously, don’t just walk into any old nail salon, unless it’s just for a bit of maintenance in between shapings. A brow specialist has the experience and skill to know what type of brow is most suitable for you. If you live near a Benefit brow bar, I recommend their services, but if not, ask a friend or try a quick Google or Yelp search. Of course, if you have naturally awesome brows, keep them that way, but everyone can benefit from a little clean-up.
If your brows are dense with no sparse areas then filling them in will be unnecessary for you. For the rest of us, there’s a number of brow pencils, powders, and waxes on the market and you’re guaranteed to find one that suits your needs. As far as color goes, you should choose an ashy shade with little warmth to it. For example, I have extremely dark hair and brows, but when I fill mine in I use a dark taupe-grey rather than brown, which can look unnatural.
1. Sephora Collection Retractable Brow Pencil – Waterproof, $12, Sephora
2. Anastasia Brow Fix, $21, Sephora
3. Anastasia Brow Wiz, $20, Sephora
4. Maybelline Ultra Brow Powder, $3.99, drugstore.com
5. Make Up For Ever Brow Seal Transparent Eyebrow Gel, $17, Sephora
6. Urban Decay Brow Box, $29, Sephora
7. Revlon Brow Fantasy, $7.49, Ulta
I like to have a bit of hold in my brows to keep them in place all day, so I use a waxy pencil. You can recreate this by filling in with powder or pencil as you please, then following up with a fixative gel or wax. Before using color, it’s important to first move your brows into place. You can use a comb specifically for that purpose, which often comes packed on the end of a brow pencil or can be purchased on its own, like the Lash/Brow groomer by Real Techniques, $5.99 at Ulta. I like to use a clean spoolie, which is the brushed generally used to apply mascara, like the GloMinerals Spoolie Brush, $6 at Ulta. You can also find them for cheap at any drugstore.
The most important part is to gently brush the brows upward from below, enhancing the natural arch and curvature of the brow. Before applying color, hold the brush beneath the brow and brush upward and outward across the length. Smooth any errant hairs along the top. Apply your pencil or powder, then comb again in the same manner, blending the lines as you go. Once finished, comb the fixative gel through to keep brows in place. Voilà!
Original by Rachel Krause
