Our affinity for all things eyebrows is going nowhere fast. Lucy Slight looks at the latest launches and goof proof tricks for making the most of what your mama gave you.
“The brow trend is over, it’s done. I’m not kidding, it’s moved on.” Fighting words from Benefit’s global brow expert Jared Bailey, who, as the face of all things brows for the brand, is the oracle when it comes to our face-framing furry friends. “Brows, and what they do for your face – the jig is up. Women know. Women all around the world know, they just didn’t know how to do it and there weren’t products out there that would actually address it. Now there are,” he explains. I’m speaking to Jared at the global launch of Benefit’s new brow line in Las Vegas.
With the introduction of nine new brow products, it’s evident that, as women, our commitment to achieving great brows is no flash-in-the-pan phenomenon. “It’s part of everyday beauty now and it will be for generations and generations of women, mark my words. My life is brows,” he adds.
Go-pro: The tips the professionals use
Don’t forget to blend! “There’s nothing aspirational or desirable about a solid block of colour in the brow,” says Jared. “You want to blend, to make it a bit more natural and to remove any excess product.”
Master your technique. Once you’ve made your brow strokes with a pencil, blend in the direction of the strokes – not in the direction the hair grows in. “If you make the strokes upwards, then you need to blend upwards,” says Jared, “because it softens the look, but you don’t lose definition.”
Leave shaping to the experts. Get your brows serviced by a professional every four to six weeks to ensure they are shaped to suit your face. If any strays appear, you can pluck them while still keeping the shape intact. “Then you can easily take products like Benefit’s Goof Proof, Ka-Brow or Precisely, My Brow, and use them to give your brows extra definition – but shaping will never be an issue,” says Jared.
Got a dilemma?
We’ve got the solution…
Dilemma: Sparse, uneven brows.
Solution: Start by using a fine brow pencil to perfect your shape, then fill in any gaps with a cream-gel or powder formula. Finish with a brow mascara. They’re brilliant for creating extra volume, especially on the thickest part of the brow. Brush hairs upwards for maximum body and hold.
Dilemma: Your brows are too fair.
Solution: Tint them. Tinted brows are a great no-fuss option, especially in summer, and will last around three to four weeks. Rebecca Hutchinson, from Auckland salon Lash Noir, says it’s important she finds the right warm or cool tone to suit her clients’ hair and skin. “We custom-mix each colour to suit our desired shade and depth, rather than leaving a single colour on for an extended period of time,” she says.
Dilemma: Over-plucked brows.
Solution: Those 90s throwbacks getting you down? With the advancements in growth serums and supplements, you could be sporting a set of brand new brows in as little as four weeks.
Innovation station: The need to know
Light it up.
Forget flat brows. By sweeping a brow highlighter through as your finishing touch, you’ll create a more natural finish and achieve greater dimension.
Arch support.
After highlighting your brows, illuminate the brow bone with a creamy pencil, applied directly to the skin underneath your arch. This will help to lift the eye and enhance the shape of your eyebrows.
Full-brow favourites.
For a dramatic brow, try using a chubbier pencil. In the same way that a powder will help to fill in the gaps, a fat-tipped pencil will allow for greater precision and more even coverage.
Shape-up.
If you prefer to go DIY with your brows, we’ve found the perfect tool for your arsenal. The Billion Dollar Brows Brow Buddy helps you work out where to position your arch and end your brows, to best suit the structure of your face.
For a gallery of iconic brows, and tips on how to get them, visit FQ.co.nz/celebritybrows
