How to Choose an Eyebrow Product
How-To: Choose the Right Brow Product For You
If I had five cents for every time I've heard that "grooming your brows is one of the easiest ways to bring your whole beauty look together," or "brows really do frame the face," I'd be a rich little lady. But it's hard to get annoyed at something that's not only a) helpful but b) plainly true. If you've got good brows, then your work is practically done: your face is instantly lifted, balanced and more youthful. A good brow product should totes be in your top five, but it rarely is, so I thought we'd do a little brow workshop to be sure that our arches are living up to their fullest potential. Let's kick off with Choosing the Right Product Chart: pencil/powder/gel/cream/wax:
Keep reading . . .
| WHAT IT IS | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
| Eyebrow pencil: Probably the most popular product to spruce up the brows, a brow pencil should be light and soft enough to glide right over the brows, but not so hard as to tug at the skin. | Easy to use and control, lasts a long time and can be very natural looking when applied correctly. Try JK Jemma Kidd i-Conic Eyes Brow Pencil ($31.95), which also has a brow brush and built-in sharpener at the opposite end, or Chanel Sculpte Sourcils Brow Pencil ($45), which has a powdery finish. | Pencils can look harsh or too "drawn on." To avoid the Joan Crawford look, pinch the tip to warm it up if needed and use very light, quick and feathery motions to mimic what hair looks like. Clean up any harsh lines with a cotton tip dunked in makeup remover. |
| Eyebrow powder: A matte pressed powder that's highly pigmented to fill in gaps or help to reshape the brow. Tip: an eyeshadow that matches the hair will also work, too. | Very natural looking, great for filling in patches, long-lasting and versatile. (Can be used over a brow pencil to set it and can also be used under a gel.) | Can look too dense if not applied properly. To avoid a heavy-looking brow, use a brow powder, like Laura Mercier Brow Powder Duo ($50), with an angled brush, like MAC 208 Small Angled Brow Brush ($39). If the look is still harsh, apply a bit of loose powder over the brows to offset. |
| Eyebrow gel: A lightweight, mascara-like product that not only helps to tame unruly brows, but also sets other powders and pencils. Comes in clear or slightly tinted gel formulas. | Fast and easy to use. Perfect for someone who doesn't really need to fill in the brows, but wants to create a bit of volume or add a slight hint of colour. Try Maybelline NY Define-a-Brow Gel ($12.95) or Diorshow Brow Fixing Gel in Shiny Brown ($40). | Trying to reshape the brow with an eyebrow gel will only give you messy and completely unnatural results. Stick to a gel's intended purpose of enhancing and setting instead. |
| Cream/gel products: A highly-pigmented formula applied with a brush. Gives the most coverage. | Great for people who really need extra help in the brow department. Try Laura Mercier Brow Definer ($42), Benefit Brow Zings ($55) or complete kits like Clarins Eyebrow Kit 'Pro' Palette ($44) and ModelCo EYE BROWS Designer Brow Kit ($48). | Not as easy to control, doesn't always look very natural and creamy formulas can have a tendency to smudge. (Set with powder to avoid slipups.) |
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