Eyebrows have the single most significant impact on your facial structure, and youthfulness says editor Trudi Brewer. Here's how to groom the on-trend shape and style.
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The new on-trend brow shape
That over-groomed, overly-sculpted, overly-made up, 'Instagram brow' has had its day - and we are thankful for that. It takes lots of makeup maintenance, and the result doesn't look real. A more down-to-earth-looking brow that requires fewer makeup steps and less visible product, is on-trend this summer. This look requires less makeup and less time to create that groomed look steps. Think big and beautiful, brushed-up brows, that suit any age or face shape.
A new 3-in-1 tool
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Brow Perfector, $63.
A 3-in-1 eyebrow pencil, powder and spoolie brush - that’s what we call a multitasking brow tool. The ultra fine pencil helps you apply tiny feather-like strokes to replace sparse-looking hair, while the cushion powder applicator adds colour to create definition and the spoolie brush helps to brush up the hair and give brows a polished look. There are five shades.
Available October 14.
How can you create that on-trend look
Start by brushing the brows hairs upward in the front, fill in any sparse hairs with a fine pencil using short feathery strokes that mimic the look of real hair, and only mildly grooming the brow tail. Toss those tweezers, resist over-plucking underneath the arch to "clean up" those straggly hairs, they add character and make the shape look more natural. If you're already working with full brows, groom them with a tinted gel that contains brush-on fibres to get definition, extra fullness and control.
Cheeky beauty buy
Rimmel Wonder'Full Brow - $20.
The closest to Glossier Boy Brow I have found here in NZ is this 24-hour waterproof brow mascara with built-in fibres. It helps create full-looking brows that keep the hairs perky all day - thanks to the tiny tapered brush it will tame the most unruly brows in seconds.
How to correct thin, sparse-looking brows
Invest in a skinny-tipped pencil, this is the best way to get natural-looking fine hair-like strokes. Or opt for a more permanent solution such as brow tattooing. ON Brow House Browography is a semi-permanent tattoo known as micro-blading that’s ideal for anyone with thin, sparse-looking brows due to over-plucking, hormonal changes, ageing, alopecia, or for anyone going through hair loss due to chemotherapy. This technique creates fine strokes using a disposable blade, much like a calligraphy pen with 12 infinitesimal needles. Dipped in a natural ink pigment the strokes are etched into the uppermost layer of your skin, leaving the look of real hair.
A tiny pencil
Hourglass Arch Brow Micro Pencil, $48.
The smallest of pencils, with a square, flat tip shape, it helps to create, fine hair-like strokes that are water and smudge-proof. It’s ideal for anyone who has very little eyebrow hair and comes in nine shades, from platinum blonde to natural black.
My best brow tip
The perfect brow look is not perfection. Brows are sisters, not twins. When brows are identical, so strong or overfilled, they look 'made up or unreal', much like a bad wig. Eyebrows need to show character, look subtle, and this season they are natural-looking and full. Don’t aim to draw on your brows groom what you naturally have.
A great all-in-one-kit
Too Faced Brow Envy Kit, $67.
A portable DIY brow bar in a handy kit, equipped with professional type tweezers, stencils to customise your brow shape, a conditioning wax, powder and easy-to-use brow brush tools - it's the best all-in-one kit we’ve found.
Editor Trudi Brewer shares how to get a natural-looking, well-groomed brow on TV3’s The Cafè
