Eyebrows were never really “my thing”. Not that I didn’t know that people filled in their brows. It was just one of those things I never did.
Like flossing regularly.
Maybe the fear is that people will notice. Go a little heavy handed on the dip brow and wind up an internet meme. Or worse, have someone call you out on it…which happened to me.
About six months ago a kind and extremely well-meaning coworker of mine commented on my attempt at amp’d up brow-age. I was still very new at the skill, mind you. SO looking at my face during a light conversation, she asks “Aren’t they supposed to be even?” My brows, that is. And then the death blow, “don’t they go all the way to ‘HERE’?” she asked, pointing to the inner corner of her eyes.
Yes. That happened.
SO of course I shrugged, grinned and brushed it off. Then absolutely mortified, I hid in the bathroom to gain my composure, re-emerged in time for lunch and flew home to fix my crooked and misshapen brow.
Did I over react? Probably. Do I check my brows with a fine tooth comb every morning? Certainly. The point is that you don’t have to do a dramatic, stenciled-on-precision brow to get the face framing benefits. Especially if it makes you feel like having an anxiety attack every time you sit down at the makeup table.
My eyebrows are still uncooperative at times but I now have a pretty solid routine that works for me. Not-too-pronounced brows that look natural enough that no one will shame me to a bathroom ever again but still look like they exist.
So don’t lose control of your faculties and go on an afternoon bender (like I did) over perfect brows. Start small, get comfy, and above all get the products that are easy for YOU!
My Products:
1. Find an Awesome Brow Powder- Lately I’ve been in love with this NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Taupe I had picked up at Ulta a few months back. It is cheap in the best sense of the word, and the little brush/spooly combo it comes with seems chintzy but I have found I choose it more than my more pricey tools. Another option? Use an eye shadow powder that you probably have floating around in your makeup bag. Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 is the perfect example. I’m a dark blonde/light brunette so I gravitate toward a used the shade “PRIMAL” and it works like magic.
2. The Right Brush! You need an angled brush to do the job. Sorry, there is just no other way. I use a $3 E.L.F one and you can get it at Target! Bonus.
3. A Brow Brush for Combing- No monetary investment is necessary if you have an old, dried out mascara still floating around in your makeup bag. I use an old Bare Minerals Mascara wand that I cleaned with warm soapy water. It is also great for de-clumping your eyelashes when applying mascara. Just don’t use the same one or you will have mascara chunks in your eyebrows.
**Brow Wax- It’s in “the kit” so you can use it if you’d like. If I’m looking to get fancy, I will apply the wax to the brow before applying the powder. This sets the shape and keeps those pesky brow hairs in place.
And check out THIS awesome tutorial for natural brow-age.
What are your favorite brow products? Are you a natural gal or a sleek and precise brow lover?
Oh my gosh I almost choked on my salad reading this. Sorry to laugh at your expense… I’m just twisted like that haha… Being older I’m all about keeping it natural and light enhancements to play up what I do have. One time I got a powder that was obviously way darker on me than it appeared in it’s container. It was like… “hellllooo eyebrows!” ha… thank goodness for q-tips to tone it all down 😛 I have since found a much better color….
Haha Yes! I don’t mind at all! And isn’t that how we learn? By complete and epic beauty failure lol 🙂 I went through a phase where I really layered on the bronzer to the point of oompa loompa status. Oh those were the days…
Maybe that’s what Donald Trump is doing now days 😉
Bahahaha only he knows it’s bad and does it anyway!!!
Sexist. Nose. Ever.
Ha! I always hated my nice. I had to learn to love it 🙂 You are the sweetest <3
It’s very pretty. And so is the rest of you! I have no nose you know. It’s like minuscule. Gah.
I’m the same way, I never do my brows! Your routine seems easy and smart, so maybe one day I’ll try a natural brow 🙂
Sometimes it takes the bluntness/rudeness of others to ‘See The Light’, your brows look healthy and well shaped now. Penciling in yr brows can be tricky, imagine the humiliation of a prankster coming up to you, licking their thumb and rubbing it of in public….oh the shame…
I wish I had naturally thicker brows! I over plucked for YEARS and now have the teeniest, tiniest, thinnest eyebrows lol- Joe always gets a kick out of it saying he knows when I’ve washed my face for bed because all of a sudden I’ve got invisi-brows lmao. You’d think by now I’d be a pro drawing them on but it’s like liquid liner, some things you’re just destined to suck at 😉 Great post! xx
Girlll, you have shamazing brows! I think a good brush is important for a good brow arch, and I always cheekily use brown mascara on top to colour them, whilst brushing them hehe 😀
Serene | I Am Serene L
Ooooh good mascara tip! I would need a pretty light one…I think I’ll go shopping today… 🙂 🙂 <3
Bobbi Brown 🙊 hehehe yay tell me what you get!
Aww, you poor thing. But at least kept her comments with you private so you could easily recover, haha.
I like your routine because like you said, some stuff you just gotta ease yourself into 🙂
Yes! You can’t go all out on something like an eyebrow until you’ve fully prepare! Happy Friday!
What an awesome post Liz… I have to say brows are always the one thing that puts me on edge when doing my makeup, there’s always that fear of the dreaded drawn on arch look with me lol I personally find the little Barry M Kit from Superdrug amazing. Very affordable & easy to use 🙂 Karen x
I mean, the way people talk about “bad brows” can make a sane girl go crazy! That is why instead of doing a full on tutorial, I just decided to vent my fears 🙂 BTW your brows always look great 🙂 🙂
Well you done it perfectly – pretty much sumed up what most of us think too 😀 Awwh thank you so much Liz, takes a bit of taming but they could be worse lol XXX
I have bangs so I can ignore mine! 😜 and I totally do. Real bad! Plus I swear to god mine are crooked!! Wtf? Like one is 1/2 inch higher than the other. Very bad!
Janine, mine are crooked too. And probably over plucked from years of bad brow advice. Go figure. I am now considering revisiting bangs. Lazy brows sounds like a dream come true.
Mine are REALLY crooked. Like one is way higher. It almost warrants surgical intervention!!!!!!
Ok ok, I believe you! Good thing you look amazing with a full bang 🙂
The full bangs are going on like 15 years now. 😆😆😆
I think your brows are amazing! I wish mine weren’t so overplucked because filling them in takes way too much time! As far as your coworker’s comment…eyebrows are sisters, not twins. They should never match exactly!
The NYX brow cake powder is great – I used to use it and loved it! So convenient with 2 shades and the wax all in 1! I like that you’re embracing more of the natural brow because it looks great! I feel like that is so lost with all of the perfectly sculpted, outlined, and defined browns on Instagram – so unrealistic! Also, you should seriously write a book or short stories because the way you tie your own experiences into your posts is so candid and entertaining!!! Great post per usual! <3
I know in my heart there is definitely a time and a place for a sculpted brow but I rarely ever find the place or time! And it’s so true on Instagram. Sometimes I’m just in awe of the amazing things they do with makeup but my life isn’t glamorous like that… 🙂 And thank you so much. I always hope at least a few people get a kick out of my humor. The rambling is my favorite part of blogging 🙂 <3
Same, same hahah!! The dramatic makeup on insta is amazing – serious works of art! My life definite isn’t glamorous like that either! I remember one time I was experimenting with makeup before going to one of my night classes for grad school a few years ago and the brows were way too dramatic – I think thats all people could focus on. LMAO! They can be so hit or miss until you get into a routine! Another funny brow story – I got my nails done a couple of years ago at a little salon in Boston and the woman talked me into letting her touch up my brows. She did a great job with the wax, but penciled them in super dark and extended them way too much. Thank God my big sunglasses hid them until I got to my office to fix them! HAH!
That reason is why I never let anyone fill my brows when I get them cleaned up! I get so afraid they are going to make them fake and I’ll be walking around the mall hiding my face. Too funny!
Never again! LOL!!!
Being makeup shamed when you do something for the first time is horrible! Especially when boys point it out bc let’s face it, they never notice anything unless it’s super noticeable! Lol my mishap was with highlighting my brow bone and not blending it all the way. Lighting from a dorm room to outside makes a huge difference. Apparently.
OMG SO TRUE! Guys just don’t get it! And yes…I have had so many bad lighting fiascos. My goodness. Now I check 100 mirrors before leaving home ahaha
Lmao Right?! It’s the only logical thing to do!
I hate flossing too! I also like a natural brow….yours always look great. 🙂 wish I could see em now.
Thanks, someone 😉 Miss you!!!