Eyebrow Pencils and Powders
To Enhance Your Overall Look
To Enhance Your Overall Look
The first thing to do is make sure your eyebrows have the right shape but do not over pluck or over wax. You want to have a
natural looking brow.
Eyebrow makeup is often the forgotten step in the makeup process. We occasionally pluck or wax then forget to enhance the shape and color with eyebrow products. If you are one of the lucky ones with reasonably thick brows with a good color that matches your hair, you may not need to do more than tweeze and brush. But for the rest of that have very thin or too blonde eyebrows, the following advice will help.
Tweezers: Invest in a good pair and regularly use them to pluck those unruly stray hairs and to try to even out brows that are not the same shape.
Eyebrow Brush: This is essential if you need to pencil or powder in additional shape and color. The eyebrow
pencil will generally have a built-in brush. You can use a small toothbrush instead of an eyebrow special brush.
Eyebrow Pencil: The eyebrow pencil should generally be used to improve the color and fill in a thin brow. Be careful to not overuse the pencil or to use a color that is too dark. For a more natural look, use two colors (second color could be a powder) and short soft strokes and remember to blend with an eyebrow brush. Many eyebrow pencils have a built-in brush.
Eyebrow Powder: You don't really need a special brow powder. Brow powder is a matte powder with strong color pigments. You can use an eye shadow that is matte and which closely matches your hair color. Eyebrow powder provides a more natural look than a pencil. Apply the powder with an angled eye brush and light strokes. Blend with a small stiff brush.
Eyebrow Gel: Most people do not need an eyebrow gel. You should avoid having a shiny look. Use a gel only if your eyebrows are unruly. Eyebrow gels, if used, should generally be clear.
Eyebrow Setter or Sealer: If you are very active and sweat a lot, your pencil or powder may not last the whole day. There are water resistant sealers that will set the color and maintain your polished look all day. You can also try using a powder over your penciled color to set the look for lasting results. There are also pencils that claim to be waterproof.
Eyebrow Colors
We have generally been taught to match our hair color and that works for the most part. Here is a simple guide to help you choose the best color for you.
Blonde - Use a blonde or ash pencil depending on your coloring
Dark Blonde/Light Brown - Blonde pencil or light brown powder
Brown/Dark Brown - Medium to dark brown
Black - Be careful not to go to strong with a dark pencil. Use a soft black or brownish black pencil
Silver/Gray - Use blonde or taupe depending on the color of your gray
Natural Redheads - Blonde or light brown
Enhanced Redheads - Reddish brown or auburn
Favorites
Some favorite eyebrow pencils and powders that I have run across are:
Lancome Le Crayon Poudre - perfect combination of a powder and a pencil with a built-in brush
Yves Saint Laurent Dessin Des Sourcils - eyebrow Pencil with built-in brush
Calvin Klein Duo Brow Palette - two color brow powder kit
Clarins Retractable Brow Definer - best inexpensive option
Maybelline Brush On Brow Color - easy to use but limited colors
Make Up Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector - great waterproof option which covers well
NARS and MAC products also have many fans
Eyebrow makeup is often the forgotten step in the makeup process. We occasionally pluck or wax then forget to enhance the shape and color with eyebrow products. If you are one of the lucky ones with reasonably thick brows with a good color that matches your hair, you may not need to do more than tweeze and brush. But for the rest of that have very thin or too blonde eyebrows, the following advice will help.
Tweezers: Invest in a good pair and regularly use them to pluck those unruly stray hairs and to try to even out brows that are not the same shape.
Eyebrow Pencil: The eyebrow pencil should generally be used to improve the color and fill in a thin brow. Be careful to not overuse the pencil or to use a color that is too dark. For a more natural look, use two colors (second color could be a powder) and short soft strokes and remember to blend with an eyebrow brush. Many eyebrow pencils have a built-in brush.
Eyebrow Powder: You don't really need a special brow powder. Brow powder is a matte powder with strong color pigments. You can use an eye shadow that is matte and which closely matches your hair color. Eyebrow powder provides a more natural look than a pencil. Apply the powder with an angled eye brush and light strokes. Blend with a small stiff brush.
Eyebrow Gel: Most people do not need an eyebrow gel. You should avoid having a shiny look. Use a gel only if your eyebrows are unruly. Eyebrow gels, if used, should generally be clear.
Eyebrow Setter or Sealer: If you are very active and sweat a lot, your pencil or powder may not last the whole day. There are water resistant sealers that will set the color and maintain your polished look all day. You can also try using a powder over your penciled color to set the look for lasting results. There are also pencils that claim to be waterproof.
Eyebrow Colors
We have generally been taught to match our hair color and that works for the most part. Here is a simple guide to help you choose the best color for you.
Blonde - Use a blonde or ash pencil depending on your coloring
Dark Blonde/Light Brown - Blonde pencil or light brown powder
Brown/Dark Brown - Medium to dark brown
Black - Be careful not to go to strong with a dark pencil. Use a soft black or brownish black pencil
Silver/Gray - Use blonde or taupe depending on the color of your gray
Natural Redheads - Blonde or light brown
Enhanced Redheads - Reddish brown or auburn
Favorites
Some favorite eyebrow pencils and powders that I have run across are:
Lancome Le Crayon Poudre - perfect combination of a powder and a pencil with a built-in brush
Yves Saint Laurent Dessin Des Sourcils - eyebrow Pencil with built-in brush
Calvin Klein Duo Brow Palette - two color brow powder kit
Clarins Retractable Brow Definer - best inexpensive option
Maybelline Brush On Brow Color - easy to use but limited colors
Make Up Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector - great waterproof option which covers well
NARS and MAC products also have many fans
