Mastering a pair of well-defined eyebrows is easier said than done – but we’ve done the work for you
Photo courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics
Question: if you were only allowed to only live with three makeup products from now on, what would they be? I believe most of you would go straight to their trusted eyeliners, concealers and possibly lipsticks. For many, eyebrow products tend to be at the bottom of their beauty essential list.
Eyebrows are essential for framing your complexion. Not only do well-groomed arches help shape your eyes, define your face and give you character, they also allow you to get away with a bare face and minimal makeup.
The truth is, very few of us are blessed with naturally bold and beautiful power-brows like those of Emma Waston, Lilly Collins and Cara Delevingne, but with the insights of eyebrow experts and the creations of ever-evolving brow products, we can master ways to sculpt the perfect arches right at home.
To help guide us through the dos and don’ts in the world of eyebrow grooming, we spoke to Jared Bailey, Global Brow Expert of Benefit Cosmetics, Catherine Lau, Makeup Artist of MAC Cosmetics and Yung Sheng Lee, Managing Director of Strip and Browhaus.
Pick the right brow shape
Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics
The key to finding your own perfect arches depends largely on your face shape. “If you have a rounder face, the area from the arch to the end should be longer which gives the illusion of a longer face,” says Bailey. For those with a longer and slimmer face shape, shorten the area between the arch to the end, which can in turn enhance your facial features and give your face a fuller look, he adds.
Never power-pluck your brows
Photo by ThinkStock/Antonio_Diaz
You know that one time when you plucked the stray hairs in a rush and ended up with an awkward patch in your brows? We’ve all been there. So for the last time, don’t grab multiple hair in your eyebrows which end up pulling out too many strands of hair all at once, advises Bailey.
“Avoid tweezing the hair above your arches, which serve as the primary hair of your brows,” says Lau. “Once these hairs are plucked, it takes a long time for them to grow back.” When grooming your brows at home, focus on the hair at the bottom of your arches and never trim or shave your brows for a quick fix at home – you will regret it, Lau adds.
Match your brow shade with your hair colour
Photo courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics
So you’ve stepped out from the salon with your freshly coloured tresses feeling all pleased until you realise your brow shade doesn’t quite match up to your locks.
“A good rule of thumb is that the colour of your eyebrows should be one to two tones lighter than your hair shade, resulting in a younger and fresher look,” highlights Lau. Thanks to Mac and Benefit’s updated collection of brow gels, we can enhance our arches with different hues while adding shine and texture to the look.
Fake it till you make it
While it’s a common norm that brow density equates to brow greatness, for those of you who are born with pencil-thin arches can also step up their brow game by using the right products. “Start with the Browvo! Conditiong Eyebrow Primer which promotes thicker, fuller and healthier hair in brows,” says Bailey. “In the meantime you should use Benefit’s Gimme Brow, a coloured eyebrow gel which volumises and tints your brow hair, and the microfibers contained in the product helps building texture in your arches.”
Post-tweezing skincare tips
Photo courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics
Post-tweezing redness can be avoided by picking the right time to tweeze. And by that I mean stay away from using your tweezers right before heading out the door.
One of the best times to tweeze is after you get out of the shower, when the skin is soft and you can pull out the hair with ease. For an effective relief on redness, opt for a cooling face mist like Estee Lauder’s Nutritious Vitality 8 Radiant Energy Mist.
Weatherproof your brows
Win the beauty battle against the humidity with some simple final touches in your brow-grooming regimen. “Get a long-lasting look by sculpting your desired arches with eyebrow powder, such as Mac’s Brows AreIt Brow Duo,” points out Lau. “Don’t forget to also use waterproof brow gel as a final step, helping your groomed-arches to last as long as 7 to 8 hours in the heat.”
Yes – eyebrow tattoo is a thing!
Photo courtesy of Browhaus
For ladies who feel obligated to fill in their sparse brows every time they step out of their doorstep – we feel your pain. Good news: Browhaus’ signature Brow Resurrection 2.4 is now available in Hong Kong, following its success in cities such as London and New York.
“Imagine the ease of not having to worry about your brows when take a dip in the pool or hitting the gym,” says Lee. “The semi-permanent treatment enhances your brows with a natural effect which lasts for up to 2 years. Featuring 100% vegetable based dye, the treatment aims to offer you a brand new pair of arches through a pain-free experience and without causing any discolouration.”
What’s more, the package comes with a collection of seven-day aftercare products, which helps to hasten the healing process of newly resurrected brows.