While recording my Easy 3 Step Eyes Featuring MAC Cranberry look, I decided to do a detailed chat and demonstration about filling in fair brows. I don't have a lot of brow hairs (not terribly dense) and what are there are an ash blonde which disappears into my face. When I have the rest of my makeup on, it can look a bit alien! That with mascara are the two things that I think really add structure to my face and keep me from looking so washed out and tired.
(video link here)
My natural hair color (I haven't colored it in a couple years now) is medium brown with some red/blonde (and gray). The lack of brow color really stands out against my medium hair/very light skin. I don't enjoy filling in my brows, but it's very much worth it!
I go back and forth between using a powder/brush and pencils. I look for colors that are very gray toned - usually labeled as ash. A cool toned brown will still warm up a bit to match up with my hair, so a warm toned brown will go downright orange or red. As far as the shape of my brows, I just pluck stragglers around the main shape but avoid trying to coax an arch into my straight brows. I keep them thick because I think it balances out my face. I also don't trim them so I can keep the little volume I have, so it helps to have a brow set to keep them in line.
Pencils I've liked, with some reservations:
Lately I've been using my old standby Urban Decay matte shadow in Shakedown, this was discontinued a while back before redesigning the packaging and formula. It's a good cool toned brown but is a touch powdery which means I need to be mindful of tapping off the excess. Lately I've been applying it with a Sigma E75 Angled Brow Brush which picks up a lot of color and can speed up the process of using a powder a bit.
I've used the ULTA Professional Eyebrow Brush in the past which is a little sharper of an angle and fluffier. It doesn't grab as much product but I do like the precise line it makes without being too dark.
After getting some color on, I do often need to brush out my brows to blend the product or tone down color that's gone on too opaque. I picked up the Real Techniques Lash/Brow Groomer for the lash comb recently and since it's easy to find in my little storage cup I have also been using the brow brush side. Hannah (hootdujour) asked about the brush which reminded me that my actual favorite spoolie is the e.l.f. $1 Essential Eyelash & Brow Wand. I've had it quite a while and have washed it several times, it's not super tiny and somewhat soft. Comfortable to use and blends quickly/easily. I'd definitely recommend it!
And finally, my goodness, setting my brows! In the video I showed another e.l.f. product, it's the $1 Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara. I used up the brow side a while back and moved on to the clear mascara side. It's a little thin and wet looking, so it does require more blending and fiddling to keep it from looking overly gelled into place. Works well enough for me though, and the price is right! I bought a kit that had the Anastasia Brow Wiz that came with the Anastasia brow gel as well. It works well but it's expensive and I don't know that I'd buy again even with the discount.
So, that's about it! What are your favorite brow products? Thanks for reading!
(video link here)
My natural hair color (I haven't colored it in a couple years now) is medium brown with some red/blonde (and gray). The lack of brow color really stands out against my medium hair/very light skin. I don't enjoy filling in my brows, but it's very much worth it!
I go back and forth between using a powder/brush and pencils. I look for colors that are very gray toned - usually labeled as ash. A cool toned brown will still warm up a bit to match up with my hair, so a warm toned brown will go downright orange or red. As far as the shape of my brows, I just pluck stragglers around the main shape but avoid trying to coax an arch into my straight brows. I keep them thick because I think it balances out my face. I also don't trim them so I can keep the little volume I have, so it helps to have a brow set to keep them in line.
Pencils I've liked, with some reservations:
- Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash - didn't repurchase due to high cost/small product
- Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Medium Brown - didn't repurchase due to going through product very quickly
- shu uemura Hard Formula in Seal Brown - the color works well but it's difficult to build up the color I want due to the pencil being so.. hard
Lately I've been using my old standby Urban Decay matte shadow in Shakedown, this was discontinued a while back before redesigning the packaging and formula. It's a good cool toned brown but is a touch powdery which means I need to be mindful of tapping off the excess. Lately I've been applying it with a Sigma E75 Angled Brow Brush which picks up a lot of color and can speed up the process of using a powder a bit.
I've used the ULTA Professional Eyebrow Brush in the past which is a little sharper of an angle and fluffier. It doesn't grab as much product but I do like the precise line it makes without being too dark.
After getting some color on, I do often need to brush out my brows to blend the product or tone down color that's gone on too opaque. I picked up the Real Techniques Lash/Brow Groomer for the lash comb recently and since it's easy to find in my little storage cup I have also been using the brow brush side. Hannah (hootdujour) asked about the brush which reminded me that my actual favorite spoolie is the e.l.f. $1 Essential Eyelash & Brow Wand. I've had it quite a while and have washed it several times, it's not super tiny and somewhat soft. Comfortable to use and blends quickly/easily. I'd definitely recommend it!
And finally, my goodness, setting my brows! In the video I showed another e.l.f. product, it's the $1 Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara. I used up the brow side a while back and moved on to the clear mascara side. It's a little thin and wet looking, so it does require more blending and fiddling to keep it from looking overly gelled into place. Works well enough for me though, and the price is right! I bought a kit that had the Anastasia Brow Wiz that came with the Anastasia brow gel as well. It works well but it's expensive and I don't know that I'd buy again even with the discount.
So, that's about it! What are your favorite brow products? Thanks for reading!
Hi there! I just found this video on youtube and wanted to say thank you! I have very similar coloring to you, freckles, and faint eyebrows so I am excited to try out your techniques!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that we are both in Minnesota too! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh that's great, let me know how it goes! I only started to regularly fill in my brows a couple years ago and it took me some time to get it down and be used to actually seeing myself with eyebrows, hah. :) Also I hadn't seen so many fair and freckled people in my life until I moved to Minnesota! I had more in my office than I saw total when living in Miami. :) Hopefully we'll be seeing spring soon!!
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