The brows help frame your face, and when done well, they can enhance your features and look amazing

AS a beginner, I never did my brows. It seemed like an unnecessary step, so I would just brush them and call it a day. But as I got more into makeup, I saw that a good brow routine is a crucial step in bringing your whole makeup look together. The brows help frame your face, and when done well, they can enhance your features and look amazing.

Choosing the right product

Walking through the aisles of the makeup stores can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to brows. There are so many different kinds of products and shades, it’s hard to know where to start. Let’s break down some of the products and what they do.

• The brow pencil has a soft, waxy texture. It creates a natural, diffused look, good for beginners and filling in sparse brows.
  My recs: Kosas Brow Pop Nano, Nyx Micro Brow Pencil. A very thin tip will help you be more precise.
• The brow pen is like a very thin marker. It’s for more advanced users, and will give you a more dramatic brow. If you have very little brow hair, it’s a good option for drawing in hairlike strokes.
  My recs: Nyx Lift and Snatch Brow Pen, Maybelline Build-A-Brow.
• Brow powder is the same consistency as eyeshadow. It’s easy to blend out and is applied with a brush. It can be subtle or dramatic.
  My recs: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo, Wet ’N Wild Ultimate Eyebrow Makeup Kit.
• Brow gel comes in a tube or a pot. It’s like mascara for your brows — it’ll hold them in place all day, and it comes in clear or color. It can also be used alongside any other products.
  My recs: Benefit Gimme Brow or Benefit 24-Hour Brow Setter (for clear), Nyx Brow Glue.
• Brow pomade has a waxy consistency and is applied with a brush. It’s very pigmented, and should only be used once you’re at an advanced level.
  My recs: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, Milani Stay Put Brow Color.

Once you decide which product is right for you, go to a store to choose the shade that suits you best. Swatch the shades that look closest to your natural brow color on the back of your hand. Then, hold up your hand next to your brow to see which one matches your undertone, hair, and brows the best. If you can’t figure it out, you can always ask a store employee for help.

A good tip is to err on the side of a lighter shade — when you fill in your brows, it’ll be more forgiving than a shade that’s too dark, and it’ll be easier to fix.

Product application

It’s best to do brows before applying any other makeup, for a few different reasons. If there’s other product built up into your brow, the brow products won’t stick as well or last as long. If you make a mistake on your brows, it will be easier to clean them up afterward with foundation and concealer. Shaping your brows will help shape your face so you can see where you want to put the rest of your products.

First things first, use a makeup wipe or wet tissue to wipe any excess moisturizer and primer off your brows. Then, take a clean spoolie brush and run it through your brows to brush them into the right direction.

Next, identify where you want your brow to start and end. Your brow should start at the inner corner of your eye (hold a pencil up against the side of your nose to identify where that would be), then follow the natural arch of your brow until the tail, which should end just past the end of your eye. Don’t drag the tail down too low, or it might bring your face down instead of lifting it.

Now, take your brow pencil, pen, powder, or pomade (on a thin brow brush), and apply it at the beginning of your brow, flicking upward with short, gentle strokes to mimic the appearance of individual brow hairs. At the arch of the brow, follow the natural direction of your hair growth. Build up the color gradually by layering strokes so it looks natural.

Once you’re happy with your brows, you’ll want to set them in place. Now’s when you would use a brow gel. To give your brows more color, use a tinted brow gel; otherwise, stick with a clear one. Apply the brow gel to a spoolie brush, making sure to wipe off any excess product, and brush it through your brows into your desired shape. Brow gels can also be used without any other brow products on more natural makeup days.

Keep in mind that less is more with brows; better to start with less product and build it up than to have too much product to clean up. You can blend with a spoolie brush between layers to make sure it looks natural and not too harsh.

It can be a learning curve to get your brow routine fully down pat, so remember that practice makes better — the more you do it, the better it will look.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 970)