Chalk it up to the Cara Delevingne effect, but bold brows are having a moment. This year alone, sales in eyebrow makeup rose 28 percent, and the category raked in a cool $122 million in profits, WWD reports. A set of well-groomed arches have the amazing ability to frame the face, give off a more youthful appearance, and when placed correctly, can create the illusion of a slimmer nose.
With all of the new products on the market, it can be hard to determine which work best for you, so we went back to our basic arsenal and created a user-friendly GIF guide on how you can put your best brows forward. Keep reading to get the step-by-step instructions!Begin by determining where your brow should begin, arch, and end. Hold a brush like Anastasia’s ($18; anastasia.net) vertically against the bridge of your nose to find the starting point, then tilt the brush across the center of your eye to see where your arch should appear. Line the brush up with the outer edge of your eye to determine how far your brow should extend. Brush the hairs in the direction they naturally grow in before applying any product.
With a pomade like Anastasia’s Dipbrow ($18; anastasia.net) or a powder no more than two shades lighter or darker than your hair color, fill in any gaps along your arch, then use any excess product on the brush along the beginning portion of your brow. This will prevent your eyebrows from looking stenciled in, and creates a subtle gradient effect. Look directly in the mirror, and give your chin a slight upward tilt to see if your arches are even.
To keep the shape intact, we followed with a few sweeps of Eyeko’s Brow Gel ($24; sephora.com), which is infused with ginkgo biloba to help re-grow sparse areas. Brush the beginning portion in an upward motion, and once the product is in place, swipe a clean spoolie brush through to ensure even distribution.
Coloring outside the lines or any unexpected smudges can give off a too-thick appearance, so carve out the exact shape with a concealer that matches your complexion. We used the flesh-toned pan from Benefit’s The Perk-Up Artist palette ($30; benefitcosmetics.com) along the top and lower beginning portions of the brow, then swept the pink illuminating shade under the arch to highlight our work. Use the brush to blend out any harsh lines.
Get more tips on pulling off a bold brow in our gallery.