How To: Shape Your Eyebrows Perfectly
Eyebrow expert Tonya Crooks (a.k.a. The BrowGal) shares her highly-prized eyebrow know-how. You're now eight simple steps away from immaculate arches...
To find the best face-framing shape begin by brushing brow hairs upwards in the direction of growth using the spoolie end of BrowGal's {Skinny Eyebrow Pencil}. Eyebrows usually fall into one of three categories; an arch, an arc of a straight brow. If you're struggling (the '90s happened to the best of us!), refer to a childhood photo to see how your brows started out.
Examine both brows to see how they differ - think of them as you would a set of scales; the idea is to find balance without striving for perfection (they're sisters, not twins).
Beginning at the inside edge (nearest your nose), identify what Tonya calls 'the baseline' - the top and bottom starting point of each eyebrow should be in parallel with the outside edges of your nostrils. Gently pencil them in and take a step back to ensure both brows are even.
From the top of the 'baseline' you've drawn, follow the natural, upper outline of your brow, sketching in with fine, hair-like strokes. Make sure your {Skinny Eyebrow Pencil} has been freshly sharpened to a point for the most realistic simulation of fine strands. Continue all along the eyebrow to the 'tail', then repeat the process from the bottom outline, combing colour through using the spoolie to distribute and help soften any edges.
Now that you've established the shape, you can intensify the look and disguise patches using short, precision strokes to build volume and create enviable 'oomph'.
Once you're satisfied that your arches look enviably elegant, it's time to neaten them and train them into the desired shape. Brush your brows up and 'out' with the spoolie to identify the strands that end outside of the perimeter you're drawn; use {Eyebrow Scissors} to trim any stragglers, and {Eyebrow Tweezers} to extract remaining outliers.
The BrowGal's specialist {Tweezers} are designed to get 'under' each eyebrow hair - gripping them firmly for effortless removal (without breakage or pinching your skin). Follow the shape of the brow, beginning at the inner corner, plucking one hair at a time for the most flawless finish.
Accentuate and amplify your newly perfect pair using The BrowGal's {Highlighter Pencil}. Apply the matte side underneath the brow, beginning from the 'baseline' and following the curve, leaving a fraction of a centimetre between the brow and the highlighter line. Blend with fingertips then follow with the shimmer end - concentrating on the apex - to create the illusion of enhanced fullness (while simultaneously granting the eye area a 'lifted' look).
Fix all your handiwork in place using {Clear Eyebrow Gel} - simply brush through lightly to define the brow shape, or use two coats to totally 'seal' brows in place (ideal if you're swimming or sweating).
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...