Chances are, if you’re reading this, you might have been a teenager in the nineties. Which also means you probably over-tweezed, over-plucked, and over-“shaped” your brows into oblivion a la Drew Barrymore circa 1995. And, despite your mother’s warning, they never quite grew back. (Dammit, moms are always right.)
Now that I’m in my thirties, I finally realize the importance of expertly shaped brows (and how effortlessly pulled together you can look when your brows are “just right”). So my quest for filling in my speckled, “you did it to yourself” eyebrows is sort of an obsession—especially since the bulk of my beauty regime has taken a hit since having kids.
If you’re facing this dilemma too, you’re in luck: I reached out to some of the most esteemed beauty pros in NYC to learn their secrets and recommendations for the best eyebrow products on the market today. These solutions are simple enough for any busy mom to achieve.
Whatever your brow situation, find your fix in the slideshow.
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Best Brow Shaper
Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch Up by Bobbi Brown, $24.50
Carlo says: "Need a little help with fair colored brows, or wanting to add a quick enhancement to your own color? The Natural Brow Shaper and Hair Touch Up by Bobbi Brown is an innovative cream-gel formula that provides a never stiff, natural looking definition. Wheat protein and provitamin B5 help condition brow hairs, and it comes in seven shades including clear Beauty bonus: It also can be used as a quick temporary cover-up for stray grays between root touch-ups."
Best Brow-Shaping Tweezers
Rubis Switzerland Slanted Tip Tweezers, $29.83
Carlo says: "These little guys are what help make brow sculpting on my clients so successful! I find pointy ones hard to use and straight ones aren't good for shaping (they grab too many hairs at once). But these slanted tweezers grip even baby-fine hairs, and they don’t dull as quickly as other tweezers."
Best Brow Sculpter
Tom Ford Brow Sculptor, $59.99
Carlo says: "Tom Ford brow sculptor helps you achieve those perfectly groomed brows you're always striving for. (My universal fave color is taupe.) It features a unique calligraphy tip that allows for a tailor-made stroke from thin to wide. Remove the opposite-end cap to uncover the grooming brush, and twist the cap counterclockwise to reveal the sharpener. Who doesn’t love a three-in-one?"
Best Product for for Hair Growth
Revitabrow, $68.95
Carlo says: "This miracle product is the pièce de résistance of enhancing brow growth for a fuller look! I recommend it to one out of five brow clients I see. This eyebrow conditioner’s active ingredient is biotin for hair growth. It's a patented blend of ingredients combined with biotin and is clinically proven to stimulate hair growth for beautifully full eyebrows."
Best Prodcut to Achieve Fuller Brows
Anastasia Brow Wiz, $21
Erica says: "The basis for a fuller brow starts with a good brow shaping. Let an eyebrow specialist tweeze your brows into the best shape for your face. It will be easy for you to maintain on your own once you have locked down the proper shape. Next, using a spoolie, brush brow hair up and slightly over to the side once you have brushed past the eyebrow arch. This gives you a better idea of where you need to fill in the sparse areas of the brow. I am not a fan of the "Instagram brows," the painted on brows you normally see posted by beauty vloggers. My favorite tool is an eyebrow pencil. When using short, feathery strokes it fills in brows in the most natural way possible. Choose an eyebrow pencil one to two shades lighter than your hair color.
"By choosing a lighter shade you can fill in sparse areas of the brow but still keep the brows looking natural. The Anastasia Brow Wiz is a staple in my pro makeup kit."
Best Product for Holding Your Brows in Place
Benefit Gimme Brow Fiber Gel, $17.98
Erica says: "After filling in the sparse areas of the brow, I then use a tinted brow gel to hold the brow hair in place. An easy to use one is the Benefit Gimme Brow Fiber Gel because of its tiny brush. Here's a pro tip if you applied too much color to your brows: Brush through brows with a spoolie brush. Then use a fluffy eye shadow brush and swirl it into your face powder and brush through brows. It diminishes the 'painted on' effect."
Best Product for Trimming Brows
Alcone Twissor Tool, $18
Erica says: "To maintain fuller looking brows, trim the hairs instead of tweezing them. My favorite tool is the Alcone Twissor Tool. These little scissors are a pro artist must-have. Simply brush eyebrow hair up and trim. It is much easier to use than a brow scissor because your hand remains vertical, which gives you more control over how much you trim."
Best Brow Tinting Product
Just for Men Hair Dye, $7.99
Erica says: "Sometimes on runway shows the makeup artists have to bleach the models' brows in order to achieve the designer's overall vision for his/her show. When we bleach the brows, we also have to restore the model's brows back to their original color. Our backstage secret for dyeing brows quickly back to their original color is Just for Men hair dye. You can quickly darken light brows within five minutes. The formula is not as pigmented as women's hair dye, so the brows end up looking more natural."
Best One-Step Daily Use Brow Product
Infinity Waterproof Brow Liner from Thrive Causemetics, $23
Erica says: "I am a brow pencil type of girl. Invest in an automatic pencil with a thin point and a spoolie brush on the other end. My new favorite eyebrow pencils are from Thrive Causemetics. These pencils come in two universal shades (light & dark). Originally designed for women who suffered hair loss as a result of chemotherapy, these pencils are waterproof, so your brows won't sweat off during your next spin class. More importantly, for every product sold, one product is donated to a woman going through cancer treatment."
Best Foolproof Mascara
Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama, $6.07
Erica says: "If you are makeup challenged, then I would suggest using a brow mascara in a shade that is one to two shades lighter than your hair color. I love the Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama. It's a tinted gel mousse with a ball-tip brush. My tip is to gently blot the brush with a tissue to remove excess product so you avoid applying too much product to the brows. Add a second coat if necessary."
Best Foolproof Product for Instantly Instagram-Worthy Brows
Anastasia's Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes, $39.50
Sharon says: "The most extensive brow kit is Anastasia's Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes, which offers many shades for mixing the right color, wax to set, and stencils! Yes, if you don't have a great shaped brow or need hand-holding, you can use the stencils for expert shape. This option is great for people who want a fuller, stronger, solid, more Instagram-friendly brow."
Best One-Step Brow Pencil
MAC Mechanical Brow Pencil, $16.50
Sharon says: "My favorite pencil, and what I use on clients, is the MAC mechanical brow pencil. The tip is tiny and easy to work with, and the formula is waxy enough to offer push-back (so you don't lay on too thick a coat immediately)—both great for consumers. The colors are neutral enough so that you can feel like you are defining your brows without looking obvious. Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tarte, and Kevyn Aucoin all make a pencil with a spoolie on the opposite end, to soften and blend. Pencils are one-step (well, two steps with a little blending action)."
Meet the experts:
ERICA WHELAN
In 2006, native New Yorker Erica Whelan dared to do what every nine-to-fiver dreams of—she left her career as an accountant to pursue her passion and become a celebrity makeup artist & hairstylist. Erica’s creativity, easygoing personality, and tireless work ethic make her a favorite among her clients, which include Cosmopolitan, Elle, Seventeen, L’Oreal, Sally Hansen, and Rimmel London. Erica’s vast knowledge of products and techniques has earned her a spot as an Allure.com Product Finder Expert.
CARLO GERACI
Carlo Geraci, one of New York’s top makeup designers and artists, has worked alongside Kevin Aucoin, helped launch the Trish McEvoy brand, and was invited by Barneys New York to become the first Beauty Guru, a position created specifically for him.
Over the course of his twenty-plus year career, Carlo has worked with some ridiculously iconic figures, such as Angela Bassett, Michael Bublé, Candace Bushnell, Cindy Crawford, Eartha Kitt, Sir Ian McKellan, Helen Mirren, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Diane Sawyer, Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Taylor, James Taylor, Robin Williams, and Reese Witherspoon. But he also has a niche service that I personally love, adore, and take full advantage of whenever I can: expert brow parties and brow shaping services, right in your
SHARON BECKER
Whether she’s working on a model or a bride, Sharon Becker has a certainty that each subject is breathtaking. As an esteemed makeup artist, she focuses on the positive—and amplifies it.
Under extreme pressure, Sharon is like the eye of the storm: calm, cheerful, and quick to delight. She leaves any diva attitude at home, instead doling out compassion to models, reassurance to brides, and assistance to photographers, videographers, or anyone else who needs it. “My subjects often thank me for the peaceful space I’ve created around them,” she says.
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