What should I use when styling my eyebrows?
13.8.2020
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pomade? Powder? Or are you better off with a pencil? You may only have two eyebrows, but there are countless ways to style them. Here’s my comparison of the most popular products.
Make-up allows you to shape your eyebrows and give them fullness and definition. And this without semi-permanent methods like dyes, microblading and brow lamination. But which product is right for you?
Brow powder
Powder is forgiving of mistakes, meaning eyeshadow is a beginner-friendly option for your brows. Assuming you’ve gone for the right shade, the result looks soft and natural. Your choice of brush, however, allows you to vary the pigment strength. Applying the powder with a fluffy brush gets you a subtle finish. Going for one with tightly bound bristles, on the other hand, makes your brows look more accentuated. That said, you can’t bank on being able to apply it precisely, so powders are more suitable for filling in sparse spots than for shaping. To do that, you’re better off using a pencil (see below). The pencil allows you to frame your brows so they can then be filled in with powder.
Brow powders are usually available in small palettes containing two shades: a lighter one for the beginning of the brow and a darker one for the «tip». If you blend the shades together nicely, the transition will look more natural. The palette often contains a brush, a mini brush and a fixing wax to keep the hairs in place.
If you already have an eyeshadow in the colour of your brows, you can just use that too.
Eyebrow pencils
Unlike powder, a pencil makes it easy to sketch out the shape of your brows. You can even fake individual hairs. The rule of thumb? The sharper the point on the pencil, the more natural the result. I’d generally advise against using wide-tip pencils, unless you want to feel like Godzilla crocheting a doily. You can vary the intensity of the colour with pressure. Start with a gentle hand, slowly building up the colour. The practical pencil isn’t as forgiving of slip-ups as powder.
Tip: If you did press down too hard, you can brush away your faux pas with a brow comb. Most pencils have one of these on the other end.
Brow pens
The felt-tip-style eyebrow pen is the expert-level brow pen. You can’t afford to make any mistakes without having to grab the make-up remover. The brush-like tip is so narrow that you can work very precisely. The pen is particularly suitable for drawing fine hairs into your brows, making them look more voluminous. It’s detailed work. If your brows are on the thin side, you’d better give pens a wide berth. Otherwise, your brows will quickly get the painted-on look.
Brow gel
Gel mascara is the most intuitive way to shape your brows and give them some colour. Much like a mascara, it has an applicator brush, and works with a gel formulation that you brush into the hairs. There are three different versions of the product:
A colourless gel that simply sets the hairs and keeps your brows in shape, hairspray-style.
A tinted gel that lightly colours and thickens the brows.
A tinted gel enriched with artificial fibres. The fibres stick to your brows, giving you more fullness.
Eyebrow gel
Quantity discount
CHF8.55 per piece for 3 units CHF1357.14/1l
Artdeco Brow Filler
Light Brown
Eyebrow gel
Quantity discount
CHF4.– per piece for 4 units CHF1315.79/1l
essence make me BROW eyebrow gel mascara 04
Ashy Brows
Since eyebrow mascara defines, highlights and sets individual hairs, you can also apply it as a final step over a powder or pencil. This way, you bring in more dimension.
Eyebrow pomade
Pomade works well in practised hands – and it’s cumbersome to use. It usually comes in a small jar and has a highly pigmented, waxy texture that you apply with a bevelled, flat brush. Basically a sort of eyeliner brush. It requires both precision and a steady hand. In extreme cases, you can even create an entire brow from scratch with the right technique. That’s because pomade is good for sketching the outline of the brows, filling them in and painting on individual hairs. Depending on brush technique and the amount of product, the result can either look ultra natural or totally painted on. With some pomades you have to buy the brush separately.
Pomades with brush
Pomades without a brush
Brush
If you’ve got multiple brow needs, you can go for a mixture of the product types mentioned above. As for the right shade, you’ll be on the safe side if you choose something matching your hairline.
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
Beauty
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