If you’ll allow me to brag for a moment, I would like to tell you that I have really good, natural-looking eyebrows. They’re not good in the super-shaded, airbrushed-looking, Instagram makeup artist sort of way; instead, they look like they may have grown out of my face. They didn’t, of course, but I would never let nature interfere in the pursuit of my best eyebrows. If you have similar goals, I’ve got some tips.
My natural eyebrows have an okay shape, although they are not exactly identical. Beyond getting the right products for the look you’re trying to achieve, the best thing you can do is try to figure out how your brows differ for each other and concentrate your trimming and plucking in those areas. And yes, I do mine myself–the era of the thin brow has mercifully past, and unless you are uncommonly hirsute, yours probably need minimal plucking. Below, check out all the supplies you need to DIY your own best brows. (This is the only DIY project I will ever recommend or personally undertake, for the record.)
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
$32 via Sephora
I bought this pencil in something of an emergency (if there is such a thing as an eyebrow emergency) (I contend that there is) based on a single, enthusiastic recommendation on Twitter. It’s a little pricey for a pencil, but it really, really works, and one of these gets me through nearly a year of daily use. It takes seconds to apply, goes on perfectly every time, looks natural and lasts all day.
Anastasia Brow Scissors
$23 via Net-a-Porter
I remember the moment I realized I could trim my eyebrow hairs; it was a revelation. My hair is naturally curly, and that can lead to brow hairs pointing in some weird directions. Compact, super-sharp scissors like these makes keeping them in check much easier.
BBrowbar Clear Eyebrow Gel
$26 via Net-a-Porter
Eyebrow gel isn’t necessarily something that you need to use every day, but if you’re going for a dramatic evening look or have a long day ahead of you and no desire to touch up midway (I’m anti-touch up, personally), this can seal in a look while it nourishes your brows. Tinted versions exist, but I prefer this one because it works over whatever fill you regularly use.
Guerlain Four Shade Eyebrow Kit
$53 via Sephora
The four powder shades in this kit can be mixed, layered, built or used alone–it’s like an eyebrow wardrobe in a tiny box. If you’ve found a pencil or single-shade powder lacking or want something more dramatic or variable, this is the way to go.
Tweezerman Pink Perfection Slant Tweezers
$23 via Sephora
I don’t know when I first learned that Tweezerman made the best tweezers; looking back, it seems like information with which I and a legion of other women were all born. I’ve bought probably a dozen pairs in my life, mostly because I misplace them, panic at the thought of going without and immediately buy another pair.
