The Brow Bible

You know me, I love a bushy brow. Even way back when slim brows where the thing I was still rocking a fairly larger brow than everyone else – slim brows and me just don’t mix (which 12 year old Suzie did discover back in 2003 and never over-plucked again). I may not be a whizz (yet) when it comes to wielding a blending brush, but brow pencils and angled brushes? Gimmie!

Practice makes perfect (or close enough) but I can’t take all the credit. Below are a few brow babes I can’t live without:

Brow Brush: Best for naturally super thick brows, combing out product and just general grooming. My weapon of choice is the Topshop Brow Pencil in “Brown”. The colour match is a little too warm for me, but for lightly filling in and not thickening the brows it works, but the real beauty is the brush on the end which is not only super convenient, but a damn good brush too – can’t stand those stupid tooth brush-esque ones, ya know?

Powder Shadow: Perfect for filling in sparse areas in the middle of the brow. When used alone the right colour can be used to give perfectly arched (and slightly un natural) brows. MAC’S Charcoal Brown isn’t my ideal shade for doing this but it works just right when brushed over a more cool toned pencil to give just the right brow colour – not to dark, not too warm. I find using a shadow on top of everything else fills the brow out and gives real oomph to them.

Angled Brush: Use with a powder shadow and thank me later. I use a MAC 266 and the shape allows me to fill in the tail end and lower inner brow (where straight lines are needed) with minimal effort. It’s also brilliant if you like a sharp arch too but works just as well when it comes to creating curved lines.


Brow Pencil: This is where the whole obsession started and I was amazed that I could draw hairs into sparse areas where there were none. I use the L’Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist*, but the Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil is a cheaper offering but with less chance of a colour match. This is a good one to start off with if you’re new to pencil. My advice? 1) Keep them sharp – otherwise they just tend to get a bit smudgy 2) You need a steady hand – have breakfast before putting your makeup on if you’re generally shakey – otherwise you’ll end up with brows where you don’t want them. Been there, done that.

Super Fine Brow Pencil: Okay, so not an essential if you have everything else, but if you’re looking to up your game and are pretty handy with a pencil then a super fine pencil is worth investing in. I currently use the Clinique Super Fine Liner For Brows* in 02 – Soft Brown a surprisingly perfect colour match. I love this one for thickening the under side of my brows and the sparse area at the front (where my monobrow is forever trying to make a comeback), as that’s where you’d expect to be able to see some fine hairs. If you want incredibly natural brows but aren’t a fan of power – give this a go.

Got all that? Good. Pick a few of these up and consider your mischievous brows managed.

30 Comments

  1. Gavina
    17 Sep 2013 / 8:21 am

    I love your brows! Mine are naturally quite thick so luckily I don't find the need to fill them in but I've been in that over plucking situation, it's the worst.

    Style Blog // Photography Blog // Photography Facebook

  2. ABeautyRomance
    17 Sep 2013 / 8:23 am

    Great post! You have amazing brows, lately I have been using the Benefit Brow Zing and find my brows look better than ever! 🙂 ♥

    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/

  3. liza prideaux
    17 Sep 2013 / 8:28 am

    These sound great im currently in need of some nice brow products so will check them out!

    Liza | Glambeautys | YouTube

  4. Martyna
    17 Sep 2013 / 8:39 am

    these are great tips, I definitely need to get myself a good brow brush! xx

    Martyna | NEON MIZZLE

  5. Sophierosehearts
    17 Sep 2013 / 9:04 am

    Great post, I need to get a decent brow pencil asap 🙂

    Sophierosehearts x

  6. Anya
    17 Sep 2013 / 9:15 am

    I'm absolutely useless with my brows! I've only just started to fill mine in, the results aren't perfect but I'm slowly getting there. I use an eyeshadow at the moment x

    www.crazylins.blogspot.co.uk

  7. Renate
    17 Sep 2013 / 10:01 am

    This is very helpful! You're lucky to have discovered the brow overplucking no-no 10 years ago already, I learned that lesson just a couple of years earlier – not a good look! 🙂

    Renate from http://thecuriousklutz.blogspot.com

  8. TheMacaronAddict
    17 Sep 2013 / 10:49 am

    Loved this post! I need to use a brow gel too though since I have such thick and crazy eyebrows!

    themacaronaddict.blogspot.co.uk

  9. annie.
    17 Sep 2013 / 11:40 am

    I use powder usually because my brows are a bit sparse but I do like the l'oréal pencil too.

    Annie | www.raspberphobia.com

  10. Lillian ParisianToBe
    17 Sep 2013 / 11:42 am

    Oooo–lovely post! I have been getting into brow products recently, as I never used to put them in before. Two of my favorites are the Hourglass Brow Sculpting Pencil and the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel. I really want to try the L'oreal brow offering, though. Hmmm…I wonder if it's made it over to US shores.

    xo Lillian from parisiantobe.com

  11. Marloes
    17 Sep 2013 / 12:13 pm

    I really love your brows but when I do mine, they just look unnatural! Maybe because I'm not used to it?

  12. Katie
    17 Sep 2013 / 1:57 pm

    I use the Sleek brow kit which is an amazing dupe for Benefit Brow Zings. Some of this stuff looks amazing!

    Katie | and-katie.com

  13. Maddy
    17 Sep 2013 / 2:03 pm

    I always think your brows look so amazing so I will definitely be trying your brow tips! x

    Maddy from UNSTITCHEDD 

  14. Leanne Marie
    17 Sep 2013 / 2:08 pm

    I use the HD Brow palette for my brows. I cant believe their used to be a time when I didnt fill them in!

    Leanne @ Leanne-Marie | Beauty, fashion & lifestyle. x x

  15. Madeline
    17 Sep 2013 / 2:25 pm

    I have such big eyebrows that when I once filled them in I looked like an idiot, but you are great at it and always have fabulous brows!

    Madeline | Its a Mads Mads World

  16. Emily Knott
    17 Sep 2013 / 4:09 pm

    Im currently growing my brows to get them shaped at the end of the month! I hate not being able to pluck them! I love my benefit brow zings to fill in my brows.

    www.britishbeautyaddict.com

  17. J4mieJohnston
    17 Sep 2013 / 5:28 pm

    Your brows are amazing! I think brows are really important to maintain!

    j4miejohnston.com

    Jamie ♥

  18. Amy
    17 Sep 2013 / 5:58 pm

    Great post! Eyebrows are always the thing I spend the longest amount of time on in the mornings! I HAVE to have them perfect! 🙂
    Amy | http://amysbeautyjournal.blogspot.co.uk/

  19. Sara Chergui
    17 Sep 2013 / 6:49 pm

    Such a nice post ! I love your blog and photos ♥
    Sara,
    http://thecrimeofashion.blogspot.fr

  20. CatrinTeleri
    17 Sep 2013 / 6:59 pm

    Brilliant post! You should try out Soap and Glory Archery such a good two in one.
    catrinteleri.blogspot.co.uk

  21. falafelwaffle
    17 Sep 2013 / 10:26 pm

    I know exactly what you mean about the brush. My benefit one had the same brush as the topshop one, and now that it's used up it's the one thing about it I miss. So next time I'm in topshop, I am most definitely picking one of their brow pencils up.
    My current favourite is the Soap & Glory one.

  22. Justine
    17 Sep 2013 / 10:49 pm

    Fab post!!! I use the L'Oreal Super Liner and love it! I know what you mean about it getting a bit smudgy though! Justine x

    www.fashionmixbag.blogspot.com

  23. Lauren
    18 Sep 2013 / 1:01 am

    I just love makeup so much! Fab post 🙂

    Lauren,
    http://atouchofsoutherngrace.blogspot.com/

  24. Erin and Katherine
    18 Sep 2013 / 2:11 am

    Great post super helpful!!!

    Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty

  25. Amber Hunter
    18 Sep 2013 / 2:44 am

    This was such a great post. I'm unfortunately cursed (ok that's a bit dramatic) but I do have really sparse brows that have bald patches as I like to call them. I fill them in everyday! You've mentioned some great products that I'd love to try out!
    Amber
    Lovely Notions

  26. Laura A.
    18 Sep 2013 / 6:58 pm

    I'd definitely recommend the Maybelline Master Precise brow pencils- amazing match and they stay on forever! The Rimmel ones, as you said, don't have such a good match though 🙁
    Laura x
    cosysaturdaynight.blogspot.com

  27. Emily McCue
    18 Sep 2013 / 7:48 pm

    Love your tips! I really want to try the mac eyeshaddows for my brows. I personally love the elf powder and gel set!

    www.emandthem.co.uk

  28. Simply Naturale
    19 Sep 2013 / 4:17 pm

    Got to agree about the Topshop brow pencil , I also had it , but then I found MAC Lingering eyebrow pencil which replaced it in a heartbeat! Its a great alternative and its cool toned and works a treat for my medium blonde brows. Should give it a try hun!

    Eloise | simplynaturale xo

  29. Genevieve L
    16 Nov 2014 / 3:46 pm

    Very informative! its nice to have everything in one place!

    Vievelle

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