Eyebrows have seen their fair share of trends throughout the years, from the pencil-thin and sky-high brows of the ’90’s and 2000s to the ultra-carved “brows on fleek” trend of the 2010’s and now, in their most lawless form, the bushy brow.
Benefit’s global brow expert, Jared Bailey, describes this perfectly imperfect brow as “lived in layers. These brows don’t have crisp defined edges, they are fluffy and full of contrasting colors that embrace a more a natural, lush-looking brow.”
Bailey has had a front row seat to the many eyebrow evolutions over the years. He suggested that bushy brows, á la Brooke Shields in the 80s, actually became popular as a kind of opposition to the overly-done days of “baddie-Instagram” yore.
“I think this trend is relevant given the times we’re living in. After the last year or two in lockdown, most of us have said goodbye to a full face of makeup and the carved out ‘Instagram brow,’” he said. “We’re wearing less makeup and reaching for products that are quick and easy to use, look natural and help our features pop.”
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Brett Freedman, a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist with a knack for eyebrows, described the key elements to achieving what he called “non- cookie cutter brows.”
“Brow hairs are brushed up and out so brow gel is a must ― the furrier the better. In the past, a properly tailored brow would be defined and the brow hairs were pomaded into place and directed toward the temple in line with the top of the brow. Now we want those ‘spikes’ to break the top brow line,” Freedman said.
Bailey recommends product layering as a way to create dimension and realistic volume.
“Layering multiple shades and formulas together is key. Similar to your complexion, when you use one color alone, the result is flat and one dimensional. The same is true for brows: One color will will result in a lifeless look. Always opt for multiple shades, but with the same undertone,” Bailey said.
Freedman added that no matter which way you choose to style your brows, they “are the one feature we can change ourselves (without surgery) that can alter our appearance.”
“Over the past few years, brows have become the new playground of self expression. [They] bring balance and proportion to your face and eyes and are fundamental no matter which type of brow look you are leaning into,” Bailey said.
Now, if you don’t have naturally lush brows, don’t fret, because there are some tricks and products that can help create the illusion of volume. Put down the tweezers and keep reading to see what products these makeup artists and brow pros use to get beautifully trendy unkempt brows.
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A complete Glossier brow routine
This brow essentials set from Glossier contains their tinted grooming pomade Boy Brow, which fluffs and shapes brows, and their Brow Flick pen, which you can use to sketch eyebrow-like hairs in a matte finish.
An at-home brow tinting kit
A precision eyebrow pencil that can mimic hair strokes
“Start by finding where your brow should begin by following a straight line up from the dimple of your nose to the front of the brow and make a mark,” Bailey said. “Next, find where your brow is naturally at its highest by measuring from the outer edge of the nose across the center of the eye and make a mark. Finally, mark where your brow should end by following a diagonal line from the outside of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. This will show you where your brow should end. After you make the points, connect them by lightly sketching from point to point. Any hair that falls outside of the shape can be removed. The hair that falls inside the shape is what stays.”
He uses Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow defining pencil to provide ultra-fine strokes that can also be blended out to create a more feathered look.
A conditioning oil
A micro-fiber brow gel to make sparse brows look thicker
“Try a stipple-and-sweep technique,” Bailey said. “Simply stipple the tip of the wand onto your skin to add the pigment and then, sweep the bristles of the wand over that exact spot to create a natural, hair-like texture.”
A tinted eyebrow gel that won’t make brow hairs stiff
“I apply it up, down, right, and left to grab every little hair possible. I focus on just the hairs, to make sure it doesn’t transfer to the skin,” Meng said.
A way to get the laminated brow look
Refy’s consistency is unique because it’s more of hybrid between a gel and a conditioning wax that’s extra effective in keeping hairs in place. Its formula also contains a moisturizing and antioxidant complex.
An affordable micro-fine eyebrow pencil
A long-lasting waterproof eyebrow pen
A velvety powder duo to help add depth to your brows
Anastasia Beverly Hill’s brow powder is finely milled for smooth application and is buildable to customize the look of fullness that you want to achieve.
A double-ended tool to brush brows and apply product
