Beauty trends seem to come and go on an almost weekly basis, but one trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere—thankfully!—is full, defined brows. After the harrowing period in the ’90s when women hacked their brows down to barely-there lines (I was totally guilty of this—were you?), the bushy, natural brow made a serious comeback a few years ago and has been the reigning trend ever since.
Full brows can provide everything from subtle facial definition to a serious makeup statement depending on the products and method that you use. To help you decode your perfect brow look, I spoke to some of the best makeup artists in the beauty business to find out the products that they use—both on themselves and at work. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the very best pomades, powders, pencils and gels that will give you the brows that you’ve always dreamed of (and help them last all day). Plus, these beauty geniuses shared their tips and trips for getting the most out of these game-changing brow definers—click on for your eyebrow master class!
Theo Kogan, Makeup Artist and Rockstar
@thekogan
“For brows, I have been using Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil; it’s thin and angled and it creates thin, hair-like strokes. I like to fill in any patchy spots to create the right shape, and then brush it through with the little brush on the end of the pencil.
Givenchy Mister Brow Filler has great hold, and can be used alone to enhance the thickness of the brows and hold the brow hairs in place. I like to brush the brows up with it, which opens the face up—it can make a less awake person look much more awake.”
James Vincent, Celebrity Makeup Artist
@vincentmakeup
“Eyebrows are a huge part of my makeup design consideration. They frame the eye and frame the face. I use then to add impact, build structure, and bring focus to a particular feature. I usually start an eyebrow with pencil. Pencils tend to be wax-based, which sits in top of the skin and adds immediate volume. My favorite is Kevyn Aucoin The Brow Pencil, as it is the perfect size and shape to draw in small, individual hairs that look natural.
Powder is my next step. Powder product sets itself back onto the skin and adds depth. It will help to set the pencil, and on its own it helps to give the brow presence and dimension. My favorite palette is the Senna Brow Book. It was created by Eugenia Weston, who is the godmother of eyebrows. Eugenia created the eyebrow stencil as well as the small angled brush that have been copied by every cosmetic company and are widely used today.”
Bethany Brill, Hairstylist and Makeup Artist
@bbrill
“For my brow routine, I really like to see those little fluffy hairs in the front, but I also love a little more definition on my arch. So I start by defining my arch with Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil and then comb it through a few times to take the edge off.
To finish the look, I swipe on a few coats of Boy Brow from Glossier in Brown — its waxy texture allows for great placement power while adding a little plumping effect. The effect is natural but oomphed!”
David Tibolla, New York Based Makeup and Hair Artist
@davidtibolla
“I’d have to say that my go-to product for brows would have to be the Dip Brow Pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills. These little pots of cream are available in shades that suit all brow colors, and can be used sheer for just a touch of depth, or opaque if one needs more coverage. The creamy consistency is a dream to work with, and once dry, they do not move!”
Clarissa Luna, Celebrity Makeup Artist
@clarissalunanyc
“My favorite brow product is the NYX Precision Brow Pencil. It has a thin, flat tip that creates very natural-looking hair strokes and carves out the most dramatic brows. The icing on the cake is the spoolie it has on the end, to ensure a perfectly groomed brow hair. It also never needs sharpening!”
Cassandra Garcia, Editorial Makeup Artist, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
@cygmakeup
“I love brows because they help to frame the face; I honestly never leave the house without having brows on. The eye shadows in the Bobbi Brown Brow Kit are great to use with a defined brush to fill in the brows naturally. I love to use a powder so that you get soft definition. I always assess the brows first to see where I need to fill them in. To finish the brow, I love to use a brow gel to comb the hairs up and help them hold all day.”
