BEAUTYFUL Beauty Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Brow Products: What to Buy, How to Apply

*Face it: your brows are kind of needy. They demand lots of TLC, constant maintenance, penciling, threading, waxing, and on and on. These days, with all the different types of brow boosters out there (do you go for powder, pomade, or gel?)—not to mention all the new formulas developed on the regular—it’s difficult to know the best way to get the look you want. Enter brow queen Anastasia Soare, founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills, who knows a thing or two about navigating the brow aisle at the beauty counter. Here she shares her best eye-opening tips.  

Brow products in action

All of the above can be layered together. Mixing formulas and shades “really gives dimension and texture to the brow that one product can’t achieve on its own,” says Soare. For example, for a defined look, start with a pencil to fill in sparse areas, smooth over with a layer of powder and set with a wax or pomade. If you want a more natural brow, “you might want to stick to a light filler alone like a powder,” she says.

Before you begin

Although products are your best friend for everyday upkeep, “you’ll want to visit a pro for waxing, threading, or tweezing every six to eight weeks to nix strays and overgrowth, says Anastasia. Then, when you go to do your makeup, start with clean brows brushed into a shape that suits your face. The rest of your prep will depend on what products you’re using. Pencils, waxes, and pomades don’t need any special base, but if you opt for a powder, Soare suggests prepping the brows with some sort of primer or wax pencil. “This will help the powder adhere to the hairs and skin,” she explains

After you apply

“Always set brows with a gel,” says Soare. “This helps to seal the color and keeps hairs in place, regardless of which type of filler you’ve used. Brow gels are especially helpful when you use a pencil or powder—both of which can sometimes wear off during a long day.”