Filling in Your Eyebrows

Powder, pencil, mascara.... there are so many options to fill in your brows!

So what's the best way?  It depends on your brows and your style! :)

Powder:  I use powder quite often.  I love how natural it looks and it seems to take better in the heat.  I recommend powder for women who have a few bare spots that they want to fill in or if you just want to make your brows look bolder.  Powder works well if you have hair for it to adhere to... and for some of us... eh hmmmm... me... I stop growing brow hair on the last 1/3 to 1/4 of my brows.  You can totally put powder there on the skin but it may easily fade away.

Japonesque Professional Angled Brow 

Definer

The best way to apply powder is to find an angled stiff brush.  I love Japonesque Professional Angled Brow Definer Brush (say that 10x lol).  It's expensive (retail is usually about $14.50 but I got it on sale at Ulta) but I do have to say it is precise.  After swiping the brush in the powder, use tiny strokes to simulate hair.

There are also two powders that I love.  The expensive choice is Anastasia's Eyebrow Duo ($22).  An awesome dupe for that is Elf's Brow Kit ($3 online or at Target).  I would repurchase ELf's endlessly.  It comes with a great tiny brush as well. Elf has a few hit and misses.  Don't miss this one :)

Elf's Brow Kit

Anastasia's Eyebrow Duo

 

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil

Pencil:  Pencil is awesome for precision.  You want to sharpen the pencil and use small hair-like strokes to fill in the bald spots or to create an arch.  I love pencils with an ash/taupey undertone.  The best taupe I've found is Sonia Kashuk's eyebrow pencil in Taupe.  It's a beautiful color and retails for about $5-$6 online or at your local Target.  For a darker eyebrow pencil, I like Sonia Kashuk's in Haze or Maybelline's Define-a-brow in Medium Brown.  What's nice about the Maybelline pencil is that you never have to sharpen it.  It has a twist up applicator which is very handy.

Sonia Kashuk Eyebrow Pencil

Brow Mascara:  This one is so much fun! lol  If you have naturally full eyebrows and just want them to stay in place and look well groomed... this product is definitely for you.  My sister-in-law's eyebrows are naturally full but a bit unruly at times.  I gave her my Covergirl's Clear Mascara and changed her life (okay, totally kidding but she was super excited).  The best way is to brush your brows up at first then take the tip of the wand and swipe it above your brow like your drawing in the top of your brow line with a clear marker.  Anyone can use mascara no matter how many eyebrow hairs you have.  It's always nice to set them, especially if you took the time to fill them in a certain way!  ELF has a great clear mascara for $1 (seriously, how can you beat that?) and I love my Covergirl's Clear Mascara ($5-6). 

I hope this helps!  Please let me know if you have any questions! I would love to answer them! :D

How to Regrow Eyebrows

Eyebrows! Come back to me.... :)

Over the years I have gone through many phases of eyebrow thickness.  From losing almost all of them to losing the tails.... to overplucking the front to try to get them to look even with the the rest of the non-existing brow... it's a dramatic tale lol.  At this point, I've come to terms that my tails will be non-existent to sparse due to health but it's not going to make me ever stop trying to find the miracle product/makeup that makes them look my idea of normal.

For overpluckers: The first step, though extremely hard, is to put down all tweezers, scissors, and various eyebrow tools for at least four weeks (six weeks if you are a rockstar).  Why six weeks?  Because your hair grows in cycles and they happen to be spread apart by six weeks.  If you want to see your true eyebrows, make this commitment!  My best advice for going through this is to buy brow mascara.  E.L.F.  makes an inexpensive yet awesome brow gel.  You can buy it online or at your local Target for $1.  I also like CoverGirl clear mascara (under $5 at Walmart).  Tinted eyebrow gels are also fun but a bit more expensive.  Since some hairs will come in wild and lets just face it, your brows will probably drive you crazy during this time, use gel to shape and set them.  It will last all day and I swear it will make the process sooooo much easier.

For regrowth:  I like Rogaine.  Yes I said it.  You will find as I start writing more blog posts that I use a lot of "man" products for unconventional use.  Okay but here's the trick.... buy the off brand.  A bottle of Rogaine can cost up to $30-$40, where the Walmart off brand costs $10 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Extra-Strength-Hair-Regrowth-Topical-Solution-For-Men-2-oz/16627520).  It's the same amount of product and the same amount of active ingredients. 
How to use:  I use it twice a day; once in the morning and once at night.  Open the bottle and stick in a cotton swab.  Then swipe the products on your whole eyebrows or just areas that need regrowth.  Do not use on your eyelashes or anywhere near your eyes!  Give it a few weeks to start seeing results.

Tinting:  Probably my best beauty trick.  If you want to see your true regrowth and your eyebrows aren't a shade that's to your liking, you can always tint!  This is a lot easier than it sounds and I swear you'll be an expert by your second or third time.  Women go to the salon all the time to get this done for at least $20 a pop!  Here's another unconventional "man" product moment.  I use the Just for Men Beard, Mustache, and Side Burns Gel.
Here's why:  The product costs anywhere from $6-$10 and lasts at least 6-8 months with tinting every one to two weeks.
The color and developer comes in two separate tubes which ensures endless uses.
The color range! (P.S. light-medium brown is a good starting shade for a naturally dark brow)
How to use:  Mix a small amount (dime size or less) of equal parts developer and color.  You can use a stiff brow brush or spooly to apply the color.  Leave it on your brow for 2-3 minutes and wash off.  To achieve a darker effect, leave on 2 minutes longer.
Words of warning:  If you leave this on too long, it will dye your skin.  To prevent this from happening outside the brow, use a cotton swab to apply vaseline around the perimeter of your brow.   Also, the color will attach to any dry skin. Exfoliating the area afterwards makes a huge difference.  I usually just take a little bit of face wash and a buffing pad to lightly go over the area.

And lastly, take Biotin!  It has helped so much with my hair regrowth and my do just looks and feels healthier :)  Please consult with your doctor before starting any supplements.

Stay tuned for a "How to fill in your Brows" Post :)

About Me

Hello sweethearts!

My name is Tara and I love all things to do with makeup and beauty.  I'm twenty something and I live in California.  My love for makeup really blossomed when I started working for a day spa during my college years.  I loved how someone could walk in feeling like they had the worst day and leaving looking/feeling like they could conquer the world (um... because we totally can)!

I especially enjoyed working with chemotherapy patients that came in.  I once had a very close loved one who went through years of treatment for breast cancer.  Being by her side through her treatments was a great and tragic experience.  But boy, was she the most amazing woman!  She would go to chemo in high heels and I would stare at her in disbelief.  She would always say, "Just because I don't feel well, it doesn't mean that I have to look that way!"  I admired her for her strength and grace.  I encourage all women to do/act/feel whatever way they want and ultimately do what makes YOU comfortable; no makeup, some makeup, p.j.'s, or Prada heels.  High heels made her feel like super woman, and it's little things like that that keeps us going.

A few years later, I became ill.  It took years to diagnose but I was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.  Sucks. I know.  Through treatment and trials, it has taught me so much about myself and others.  I have really had to adjust to a new life but I will not let my illness define who I am.  Being ill has come with it's own challenges mentally and physically.  Mentally, I feel that I am more emotionally aware and maybe have gained some anxiety.  Physically I lost and continually lose a lot of hair (including my eyebrows, boo!), weight gain/loss (steroids), skin problems (infusion treatments), etc.

Ultimately I find that to make myself feel better, I try to look better.  It just makes me feel comfortable.  I may not wear high heels, but dangit, those false eyelashes aren't going to wear themselves! :) Through trial and error I have changed my makeup products to adjust to my new skin and new needs.  I wanted to create this blog so that I can share what I know with others and help out some new friends :)  I would love if we can become a community that helps each other.  Stick around if you want some fun tips and tricks and always feel free ask me questions! You can always email me at 50mgofpretty@gmail.com :)