BEAUTY

Cheat’s guide: how to fake great brows

Find your best brow enhancer

Fact: you can atone for the sins of pluckings past, no matter how sparse your current brow situation. We spoke to Benefit Australia’s national brow artist Hannah Terrett for the lowdown on how to fake better brows, whatever your colouring, hair type and style.

Tools of the trade

Felt tip: The precision point makes thin or thick application simple, says Hannah Terrett, Benefit Australia’s national brow artist, who advises “stamping out the line before connecting the dots for a controlled, flawless finish”. Try Bourjois Brow Natural Eyebrow Felt-Tip Pen, $22.

Cream/mousse/pomade: Use on brows that are flat and need a lift. Try NARS Brow Defining Cream, $35.

Powder: Ideal for dark or coarse hair as it gives a soft, fluffier finish. Try shu uemura Brow Palette, $48.

Gel: Great for oily skins and skimpy, patchy or scarred brows, as “the gel adheres to skin, offering staying power through the day,” says Terrett. Try Benefit Ka-Brow!, $42.

Pencil: Best for uneven, shapeless or undefined brows. Try Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, $38

Top tip: “If you’re worried about too-dark inner corners, use powder on the front portion for a soft finish, and your regular formula on the arch and tail,” suggests Terrett.

Then set, style and tame your brow with a flake-free gel like Estée Lauder Brow Now Stay-In-Place Brow Gel, $40.

Look at hue

Brunettes: “Golden browns work on warm brunettes; cool brunettes can add a deeper tone with a chocolate base,” advises Terrett.

Redheads: “Warm reds suit strawberry blondes, while cool reds look great on auburn reds,” says Benefit’s Hannah Terrett.

Blondes: “An ash undertone flatters cooler blondes,” explains Terrett. “A caramel base gives warmer blondes some vibrancy.”

Dark skin: Avoid ashy shades, which are ageing, and go for something 1–2 tones deeper than your natural hair colour,” she says.

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