Our All-Time Favourite Eyebrow Products That Are So Cheap, They’re Practically Free

Mon, 25 June 2012 9:58AM

Some women, like my adorable Mum, never leave the house without a slick of lippie. For others, it’s a coat or two of mascara. For me, I refuse to step foot out the door before tending to my brows.

I’ve wanted Brooke-Shields’ brows before Brooke Shields knew she had great brows and as a result of such, I feel as though I’ve spent the best part of my teens and twenties going from brow specialist to brow expert in a bid to get the thickest, fullest brows in all the land. For the record, the only woman I trust with my golden arches is the lovely Lien Davies at Brows & Makeup, but if you’re not a Sydney-sider, don’t stress! The Benefit brow bars are also suitably wonderful.

So, the reason I decided to wrangle this post up this morning is because I’m forever being asked by friends and my mother in particular about inexpensive brow products. So let’s consider this your express encyclopaedia for brow wow on a budget.

Say hi to Cara Delevingne, my 2012 brow idol.

1. Got fine, sparse brows? Powder is your go-to-girl. I’m captain of fine-brows so I find powders work like a dream at helping to fill gaps by bulking up baby-fine hairs. If you’re not quite ready to splurge on a $4o-something brow-specific powder which I totally understand, you can try using your regular mocha or coffee-toned eye shadow (you want it pressed, not loose) and apply it using a super fine, angled brush. At the moment, I’m using the Rae Morris Angle Brow And Mascara Definer Brush, $13.80, raemorris.com, but for an even cheaper alternative, it’s worth paying a visit to your local art-supply store where you can pick up near-identical paint brushes starting from around $3 a pop. True story.

2. Got unruly brows? It’s time to make friends with pencils and gels. If your brows tend to have a mind of their own, you need products that will hold them down. The fullness of thick brows means there’s ample colour so it’s more about creating super fine strokes in a bid to groom the brow in an upwards and outwards direction. Rather than using a straight up pencil, I find wax-like pencils are a tad more gutsy in the taming department. Then, once you’re satisfied with the amount of definition, all you need to do is comb a clear brow gel through the hairs which will set the shape, without depositing excess colour. Right now, I’m head over heels in love with Maybelline New York’s Master Shape which will set you back around, $11.50, from pharmacies and supermarkets. Not only is it crazy waxy so it leaves the brows looking almost silky but I’m hooked on the pint-sized comb at the opposite end which is perfect for combing out excess product and shaping even the finest of brows.

Other handy brow hints to consider…

• Always start filling the brows at the ends first as that’s the area that usually requires the most amount of attention. Then, if you’re using a brush and powder combo, just use whatever excess is left of the brush to fill the arch and the front of the brow.
• Mix and match. If you’ve got super fine brows, using two different shades of pencil will help to create the most natural-looking definition. Stick with one pencil in a shade lighter than your natural colour combined with another one that’s one shade deeper for contrast.

Have you got  a winning eye brow tip we need to know about?

What’s your ultimate brow product?

Are you a powder or pencil fan?

Posted by: Eliza Ashe

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Tags: bold brows, brow pencil, brow powder, brow set, brows, featured, strong brows