Moon Face

Eyebrow shapes seem to change as often as I change my lipstick (it’s rare that I would wear the same one every day) and what is in fashion at the moment is the full brow (think Cara, Keira or Kate) and now, one that is straight (without the arch) or so my Sunday newspapers quoted recently...unless this has changed again?

However, I’ve never been a ‘trendy-Wendy’ - I just want a well-groomed brow and mine have been arched for decades and I certainly don’t want to be plucking and changing their shape at this time of my life.  You can always add to them with product to re-shape instead pluck and – horror of horrors – for them not to grow back.  If someone was to ask me if I had a daughter, what advice (can be anything) would I give her, my answer would be “don’t touch them brows.  Ever!”  Best to get the strays tidied up professionally and then maintain the shape yourself.

I have a round face, my facial measurements are as long as they are wide.  The reason I know this is yes, I did measure my face (ahem) but I was on an image consultancy course at the time.   Therefore, an arch in my brows will make my face look a tad longer.  Phew, I was on the right eyebrow track then.

With regards to what I use on my brows, I prefer to use powder rather than a pencil, which tends to slide off me if I get too hot.  Powders are great as they give density and you can build up the colour with ease (remember with make-up application ‘less is more’.  You can always add to).  

I use Sleek’s eyeshadow palette in Au Naturel 601 (€10.49 from Boots) with my Model’s Own Angled Brush (which I love – it’s stiffer than most angled brushes I’ve used.  Another taut brush I’m keen on is Makeup Revolution's Angled Brush).  The colour of my brows are quite fair even compared to my natural hair colour, which is dark brown.  My hair shade at the moment is black so I fill my brows in with one of the browns in this Sleek palette.  Seeing as I shortened my brows back in the 90’s (I think I did this by mistake), I extend them out a bit.  

But I am bereft if I forget to fill in my brows of a morning as it alters my face so much.  I look like the moon without my eyebrows on.  Another example of this I can share; on a recent make-up course I attended, the tutor suggested that the students putting make-up on me, fill in my brows before they start on my eyes so they can see what they’re dealing with! 

I once tweeted the gorgeously talented Lisa Eldridge, as I had forgotten to fill in my brows (I didn’t realise until I got to work) and she very generously tweeted me back with some helpful, amusing advice.  

Other products for brows are pencils (great corrective), waxes (waterproof and carry a slight sheen – which can be a tad unnatural), felt-tip brow pens (good for literally drawing on hairs if you’ve got a shape but have gaps) and gels (good for keeping unruly hairs in check and give a bit of a shine).