Why you need brow mascara and how to use one
I was talking to a Brazilian makeup artist a couple of weeks ago and he said, "In the 90s, eyebrows were so simple!" Back then they only used a pencil or a dark eyeshadow on the brows and called it a day. Now there are whole brands dedicated to just eyebrow makeup, and the category has expanded to many different formulas from gels to liquid to cream. We're so OC about eyebrows at present! That's not a bad thing but (and let me be real for a sec) I think we tend to overdo them.
We put way too much product on our brows, layering different formulas to achieve something that could very well be a hairy caterpillar. Or something straight out of the drawing boards of a cartoon studio. Or bluntly, something that's been drawn on with the help of a ruler. So let me reiterate: always use a light hand when applying cosmetics (for personal use at least). This is a useful tip if you just want to look pretty and presentable.*
It's also useful to know which formula works best for the eyebrows you have. Today, let's discuss brow mascaras! When do you need them? How do you actually use them? Here's my advice!
Use brow mascaras when:
You have fine eyebrow hair and you want to thicken it. As with lash mascaras, brow mascaras add volume to the hair they're coating. You can totes skip BMs if you have lush brows! If you don't, they're indispensable to getting healthier, glossier-looking brows.
You have unruly eyebrow hair that sticks every which way. BMs tame your hair, holding them in the direction you want them to stay at.
Brow mascaras to try: K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow Mascara (available in Beauty Bar), Heavy Rotation Coloring Eyebrow (available in Watsons), Dolly Wink Brow Mascara (available in Watsons), Etude House Color My Brows, Majolica Majorca Brow Colorist (available in SM).
You want to create a more customised color for your brows. If you've had your hair dyed, or if you can't find a product that's the exact shade of your natural hair, brow mascaras leave more room for mixing. For example I tend to use a dark pencil first, then add a reddish brow mascara to set everything. This matches my current dark brown hair with warm copper highlights.
Basically, you can combine a pencil + mascara, pen + mascara, or mascara + mascara whichever works best for you!
How to apply brow mascara
1. Remove the excess from the wand before you touch it to your eyebrows, then press down with a bit of pressure onto your skin to tint your brows evenly. Don't go beyond the natural shape of your brows - it will look obvious and unnatural.
2. As you go along, follow the direction of your hair - if it's pointing upward, brush upward; if sidewards, brush sidewards. You get the drift. Some brow mascaras look patchy when worn simply because people don't brush them onto the skin hard enough.
3. If you want thicker brows brush your hair back in the opposite direction to get max volume. This trick will cover more surface area! I learned it from a MAC makeup artist. Wait for the product to set and you're done!
So there you go! Hope this helps. Please let me know if you've got any questions! ^_^
*When it comes to studio and event makeup, it's useful to layer several products to get defined features on cam. Also, if you just enjoy wearing a lot of makeup and are pleased with the results, then by all means! Have fun with it.
