This post is the second of a 2-part over 50 eyebrow tutorial. Part 1 focused on eyebrow-shaping techniques and can be read here. This post discusses (choosing) eyebrow colors, eyebrow looks and eyebrow products. Also included is an eyebrow color chart appearing below and downloadable from The Beauty Maestra Free Resource Library. 4 easy over 50 brow looks are broken down by product.
Eyebrow Colors and Eyebrow Products
The most significant beauty memories from many of my life’s decades are punctuated by the rituals I built around my eyebrows. This lifetime of recollections is like a photo album in my brain and underscores what has been their transformative importance in my beauty routine. I realized this clearly and ultimately only when I reached an over-50 age.
In retrospect, it is hard to believe that my relationship with brows began so nonchalantly. In college, they were merely a grooming nuisance necessity. And one I didn’t always take too seriously. Over time, however, my attitude towards these odd hairy patches grew more committed and intimate.
I can’t pinpoint exactly when or how my perspective changed. Perhaps it was some kind of beauty zeitgeist that moved me (and if so, I am eternally grateful). Regardless, sometime in my 30s or 40s, my eyebrows began to look a bit unkempt and dare I say naked. It was at that point my eyebrow interests pivoted from simple plucking to “dressing” to enhance.
As I pass the 60-year mark with multiple years of eyebrow dressing under my belt, I know the kind of power eyebrows wield. Faces respond dramatically to changes in eyebrow shape, color and texture. They can effectively accent an otherwise bland background made more bland by the diminishment of color. Thank you aging.
In this post, I focus on eyebrow color and eyebrow products along with a smidge of texture to create 4 easy and simple eyebrow “recipes” or looks that you can easily duplicate or modify. I have kept it simple because I believe that less is more and simple is powerful-particularly over 50 and even more so over 60.
Let’s start with Eyebrow Colors.
Eyebrow Colors
The “best” eyebrow color is typically based on hair color as well as the warmth or coolness of one’s skin tone. This means that if your hair color changes, it is prudent to re-check eyebrow color to ensure they still complement one another.
I have created the chart below to help serve as a guide for eyebrow color selection. There is also a PDF of the chart available in the Resource Library should you want to download it.
Choosing Eyebrow Colors – Additional Commentary
- With dark hair, think about a color that is 1-2 shades lighter than your hair. Too dark of a brow product shade (i.e., one that matches your hair color) can result in eyebrows that look severe, harsh, too heavy, or even too large on the face.
- Conversely, with lighter hair, consider brows 1-2 shades darker. Brows need to be seen (but not heard so to speak).
- Be mindful of the warmth or coolness of your hair color tone because it will affect skin tone and inevitably brow color choice. Brown, for instance, can be a soft warm brown or cool ash color. If you don’t know where you fall on the warm/cool color spectrum, ask your hair colorist or look on the hair color box.
- When in doubt, taupe is oftentimes a universally neutral color and can be a great choice. I recommend a product below that has a great taupe color.
- Eyebrow color choice for gray hair runs a wide swath as does gray hair color. Choosing depends not only on hair color but also on the look one is trying to achieve. A case in point is the model’s eyebrow color in the feature image of this post. Her brows are more than 1-2 shades darker than her hair and they look great.
Eyebrow Products
There are many different eyebrow products and product types. In the past 20 years, we have moved well past just a simple brow product that mimics a #2 pencil.
For this post, I am focusing on 3 different mediums: Pencil, Gel, and Powder. I have also given mention below to a couple of brow product offshoots and eyebrow accessories to complete a couple of the suggested looks.
Eyebrow Pencil
Pencils come in various widths, colors and color saturations. A thinner pencil can more precisely draw, define and sculpt which is great for defining the shape and even recreating brow hair that isn’t there any longer.
A thicker pencil on the other hand can more quickly fill in between the lines. Depending on your eyebrow needs, consider using a combination of both thin and thick pencils.
Use a spoolie or brush to blend so there are no hard lines.
Recommendations:
I am a big Benefit Cosmetics fan. Not only do they have a good color selection, but the colors of their brow products transfer without much effort or pressure onto the skin. Many brow pencils are hard-similar to a #1 pencil back in the day- which makes them more difficult to work with. As a bonus, Benefit products are moderately priced.
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil
Click above to buy from Amazon – $23.00
Other buying options include Ulta– $25.00
The Good Proof pencil is a thicker pencil. There’s no pencil sharpener needed. Above is a photo of the travel size and the full size has a spoolie on one end of it to blend. The pencil itself is triangular. Drawing on one tip of the triangle allows for a little more precision than one would typically get from a thicker pencil.
Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil
Click above to buy from Amazon- $21.89
Other buying options include Ulta– $25.00
This is the thin version of the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil. All the same features and accolades.
It! Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil
Click above to buy from Amazon- $20.15
Other buying options include Ulta – $25.00
As mentioned in the color chart above, taupe is a universal color for most eyebrows. This pencil is thin, defines very well and has a wonderful taupe color that blends well into many eyebrow shades. The downside of the pencil is that it doesn’t last that long. It’s great while it lasts and that is why it’s on this list.
Honorable Mention:
Gucci Long Wearing Eyebrow Pencil
Click above to buy from Sephora – $33.00
This is an honorable mention because I have not personally tried this product yet but have heard great things. It is on the pricier side, but reviews indicate that the color is great and goes on a lot like a powder yet defines well without much manipulation. It is on my next-in-line-to-try list.
Eyebrow Gel
Eyebrow gel looks and acts a lot like mascara for eyebrows although the wand is much smaller. It can easily fill in brows’ sparse areas by layering on color and thickening and stiffening brow hairs. It can be used either alone on brows or layered on top of another product medium like pencil or powder.
This product colors best on brows that are fuller with fewer sparse patches.
Recommended application to fill in brows: begin by brushing against the hairs of your brow to lay down the color. Once you are done, brush the hairs back into place.
Recommendations:
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow
Click above to buy from Amazon – $20.89
Other buying options include Ulta – $14.00
Glossier Boy Brow
Click above to buy from Amazon – $23.89
Other buying options include Glossier – $17.00
I love this product perhaps more than the Benefit Gimme Brow because it thickens while softening the brow hairs. The only downside is the product tends to dry out sooner than Benefit or Dior. Despite that, it still is one of my Holy Grails.
Diorset Brow Gel
Click above to buy from Macy’s – $31.00
Other buying options include Sephora – $31.00
A solid non-clumping and long-lasting brow gel.
Eyebrow Powder
Brow Powder is the consummate easy-to-apply product that achieves a natural but pronounced look relatively effortlessly. The powder works well regardless of sparse brows or lack of experience. You can also substitute an eyeshadow (yes, really) for brow powder. The trick is not only to choose the right color but also to apply it with the right brush. Eyebrow powder brushes should be small and relatively stiff to accurately deposit the color. It makes a huge difference.
Recommendations:
Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Shape & Fill Duo
Click above to buy from Sephora – $24.00
Anastasia Ombre Effect Long Wearing Brow Powder Duo
Click above to buy from Amazon – $23.00
Other buying options include Ulta – $23.00
Benefit Cosmetics Foolproof Brow Powder
Click above to buy from Amazon – $47.00
Other buying options include Benefit Brow Styler Eyebrow Pencil and Powder Duo at Ulta – $34.00
Eyebrow Accessories and Additions
Eyebrow Brush
Recommendation:
Japonesque Angled Brow Definer Brush
Click above to buy from Amazon – $13.00
This is a fantastic brush that applies brow powder with precision.
Eyebrow Texturizers
Recommendations:
E.L.F. Cosmetics Brow Lift
Click above to buy from Amazon – $6.00
Other buying options include Ulta – $6.00
This is a relatively new and surprising find for me. It is an insanely inexpensive wax that you brush on your brows to keep them straight, in place and even fluffy. Incredible!!
Too Faced Brow Wig Brush on Brow Gel
Click above to buy from Amazon – $20.00
Other buying options include Ulta – $25.00
This may look like a brow gel but it’s different. Brow Wig extends the lengths of your brows and fills in gaps with delicate fibers. Wonderful to create a fluffy eyebrow or a more textured look with brows.
Eyebrow Looks
I have compiled a few different eyebrow looks with some different products as marked to offer an idea of color, texture and product type.
Bare Brows-No Eyebrow Makeup
While I have a fair amount of hair on my brows and I prefer and can keep them on the thicker side, the natural brow color is a cool flat black. In contrast, my hair color is dyed a warmer brown with undertones of gold and auburn and some lighter highlights. The 2 colors clash and do nothing to bring life to my face.
1. Eyebrow Powder Only
I used an eyebrow powder that has a warmer undertone to align with my hair undertone. In the photo above, one eyebrow has powder and the other does not. The color makes a big difference to the face.
2. Eyebrow Pencil and Brow Lift
The pencil color in this photo has a similar warm brown shade to the Eyebrow Powder in Photo #1. In addition to the pencil, added is the ELF Brow Lift to give the brows a little texture and fluff. I applied the Brow Lift after the pencil with a spoolie.
3. Eyebrow Gel Only
Eyebrow gel alone is a little lighter and more natural looking than pencil or powder.
4. Eyebrow Gel with Brow Lift with Fiber Wig (and lipstick)
I have added additional texture to the Brow Gel with both the ELF Brow Lift and the Too Faced Fiber Wig. The Fiber Wig was placed last. Of course, the lipstick adds even more vibrancy and color to the face. I have no other makeup on my face.
Summary
This post discussed eyebrow colors and how to choose them, 3 eyebrow product types and from there offered 4 different eyebrow product looks. I hope you were inspired and/or learned something new.
If you haven’t been able to tell, this topic is near and dear to my heart. As such, I anticipate with some certainty that my beauty relationship and love affair with eyebrows will continue on to evolve and grow. I’m thinking well past this decade and beyond.
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Thank you for reading!
xO
Andrea
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