Let's talk eyebrows.

We've all seen it...
The girl with sharpie brows.
The girl with caterpillar brows.
The girl with grossly over-plucked brows.
Let us not forget, the girl with partially shaved, partially filled in brows.

Believe it or not, I think these looks.... Well, some of these looks, work in some cases.  Caterpillar-esque, bushy brows seem to be making a startling come-back.

For a daily, easily transformed into an evening look though... It's hard to remain versatile.
This entry will show you step by step how to create a "natural" and structured brow. You can use these tricks to execute any shape you can really want. My brows (which are the ones pictured) will be a sharp arch because that is how my eyebrows grow naturally. Some of my readers will NOT find this blog helpful because they shave their brows off. (I used to do the same, and then draw them in ;) Recently, however, with my current job I must keep them "somewhat" natural....

Here we go!


These are the tools you will need.

1. Brow powder in a shade close to, or one shade darker than your hair color. I use Emani Minerals Cocoa Black duo. They have alternate color palettes for different shades. But I love these because they are 100% matte and wont smudge.

2. A sharply angled brow/liner brush. I prefer one with medium-stiff bristles. The one photographed is a vegan brush by emani.

3. A brow brush/comb. Any will do. You can also use a CLEAN mascara wand.

Step 1:
Start by outlining the bottom and inner corner of the brow. (should appear like a "check" symbol/inverted nike SWOOSH)

Step 2: Fill in outlined area using short strokes with an outward motion (towards the ear) until the brow is filled to the arch only on BOTH EYES. ***This is important for symmetry

Step 3: Following the brow BONE, with a generous amount of brow powder on the brush sweep in a fluid motion to complete the brow on both sides. Should be slightly curved and taper off at the end. Be gentle, you don't want to look like you drew them on with a felt pen....rounded ends and no taper will make you appear that way. Yuck.

(OPTIONAL)Step 4: Using your brow comb, start at innermost part of brow and soften the harsh lines to make them appear more natural...

Step 5: Apply shadows underneath the brow that will highlight the bone beneath and give you a lift. Use something that complements your eyes.


Voila! You should have lovely filled brows!

You have normal skin. I promise.

I hear a lot of women in my line of work who think they have "special" skin. What I hear most commonly is the following:

1. I can't wear most makeup or cleanse my skin regularly because my skin is too "SENSITIVE."
2. I can't wear most makeup because it "CLOGS MY PORES."
3. I don't use moisturizer because "I DON'T NEED IT."
4. I have "ACNE."

Okay. Lets go over the most common thing I hear. #1. I can't wear most makeup or cleanse my skin regularly because my skin is too SENSITIVE. Chances are, you're incorrect. What most dermatologists will label sensitive skin should display these red flags(some or all) : 

1. You get a sunburn with absolutely NO PROBLEM.
2. You have redness in areas like your cheeks and on your nose (mild Rosacea)
3. Even with gentle cleansers you notice peeling and burning when applying makeup.

Many times this can be remedied by switching to gentler products. Whether it be more/all natural or just with less fragrance.  
***You should NEVER stop washing your face everyday because you think it's too sensitive to do so. This is just asking for trouble.

The second problem I hear in my line of work is #2. I can't wear most makeup because it CLOGS MY PORES. Most makeup is made virtually non-comodogenic. Meaning they won't clog your pores. 
If you are experiencing black or white heads, make sure you are washing and toning your face twice a day. Exfoliating once or twice a week is never a bad idea either. 
My personal product recommendation for shrinking pores (making them less likely to clog) is Clinique's Pore Refining Solutions line*** 

#3.I don't use moisturizer because "I DON'T NEED IT."
You are incorrect. 
As many of you know, the human body is made mostly of water. If you drink alcohol, are ever in the sun, work out, or are generally ALIVE, your body needs moisture. 
Many women who come to me with this statement have oily or combination oily skin. What they are not aware of is that many companies cater to people with different skin types.
My personal product recommendation for this issue is ANYTHING by ***H2O+. All of their products are water based and will not make your skin oily at all. Only replenish the natural moisture and balance your skin. 
Most women will notice that the oiliness tends to go away after prolonged use of a fitting moisturizer. 

Finally, the last comment I get. This one jars my brain. #4. I have ACNE. 
There are a lot of commercials on television for acne solutions. Many display celebrities with tiny cluster breakouts on places like their chins. You see the commercial, you see the celebrity, BAM. They made 20 bucks off of someone who now thinks they have ACNE.

What many of them do not realize is that these companies use the word as a blanket statement. There are many things that can cause breakouts. Hormones, stress (generally cause breakouts on the chin, lips and jawline), and irregular skin care are just a few things that may lead you to believe you have ACNE. 



This is a regular pimple. One that you might get due to hormones or stress.

This can be easily remedied with a benzoyle peroxide spot treatment. I actually LOVE the Zit Stick By Bremenn Research labs.

This is what Acne looks like.

This goes much deeper beneath the skins surface, it can cause painful cysts and appear all over the body. It is very painful and difficult to get rid of.
If you suspect you "actually" have acne. You shouldn't go to the drugstore, you should see a dermatologist. :)

 
In conclusion, there is a lot you can do to take care of your skin without thinking you need to use every product in the world. 
A gentle cleanser, followed by a toner, and the use of a moisturizer to seal it all in should be all you need. 

***It takes the skin 4-6 WEEKS to adjust to a new skincare regime, so be patient. Good things come to those who wait.***


Here are the links to the products I reccomended in this blog.
 

Pore refining solution by Clinique

H2O+ Skincare

Bremenn Research Labs (zit stick)