“Going high” with our blush may be one of the best makeup tips we’ve been given—celebrity makeup artist Julie Hewett says applying blush above the cheekbones and into the hairline gives the appearance of an instant “facelift”—but turns out, the anti-aging makeup magic doesn’t just stop at our cheeks.
Anastasia Soare, founder and chief executive officer of Anastasia Beverly Hills, says our brows actually have the power to change our entire look—for better and, unfortunately, for worse.
“One of the most widespread problems I encounter is that women may still not know what the ideal brow shape is for their face. In art school, I learned that eyebrows have the power to change the entire expression, and this extends beyond portraits to true life.”
Some of the most common brow mistakes, according to Soare? “When brows are too rounded or too high and straight, a person might look permanently surprised,” she says. “If they tilt up at the tail, a person looks angry.” Conversely, if the tail dips too far down, you’ll look sad.
However, Soare says that the number-one brow mistake that adds years to our appearance is making brows too thin or too long. The solution: Finding a shape perfectly tailored to your unique bone structure.
Referring to the ABH Golden Ratio Shaping Technique, Soare explains there are three must-take measurements when it comes to finding your perfect brow shape. “Your brows should begin directly above the middle of your nostrils; they should end where the corner of the nostril connects with the outer corner of the eye; and the highest point of the arch should connect the middle of the tip of the nose with the middle of the iris.”
After these three points are marked, Soare instructs us to fill accordingly. For a natural-looking result, she suggests using two different shades of powder to create dimension. “Apply the darker shade from the arch to the tail, working in the direction of the hair’s natural growth,” says Soare. The lighter shade should be applied to the front half of the brow, working towards the arch. For areas of sparseness, Soare suggests using a detailed brow product, such as her new Brow Pen ($22), to create individual hair-like detail throughout the brow.
