The secret to great brows according to Irish people with excellent eyebrows
By Holly O'Neill
28th Jul 2023
28th Jul 2023
Take it from the pros.
Do you ever see someone with really great brows and wonder, how?
Being nosy about other people’s beauty routines is a particular passion of mine, especially when it comes to eyebrows. I personally like my eyebrows to look like they’ve been on a bender with Mick Jagger. I like them ruffled, choppy and flustered, and I brush them upwards, downwards and sideways; any way, basically, other than the way they naturally grow. All my eyebrows woes were healed the day I found MAC Eyebrows Big Boost Fibre Gel, €24. It comes with little fibres in it that help you cheat your way to a bigger brow, gives fully pigmented brows in one swipe, stays perfect for 12 hours and can do everything from a polished brow to a bender brow. If you want the brow lamination look, you also can’t go wrong with REFY Brow Sculpt, €18.
Even though I have my dream brow products, I still see people with great eyebrows and wonder, how? So I did the frontline reporting for you and asked the people I know with really great eyebrows how they do it.
These are the best eyebrow products, according to people we trust because of their truly excellent brows.
Ruth Walsh
Benefit 24 Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel Mini, €27.60
My Dad will be flattered as they are all his brows – Spanish blood! My foolproof favourite brow product is the Benefit 24 Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel. It is industrial strength and has a really firm applicator which is key for me. I used to fill my brows in but I think there is nothing better than a strong, clear gel that helps the hairs stand up, but not too much. It’s an easy peasy way to open up your eyes and give you that fresh-faced look. Sometimes I’ll do a slick of the brow gel on my lashes and then curl them and they stay put all day long.
Amber Jean Rowan
Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake, €10.50
Eyebrows have always been important to me. Before my eyebrows fell out, they were my defining feature. I feel naked when I haven’t drawn my eyebrows on. No hairpiece on – I’m totally fine with it! No eyelashes on – I prefer it. But no eyebrows? That’s a no-go! The only time I’m down for the ‘no eyebrows look’ is when I’m on a super high-end editorial shoot and they want the whole bleached brow vibe. My go-to products are Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake and Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil, €34.95. Having my eyebrows on makes me feel myself and gives my face structure.
Watch Amber applying her brows over on IMAGE’s IGTV here.
Mark Rogers
Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil, €15.50
Personally, I feel naked without two things, tan and brows! Over the years I have worked on the perfect formula to max out on what little brows I have left from my 90s over-tweezing and Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil is my go-to everyday pencil. As I have so little hair, I need this to fill in any gaps or weak points in my brow and this pencil makes it look like it’s my brow, but better. The pencil is super-fine so when I apply little hair-like strokes into the brow, it adds definition without it looking ‘drawn on’. Then I add my secret ingredient, Benefit’s Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel, €29.50. It’s a volumising fibre gel that adds colour, volume and shape. I like to think of my brow hair like I do the hair on my head; it needs texture. Using a pencil by itself is going to look flat and one-dimensional but with a fibre-gel over, we are back to 3D brows to take on the world. They are my everyday staples but if I am looking to go full Kardashian, I will add a little Soap Brows, €12.45, to amp up that fluffy full brow energy. It’s that simple.
Irena Drézi
Carter Beauty Cosmetics Window Dressing Brow Kit in Medium/Dark, €9.95
I’ve tried a lot of products on my brows. My brows are extremely thick and coarse so it’s very hard to keep them in place. The best hack I have for my type of brows is to get a spoolie or a clean mascara wand, spray it with some got2be Glued Gel, €5.49 or hairspray and brush hairs into place. They don’t move all day once I use this. I don’t really fill mine in too much because I don’t like my brows to look too opaque, but for any weird gaps, I do love Carter Beauty’s Brow Kit in Medium/Dark.
Read about all of Irena’s 15 favourite beauty products here.
Sue Brophy
L’Oréal Paris Brow Artist Plumper, €10.99
Depending on what your gene pool has blessed you with, I love a fuller brow. I think it creates a really youthful appearance to every face no matter the age. The rules I usually stick to are using less product at the start of the brow and to go a shade or two lighter than your brow hair, unless your hair is really light – then stick to a blonde shade. A lighter brow really gives a soft, chicer look when you need to fill in your brows. L’Oréal Paris Brow Artist Plumper is amazing for fine brows – it catches every tiny hair and the microfibres bulk up each strand, giving the illusion of a mega-thick brow. I also adore Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows, €29; the tiny wand on this is suitable for every type of brow hair and the shade range is lovely and neutral, suiting everyone.
Photography by @amberjeanrowan. We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
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