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How to Apply Eyebrow Makeup: Bobbi Brown’s Eye Makeup Tips

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read

Whether your eyebrows are naturally sparse, or you’re missing a few hairs from overplucking, waxing, or threading, eyebrow makeup can help you achieve the perfect brows.

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What Is Eyebrow Makeup?

Eyebrow makeup helps bring fullness to eyebrows, drawing attention to your eyes and framing your face. A bold brow can be great on its own for a more natural look, but your brow look can also help balance out dramatic eye makeup—a smoky eye or winged liner will have more impact when anchored by a strong brow.

Essential Eyebrow Makeup Tools

There are many brow products out there to define your eyebrows.

  • Eye shadow. You can fill in your brows with an eye shadow or a brow powder that’s the same tone as your brows (and corresponds with your hair color).
  • Eyebrow pencils. Eye pencils are great for filling in your brows. If you’re using a pencil, make sure you keep the tip sharpened (if it’s a twist-up pen, find one with a fine point).
  • Eyebrow gel. Eyebrow gel comes in many different formulas, but it’s mostly meant to darken and shape your brow hairs.
  • Brow wax. Brow wax has a stronger hold and can really mold your brow hairs into the look you want. Brow pomade and clear brow gel can help shape full brows, while brow mascara both shapes and adds pigment.
  • Spoolie. If your product doesn’t come with its own eyebrow brush, make sure you have dedicated eyebrow spoolie brush or clean mascara spoolie on hand to brush out clumps of product and untangle thick brows.

How to Apply Eyebrow Makeup: Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s how to do your eyebrows, step by step, using a brow pencil, powder, and spoolie.

  1. 1. Eyebrow pencil: If your brows are thin or have gaps, you may want to start with a pencil, which will give you the most control and actually allow you to draw in eyebrow hairs where there are none. Starting with any sparse areas around your arches and moving towards the tail of your brows, use short strokes in the direction of brow growth. Fill in the inner corners with upward, outward strokes, if needed. You can use a brow stencil to help you find the shape, or follow the natural shape of your brows.
  2. 2. Eyebrow powder: To help set your work done with the brow pencil, use brow powder and an angled brush to fill in gaps by sweeping the brush in the direction of hair growth. You can also use eyebrow powder instead of using a pencil for a softer look.
  3. 3. Spoolie: Comb through your brows with a clean spoolie to remove any clumps of makeup left by the brow pencil or powder.

Bobbi Brown’s 4 Tips for Defining and Shaping Your Brows

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown shares her tips for achieving the perfect natural brow.

  1. 1. Always work from your inner brow toward the ends, lightly brushing upward and outward, following the direction of your natural hair growth.
  2. 2. Brush a spoolie through your brows to diffuse any harsh lines after filling them in with powder or pencil.
  3. 3. If your brows begin looking overly filled or too dark, brush a tiny bit of face powder through them with a spoolie to diffuse the color.
  4. 4. Your inner brow should line up with the inner corner of your eye, and the arch should be three-fourths of the way across your eye. When defining the tail end, follow the natural direction of your brow.

Want to Learn More About Makeup and Beauty?

Whether you already know a blush brush from a bronzer brush or are simply looking for tips on bringing glamour into your daily routine, navigating the beauty industry takes knowledge, skill, and practical experience. No one knows their way around a makeup bag better than Bobbi Brown, the makeup artist who built a career and a multi-million dollar brand with one simple philosophy: Be who you are. In Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass on Makeup and Beauty, learn how to do the perfect smoky eye, find the best makeup routine for the workplace, and hear Bobbi’s advice for aspiring makeup artists.

Get the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive access to video lessons taught by masters, including Bobbi Brown, RuPaul, Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, and more.