Brows!

I am brow obsessed. The right shape and shade of brow highlights the bone structure,
transforming the overall look of the face. I would personally rather go without mascara in
public than without my brows, and I have been plucking them for the last 17 years. But
I wanted to try out a wax job from the pro’s at Benefit Cosmetic’s Brow Bar, feeling the
need to reevaluate my look after so many years of DIY.

To give them enough to work with I had to resist the urge to groom for a whole 2
weeks – not an easy task, as any serial plucker can attest. I knew I was in good hands with
the team downtown, as all Benefit Brow experts are not only licensed estheticians, but
have gone through Benefit’s Brow Academy, which adheres a tried and true methodology
for brow shaping:

1. Using an angled brush, create a line from the outside of the nostril to the tear duct
– where this intersects with your brow bone is where your brow should begin.
(Tip: put a little brow powder on the brush to mark the points)
2. Measure from the nostril to the outer corner of eye – where this meets the brow
bone is where your brow should stop.
3. Measure from the nostril through the pupil – this is where the highest point of the
arch belongs.
4. Connect the dots using your fave powder, wax or pencil. (Try: Benefit Brow Zing
Palette, Shu Umeura Hard 9 Pencil or MAC Eye Brows)

No matter what your face shape, this technique will create the most flattering brow.
How thick or thin the brow is, however, still varies depending on your natural hair
growth and personal style. I like a strong Marilyn-style brow, and let my pro Jeni Hall
know my preferences before we began. Now, being a makeup artist I like to think I have
an eye for these things, so I was impressed when Jeni showed me how shifting my line
ever so slightly and laying off the trimmers gave me a shape that acted as an instant eye
lift!

Jeni walked me through the process, explaining that I should expect redness after we
wax, especially as a newbie, and could possibly get some red bumps the next day. The
actual waxing process was a bit more painful than plucking, but faster, and not nearly
as bad as a bikini wax. With over 7 years of experience, Jeni was a skilled practitioner,
and gave me a brow that was definitely more symmetrical and flattering than my own
creation. She also left me with some grooming advice so they will continue to improve
over time. It’ll be hard to resist the tweezers between appointments, but at $20 it was so
worth it, that I vow to do my best, and be a little less brow obsessed.