New Post on Pyxis & Spatula: Ancient Eyebrow Evolution

I finally managed to write another post on my ancient beauty blog, this time on eyebrow trends in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. They went through periods of more or less grooming and of bolder and subtler brows just like we do today. The post is mostly details of works of art, so you can see which ancient brow style would have suited you best!

Guess who?

I need eyebrow help!

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Avon has gone and betrayed me by discontinuing my favorite eyebrow pencil. It was the perfect not-too-soft, not-too-warm blonde pencil. Swatches and reviews here, here, and here. I only have half a pencil left, so I know that means only a couple more months of bliss. Then I'm going to have to find something new. (There are a few of them still available on Amazon, but because the seller used my photo for the listing without my permission, I don't want to buy from them.)

I am conducting on my own search, but just in case: does anyone have suggestions for neutral-to-cool taupe eyebrow pencils that are easy to use? Most of the blonde options I've tested have been on the warm side. I'd prefer something not too expensive, since I go through them pretty quickly. And I'm too lazy to fuss with formats other than pencils, for the most part. I'd appreciate any help I can get!

CoverGirl Brow and Eye Makers Brow Shaper and Eyeliner Swatches and Review (for blondes and redheads)

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First things first: These are not fucking eyeliners. Ignore the name. If you try to use these pencils as eyeliners, you will be sorely disappointed (literally, ouch). The blonde one was the first eyebrow pencil I ever owned, back when I was 15, but I bought it to use as eyeliner. It was so hard that I would hold the tip a millimeter away from the lightbulb of my desk lamp in order to soften it up. These pencils are still exactly the same as they were then, approximately 1 million years ago. So I repeat: DO NOT TRY TO USE THESE AS EYELINERS. There are so many much better, affordable eyeliners out there, that there is no reason you should be reduced to scratching your eyelid off with these things.

That said, they are pretty decent eyebrow pencils, and they are fucking cheap. For $3 (or less), you get two pencils and a sharpener. And they come in 5 color options. I recently picked up three different shades, because I couldn't find any good swatches online to help me decide which one would work best. So I also decided I should post some swatches for that reason.

Fix Your Face: My new favorite brow product, Avon Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Blonde (with photos and a mini tutorial)

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My usual favorite brow stuff is the e.l.f. one, but lately I've been feeling lazy, and since using a brow pencil is one step instead of two, I've mostly been using this Avon pencil, with regularly costs $6 (thought Avon has frequent sales).

I haven't used an eyebrow pencil in years, but I don't remember the texture of most of them being like this. It's quite dry and powdery-feeling, rather than creamy. It reminds me of a pastel pencil - kind of chalky. This is actually an ideal texture for doing my brows, because it means that it doesn't glob up in the hairs. It works a lot like a powder, but I think it goes on more evenly, because you don't have to keep adding more to your brush. It's a steady supply.

I suggest a light touch. Use short, brushy strokes. I outline the bottom edge of my eyebrow, then the top edge, and then I fill in the middle with upward strokes. If you want more details on how to fill in your brows, here's a tutorial from The Beauty Department.

That's it, usually, although if I have a little extra time, I'll also clean up the edges with some concealer, like so:

You don't need to be too precise, obviously.

Straightish lines along the top and bottom of your eyebrows. This works best if you use a liquid concealer that isn't too opaque or thick, and a brush. I've found that the NYX concealer that I otherwise wasn't too impressed with works well for this purpose. Adding this step just cleans everything up a little and makes your brows look neater. Then blend it, focusing on the edges furthest from your brows, with your finger.

Here's the before and after, with my nearly invisible natural eyebrow, and my finished and penciled in new-and-improved brow:

Before.

After.

I realize that in this photo the concealer is still slightly visible. Trust me when I say that it is not noticeable in person. You can only see it here because it is an extreme closeup taken with the macro setting on my camera. 

So that's my technique with the Avon pencil. The Blonde shade is a nice, neutral taupe that looks natural whether my hair is blonde or red or light brown. It also comes in Light Golden Brown, Dark Brown, and Soft Black. This Avon eyebrow pencil would be an ideal tool if you're just starting to play around with filling in your eyebrows. Just keep it sharpened and use a light touch. I find it easier to use than powders, gels, waxes, or pens. And it's pretty cheap.

Pluck 'Em: Set of 2 Tweezerman Tweezers for $15

Okay, that's my worst heading yet, but I had to do it.

This set of red glitter petite tweezers, slant and point tip, are on sale for $15 on the Sephora website. This type of set is usually $25, and this one comes with a leather carrying case, too. I've got them, and they aren't really much more petite than your typical drugstore tweezers. I've spent way more than this on one pair of cheap tweezers after another trying to find something that actually can grab my slippery little fine eyebrow hairs. Get 'em while they last.

Fix Your Face: Milani Brow Tint Pen

When I bought this a couple of weeks ago and tried it that night, I was super excited to review it, because it was AMAZING.


Then the next morning I used it again so that I could take photos … and it wasn’t quite so amazing anymore.

What I really liked about it the first night was how saturated and inky it was. By the next morning it seemed like it had completely dried out, and I was pissed.

It turns out it wasn’t actually dry, and I figured out that the trick to getting it to work is that you have to set it upside down for a few seconds to get the tint to flow to the tip before you use it. They say to store it horizontally to make it last. And then you have to kind of hold it bottoms up while you’re using it to keep it flowing, which can be awkward.

Anyway, having figured out how to make it work, I do still like it. What I especially like about it is that, since it’s a thin liquid, it actually darkens the hair on my eyebrows, instead of just coloring the skin behind them like most powders (and even pencils) do. I have invisible blond eyebrows, so this is great. It does add color underneath to fill in gaps too, and it’s nice and precise. Plus it lasts all day and then some. I still have eyebrows when I go to bed at night! It costs $6.

Fix Your Face: e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit

Here is my first recommendation upon returning from my research trip to Italy.


I wasn’t there to research makeup, but I definitely put this shit to the test. I have practically invisible eyebrows, so I look like I have more of a face if I draw them in. I could never get eyebrow pencil to not look weird on me, though. This stuff is really easy to use. Just sort of comb the waxy stuff through your brows, and then swipe the powder over it to set it. I used this every day during a crazy heat wave in Rome, through several hours in the sun, soaked in disgusting sweat, and I still had eyebrows when I got home at the end of the day. It’s good stuff. And only $3.

I use the light shade, and it looks great whether I have blonde or red hair. Somehow it just seems to coordinate and look natural.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but if you order stuff from the e.l.f. website, there’s almost always some crazy sale/bonus offer going on, in addition to free shipping.