Eyebrows are the unsung heroes of our face—they’re not usually the first thing we think about when it comes to makeup (mascara and lipstick, anyone?)…but perhaps they should be.
Lavishing care on our brows offers disproportionate returns. Eyebrows frame our features, express emotions, and can dramatically impact our entire appearance.
That’s why great makeup is such a game changer for women struggling with thinning brows for medical reasons, as well as for mature queens.
In this article we will cover all aspects of brow care and glam for ladies in their golden years.
Eyebrows are the “official” start to our face. That’s where things get interesting. Compare it to the opening page of a novel. That’s how important they are!
As we age, however, thinning eyebrows become a common struggle, impacting self-worth and confidence. The loss of brow fullness often leads to a loss of facial appeal and symmetry, -- the dreaded “flat” features -- making this an emotional issue for mature queens.
Yes, we want to own the wisdom we have earned. But we do not want to lose ourselves in the process. And brow loss can, in a way, feel like a loss of identity.
Studies indicate that eyebrows are crucial for facial recognition. A well-known experiment conducted by scientists at MIT found that people had more trouble recognizing faces without eyebrows than faces without eyes. So much for the eyes being the mirrors of the soul…!
Did you know that in many countries it is actually illegal to shave off your eyebrows? Why? Because it alters your appearance beyond recognition.
And if you ask celebs Brooke Shields or Cara Delevingne -- they’ll likely tell you that they’ve insured their brows against eventualities and that the humble brow can also change fortunes -- beyond recognition.
You may not want to conquer the ramp or the silver screen with your winged beauties… But you can definitely make brows an ally as you navigate self-affirming make-up routines for a rejuvenated, youthful you.
Many brow pencils and pomades available today come with their own set of challenges.
The infamous "sharpie effect," where brows look overly drawn and almost villainous, is a common problem.
This is often a result of two things -- the pencil is too waxy and requires a lot of pressure for the pigment to show. It is difficult to temper the intensity of the look when this happens.
In some cases, the shade itself is too deep and harsh. Formulas can be a disaster when pigments don’t get undertones right and sell paint in the name of make-up.
Women over 50 tend to not have patience for trial and error. Challenges like arthritis and hand tremors add to the inconvenience.
Another issue is that some products do more harm than good for your brows—using harsh ingredients or a heavy base -- both of which smother and damage already sensitive mature brow follicles.
Today's brow trends favor a natural, fluffy look that appears effortless and upbeat. The "laminated" effect, which gives the illusion of fuller, lifted brows, is especially popular.
However, it’s important for mature women to adapt these trends to suit their unique features, avoiding overly dramatic styles in favor of more subtle ones.
You shouldn’t be uncomfortable with any changes you make.
And you certainly don’t want to be a pair of brows with a winsome personality.
PRO TIP: The happy middle lies in enhancing your face and bringing attention to your features, not enhancing your eyebrows to the point where they become the focus of your face.
Your brows have a natural shape…but there’s nothing wrong with upgrading it.This can help lift your eyes (which can be especially important if you have drooping eyelids…and most of us do!) and add a chiseled appeal to the rest of your features.
Here are some ideas for shaping your brows.
Here are some ideas for shaping your brows.
Soft Arched Brows: A gentle arch can open up the eyes. (No more droopy, exhausted peepers) Your brows tend to show where and how to add the arch—you can then increase it a bit if needed.
Straight Brows: Ideal for those with a more rectangular face shape, straight brows balance and soften your features. (Note that you can still add the tiniest of a curve if straight looks a bit…well, too straight!)
Slightly Rounded Brows: Perfect for adding softness and a youthful look to any face shape.
Remember that you want to stay fairly close to your natural shape.
Get to the Root of It:
Boost brow growth with nutrients that can help them get healthier. It’s a great investment because in time you’ll have more brows to work with.
Post 50 - the goal should always be to improve the quality of what you have, while clearing the deck of problems to support more/better growth, later down the line.
It all starts with diet. Try to eat a diet rich in vitamins like B complex, D, and E, which are essential for hair growth. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and seeds (or taking an omega-3 supplement), can also help hair stay healthy and dense.
What’s more, protein is the building block for hair, so be sure to include protein in your diet.
Lastly, use a brow serum. A well-researched product is one that contains humectants to keep the brow shaft moisturized.
And multi-peptides (building blocks of skin and hair) for abundant growth from existing brow follicles.
Everyday Brow Grooming:
Grooming your brows will help keep them in line (no pun intended!)...
Trimming: Use a small brow scissors to carefully trim the longer hairs that may look unruly for a neater appearance.
Tweezing: Yes it’s uncomfortable, but tweezing out stray hairs to define the brow shape better. Focus on cleaning up the area under the arch and between the brows to tighten facial structure.
Hate tweezing? Pay a professional for threading or waxing.
Color Them Right:
The shade you use to supplement the fullness or definition of your brows can make or break your entire look.
These are secrets known only to professional make-up artists. And now -- you.
If you have really dark hair, use a brow product that’s two shades lighter. You do not want to be all brows.
If you have very blonde hair, opt for brow products that are atleast two shades darker. Without the pigment, your features will appear flat.
Silver hair ---? Choose a product with ashy or silver undertones for the most natural finish.
When in doubt go taupe.
Eye brow pencils
Eye brow powder
Eye brow mousse
The ultimate in definition. Pencils when used well help mimic real brow hair.
It gives the impression of full brows by adhering to existing brow hair, and by covering patchiness or bald spots. Powders are finely-milled and can reach the skin for a believable finish.
Brow mousse has a unique texture. It is a cross between a brow gel (not as runny) and a pomade (not as thick) - it lends the ability to add fullness, with the power to sculpt recalcitrant brows.
Can often be waxy. And require pressure to deposit pigment. As a result, you can be heavy-handed here.
It is simple to swipe on. But again -- easy to go overboard with. May stain.
The right formula offers an almost “magnetic” alignment effect where the spoolie guides bent or oddly shaped individual brow hairs to line up with the bulk of the brow body.
Water and sweat resistant brow pencils last the day.
Relatively short wear. Tends to disappear from the face.
This sits between pencils and powders in terms of its ability to elude the need for touch-ups.
Most versatile. Brow pencils made for silver queens use the right shade of pigment and deposit the right volume of it to: 1) mimic brow hair
2) Add precise thickness (to certain areas as opposed to the entire brow)
3) lengthen brows - as needed
4) cover up patchiness and bald spots.
The least versatile. Powders are good for vibrance and an overall improvement in brow thickness. But they can’t bring definition to brows that need it. For example, powders can’t and won’t enhance your arch.
Sits somewhere in the middle. Colors. Fills in bald spots. Offers improvement in brow thickness and fluffiness. Some definition too, as a result of basic re-sculpting. Can’t mimic real hair.
Eye brow pencils
The ultimate in definition. Pencils when used well help mimic real brow hair.
Can often be waxy. And require pressure to deposit pigment. As a result, you can be heavy-handed here.
Water and sweat resistant brow pencils last the day.
Most versatile. Brow pencils made for silver queens use the right shade of pigment and deposit the right volume of it to: 1) mimic brow hair
2) Add precise thickness (to certain areas as opposed to the entire brow)
3) lengthen brows - as needed
4) cover up patchiness and bald spots.
Eye brow powder
It gives the impression of full brows by adhering to existing brow hair, and by covering patchiness or bald spots. Powders are finely-milled and can reach the skin for a believable finish.
It is simple to swipe on. But again -- easy to go overboard with. May stain.
Relatively short wear. Tends to disappear from the face.
The least versatile. Powders are good for vibrance and an overall improvement in brow thickness. But they can’t bring definition to brows that need it. For example, powders can’t and won’t enhance your arch.
Eye brow mousse
Brow mousse has a unique texture. It is a cross between a brow gel (not as runny) and a pomade (not as thick) - it lends the ability to add fullness, with the power to sculpt recalcitrant brows.
The right formula offers an almost “magnetic” alignment effect where the spoolie guides bent or oddly shaped individual brow hairs to line up with the bulk of the brow body.
This sits between pencils and powders in terms of its ability to elude the need for touch-ups.
Sits somewhere in the middle. Colors. Fills in bald spots. Offers improvement in brow thickness and fluffiness. Some definition too, as a result of basic re-sculpting. Can’t mimic real hair.
It comes down to personal preference.
But nothing beats a good brow pencil that’s made - from the ground up - to flatter women over 50.
We don’t want to leave you with a bunch of rules.
Just remember -- brows need both make-up and haircare. Plan accordingly. And invest in products that get the challenges (color, texture, formula) of women over 50.
It is too much work to adapt a solution geared to enhance 20-year old brows (that can and do look good with a thick, over-the-top feel) to the graceful, often pigment starved eyebrows of mature queens.
Let the products do the work.