Introducing the High-Shine Brow of Your Future—And the Products You Need to Get It

 

It’s no secret that minimalist makeup is having a fashion moment—and with few pops of color to distract from the face this fall, a major brow has never been more key. Fortunately, an unexpected trick that’s taken hold around the Vogue offices is making it easier than ever to achieve standout statement arches.

It all started when a little bottle of Bbrowbar Nourishing Brow Oil turned up one afternoon in the beauty department, which—in addition to promising to stimulate growth and condition each little hair—imparted the prettiest, healthiest hint of shine to our arches.

An emergency phone call to New York City makeup artist James Boehmer for verification immediately followed suit. “[Shine] helps to bounce light away, which adds a subtle lift and more open look to the eye,” he confirmed of the trick, which he used backstage at Tome to flatter models’ raw yet refined faces during the recent Fall runway collections.

While Boehmer dabs everything from Lucas’s Papaw Ointment to Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream to lip gloss on models’ arches for shoots and shows, he recommends that beginners use a clear brow gel that doesn’t dry matte. (His pick: NARS Brow Gel in Oural.)

And there are other, more practical reasons to consider a clear topcoat. For those using pencils and powders to bulk up brows first, a final layer of gloss or wax on top creates a more believable look. “In general, [it appears] more natural than very matte brows,” says Boehmer, although he suggests only combing shine through the fuller parts of the brow (since a glossy shine acts like a spotlight on any bare patches or scrawny ends).

Offering the two-in-one impact of multitasking, Smashbox’s Brow Tech Gloss Stick takes care of defining and delivering the desired satiny finish in one quick step, while DiorShow Brow Styler Gel imparts a gleam of lustrous color (and note to blondes, comes in the perfect shade of ash). A colorless wax, like the one available in Tom Ford Beauty’s new all-in-one kits, on the other hand, sets hairs firmly in place. As with most things, restraint is required. Just remember: A little shine goes a long way.

 

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