Eyebrow Beauty

Supermodel Linda Evangelista once said, "No one is born with perfect eyebrows." But thanks to a profusion of eyebrow-enhancing products, achieving brow perfection is actually quite easy. The hard part often lies within choosing the correct shade, but I'm here to help.

Generally speaking, if you're blonde go one to two shades darker than your hair color; brunettes should go one to two shades lighter; and if you're a redhead, picking the right intensity and tone is key.

If you're blessed with raven-toned locks, however, a coordinating deep black eyebrow product can not only look too severe, but can add a starkness to the complexion as well. Instead, dark-haired beauties, smoke up. Think shades of charcoal, soft black, gray, almost black, and even mahogany, deep taupe, or dark brown. Better yet? Customize your shade with a multihued palette, like Brow Powder Duo in Ebony ($22).

Have you ever had your hair dyed a new color, only to realize that your brows were in severe need of a color overhaul? I've been there many times myself. Over the past few days I've been providing tips on what eyebrow shades work well for both brunettes and blondes, so now, let's take a look at redheads. Perhaps you've just colored your hair a lovely shade of auburn or you've been a natural strawberry blonde all your life. Whatever the case, when it comes to choosing the right shade of brow pencil, if you have gingery locks, you have lots of options.

• For those with lighter red strands — Look for eyebrow products in honey, camel, ginger, or golden-red tones.
• For those with medium red hair — Try out a reddish-taupe, reddish-brown, or a burnt sienna shade.
• For those with darker red hues — Use auburn, deep reddish-brown, or dark brown colors.
• In a pinch? — Go with a universally flattering taupe, or custom blend your own shade using a palette containing multiple hues, like Lorac Take a Brow in Auburn ($22).

When it comes to makeup, nothing finishes off your look quite like some well-groomed brows. We already know that blondes should go a shade or two darker when shaping and filling in their brows, but what about brunettes? Generally speaking, brown-haired women look best using a product in a shade or two lighter than their hair color. This way, the brows won't look too heavy or unnatural, and the skin won't appear washed out by a too-intense pigment.

Depending on the lightness or darkness of your locks, look for brown shades in hues that complement the undertones in your hair, such as walnut, deep honey, sable, golden brown, chocolate, cocoa, mahogany, chestnut, ash brown, or bronzed brown. When in doubt, go for a taupe shade, which is considered the most universally flattering color. And for the subtlest-looking finish, apply your chosen brow product using short, feathery, hairlike strokes.

Do blondes have more fun? You can be the judge of that, but in the beauty department, blondes can often experience barely-there brows — and that's really no fun at all. Blondes, however, are the only bunch that actually look better with slightly darker eyebrows. To try to go lighter or completely match your brows to your hair color can result in a monochromatic look. For the most natural effect, pick a shade one to two tones darker than the hair, matching the undertones of your brow product to the warmth or coolness in your hair color. Look for: light taupe, wheat, sable, ash blond, golden blond, lightest brown, dark blond, or soft gray.

There's a whole slew of blonde-appropriate brow shapers to suit your shaping needs. But to customize your brow color even more, work with two different shades to get the perfect one for you. You may even find that a darker shade will work best for filling in sparse areas, while the lighter shade will be perfect for sweeping over the entire brow to bring it all together. Stay tuned redheads, brunettes, and darker-haired beauties. I'll have tips for you, too, over the next few days.

Grooming the brows is one of the easiest ways to bring your whole beauty look together. In fact, if I had to pick five essential beauty products, they'd include: concealer, mascara, blush, gloss, and a brow powder or pencil. Not only does accentuating the brows give the face a lifted appearance, but it adds balance by providing shape and youthful volume. Over the next few days, I'll be giving you eyebrow tips, from selecting the right product for your needs to choosing the right shade to little tricks you can use to make brow shaping all the more easy. Let's kick it off with choosing the right product. Get my complete chart when you read more.