How To Fill In Eyebrows Naturally With Pencil And Eyeshadow | Red Apple Lipstick

Wouldn't you like to know the easiest, most natural way to fill in your brows? Your eyebrows are like sisters on your face. When they are shaped and filled in softly, they frame your eyes, lift your features, and make your whole look feel more polished.

This tutorial walks you through how to fill in eyebrows so they look refined, not harsh. You will learn where to start, which areas to fill first, and which simple tools help you get a flattering brow shape at home.

Watch The Brow Filling Tutorial

WATCH ME: in this video I show you exactly how I fill and refine my brows so they look natural and soft instead of drawn on.

Before we even talk about filling in eyebrows, we need to talk about brow shape. In Part One of this Eyebrows 101 series I walk through how to shape your brows and why shape matters.

In general, your makeup should start with your brows and brow shape before you add any filling. My approach to shaping brow hairs is to tame wild growth while still keeping everything looking like real brows, not a stencil.

Everyone's eyebrows are different, so there is no single perfect shape. I like to follow the contours of your natural brow shape, especially if you are newer to brows. That does not mean you leave them untouched. I show you in the video how I shape my own brows so they look neat but still like me.

Find Your Perfect Brow Shape

A good brow shape gently lifts your features and frames your eyes. My method keeps things soft and classic, which works beautifully as you collect more birthdays. A refined brow that matches your facial structure is always more flattering than a trendy shape that fights your features.

In Part One, I encourage you to leave extra hairs in sparse areas, especially around the arch. Those hairs often become important for structure once you start filling in with pencil and powder.

Why Fill In Your Brows

Brow hairs can be such unruly little things. Bushy brows can stick out like a sore thumb. Very thin brows or wiry hairs can make you look older than you really are. Drawn on brows look obvious and harsh. Unkempt brows sometimes make your face look a little dirty, even if the rest of your makeup is beautiful.

If you have not been filling in your brows yet, especially if they are thin, light, or almost non existent, it will feel a bit strange at first. Here is how I suggest you ease in.

• Start with the tail of your brow. Fill it so the tail matches the shade of the front, instead of filling a lot of the front right away.
• Once you feel comfortable having a defined tail, start experimenting with filling in the arch, then gradually add more to the front.
• Accept every compliment with a simple "thank you." Most people will not know what changed, only that your face looks more lifted and polished.

The next step is to fill your brows the way you want them to look, then pluck the final stray hairs afterward. I love this order because you are less likely to overpluck when you already see the new shape in place.

"A good brow has a classic, well groomed shape that is timeless," says Charla Krupp, author of How Not To Look Old.

Charla Krupp

The more birthdays you celebrate, the more you benefit from a refined brow. A good brow frames your eyes, lifts your entire face, and instantly makes your makeup look more intentional. A defined brow truly feels a little magical, so let me show you the tools and techniques that make it easy.

6 Tools And Products For Filling In Eyebrows Naturally

Here are the tools I reach for when I fill in eyebrows. You do not need an enormous kit, just a few smart, multitasking pieces.

EyeBrow Brush With Spoolie Brush

The Vegan Angled Brush with Spoolie is a true multitasker. The brush end is perfect for picking up brow powder and pressing it into sparse areas. The spoolie end brushes, shapes, and lifts wild hairs so your brows look groomed but still soft.

Cocoa Pencil For Guide Marks And As A Brow Pencil

I love using my eyeliner pencil as my brow pencil. A quick twist in the sharpener and my pencil goes from brow duty back to eyeliner in seconds.

Our hypoallergenic eyeliners work beautifully for guide marks and for lightly filling in any sparse sections of brow hair. Make sure your pencil is freshly sharpened for the cleanest, most hair like strokes.

Use Eye Shadow As A Brow Powder For Filling In Brows

I find that using eyeshadow as brow powder looks far more natural than using pencil alone. As mentioned above, I use my eyeliner pencil mainly for brow shape and tiny reference markings. You can see exactly how in the video at the top of this page.

Then I switch to powder. You will be amazed at how soft and natural eyeshadow looks when it is pressed into the brows with a good angled brush. This technique works especially well on thinner brows. If you have a bit of life experience behind you, your brows are probably not as thick as they used to be, and powder becomes your best friend.

My Favorite Shade Of Brow Powder Is Actually An Eyeshadow

This matte medium brown eyeshadow in the shade Brownie Points is what I use in this video as my brow powder. I recommend it for most light to medium brunettes. It blends right into brow hairs and looks like a true brow shade, not obvious makeup.

If your hair color is different, you can still use the same idea. For dark hair, match your hair or go one shade lighter. For light hair, go slightly deeper than your natural color. For grey hair, match your brows, even if that means they are darker than the hair on your head. For red hair, choose a neutral or slightly deeper warm brown that does not pull too orange.

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Natural Looking Eyebrows For A Super Refined Look

Using eyeshadow as brow powder is the simplest way to get a natural looking brow. I like to use my eyeliner pencil to draw tiny hair like flicks only where I am very sparse. Then I switch to powder and the angled brush to soften everything and blend the strokes.

The real trick to a natural brow is to use more powder than pencil. Pencil alone can look obvious if you skip that softening step. Powder gives you that diffused, fluffy look that keeps brows from looking stamped on.

Whether you have been regrowing your brows for years or you are just starting, this process works. If you watch the video and think, "Her brows are thick, what does she know," remember that technique is what matters. The same steps apply on thinner brows and still look refined.

I have used this process in person on hundreds of women. Every time, they are amazed at how their face instantly looks lifted, their eyes look brighter, and they look more rested and youthful. Give it a try and let me know in the comments how it goes, or ask any questions you have about your own brow shape.

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FAQs

How do I know where my brow should start and end?

Use your pencil for guide marks. Line it up from the side of your nose straight up to find where your brow should start. Angle it from the side of your nose through the outer corner of your eye to find where the tail should end, then connect the shape softly with powder.

Should I fill my brows before or after I pluck stray hairs?

Fill first, pluck second. When you fill in eyebrows first with your pencil and powder, you can see the ideal shape. Then it is much easier to spot which hairs fall outside the shape and can be safely removed without overplucking.

Can I really use eyeshadow as brow powder?

Yes. A matte, neutral brown eyeshadow that is close to your brow color makes an excellent brow powder. Apply it with the Vegan Angled Brush with Spoolie so you can press color into sparse areas and blend with the spoolie for a soft finish.

What if my brows are very thin or almost non existent?

Start slowly. Use a sharpened hypoallergenic eye pencil to draw tiny hair like strokes only where you need structure, then gently layer powder over the top. Focus on the tail and arch first so you do not overwhelm the front of the brow.