At the Counter: High Brows

If eyes are the windows to the soul, then perhaps brows are the frames: a good arch can make or break the whole look. I asked Robyn Cosio, makeup artist and brow specialist at Sally Hershberger New York and Los Angeles, who has worked with people like Kate Bosworth, Marisa Tomei and Cat Deeley for 21 years, how to make the most of what you have this season:

If you’re looking for a change for spring, she recommends “The bleached-out brow and the strong, streamlined brow.” However, she cautions, “I’m not a huge fan of the bleached out brow [ed. note: Bottega Veneta, Lanvin, and Givenchy S/S 2010] because it doesn’t help to frame your face and can make women look washed-out. It is definitely a high-fashion look that can only be pulled off by younger people, not average women.” Disaster can strike when bleach touches the face at home, says Cosio: “I have seen quite a few women come in who have tried to bleach their own eyebrows and the results are terrible.” When eyebrows grow out, they oxidize and it turns the brows an orangey-green color.

If you really want to try the look, ask a professional to use a toner rather than a bleach, which will allow you to control the color as you are lightening.” If that sounds like too much risk, another option might be the right choice, a strong, streamlined brow. Cosio’s pick for the right brow? Beyonce, who “Has beautifully shaped brows, not too thick and not too thin.” By comparison,  Victoria Beckham: “Has gorgeous brows but they are straight across with no arch. She has the tendency to look severe and unhappy.” Her tip for avoiding the Posh look? “You should really go to a professional. I always recommend seeing a makeup artist as they see the face as a whole and are less inclined to give you cookie cutter brows. They understand faces.”

Sarah Howard is the editor of Beauty Banter.