This post has been updated since it was originally published on February 17, 2016.
Everywhere you turn, women are eyebrow-obsessed and exploring every avenue imaginable to obtain thick, well-groomed, Cara Delevingne-brow power. In our relentless quest for the best brow shape, however, some of us are unknowingly committing brow sins that are creating the opposite effect: They’re aging us.
Celebrity eyebrow specialist Elke Von Freudenberg explains why these 5 common eyebrow mistakes can add years to your appearance and how to correct the problem.
Eyebrows that are too thin.
The number one most aging eyebrow mistake Von Freudenberg says you can make? Plucking or waxing your brows too thin. "It also looks outdated," Van Freudenberg says. "The only way to get brows growing again is with serums or our Brow Growth Products. Also try having a brow professional tint your eyebrows. It picks up lighter hairs and makes brows look fuller and thicker in the meantime. Using a slightly darker brow mascara or brow shadow can also make brows look fuller."
"Surprise" eyebrows
"The half circle or 'surprised' eyebrow is also an old fad that can age you," Von Freudenberg says. "This eyebrow gives a very rounded line or half circle from beginning to end and makes you look as if you're surprised or that you're raising your eyebrows. Shade in the arch underneath a bit to bring the arch downwards to soften the roundness of the eyebrow and try to grow in that area."
Missing tails
"Another aging eyebrow is the ends or the tails taken off way too much," Von Freudenberg says. "This was a trend about eight years ago which promised a lifting effect to the eye. It really didn't do that, it just made the eyebrows look cut off. Extend the ends with an eyebrow pencil that's one shade lighter than your brows and make the brow more in proportion to your eye shape. It should end at the line that you get from the end of your nose to the end of the eye. Go lighter in color so that it doesn't look fake as you draw out. A too dark pencil can look overdone and drawn on."
Overly darkened eyebrows
"Too heavily drawn on or way too severe brows also looks outdated and aging," Von Freudenberg says. "You want your brows to complement your eyes, not go overboard. Soften your brow makeup with a spoolie brush. Brows should look natural, not extreme. If your focal point on your face is your brows, it's too much. Keep it soft by doing your eyebrow makeup before any other color makeup on your face. If it looks natural, you have the right amount on."
Severely arched eyebrows
"The severely arched eyebrow is a fad that's fading out now," Von Freudenberg says. "Everybody wants an eye lift, but by severely arching the brow and taking too much off at under the arch, you create a dramatic line that's not always flattering. Grow in the arches a little bit and think more of a soft curve to the brow. You can also bring the arch down a bit by tweezing a few hairs (1 or 2 at the most) from the highest point at the top of the arch."
