Do Eyebrows Talk?

Do eyebrows talk? I would say yes. Think about it- when you speak, your face follows those words with expressions. Your eyebrows move up and down, in and out and all around, all day long. Your eyebrows help to create expressions. They convey unspoken words. They...talk.

Well shaped brows can help you communicate things about you that you want the world to know, like how gracious and warm you are. Poorly shaped brows can also tell people things about you that may not be true, like how harsh and angry you are.

O Magazine in their June issue does a wonderful article about how a well shaped, well proportioned brow can actually make you appear more pleasant and approachable. It is a fabulous before-and-after of exactly how much your brows "talk".

Now, if my clients don't believe me when I tell them that their brows, that have had the same shape for years or maybe even decades, are making them look older, stern, angry etc. I often hear, "Really???". Yes, really! Then I pull out pictures of what good brows are supposed to look like, and they are confused by the wonderful shape that they see. They can't believe people have brows so full and well shaped, because that is not what their brows look like. Then we go round and round about how their brow shape needs to change. Some try, and at their next appointment they say, "You were right!", and others cannot handle the change. Your eyebrows talk. They do.
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And the Oscar for Best Brows goes to...

Well, there are a lot of great brows in Hollywood, and Oscars night brought many of them out on the red carpet.

Here are a few of my favorites, and why.

Anne Hathaway has a beautiful, elongated brow. She does not have

a naturally high arch, and she does not try to attain that. She is a good example of how a flatter brow can be gorgeous. This brow matches her other features - larger and elongated. Perfect.

Kate Winslett has a beautiful, natural brow. Shaped well, but not overly groomed. the right is a bit higher than the left, which is what most women see in the mirror. She also does not have an extreme arch, but a soft lift on the outer third of the brow. A very attainable brow shape for many women.

Angelina's brows are always perfection. A very high arch and always well groomed. Sometimes they seem a bit thicker, and I think that is all due to eyebrow powders or pencils used by her makeup artist. Here, her brows do not compete with any other feature and look great. This brow is not a common one, just like the beauty of it's owner.

Tina Fay has an eyebrow that is achievable for many women. Full, natural and not too high of an arch. The brow balances her features and frames her large eyes. The arch is placed correctly and they start and end well. This helps to bring focus to her eyes. Brava Tina!

And the Worst Brow Award goes to Sarah Jessica Parker. She has some of the worst brows in Hollywood. The arch is too close to her nose, they are too thin on the ends and start too far apart in front. Just awful. They do nothing for her eyes. All you see are yucky brows. Sorry Sarah, everything else about you is fabulous!

Fall 2009 Beauty Trends

It was all brows and great skin on the runway as NARS created the look for Herve Leger. Brows and ponytails.

A strong, full brow and minimal makeup was the look. Great skin is in, as always.

They were predicting a more subtle look would be in for Fall. With the economy tanking, the look this Fall may be simple, simple, simple.

Keep Me Looking Young, Pass the Cookies!

When I was in college, I had a friend significantly older than I was. When I finally asked her her age, I could not believe my ears. She looked at least 10 years younger than her real age. Her secret? She said it was her fat. yes, she claimed her voluptuous figure made her look younger by plumping out her wrinkles.

Well, now it seems that statement is backed up by some fact. This article appeared on Yahoo! this morning http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090210/hl_time/08599187771700 You must be of the mature age of 40 for the benefits to be seen. Otherwise, younger gals with a bit of cushion just look old.

It also states that antidepressants can be aging by making the muscles in the face more relaxed. Who knew?

By the way, the picture of the cookies is from my favorite cookie boutique in Pittsburgh, Country Cupboard Cookies. The vanilla are to die for!

Antibiotics and Waxing

Just going to review this with everyone since I have had several clients that have never heard this warning before. You should avoid waxing while on antibiotics - both oral and topical. There is a chance of skin sensitivity while on the medication, and skin may "lift". That's a nice way of saying come off in chunks leaving a big, ugly scab.

Wait two weeks after your last dose and by all means, tell your esthetician. No waxing is that important that it can't wait.

And your waxer better be asking you about meds and health updates at every visit, if not, walk out the door.

Brett Freedman's QuickTip

I carry many of Brett's eyebrow products in my studio. He's from the 'Burgh ya know!! This is a Vanitymark QuickTip with Jenna Fischer from The Office.

Mr. President, You Have Awesome Brows!

Yes, our new President sports some of the finest brows on Capitol Hill.

His brows are full, sit well with his bone structure and command authority. Did you know brows could do that?! Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger got his brows done prior to running for office. They softened his appearance while still allowing him to appear strong and viral.

President Obama may set the new standard for the male brow. Get you man to the salon now!

Green Makeup Brushes

Thought I would share my latest find - Eco Tools Makeup Brushes. They are cruelty-free, with bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules. They are soft and fabulous!

You can buy a small kit, in a cotton-hemp case for about $12.99. I picked mine up at my local Rite-Aid. I believe I also saw them at Target.

They have synthetic, Taklon bristles, but can be cleaned the same way as all of your brushes (see previous post). They offer other bath/beauty items as well.

An inexpensive treat for yourself and the planet. http://www.eco-tools.com/

New Year's Beauty Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again to create good, new habits. Here are a few beauty habits you may want to work into your resolutions for 2009.

• Clean your makeup brushes - Sounds easy, but how many of you do it? Ideally, brushes should be cleaned once a week, but try for once a month. They can be washed just like your hair. Lather up the bristles with your favorite shampoo and work it through. Rinse with warm water, squeeze out the excess, reshape the bristles and lay flat to dry.
• Clean out your makeup drawer - If you have not used it in a year, throw it out. Mascara should be tossed after 90 days, once opened. Powder products tend to not harbour bacteria, but toss it if you have not been using it in the past year. No point in putting those clean brushes in nasty old makeup!
• Wear sunscreen - Everyday. Put it on your face, neck and hands.
• See a good pro - If you haven't had a good haircut, color, brow shaping, etc. get at least one this year. A professional will get you back on the right track.
• Take a break - One day a week, try to take a makeup break by wearing nothing at all. Cleanse your skin and moisturize but put nothing else on your skin. I try to give my skin a product break for a week a few times a year and I love how my skin looks afterwards.
• Exfoliate - At least once a week, exfoliate either with a gentle scrub or an enzyme treatment. I use a microfiber cloth my mom found and I love it.

Enjoy the New Year and go clean those brushes!!

Eyebrow Tweezing, Waxing or Threading - Which one is better?

I get asked this question all the time. Which one is better? It all depends on your situation.

All methods do the same thing - remove facial hair. More depends on the beauty professional performing the service than what type of hair removal you are using. With any method, if the hair is not removed from the follicle, then you might as well have shaved it off. Below, I will list the pros and cons of each method, and you should be able to decide for yourself which method is right for you.

As always with eyebrows, if the professional does not have very specific training in eyebrow design, the outcome will be mediocre at best. And be sure that the professional and salon is licensed, hair removal in most states requires a license from the state. Best place for brows in the 'burgh.

Tweezing - The technician uses a metal tweezer to remove hairs one at a time. Pros: Most trusted method for precise hair removal. Tweezing gives the most precise line when shaping eyebrows. Can be used on sensitive or chemically treated skin. Cons: Not good for large areas of hair removal. A bit more time consuming than waxing or threading.

Waxing - The technician uses a soft, melted wax that is spread on the skin and then removed with a strip of woven fabric. Hard wax may also be used and does not need a strip to remove, as it hardens on the skin. Pros: Is a fast and proven way to remove hair. Can remove fine hairs. Can be used on larger areas of the face such as the cheeks. Cons: Should not be used if you are on certain medications, have had chemical treatments on your skin or if you are sunburned. If the wax is too hot or cold, the skin can "lift", or come off with the wax. Is not a good method to create a precise line on the brow.

Threading - The technician holds a piece of cotton thread in their teeth and fingers to create a "twist" that will catch and remove multiple hairs at once. Pros: A quick way to remove multiple hairs at once. An option for those who cannot have waxing done for the reasons mentioned above. Works best on coarse hair textures. Cons: Most uncomfortable of the methods. Skin can be cut by the twisting thread. Requires client to hold the skin taut. Brows can easily be over threaded, resulting in a thinner brow than desired. Not good for finer hair textures.

As for the pain factor, all methods will have some discomfort. A trained professional will help to minimize the discomfort for you.