Everyday Guide to Brows

This is the first in my new series of Everyday Guides where I tell you the absolute basics of what you need to do for certain aspects of make-up. If you have something you'd like to see then let me know.

One of the questions I get asked most often is about brows and how to just 'fill them in a bit' or 'make them less crap'. Brows are still huge in the world of make-up but a lot of my clients want to know how to make the best of theirs, on a daily basis without looking like they've done anything to them at all.

I wanted this to be a short video but it's incredibly hard to cover everything - you always feel like there will be someone somewhere saying 'she didn't even mention... '. I can't mention everything. This is not a video on how to fill in your brows if they are really sparse. As far as I'm concerned Sam from Pixiwoo has covered that in the video I've linked to below. It's also not a tutorial on how to get really full, drawn-in brows that are so fashionable on Instagram now. That can seriously backfire when done in real life and is, I believe, the main reason I have so many women coming to me asking for brow advice. I am by no means queen of brows, I rarely do anything to mine. This is just the basics - what you can use, my favourite products and how to do it.

All products are listed below and products with a * that I haven't used but have had recommended to me from other make-up artists are listed under that. There are so many brands that do brow products now that again I may not mention ones that you use and love. Do feel free to mention them in the comments.  If anything is not clear then do feel free to leave me a comment either on here or on YouTube or send me an email.

Pixiwoo brows
Pixiwoo Microblading

Tools
Eco Tools Brow Shaping Set (I don't love the angle brush from brows but it's fine for smoky liner. The spoolie is worth the money on its own)
Louise Young brushes (specifically the LY22 spoolie and LY37 angle brush)
MAC 263 Brush
Barbara Carranza Tweezers (also great for applying false lashes) - http://bit.ly/2p2gDjT
Tweezerman Tweezers*

Pencils
Laura Mercier Brow Pencil
Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz
Hourglass Arch Brow
Tom Ford Brow Sculptor*
Nudestix Stylus Pencil and Gel*

Mascaras
Maybelline Brow Drama
Benefit Speed Brow
Illamasqua Brow Gel
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel*
Diego Dalla Parma Volumising Eyebrow fixer*

Powders
MAC eye shadows (Omega, Cork, Charcoal Brown, Brun)
Louise Young Essential Eye Palette

Gels
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade*
Diego Della Parma Water Resistant Cream Brow Liner*

Make-up Courses

Yet another post that's been a long time in the making*. I didn't want to write a flat boring review of the courses I've done just after I'd done them - you can see what the course contains from the website. But I was amazed by the complete contrast in the two make-up courses I've taken so I thought I should say something about them.

When I was looking at university and what to study it never crossed my mind to do make-up. I'm about to be 30 and I think maybe mine is the last generation where the more creative jobs like this just didn't seem to be an option. Unless you showed natural flair in that direction non-academic options weren't really looked into - as a mother I like to think that this has changed somewhat. At a school in Wiltshire my sister was a trailblazer for only applying to London art schools.

Pixiwoo and Caroline Hirons - Friday Video

I'm going to be reviewing a lot of products soon that I'm trying out thanks to watching this video with Caroline Hirons. She is incredibly down-to-earth, knowledgeable and has the most amazing skin to back it up. Her blog is addictive - I no longer buy any beauty products without checking it first

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

My new absolute favourite - I cannot tell you how much I am in love with this brush. As an avid watcher of the Pixiwoo girls I'd seen the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush in action plenty of times but somehow imagined it to be bigger than it actually is and thought I would stick with my trusty stippling brush - I have more brushes than anyone needs, even I couldn't come up with an excuse for buying it. But then I wanted bought the Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush (also amazing and highly recommended) and got the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush on a whim at the same time.

It is the perfect size for a foundation brush, it makes application incredibly quick, easy to get a flawless finish and its the perfect shape and size to get under the eyes and round the nose. Not only is it fantastic for doing the base but you can also use it for shaping and sculpting the face and applying blusher and highlighter. This may well be my desert island brush. It is incredibly well priced at about £9.99, with synthetic bristles it can be used with creams and powders and is also easy to clean - if you have trouble applying foundation, contours or are just in the market for an excellent new brush this is the one to go for.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2017: I now have two for my kit and one for me. It's still my favourite brush for foundation application on my own face and clients. And it's now £11.99

What You Need to Know - Real Techniques Expert Face Brush 

• £11.99 though often on offer as there are newer brushes in the range 
• Synthetic fibres 
• Use for creams or powders - foundation, blusher and sculpting
• Easy to clean
• Cruelty free
• Available from Look Fantastic, Boots,

How to Dry your Hair with Pixiwoo - Friday Video

This video has revolutionised my hair

Creative with Pixiwoo - Friday Video

Still on holiday and assuming (maybe slightly hoping...) that it's raining in England so surely the best time to stay in and play about with makeup. I love this one from Sam at Pixiwoo

You should subscribe to their videos

Pixiwoo Friday Video

I love the finished look on this...

Face. Lace

Phyllis Cohen is one of those makeup artists who really is an artist who just happens to use faces and bodies instead of canvas. Annoyingly it seems impossible to find any videos of her working online, but you can see the wonderful designs she creates on her website here.

Not content with being a fantastic makeup artist and body painter she has now created Face.Lace amazing stick-on designs for the face that mean you can have intricate designs without spending many frustrating hours trying to do it yourself. The laces range from small bits of lacing detail to half face masks and are re-usable.

What I really love about these is, to me, they seem to reflect a sort of old-fashioned glamour that a lot of us would love to recreate whilst actually halving the time of your makeup application. A flawless base is a must for these and a good lip but really these are your eye makeup - you really don't need too much underneath and you are ready to go.

The prices range from £13.95 - £19.95 and I think these would be fantastic presents for your friends who are into makeup. I'm going to attach the Pixiwoo video below as they do a fantastic job showing you how they work and I've included the 'official' face lace film so you can see more of the designs in action but you should also checkout the face.lace website here.

Creative Colour from Pixiwoo - Friday Video

I love it when these girls get creative and this is one of my favourites...

Pixiwoo Happy Friday

Hurrah she's back...

Pixiwoo Friday Treat

With the lovely Sam Chapman - I love this look

Pixiwoo Union Jack - Friday Treat

I love this look from the amazing Nicola Chapman at Pixiwoo and its very appropriate for the Wimbledon final this weekend!

Elizabth Taylor Pixiwoo - Friday Video

Am obsessed with watching tutorials on YouTube at the moment so I thought I'd invent a Friday treat which... well speaks for itself. I love this one as she uses my favourite moisturiser and cleanser and it's such a classic look. As a massive fan of black eyeliner she also does fantastic flicks which is worth seeing.