Beauty lesson for good pupils

Aug 29 2009 by Liz Lamb, The Journal

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so make sure yours always look their best. Liz Lamb shows you how

FROM fake lashes to groomed eyebrows and even eyelash extensions, there is a whole host of beauty treatments and products out there to make your eyes your main feature.

Celebrities are advocates of fake eyelashes and Girls Aloud are such big fans they even brought out their own range with Eyelure.

With the new X Factor series on our screens, the spotlight is back on Cheryl’s incredible lashes and neat brows.

When the band released the lashes earlier this year – a different pair for each band member -–it was Cheryl’s that glam fans flocked to, accounting for almost half of total sales (44%), according to feelunique.com.

“I love the dark glossy look of my lashes ... cool and ultra glamorous,” Cheryl said. As eyes take centre stage in beauty, we can all get a bit of Cheryl’s eye X Factor with some brow control and lash trickery.

SHAPE UP

Ditch your quest for the body beautiful – eyes take the prize for the UK’s favourite body part, according to a recent survey by cosmopolitan.co.uk.

With peepers topping the poll at 33%, the women surveyed said sparkling colour, shape and long lashes are all the makings of an enviable eye.

But eyebrows are the true foundations for showcasing your eyes to the max, according to Bobbi Brown. “A well-groomed brow instantly adds polish and strength to a woman’s face,” she explains.

“When shaping brows for the
first time, I recommend seeing a professional – they’ll create the best shape for your face.

If you decide to go it alone, remember less is more. Tweeze just a few hairs at a time, between the brows and underneath the brows but never pluck above.

Don’t try to ‘create’ a line; use your brow’s own natural line as a guide.”

TRY: Shavata Precision Tweezers, £19.50 (0208) 993 8333/www.shavata.co.uk; Eylure Eyebrow Shapers; £2.49.

FRAME YOUR FACE

Most of us can hold our hands up to the plucking police for being over-zealous with the tweezers. But stars such as Rachel Weisz and Camilla. Belle with their dark heavy eyebrows prove that big and bold are back in vogue.

Bobbi says: “Well-defined brows can be extremely flattering. They can open up a woman’s face so that she actually needs less make-up. A well-shaped brow can also help lift deep-set eyes or maximise small eyes.” Bobbi has these tips for strengthening skinny and gappy brows:

To fill obvious holes or lengthen over-plucked brows, use a brow pencil first to draw in the brow
line.

In a shade that matches the natural brow colour, fill with a light feathery stroke, mimicking the look of hair.

Go over the line with a powdered eye shadow using a stiff angled brow brush.

Stroke colour along the upper edge of the brow to accentuate and give “lift” to the eye area.

Only fill in gaps where you can see skin. Look at the brow and only apply colour on bare spots and not over the whole brow. TRY: Bobbi Brown Brow Kit, £24.47 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk); Soap & Glory, Arch de Triumph brow shaper, £7.50 (Boots); Boots No7 Lash & Brow Perfector, £9.50.