Everybody wants the perfect set of brows.
Whether they are big and bushy, Y2K era skinny brows or, new on the scene, the bleached variety, eyebrows are often the key component to anybody’s signature look.
That’s why, when our natural brows become dry, flaky and – when we’re wearing makeup – cakey, it can completely ruin a day.
As a result, we’ve put together the comprehensive guide to keeping your brows in tip top shape.
How to care for your eyebrows
Should you put SPF on your eyebrows?
First things first: sun protection.
But what about your brows?
According to consultant dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh, while the hairs on our eyebrows should already provide fairly good protection from the sun, our brows still need sun protection because they’re very exposed.
‘Putting normal SPF cream for skin in the eyebrows may lead to a clogging of the brow follicles, which can lead to bacterial build up and cause inflammation and brow spots,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘A better option for brow SPF protection is a mineral hair powder which is less likely to clog the brow follicles. This can be brushed gently into the brows with a brow brush.’
She adds that you could also try wearing large Paris Hilton-style sunnies that cover your brows, or a hat with a large enough visor to provide protection.
Product recommendation:
Dr Eva suggeys the Derma E Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF30 brushed gently into the brows with a brow brush.
Buy now for £22.90 from Amazon.
How to prevent brow dandruff
Dry, itchy and flaky brows are a nightmare. And, yes, eyebrow dandruff is actually a thing.
According to Dr Eva, brow sculpting treatments like plucking, waxing, tinting, microblading and threading have a big role to play in dry eyebrows.
‘Brows, like the scalp, have their own microbiota and many cosmetic practices aimed at creating sculpted and full brows cause damage to this delicate bacterial balance – resulting in dry, flaking and irritated brows,’ she explains.
She adds that preservatives and dyes in eyebrow cosmetics can also cause micro skin reactions in the brows, such as contact dermatitis, resulting in even drier and flakier brows.
‘To avoid this, opt for a brow product that will help repair skin barrier function, and intensely hydrate the brows,’ Dr Eva continues.
‘Apply it both overnight and before applying any brow cosmetics.
Product recommendation:
Dr Eva suggests the Hydrosil HydroBrow – a ‘clear brow serum that contains an extract from chicory root, a natural prebiotic which can improve brow barrier function by replenishing beneficial brow microbiota.’
Buy now for £8.50 from Skin Shop.
How to remove product from your brows safely
We all know the feeling when you take a look at the micellar-soaked cotton pad you’ve been using to remove your makeup only to notice a few fallen brow hairs.
It’s important not just to be careful, but to use the right products when removing brow makeup, even when you’re in a rush to go to sleep.
‘When removing any product from the brows, it’s better to opt for a gentle and more hydrating cleanser than a makeup remover containing solvents, which can be damaging to brow microbiota,’ says Dr Eva. ‘We would not put makeup removers on our scalps, so why put them on our brows?’
Just like hair, she adds, our brows need conditioning, too.
‘Water-free cream cleansers are a good way to gently remove products from the brows while keeping them well conditioned and hydrated,’ she says.
‘This is especially important after any brow shaping treatments, especially microblading, which can leave the brows very dry and irritated in the week after the treatment.
‘Opt for a cream cleanser that is free from chemicals and perfumes to gently cleanse the brows.’
Product recommendation:
Dr Eva suggests using the Kalme Water-Free Cleanse, which has been designed for very sensitive skin and contains no chemicals or perfumes.
‘This product has a hydrating action while gently removing product and dirt from the brows and helping to calm down any sensitivity or inflammation at the same time via an extract of young caper buds,’ she says.
Buy now for £15.95 from Skin Shop.
This article contains affiliate links. We will earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
MORE : Tanyel Tries: The best budget mascara to launch in years that just won’t smudge
MORE : Three simple ways to style your thick eyebrows
MORE : Jewellery expert reveals how to spot fake pieces online
Denial of responsibility! insideheadline is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
