If you’re like me, and anxiously await the big reveal of your horoscope each month, week or even day, you probably find astrology to serve as a comforting guide on how to navigate whatever’s in store for the future, as you move through life’s inherent uncertainties (…not to mention this year’s seemingly endless series of retrogrades, ugh.) If you regard your star sign’s astrological forecasts as a kind of co-pilot that steers you away from making bad decisions, signing contracts at the wrong time, and a warning for upcoming emotional outbursts (*raising my hand*), astrology probably influences your signature style and beauty preferences as well.

As a Gemini, my sign is notoriously bad at making final decisions—or decisions of any kind, for that matter—and this inherent indecisiveness certainly makes an appearance every time I’m faced with the pressing challenge of having to pick out a nail color at the salon for my weekly manicure. So, if you need a little extra assistance in this arena as well, (or just want some celestial inspo) I decided to track down the best nail polish color for each zodiac sign this season, so you can forgo the oscillation at the salon and let the stars decide for you.

Just like your zodiac sign, your manicure also says a lot about who you are, whether you tend to stick to an infinitely versatile nude hue (or the recently resurrected aughts-inspired french manicure) or prefer a glam mani-pedi with a punchy pop of color and glitter embellishments. In fact, the nail polish shades we find ourselves continually attracted to may actually be rooted in the cosmos, according to some astrologers. Certain zodiac signs are associated with certain hues, meaning that if you find yourself reaching for a fiery red, deep burgundy, or neutral beige time and time again, the stars may just be the culprit. Just like Chromotherapy (color therapy) color astrology posits that certain colors have the ability to alter our moods and that our astrological profile and overall temperament can also be affected by certain pigments.

Many astrologers also believe that certain colors have the capacity to downplay some of our personality traits (based on our sign), while others have the power to strengthen such attributes. Rather than hassling my perpetually annoyed sister via text to help me decide between a bright cherry red or blush-tinted nude (my two usual suspects), I decided to leave it up to the stars this time. Read ahead to find out your mani-scope for the approaching holiday season.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of Essie.

Aries —

Aries are passionate, born to lead, and aren’t afraid of making a statement or trying new trends. This bold orange-red shade is perfect for the trendsetting ram.

Buy: Essie in Geranium $9.50

Amazon.

Taurus —

The generous and determined bull will do just about anything for someone they love, but they’re not fond of abandoning their routines and pushing out of their comfort zones. This sheer, baby pink shade is neutral enough to go with literally anything, but is slightly more polished (pun intended) than a bare nail.

Buy: Orly Nail Lacquer Rose-Colored Glasses $9.50

Amazon.

Gemini —

Geminis have a tough time narrowing down their options and they get bored like, super fast. A multi-faceted opal polish that changes colors in different light settings is a great choice for the indecisive twins.

Buy: China Glaze Pearl Jammin’ $6.50

Courtesy of Morgan Taylor.

Cancer —

The sensitive and highly imaginative crab’s sentimental nature leads her to make choices based on their ability to evoke emotion and beauty — and this carries over to color as well. This subtle yet nuanced mint green hue reflects is calming and chic, making it an apt polish choice for the cancer homebody.

Buy: Morgan Taylor Sea Foam $9.50

Dermelect.

Leo —

Leos’ signature trait is their unwavering sense of pride and self-confidence. The fire sign isn’t afraid of the possibility of coming off flamboyant when it comes to their personal style. This dazzling metallic and glitter-infused polish would make a lovely holiday shade for the sign.

Ella + Mila.

Virgo —

Virgos may be slight perfectionists and critical thinkers, but they also tend to have an artistic flare. This cool blue-green color feels sophisticated and versatile but stands out more than your average black or classic dark red.

Buy: Ella + Mila Mediterranean Mist $11.39

Courtesy of Sally Hansen.

Libra —

Libras are natural-born tastemakers that like to have fun and have an appreciation for the finer things in life. They love to show off their femininity (and designer handbags), which makes this hot pink hue a natural choice for the fun-loving sign.

Buy: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Pink Up $5.99

Courtesy of O.P.I.

Scorpio —

The zodiac says that Scorpios have an endless sense of curiosity and manage to maintain a sense of mystery, despite their passionate demeanor and investigative nature. This sultry dark red shade evokes all three of these traits and looks killer on just about any skin tone.

Buy: OPI Nail Lacquer in Got The Blues For Red $8.69

Olive & June.

Sagittarius —

This fire sign has a knack for adventure and highly adaptable to whatever comes their way, making them the most well-traveled sign in the zodiac. This spunky blue-periwinkle hue is versatile enough to match with endless outfits but is much more exciting than a neutral-toned nude.

Courtesy of Smith & Cult.

Capricorn —

Capricorns possess a no-nonsense approach to life and are guided by logic and order rather than emotional impulses. This light grey shade is an excellent alternative to a practical pale pink or nude that the sign would likely reach for.

Buy: Smtih & Cult Nail Lacquer in Subnormal $18.00

Amazon.

Aquarius —

Aquarians are unapologetically independent and oftentimes, fiercely analytical. While their admirable self-motivation is undoubtedly virtuous, the sign also appreciates order and disdains anything overtly flash. This milky cream color is ultra-flattering and will look polished and refined, regardless of the season or occasion at hand.

Buy: Cirque Colors Cream Nail Polish $12.50

Courtesy of Morgan Taylor.

Pisces —

As true chameleons who love to shake things up, this water sign is also known for their compassion and emotional intelligence. Pastel blues like Morgan Taylor’s new “Out in The Open” hue reflect the sign’s balanced approach to adapting to their surroundings without the drama and their go-with-the-flow attitude.

Buy: Morgan Taylor $9.50

Motherhood in America is based on a myth. We are taught to believe that we can parent perfectly when we can’t. The myth also says that we parent better than our parents and that we can change the pattern for future generations.

I like Jane Fonda’s reference to a woman’s life being like acts in a play. The first 30 years is Act 1, the second 30 years is Act II and the final act begins at 60.

The three-act structure is a model used in screenwriting that divides a fictional narrative into three parts (acts), often called the Setup, the Confrontation and the Resolution. Here is how this applies to the mother-daughter relationship across the stages of a mother’s life.

Act I: Ages 0-29 – The Setup

Much has been written about the mother-daughter bond. More has been written about wicked stepmothers, drunken moms or non-protective parents. As a stay-at-home mother when my children were younger, I was blessed to have my own mom retired and available to babysit each time one of my children turned three. By then, I had grown weary of fighting off the terrible twos only to discover it was only a warm-up for being three. I needed a break and went to work until they were four so I could do it full-time again without hurting myself or someone else.

I remember one time talking to a career woman who was pining for the children she always thought she wanted to have, and I candidly told her some of the realities of daily life with a baby. They throw up on you and you change clothes three times just trying to get out the door.

Every day you feel every emotion you have – fear, jealousy, rage, love, empathy, sorrow, guilt, or depression – intensely. Sometimes opposing feelings overpower you within seconds of each other. Aren’t they sweet when they’re sleeping? Motherhood is exhausting.

Act II: Ages 30-59 – The Confrontation

I never intended to be a mother like my own. She was a housewife whose life revolved around her children and grandchildren. We were her social life, her reason for staying married to my white, privileged father and her diversion in the marriage. Yes, mom was the hub and we were the spokes. She was our connecting point.

With some predictability, each of my adult children in this stage has had to navigate their feelings and express or deny their frustration at the impact my choices had on their lives. I have watched them struggle with a separate identity from me, just as I did with my own mother.

After all, I am the one who is still here. I am the one they hold responsible for the shifting emotional sands in their psyches. I am also the one my children trust will still love and welcome them back no matter how long they’ve been gone or how much has been lost.

Act III: Ages 60+ – The Resolution

The mother-daughter relationship is a trust we built in utero that cannot be broken. It is a cozy comfort to which they will inevitably return when they have exhausted themselves from the tantrum. I know this because I was a daughter once, too.

By Act III we have had to learn to let go of our children’s choices – all of them. The education they chose to pursue – or not. The mate they chose to marry – or not. The children they chose to parent – or not. The drugs they chose to medicate with – or not.

I think it cycles back to an early developmental task of learning when to hold on and when to let go. What to hold on to and what to let go of and how to redefine the relationship according to the needs of the individuals involved at each stage.

Let Go of Control

We are generations of women with generational wounding, navigating significant hormonal shifts at three distinct stages of life. Each keeping secrets thinking it will save the other unnecessary pain. Each generation thinking it knows better how the one before should have handled life. Each denying the fundamental fact that we are a unit. When one suffers, we all suffer.

It is impossible to imagine holding my Act I teenage granddaughter responsible for thinking she knows better than her mother how she should be running her life. Life with teens is about survival in a house where their hormonal surges often collide with their mother’s as she approaches menopause and faces internal fears of a future without them under foot.

Neither can I hold my Act II daughter accountable for thinking she knows better than I how I should have navigated my personal life when it came to deciding who to marry and how long to stay. Until the veil of menopause has been lifted for her, we are speaking fundamentally different languages. And I get that.

Letting go doesn’t mean we don’t care. Letting go doesn’t mean we shut down. Letting go means we stop trying to force outcomes and make people behave. It means we give up resistance to the way things are, for the moment.

Letting go means we stop trying to do the impossible – controlling that which we cannot – and instead focus on what is possible. That usually means staying in our own lane and navigating our own road. And we do this with as much gentleness, kindness, and love as we can muster.

The Road Ahead

My advantage in Act III is that I have traveled the path they are now on. I know it all leads up to a crescendo happy ending. Dress rehearsal is over. It is time to take the stage with authentic presence and accept that standing ovation that is every mother’s birthright.

I stand in humble gratitude for my own mother, who I failed to understand when she was alive and wish I could emulate now. What stage of life are you in?

Is your daughter a woman you would want to spend time with? Are you someone whose company she enjoys? Have you developed a friendship outside of the parental bonds? What tips do you have for getting the most from a mother daughter relationship? Please share in the comments.

When you’re putting on a full face of makeup, you probably seldom think about the ingredients you’re putting on (and around) your skin, lips and eyes. You might only reach for the foundation bottle after you’re mid-breakout to read through the ingredients. Spoiler alert: It’s a long list of chemicals that you’ve never heard of. No matter your skin type, there’s evidence that it’s not good to saturate yourself with harsh fragrances, dyes and chemicals every day. Luckily, there’s a growing movement around the idea of “clean beauty” and organic makeup.

The latest eco-conscious trend in beauty benefits both you and the environment — if you choose the right kind. Look for cruelty-free companies (meaning they don’t do animal testing) that use recyclable packaging and ethically sourced ingredients. You should not see ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes, and silicones on the packaging. Generally, the shorter the ingredient list, the better.

Of course, it can be intimidating to try to find reliable organic products on your own, so we rounded up 10 of our favorite organic cosmetic brands to keep you beautiful—inside and out.

You’ll be shocked to hear that some of your brands contain no-nasties, meaning that they formulate without any known irritants. For example, popular skincare and cosmetics company Tarte is non-toxic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. The brand doesn’t include any parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or even gluten. Check out the rest of our picks below.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

1. Tarte

While not truly organic, Tarte Cosmetics is a no-nasties brand that harnesses natural ingredients. It’s cruelty-free and gluten-free and made without harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil, triclosan, phthalates or sulfates. They have a huge selection of cosmetics in gorgeous packaging and in tons of shades. And honestly, we do mean tons—they’re one of the most versatile organic makeup companies out there. Start with one of their bestsellers, like Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation, or Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Glisten.

Courtesy of Tarte Cosmetics.

Courtesy of Tarte Cosmetics.

Courtesy of Tarte Cosmetics.

2. Ilia Beauty

Ilia products are made of up to 85% organic ingredients and kept in recycled packaging. Try one of their gorgeous tinted lip conditioners like the summer-ready Little Sister or one of their beautifully radiant Multi-Sticks for a healthy flush of color on your cheeks. They also make mascara, setting powders, illuminators, and tinted moisturizer, the latter of which comes in six shades for a range of complexions.

Courtesy of Ilia.

Buy: Click image to open expanded view ILIA – Organic Tinted Lip Conditioner $28

Courtesy of Ilia.

Buy: ILIA – Organic Multi-Stick For Lips + Cheeks $34

3. 100 Percent Pure

The 100 Percent Pure website promises vegan cosmetics “formulated with high performing antioxidants [and] naturally occurring vitamins and essential oils.” They use fruit pigments to dye their makeup products naturally. They offer lipsticks, foundation, cruelty-free makeup brushes, eye makeup, blush and more. Try their Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Stain for a long-lasting, natural flush of color.

Courtesy of 100 Percent Pure.

Buy: 100% PURE Lip & Cheek Tint $27

4. Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty makes all-natural, organic lip products in Toronto. Their tagline is that their lip products are healthy enough to eat, since they are made out of organic ingredients such as shea butter and natural oils. You can purchase their lipsticks, glosses, scrubs and masks from Sephora, and we really love their Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon. Bonus: you can visit their Bite Beauty Lip Lab in New York and create your own custom lipstick shade.

Courtesy of Bite Beauty.

5. Physician’s Formula

Many of Physician’s Formula products are free of fragrance, parabens, and gluten, as well as being hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and safe for those with sensitive skin and eyes. They also do not test on animals. Best of all, their prices are extremely affordable and you can find their products for under $20 at most drugstores. Try their Organic Wear 100% Natural Tinted Moisturizer; it will give you a natural look and the sun protection you need this summer.

Courtesy of Physician’s Formula.

Buy: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Tinted Moisturizer $11.11

6. Ecco Bella

Ecco Bella calls themselves “an activist company,” which means that they are against animal testing, support organic farming and ethical ingredient sourcing, and don’t use any ingredients in their products that are harmful for consumers or the environment. Most of their products are vegan and they are all made out of organic ingredients. Since they use a limited roster of ingredients and exclude harmful chemicals like fragrance, parabens, and alcohol, their products are ideal for those with sensitive skin. They offer eye makeup, blush, foundation, and our favorite, Flowercolor Lipstick which comes in 17 pretty colors.

Courtesy of Ecco Bella.

Buy: Ecco Bella, FlowerColor Moisturizing Lipstick $19.26

7. RMS beauty

RMS beauty products are truly amazing: luxurious, high-performing and good for you. They’re made with organic ingredients like coconut oil (the base of all of their products), cocoa butter, shea butter, castor oil, and jojoba oil. They do not test on animals and they use recyclable packaging. They offer brushes, powders, bronzers, eye makeup, lip colors, and more. Their Luminizer has a cult following, and it’s no wonder: it’s totally gorgeous and works on every skin tone.

Courtesy of RMS Beauty.

Buy: RMS Beauty Luminizer Highlighter $28.26

8. Josie Maran

All of Josie Maran’s products are infused with organic, ethically sourced argan oil, which is known for its hydrating and beautifying properties. The argan oil used in their products is sustainably harvested from women’s co-ops in Morocco, which benefits both the environment and the workers. Try the Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation for a glowing, natural beauty look and the Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil for a dewy flush of color.

Courtesy of Josie Maran.

Buy: Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation $44.99

Photo courtesy of Josie Maran.

Buy: Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil $15.99

9. Juice Beauty

Founded by Karen Behnke in 2005, this beauty company is all about the organic ingredients. Behnke was shocked to realize that all of the beauty products our skin was absorbing wasn’t natural. She combined beauty and chemistry to create some interesting skincare and makeup products. The base of each product is made out of a botanical juice, like aloe, shea and grape seed, instead of petroleum, which works just as well. You should try the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream, which will protect your skin from the sun and even out your skin tone.

Courtesy of Juice Beauty.

Buy: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream with Mineral SPF 30 $39

10. Vapour Beauty

This desert-inspired clean beauty company, founded by Krysia Boinis and Kristine Keheley, features “high-vibe” color. Your skin looks like it’s covered in conventional makeup, but this time the ingredients are natural. They’ve got luxe lip glosses in a variety of vibrant colors and smooth foundations in their arsenal. We recommend checking out their Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation.

Courtesy of Vapour Beauty.

Buy: Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation $54

There has always been controversy surrounding self-exams and what benefit, if any, these may have in regards to a person’s health. It can be confusing to muddle through all of the data. Here is my take on the most important self-exams to do and how often to do them.

Body Weight

Usually, women are not really excited to hear about this one. Yet, checking and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important self-exams you can do. Obesity significantly increases your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and certain cancers.

Calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. Or, simply plug your weight in pounds and height in inches into an online BMI calculator. A healthy weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. So, if you are outside of this range, adjust your diet accordingly to eat healthy and get to your ideal BMI.

As to how often to weigh yourself is quite debatable. Most health care professionals feel weighing yourself once a week is adequate. Although, many people trying to lose weight feel that weighing yourself daily is more motivating as long as one does not obsess over small fluctuations.

Skin Exams

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in humans, with melanomas being the sixth leading cause of death due to cancers. If melanomas in particular are caught early enough, this can significantly increase your chances of successfully treating it.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends monthly full body skin exams. This is regardless of skin type. People with a lighter complexion are more prone to skin cancers, but people of any skin type and tone can get skin cancer.

You should take care to examine even hard to see areas such as the soles of your feet, scalp, ears and back by using a mirror or recruiting someone else to look for you.

So, What Exactly Are You Looking For?

You are looking for new or changing moles and/or skin lesions. The pneumonic ABCDE is best for evaluating these changes.

Asymmetry

If you were to draw a line through the mole and each side is not identical to the other, that may be concerning for cancer.

Borders

If the borders of the mole are not smooth, that may be of concern.

Color

Multiple colors within a mole mean it’s more likely to be cancerous.

Diameter

Larger moles are more likely to be of concern.

Evolving

Any changes, such as in shape, color, size or elevation may be of concern.

Also, if you are a diabetic, it is imperative that you check your feet daily for skin abnormalities as foot infections may be very problematic.

If you notice anything abnormal on your self-skin exam, see your physician about it.

These two, checking your weight and checking your skin, are exams I whole heartedly endorse as they have significant change in outcomes upon discovery and proper treatment. The next one I am going to discuss, I am less enthusiastic about.

Numerous studies and data have shown that doing breast self-exams does not change the risk of dying of breast cancer. If so, why do so many physicians and so many cancer societies continue to recommend these self-exams? Many will point to the desire to get patients involved in their own health care and some admit it may simply be habit.

Why wouldn’t self-breast exams improve your chances of surviving breast cancer?

Self-Breast Exams

Women who do monthly self-breast exams often find various lumps that they report to their physicians. As a result, they have more biopsies and procedures than women who do not perform these self-exams.

The United States Preventative Task Force actually recommends against doing self-breast exams. They feel the harms of self-breast exams outweigh the benefits.

They point to much more psychological stress and anxiety with finding all of these lumps and then waiting for appointments and biopsies and procedures and then again waiting for results with absolutely no documented change in survival outcome after all of this.

That being said, let me tell you that 40 percent of breast cancers are detected by the patient on self-exam and not by the physician. Now my head is really spinning!

How is it that 40 percent of breast cancers are discovered by the patient, and there is no change in outcome when doing self-breast exams? I don’t have a solid scientific explanation, but my hunch would be that women do know an actual abnormal lump when they feel it whether that is an accidental finding or a monthly self-breast exam.

The increase in unnecessary breast procedures in women that do monthly self-breast exams is probably due to women being overly meticulous with their exams.

So, what do I recommend? I will align with the American Cancer Society which continues to recommend monthly breast exams because I do want to catch those 40 percent of breast cancers.

A Proper Go at a Self-Breast Exam

Here is how to do the self-breast exam:

Look in a mirror while standing with your breasts exposed. Place your hands on your hips and look for dimpling or puckering or any changes in shape or size.

Check to see if your nipples are inverted when they were not previously.

Raise your arms over your head and press the palms of your hands together and again inspect in the mirror if any abnormalities present themselves.

Lift up your breasts to see if there are abnormalities underneath.

Perform the manual exam either lying down or in the shower. Use the pads of your three middle fingers to examine the breasts. Systematically examine each breast at different pressure levels to examine different levels of the breast. Establish a routine that examines each entire breast. Clock, pie slice, horizontal or vertical methods are examples. Make sure to examine up into the armpits also.

If you find abnormalities, report that to your physician. Breast self-exams are controversial but mammograms and yearly physician breast exams are not. This is how the other 60 percent of breast cancers are discovered, and I strongly recommend mammograms and physician breast exams be done as recommended by your physician regardless of normal self-breast exams.

Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

If an abnormal heart rate or blood pressure is not detected, it is possible that serious heart conditions could go undiagnosed and untreated. It is simple to check your pulse rate on your wrist, and it is also quite simple to purchase a home blood pressure monitor and follow the instructions to check your blood pressure.

Unfortunately, there are problems with doing these things yourself. Stress and anxiety may definitely increase both your heart rate and blood pressure. So, what happens? You check your pulse or blood pressure, and it is slightly elevated. You get upset and this causes anxiety.

Of course, you want to check it again and make sure that it was maybe just an abnormal reading. But because you are now upset, it goes even higher which in turn heightens your anxiety even more. Thus, your pulse and blood pressure rise even higher.

This may become a vicious cycle and lead to constant states of worry and rechecking of these numbers. If you are already being treated for such conditions with medications, it may even turn into recurrent communications to your physician asking to increase then decrease medication when it is over-compensated.

So, my advice would be to check your pulse monthly when you are relaxed, calm and rested. Your resting pulse generally should be within 60 to 100 beats per minute. If it is not in this range, do not panic. Relax again. Take a few more readings and simply report this to your physician if it is out of range.

Now, these guidelines are within reason. If your pulse is below 40 or above 150 when resting, this is emergent, and you should be driven to the emergency room or call 911 right away.

Checking your pulse is easy. So, I think it is worth doing. I do not advise you go out and purchase a blood pressure monitor and check blood pressure readings unless instructed to do so by your physician.

In fact, that is my advice for all of these simple check ups you can do on your own. Discuss them with your physician and decide on a self-check regimen that is best suited for you.

Do not rely on self-exams to detect problems. Go to your doctor’s appointments as instructed and get the necessary tests and exams to get and keep yourself as healthy as possible.

Are you doing self-exams as instructed by your physician? Do you feel the combination of exams and tests performed by your physician in conjunction with your self-exams is optimized for your health? What are your thoughts?

If you are over 50, chances are you’ve noticed a few changes in your eyebrow area. Figuring out how to get the shape just right without making your brows look drawn on, too dark, too thick or uneven can be challenging. But with the right products, techniques and some practice, you can create beautiful, natural-looking brows.

Now, I’m going to be perfectly honest here. There’s no one product or technique that will work for all of us. So, learning what works best for you will most likely involve some experimentation with different techniques and products and take some time.

But I will tell you that spending some extra time to practice various techniques and try out different eyebrow products will definitely be worth it. Why? Because filling in our brows is one of the top four things those of us over 50 can do to look out best.

Helpful Eyebrow Tools – Including Several You May Not Have Used

First let’s focus on the necessary eyebrow tools. In addition to a small scissors and tweezers, another necessary tool is a firm, thin, angled eyebrow brush that has a spoolie on the other end.

Other helpful tools are eyebrow stencils, a primer pencil and loose translucent powder. A stencil can help guide us in creating a great shape for our brows, especially if they’re sparse. You can purchase a single stencil, or a stencil kit. Some provide an elastic band that holds the stencil in place while we apply our eyebrow product.

The primer pencil and powder can help create a base which helps eyebrow products adhere better to sparse brow areas. The primer pencil I use in the video is from Anastasia of Beverly Hills (ABH Pro Pencil) and the translucent powder is from Laura Mercier.

The Right Color and Eyebrow Products (Including a Newer One!)

Just about every makeup line makes eyebrow products, but the two brands that carry the widest selection of eyebrow products and colors are Benefit and Anastasia of Beverly Hills (ABH). Since it’s important to match our brow color as closely as possible, these two makeup lines could be helpful in your search.

Brow colors – even with the same name – can vary a lot from brand to brand. Some will have more of a warm undertone. Others will have a cool or neutral undertone. I always suggest starting with a brow color that’s one shade lighter than you think would match your brows.

An eyebrow product that’s too dark can end up looking very harsh and age us. And since we’re sometimes applying quite a few strokes with a powder, pencil or pomade when we have sparse brows, the brows can darken very quickly.

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

I get many questions about the best brow color for those of us with gray or salt and pepper brows. If there is more gray than natural hair color in the brows, you may want to try a gray powder or pencil. If the brow hair is more salt and pepper, going toward a taupe color might work well. It’s helpful to try out both color options to see which looks and feels most comfortable.

Other brow products are pomades (which are creams) and gels which keep the brows in place and can add color if we choose a tinted gel. There’s also a newer product: eyebrow tint pens. The tint pens have a very fine tip which allows us to create hair-like strokes. There is a bit of a learning curve with these pens, but the results can look beautifully natural.

Brows Filling-In Process

So now let’s walk through the steps to fill in our brows.

#1: Trimming

Check to see if you need to trim any wayward brow hairs. To do this, brush up the brow hair with a spoolie to see if you need to do any snipping with your small scissors.

#2: Tweezing

If there are any brow hairs that are really outside your brow shape, tweeze them.

#3: Primer (Optional)

The application of an eyebrow primer pencil and translucent powder will help the next products adhere better.

#4: Shape and Fill In

If you feel comfortable using an eyebrow pencil, this is the time to do it. Then you can either fill in your brows with an eyebrow pencil using very short, hairlike strokes or fill in the brows with a powder.

If you have very sparse brow hair, powder won’t adhere as well to the skin as a pencil or pomade will. No matter what product you decide to use, it’s important to slowly build up the shape of the brow and start soft and light.

#5: Excess Powder

Next, take the spoolie, and work it through the eyebrows to remove any excess powder which helps the eyebrows look more natural.

#6: Outlining (Optional)

Very lightly outline along the top and bottom of the brows with a very thin eyebrow pencil. Then run the spoolie through the brows one more time.

It’s also possible to make the brows look a little thicker by adding in a very small amount of a slightly darker shade. Then remove the stencil if you’ve been using one so you can see how the brows look.

Of course it sometimes works very well to combine eyebrow products on each eyebrow. This might work especially well if your eyebrows are fuller in front but are sparser in the eyebrow tail area. In this case, the powder would work well at the front of the brow and the pencil might work best on the tail of the brow.

#7: Pomade & Tint Pen

It can sometimes look especially natural to stroke in a few light, hair-like strokes with a brow tint pen on the very front part of our brows and then use other products to fill in the rest of the brows. Three companies that make especially good pomades are ABH, Benefit with their Kabrow product, and Maybelline. Many companies are making brow tint pens including NYX, Milani, Urban Decay and ABH. When finished, once again run the spoolie through each brow.

Help for Wiry Brows

If you have very wiry brow hairs, you may want to use a brow gel on top of another product to help keep those hairs in place. And if you have brow hairs that are really wiry and difficult to keep in place, Benefit has a great product called 24-Hour Brow Setter Clear Eyebrow Gel. Other brands with excellent products include Jason Ta (Major Brow Shaping Wax) and ABH (Brow Freeze).

3 Additional Products

And there are three other products I want to share with you all.

Fiber Products

Several companies make brow products that have fibers in them which can help create a thicker looking brow. The most well-known one is Benefit’s Gimme Brow.

Long Lasting Color

There’s also a product called Wunderbrow which is a liquid with a brush. It’s a longer lasting brow product that keeps the color in the brows for up to three days.

Anti-Smudger

And if you have extremely sparse brows and are worried about brow products smudging off, let me share that many people with alopecia use a sealant lacquer that can be applied over a brow product to keep it in place. It’s called Bald Girls Do Lunch Sealant Lacquer.

Special Eyebrow Treatments

In addition to the usual techniques mentioned above, there are other available treatments you can choose to try.

Growth Serums

There are many eyebrow growth serum options on the market at a wide range of price points. And many of them do work. I actually tried one that I absolutely loved, but since my eyes are very sensitive (and I have undergone three eye surgeries), I was unsure if I might have a reaction.

I would always recommend checking with your eye doctor and thoroughly reading product reviews before purchasing any eyebrow growth serum product.

Tinting

Tinting your own brows or having them tinted at a hair salon is another option. If you decide to do it yourself, a product that’s worked very well for many women is – believe it or not – a product called Just for Men Beard Dye.

Tattooing & Microblading

In my makeup classes, a number of women have shared their experiences with eyebrow tattooing and microblading. These range from very satisfied to mediocre. So, I would say much depends on the experience and qualifications of the person who’s doing the procedure. Ask around and get recommendations and feedback before you go ahead with either tattooing or microblading.

Here are just a few of the things to be aware of with tattooing and microblading. Very thin, brittle skin may not heal well from either procedure so it’s important to go to a licensed professional to get an evaluation.

Tattooing is done with permanent ink, and it’s applied either by hand or machine and involves insertion of needles in the skin. However, be aware that the ink does fade over time and can often develop a blue/green cast after a few years so the process may need to be repeated after five or so years.

Microblading involves the use of needles that make way for pigment to be placed in the skin. When the fine cuts of the needles heal, a crisp, thin line is formed which mimics the shape and texture of natural eyebrows.

Since only a little pigment can be put into the skin at one time during this process, microblading lasts anywhere from 6 to 18 months. So, it does need to be repeated quite often.

As mentioned earlier, always check with people who have had the procedure done to find out what their experience has been and carefully check out the qualifications of the person you are considering.

Do you have any favorite brow products that you’d recommend? Have you ever used an eyebrow growth serum? If so, how did it work for you? If you’ve ever tinted your brows or had them tattooed or microbladed, please share your experience.