Not even beauty girls in the know had any idea about how big eyebrows were going to be. If we told you a few years ago that makeup lovers would be as excited for eyebrow gel and pencil launches as they were for new lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes, you wouldn’t have believed us. Now, we’re obsessing over microblading, threading, brow stamps, Instagram eyebrows — and colored eyebrows. While the fishtail brow, garden brow, brow carving, halo brow and wavy brow (remember those?) have all had their 15 minutes of viral fame, the rainbow eyebrow is the one trend that just won’t quit.
For the last couple of seasons, there were always a few runway shows that featured colored eyebrows. Instagram makeup artists are keeping the look alive by playing around with brow colors as much as lipstick and contouring trends. In a testament to the look’s staying power, beauty brands are even expanding their eyebrow products beyond the usual black, brown and bronde to include a rainbow of colorful options. Kat Von D and Benefit Cosmetics have recently launched wider shade options and, while other brands will no doubt follow, there are many other types of beauty products that can be used to achieve a colorful eyebrow look.
If you’re not quite ready to decorate your brows with tinsel, fake grass or 500 studs, colored brows can seem like a wearable alternative, especially when the product is applied sparingly. A shot of color wakes up the eye area and succeeds in drawing attention away from dark circles. To master the lewk, it’s really a matter of choosing the right occasion. Colorful brows may be a little too intense for every day, but they’re perfect for festival season or on the weekend when a smoky eye just doesn’t feel extra enough. And not taking things (or yourself) too seriously is key.
Be bold and embrace colored eyebrows the way we have celebrated unicorn beauty products and glitter. Newbies can start off with a subtle tint and gradually increase the intensity of their rainbow brows. To get started, we’ve rounded up the best products for achieving flawless colorful brows right now.
[ Next: These 10 Brow Powders Will Take Years Off Your Face ]
Colored Brows Are the Eyebrow Trend That's Here to Stay
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Kat Von D
24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, $19 at Sephora
There are an unprecedented 16 colors in this new brow launch. That's double, if not triple, a lot of other brands' offerings. Seven of the shades are more traditional options. Then there are eight punchy colors and a white hue for mixing to create more unique brow colors. No matter the shade, it will last from day to night to even the next morning. The pomade is waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof and budge-proof. The product is also loaded with pigment for a look-at-me finish.
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Benefit Cosmetics
3D BROWtones Eyebrow Enhancer, $24 at Benefit Cosmetics
Want to try colored brows, but aren't ready for a wham-bam hit of color just yet? The Benefit Cosmetics 3D BROWtones are meant to leave behind subtle brow highlights. Those who want to increase the intensity can try pairing the gel with a colorful pencil. There are four nontraditional color options as well as three classic shades for natural makeup days.
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NYX Professional Makeup
Slim Eye Pencil, $4 at NYX Cosmetics
These pencils are available in a whopping 31 shades. Resist the temptation to stick with brown or black and try a proper bold hue. They're not specifically meant for brows, but are great for achieving a rainbow brow look thanks to the creamy, long-wearing formula that doesn't bleed. At $4 each, get a few pencils to try a multicolored eyebrow look. We dare you.
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Distinction Brow & Lash
Indelible Gel Brow Liner, $16 at Distinction Brow & Lash
The indie brand has traditional and fantasy brow colors that are meant to encourage us to live our lives as "vibrantly and as colorfully as [we] desire." It's a fun message we can get behind, especially with such fun brow powders and liners. The latter have a rich pigment that will hold up to a full day at a festival or a fun night out with the girls.
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BBrowbar
Limited Edition Brow Glitter, $20 at Net-a-Porter
Intimidated by the idea of a heavily pigmented brow powder? How about brow glitter? Hear us out: the brow gel tames unruly hairs while imparting a hint of colored sparkle (silver or gold). It feeds the need for glitter and is a unique way to try rainbow brows. When applied sparingly, it's subtle enough to get away with every day. Really.
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Marc Jacobs Beauty
Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner, $25 at Sephora
This pencil will deliver colored eyebrows on fleek. Choose between shimmer and matte finishes for an extra look. The product is formulated with vitamin E and rosehip seed oil so brows will get nourishment as well as eye-popping color. Feeling bold? There are 32 colors to choose from, so don't be afraid to wear a couple at the same time.
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Urban Decay
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, $20 at Urban Decay
Urban Decay has one of the most extensive eye pencil collections with 44 shades to choose from. They're great for playing around with colorful liner plus the creamy, long-wearing pencils are brilliant for achieving colored brows. The waterproof pencils dry down to an intense finish that will last. Remember them come the weekend and festival season.
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Black Beauty Cosmetics
Eye Brow Pomade, $4.50 at Etsy
Black Beauty Cosmetics is about creating makeup that's cruelty-free and affordable for everyone. This rich blue eyebrow pomade gives brows a soft navy tint that's surprisingly wearable thanks to its medium opacity. Unlike some brow pomades, it doesn't leave eyebrows feeling waxy or crusty. Once it's on, it's staying on.
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Make Up For Ever
Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil, $19 at Make Up For Ever
Black, blonde and brown? Pah. How about shimmering plum, silver and pistachio green? The eyeliner pencils come in a range of pretty shades that are perfect for creating colorful brows. Rest assured, the creamy, pigmented formula will show up on dark eyebrows. There's no need to worry about it running down cheeks because it's fade-resistant and waterproof.
