This One Tweak Gave Me My Fullest-Looking Brows Ever

I’ve been doing my eyebrows ever since high school, where I, of course, over-plucked and waxed them to oblivion (whoops). It’s been a journey ever since. Luckily, part of my job as a beauty editor is interviewing celebrity makeup artists, so for the last 18 years, I’ve been putting their best brow tips to the test—on myself.

I’m thrilled to report that today my arches look full and fluffy (whew), but I still like to give them a little love. At night, I swipe on a conditioner to keep them strong and shiny. And in the a.m., I fill them in with my favorite brow pencil to accentuate my natural shape. But during a recent interview with celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo, I realized I’ve been doing one crucial step all wrong.

Instead of combing my brows up before filling them in (something I do every morning on my way to work), Oquendo revealed that the key is to brush them down (yes, down) first to better highlight exactly where you need to add color. While this felt weird to me, I am a lifelong makeup student, so I used my spoolie (a lash and brow brush that looks like a mascara wand without the mascara) to comb my eyebrows down. Instantly, I could see the spots where my brows needed a little boost. For the breakdown of his whole brow technique—he calls them “gym brows”—see the step-by-step below.

How to Get Gym Brows

What you’ll need: a spoolie, a brow pencil (that matches your brow color), a tinted brow gel, and a clear brow gel.

Brush your brows down

Using a spoolie, brush your eyebrows down. According to Oquendo, this is the best way to see exactly where you need to fill them in. They’ll look weird and droopy but trust the process.

Fill ’em in

Using thin, hair-like strokes, lightly draw the brow pencil where your brows look sparse. If you need help mapping out where your brows should start, arch, and end, simply use your pencil to guide you. To find your starting point, hold the pencil along the side of your nose—that’s where the front of your brow should begin. Keep your pencil along the side of your nose but move it so that it goes across your eyeball—voila—that’s your arch. Finally, fan the end of the pencil to the end of your brow—that’s where your tails should end. Most people need to add a little extra!

Swipe right

Add some color and hold by applying a tinted brow gel that matches your eyebrow hair. Brush up and out for a fluffy, full look.

Set and shine

Using a clear brow gel, lock it all in with a few swipes. This will ensure your brows stay in place throughout the day while giving them a glossy finish.

Want more tips?

I do! For more beauty hacks, check out Oquendo’s new YouTube show, Backseat Beauties, where he uses his 23 years of makeup experience to teach guests, including Nicole Richie, Jurnee Smollett, Misty Copeland, and more mini tutorials–all while riding around New York City. Beep, beep!