Hello from truly authentic, out of the shower and make-up free me!
Have you noticed that during this hard time, social media is becoming filled with more authenticity? I’m seeing it everywhere. And since a few of you wrote to me and confided that life is worrying and finances are super tight right now, I want to help if I can.
Please know that I hear you and I understand what it’s like to worry about jobs and finances. I truly do.
So here’s a fun tip that I’m embarrassed to share — but if you’re on a very tight budget, or even if you aren’t — this is such a good beauty hack.
Tint your own eyebrows.
Eyebrow tinting costs $19 to have done at a Benefits make-up counter here in Sydney, so a few years ago I decided to buy my own dye kit and give it a whirl. I need to tint my eyebrows around once a month (mousy blonde and now a little grey!), and when the Benefits beauty consultant did it for me I realised it was a simple process.
After all, eyebrows are the frame for our faces and they matter a lot when it comes to how we look. For you, I’ve done some research:
As we age, our eyebrows get lighter and more sparse and — get this — farther apart.
Apparently the trick to youthful looking eyebrows is to make sure there’s not a huge gap between them.
We all over-plucked when we were young.
The beauty experts are not in agreement about the best way to fill in eyebrows — pencil or powder — so I will leave that to you.
But today, for all my readers on a strict budget, I’m bringing you my eyebrow dye kit secret.
From my Benefit eyebrow tinting appointment, I switched to this one called 1000 Hour that clocks in at $19.99. I thought it was fine, but the tubes were tiny. The package says you get 12 applications.
Then I read on a fashion blog that this one is exactly the same, and a little more than half the price for six times as much product. I’m laughing at myself right now, but there you go. I use JUST FOR MEN Moustache & Beard tint and it lasts forever! Go figure. Products for women are always more expensive.
If you need a little tutorial, it is so easy. You can see the results in the photo of me, so you’ll know it’s not too dark or weird. I took the photo immediately after tinting my own eyebrows.
Mix up the colour (two tubes, equal parts). You need very little.
Feather it on your eyebrows with a cotton swab or a mascara spoolie - be careful as it will stain your skin. Any staining will fade in 1-2 days
Wait five minutes
Don’t get scared — it will look super dark, sort of Oscar the Grouch meets Cara Delevingne.
Wipe off with wet cotton pads
Done!
If you need an easy, at home and inexpensive pick-me-up, DIY eyebrow tinting might be for you. I know it doesn’t solve anything, but sometimes a quick, easy change makes a difference to how we feel. And if it works during this crazy pandemic, it’s a good thing.
Sending so much encouragement, especially if times are hard.
Love, Catherine x
PS.
My friends, I’m Canadian and Australian. I want to acknowledge my sorrow over the senseless violence in my home country this week. For all the people mourning loved ones in Nova Scotia, my heart is with you. Photo of a sunset on Cape Breton Island by my internet friend and artist, Melinda. You can find her here.
