Skip to main content
The Smith family at the Bad Boys premiere.
Kourtney Kardashian at the Grammys red carpet event.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom enjoying a romantic moment.

3 Brow Makeup Mistakes You Probably Don't Even Know You’re Making, MUAs Warn—They Add Years To Your Look

May 20, 2024 by Marissa Matozzo
shefinds |
Featured image

To avoid highlighting wrinkles while filling eyebrows with makeup, we sought advice from professional makeup artists. They identified three common mistakes and provided tips to help achieve bold and beautiful brows. Read on for valuable tips, suggestions, and expert insights from makeup artists and professionals: Mary Winkenwerder and Mandie Brice.

 

house unit img
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
Woman applying eyebrow pencil for a polished look.

3 Common Eyebrow-Related Errors Re: Makeup & Skincare

1. Over-Filling With Too Much Product

By using "too much product" on your brows, Winkenwerder helps explain, you may be inadvertently drawing eyes to forehead wrinkles and fine lines around your peepers. In order to avoid this, she says to firstly "make sure your brow area is completely clean" before applying any brow pencils, and then to "apply color products directly to the area you want to fill in."

The key here, she says, is to "apply a little, not a lot," and to only "build up if needed." Going slow and steady is essential, she adds. "Compare the color of the filler to the color of your brow, move forward accordingly." If you need to clean up stray color (and this happens), Winkenwerder advise to then take a q-tip with a bit of alcohol and dab until the out of shape color is gone.

She stresses to "allow brow products to set and bind to the brow hair and skin area" before adding on more.

Cleaning makeup brush with soap and water.

2. Not Washing Your Brushes And Tools Regularly

Improper cleaning of makeup brushes and tools can impede the process of eyebrow filling. Neglecting to wash them often may cause breakouts, clogged pores and patchy-looking, uneven brows, Brice says.

The way you apply your favorite makeup products matters, as well as the tools you use daily. In addition, this could then make fine lines and sagging skin more obvious. "Another error boils down to hygiene," she says. "I think so many of us are guilty of not washing our brushes as often as we should."

Brice adds that "applying with our fingers can be a mistake, if we don't first wash our hands." This can also lead to more breakouts, she emphasizes, or even infection.

Filling in eyebrows with eyeliner for defined shape.

3. Using The Wrong Products For Your Brows

One last vital tip that Winkenwerder has for mature beauties who want to fill in their brows is to "choose reputable products for brow-filling moments." Substituting one product that looks similar to a dedicated brow product spells disaster, she notes.

"Products made for brow art and filling are specifically made for this purpose," Winkenwerder says, adding, "the pencils, gels, and creams apply to the brow area in a certain way, bind to the skin, finish in a certain way, and wear for long periods of time."

Mature woman applying brow gel for a fuller appearance.

The Bottom Line

The consistency of a product created for brows is "different from a hard eyeliner, lipstick, eye shadow, or other product designed for a different part of the face," so Winkenwerder goes on to suggest to "not skimp on the products you use to fill in your brows."

Her final tip to avoid highlighting wrinkles by over-filling your brows is to "take an afternoon and get to know your products" until working with your brows is second nature. "This should be a part of your makeup routine and done with great confidence and ease," she concludes.

Author:

Former Senior Staff Writer

Marissa is a Brooklyn-based journalist and former senior staff writer at SheFinds, specializing in pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She crafted engaging, SEO-driven content on celebrity style, entertainment news, beauty trends, and wellness. Her work, including red carpet coverage and features on fashion, music, film, and NYC culture, has appeared in PAPER Magazine, Paste Magazine, The Knockturnal, Bandsintown, and more. When not writing, you can find her with her nose in a great book, at an indie concert, vintage shopping or visiting the best coffeeshops in NYC.

Woman experiencing hair loss and seeking solutions.
Woman enjoying a donut late at night, smiling.
Bianca Censori at Marin Fall/Winter fashion show.
David Vance and Usha Vance at Elysee Palace in Paris.
Shania Twain performing at the Annual Academy of Country Music.
Modern workspace with a person typing on a laptop.
Chic haircuts for women over 50 trending in 2026.
Donald Trump speaking at a maternal healthcare event.
Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton at a royal event.
Middle-aged woman working out, focused on her fitness goals.
Kim Kardashian at Kering's Caring for Women dinner.
Kylie Jenner with Stormi and Timothée Chalamet at a gathering.
Madonna stunning at the Met Gala.
Taylor Swift arriving in a private jet, 2024.
Woman experiencing fatigue from lack of sleep.
Banana nice cream served in a bowl with toppings.
Jennifer Lopez wearing Defiance at the AMAs 2025.
Vittoria Ceretti and Leonardo DiCaprio at an event.
Emma Stone at the Annual Actor Awards ceremony.
Salma Hayek at the 12th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.
Woman experiencing hair loss and seeking solutions.
Woman enjoying a donut late at night, smiling.
Bianca Censori at Marin Fall/Winter fashion show.
David Vance and Usha Vance at Elysee Palace in Paris.
Shania Twain performing at the Annual Academy of Country Music.
Modern workspace with a person typing on a laptop.
Chic haircuts for women over 50 trending in 2026.
Donald Trump speaking at a maternal healthcare event.
Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton at a royal event.
Middle-aged woman working out, focused on her fitness goals.
Kim Kardashian at Kering's Caring for Women dinner.
Kylie Jenner with Stormi and Timothée Chalamet at a gathering.
Madonna stunning at the Met Gala.
Taylor Swift arriving in a private jet, 2024.
Woman experiencing fatigue from lack of sleep.
Banana nice cream served in a bowl with toppings.
Jennifer Lopez wearing Defiance at the AMAs 2025.
Vittoria Ceretti and Leonardo DiCaprio at an event.
Emma Stone at the Annual Actor Awards ceremony.
Salma Hayek at the 12th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.