Get Your Best Summer Brows: Tips From Umbreen Founder Of Wink Brow Bar

Throughout the decades, brow looks come and go. Full, bushy brows evoke 80s-era Brooke Shields. Super skinny brows scream late 90s. Recently, the perfectly painted “Insta Brow” has been having a major moment.

For 2019, a more easy-going, lower-maintenance, the natural brow is trending. To achieve this look, we tapped brow guru Umbreen Sheikh for her best tips. As a licensed cosmetologist and Founder + CEO of Wink Brow Bar, Umbreen is a bonafide brow savant. Here’s how she – and her teams at Wink’s multiple locations in New York City, Brooklyn, and London – are helping clients live their best brow lives.

Umbreen Sheikh’s Top 6 Brow Tricks 

1. Assume the position

While you might think you need to park yourself thisclose to the mirror to precision-groom your brows, that isn’t actually the case. “Standing too close can throw-off your brow proportions, and make you lose perspective on the overall shape,” says Umbreen. “For best results, stand at least one foot away.”

2. Break out the brush

Short on time? At the very least, give your brows a thorough brushing. Stroke up and over, and then anchor your arches with a dab of brow gel or clear mascara. (More on brow gel shade-selection below.) FYI, the Wink tool of choice has an angled side and a spoolie on one end, so consider investing in a brow brush of similar quality. You’ll be using it every day, so it will pay for itself in no time.

3. Select your ideal shade

Picking the perfect, slam-dunk shade of gel, pencil or powder is crucial, so this is where you need to spend real quality time. As a general rule, you’ll want to match your hair roots, which are typically one shade lighter than your brows. “Most women want their brows to add definition to their face, and not ‘read’ as harsh or aggressive,” says Umbreen. “Matching your brows to your roots does that.” With one exception, Umbreen cautions. “If you’re blonde, go a shade darker than your roots. Otherwise, you’ll look washed-out.” NOTE: If you opt for professional brow tinting, which lasts for up to four weeks and is among Wink’s most popular services, you can skip this shade-selection tip altogether. How easy is that?

4. Get a little nosey

One of the very best things about next-level brow grooming, whether you master it yourself or pop by Wink for professional assistance, is that it allows you to visually alter the shape of your nose. Thinner, wider – whatever nose look you’re after, beautiful brows can help you get there. If you’re opting for thinner, Umbreen recommends drawing an imaginary vertical line from the tip of your nose to the beginning of your brow and then focusing your shade-filling right there at the start. To make your nose appear wider, do the opposite and focus your shade-filling at the end of your brow, not the beginning.

5. Pencil (or powder) it in

Whichever shade format you choose, the absolute key to success is to follow the basic shape of your existing brow. Go easy, and only add color between hairs, as needed. “The idea is to shade, not ‘draw’ your brows on from scratch,” says Umbreen. “The goal is a soft, subtle look that lends definition. Straight, hard lines are to be avoided at all costs.”

 

6. Between brow appointments, “cheat” with concealer
Pressed for time? If you can’t make it into Wink or carve-out 15 minutes to do a thorough DIY bathroom brow-grooming sesh, Umbreen recommends adding a dab of concealer on the most unruly hairs. “Whatever you do, resist the temptation to just yank them out,” she says. “Brows add so much structure and personality to your face that you really want to take your time, and groom properly. Or better yet, head to Wink, and let us help.”

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Peace and Embrowerment to all! 

ABOUT UMBREEN SHEIKH, FOUNDER + CEO

The #BossLady of Brows, London-born / New York-based Umbreen Sheikh is on a mission to embrower every woman she comes in contact with.

A second-generation cosmetologist, Umbreen learned the ancient technique of threading from her mother, who owned several London salons. In transferring this centuries-old knowledge to her curious, capable daughter, little did Umbreen’s mother know that she was setting the stage for a brow-centric beauty empire.

Of course, there were plot twists along the way, namely Umbreen’s decision to attend University at King’s College London and obtain a degree in Biomedical Sciences. But it was a post-University move to Manhattan that would eventually bring Umbreen, full-circle, right back to brows.

After marrying in 2003 and relocating to New York with her seasoned financier husband, Umbreen spent time in the publishing world, as the PR Director for a niche magazine. Simultaneously, she was starting a family of her own. By 2011, she had two children. And once her tots were securely tucked away in school for most of their day, Umbreen knew it was time to get cracking on her career.

But what to do?

Like all visionary entrepreneurs, Umbreen started with what’s known in the biz world as a  Need-Gap Analysis. What product or service was she – and busy, demanding, like-minded women just like her  – missing?

It wasn’t long before Umbreen landed on next-level organic threading as the ultimate unmet beauty need. By 2014, she’d developed the concept for Wink Brow Bar. And ever since, she’s been in full-on growth mode – adding locations, services and products at breakneck speed. Seguing from luxury threading studio to immersive beauty brand, today’s Wink is covering all the bases.

In addition to caring for her family and running her business, Umbreen is heavily involved in philanthropic endeavors. As a committee member of Developments In Literacy, she has helped educate 27,000 Pakistani girls. She is also a Lotus Circle Advisor for The Asia Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the rights and opportunities for women throughout Asia.

Umbreen resides with her family in New York City.

LashFood: Natural, High-Performance Products

LashFood offers a selection of natural, high-performance products that transform and enhance eyebrows and eyelashes with the proprietary Phyto-Medic Complex – harvested from Jeju Island, South Korea’s jewel of the sea. The Phyto-Medic Complex immerses lashes and brows in a patented cocktail of powerful herb extracts to dramatically restore their appearance, without irritating skin.

LASHFOOD PHYTO-MEDIC LASH ENHANCER ($78, Sephora, Ulta): The world’s first and only Eco-Certified lash enhancing serum. This breakthrough, powerful formula is clinically demonstrated to provide the appearance of longer, thicker lashes and to support frail, brittle lashes to appear healthy and strong. Patented Phyto-Medic Complex delivers nutrients to feed lashes with nature’s most powerful ingredients.

LASHFOOD PHYTO-MEDIC BROW ENHANCER ($88, Sephora, Ulta): The world’s first and only Eco-Certified brow enhancing serum to help restore the look of brows. Create the appearance of thicker, fuller, stronger brows with this revolutionary, natural eyebrow enhancer. BrowFood is a powerful formula clinically demonstrated to enhance the look over over-plucked, thin, and uneven brows. Patented Phyto-Medic Complex delivers nutrients to feed brows with nature’s most powerful ingredients.

 

LASHFOOD EYELASH EXTENSION IN A BOTTLE ($28, Sephora, Ulta): A two-step brush-on lash extension system. 1.) conditioning extending fibers 2.) sealing mascara with a built in comb.

Rimmel London – Brow This Way Highlighting Pencil

Rimmel London Brow This Way Highlighting Pencil—the perfect way to accentuate your brows and arch. This product will instantly add definition to your eyes.

Rimmel London Brow This Way Highlighting Pencil – Get BEAUTIFUL BROWS and  BIGGER EYES
  • -Lifts and illuminates the brow arch
  • -Highlight your brow bone for added eye impact
  • -Jumbo pencil makes application quick and easy
  • -Soft formula for a smooth application and easy to blend

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Holiday Travel Essentials – Must Have Products

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what essentials you need to bring for your holiday travel needs.  Pack light by bringing only the most important essentials.

Your 6 Holiday Travel Essentials

Travel Essentials
1. The Refresher: During this crazy time, you want to clean and refresh your face AM and PM. For one that refreshes skin and foams away makeup and impurities –

Lumene’s Bright Tough Refreshing Cleansing Foam ($10.99, CVS)

2. The Best Face Base: You want to look airbrushed, who doesn’t? For an optical line and pore minimizer with instantly beautifying effect –

Lumene’s Bright Now Line & Pore Minimizer ($19.99, CVS)

3. The Perfect Brows: For easy shaping and filling go to the all-in-1 helper –

Smashbox Brow Tech To Go ($28, Sephora)

4. The Winter Glow: Get the perfect rush of color with a silky powder blush –

Smashbox Blush Rush ($24, Sephora)

5. The Perfect Red Lip: Pucker up with the perfect pout in your favorite holiday shade –

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick ($20, Sephora)

6. The Secret Weapon: Through all the highs and lows of the holiday season, make sure you have a spot treatment on-hand to fight against any surprise breakouts –

DDF Acne Control Treatment ($46, DDFSkincare.com)

The Chella Brow and Eye Collection – Video

Brows have been under the beauty spotlight for quite some time now, and we don’t see them going anywhere soon. Whether they’re bleached, dyed or tinted, they may be ‘bushy groomed’ a la Cara D, or filled in and shaped causing a full frontal transformation. By now we know the perfect pick me up is a good brow job. When we have that perfect arch, matching color or perfect balance of natural and shaped, we can get an instant face lift.

The Chella Brow and Eye Collection has made this process easy for you by offering you the essentials to transform your face and maybe fix what you were left with after your wax appointment. Maybe you’re in between appointments and need to hide some unruly hairs, or you’re looking for an arch transformation – bad breakup, new look?

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The Chella Brow Color Kit comes equip with a color defining brow pencil, brow gel to hold them in place even on the windiest day and highlighter pencil to make a good contour – Kim K contouring lesson with Chella? If you’re looking to venture for a whole new look, invest in the Chella Tool Kit for the full transformation with scissors, tweezers and a razor comb, that will hold nicely in a safe tool case.

Kim Kardashian Eyebrows
Kim Kardashian Eyebrows

Chella is all about making statements for those of us brave enough to keep our brows natural and fighting between Cara D and Lily Collins. The Chella Collection is also perfect for those of us that give our brows some more attention to make sure they don’t ever get out of place.

[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvNAMQm17GE[/youtube]

Joey Healy via “Veria Living Live” Mastering the Perfect Brow

 

Earlier this week on Veria Living Live (on the Veria Living TV Network) – a triple threat in the beauty industry, Joey Healy, made a special guest appearance to teach viewers how to master the art of the eyebrow in a special “Ask the Expert” segment. Lucky for you, we snagged his expert tips for you to share with your readers.

Joey Healy is a prominent eyebrow stylist, professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician. With a unique approach to creating the perfect brow, Joey’s methods are second to none. Utilizing his talents, Joey has become a favorite among celebrities and companies including Kyra Sedgwick, Aviva Drescher and Carole Radziwill of The Real Housewives of New York, Andy Cohen of Watch What Happens Live, Sean Young of Blade Runner, the New York City Ballet, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bravo!, Neiman Marcus, Dress for Success, MTV and many more.

 

 

3 SECRETS TO THE BEST BROW

#1: FIND YOUR BROW BONE!

Many women have flat eyebrows, which shorten their face. The goal is to elongate the face.

To do this, use your brow brush to hold against the bridge of your nose – this is where your eyebrow should start (also where you should start enhancing your brow with brow powder). Put your brow pencil diagonal towards your outer eye – this is the bare minimum of where your eyebrow should end. You should create an arch 2/3 of the way out.

 

#2: COLOR & TWEEZE!

You can use a brow powder or brow pencil for fixing gaps in the eyebrow.

TIP: Use a light hand, not a heavy hand, and color IN vs. OUT

TIP: NEVER WAX! Tweezing gives you better detail and less room for error

 

#3: INSTANT EYE-LIFT!

Joey’s “high rise” spotlight highlighter will take 10 years off your face. To use: Highlight the brow bone to give you a youthful radiance. Apply just below the arch of your brow for an instant eye-lift.

•TIP: highlighter can also be used under the eyes to camouflage dark shadows.


 

Mommy-ista Dressing and Beauty Tips: Look Fabulous while Being a Mom

As a mom you’re busy going to school meetings, shopping for groceries, and picking up socks.  Honestly, there’s barely enough time in the day to get it all done, let alone time to fix yourself up. But mommy-istas, today is a new day!  We need to embrace motherhood with a sense of vengeance and look fabulous while on this journey.

There’s a few rules that every mom should remember as “the going gets tough.”  Rule number one: In order for everyone to be happy (and sane) in your home, your sense of happiness is very important.  Number two:  It’s completely okay to pick up a new tube of lipstick while shopping for pampers.  And number three:  Find a gym that has mommy daycare so everyone can have a “time out.”

Now that the rules have been established, let’s talk about looking fabulous.  With so many celebrity moms like Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian, and Jessica Simpson, they have opened the doors for better apparel and beauty products.

 

Your probably saying to yourself, “good for them” but becoming a mom’s truly a unique sisterhood. When you enter this girls club, there’s always the uncontrollable issue of time. Which means we need (better) products that get us out of the door quickly, make us look good, and are cost efficient.

Based upon my own experiences, I have decided to share a few “mommy” secrets in regards to dress and my daily beauty regimen. 

Mommy-ista Dressing Must Haves

1. A cute pair of flats: They can be purchased from Target or Channel but you need a pair of flats in your wardrobe…it’s difficult to chase kids in stilettos (honestly.)  Also, flats are perfect for when you wear heels and need to take a break.  You can carry flats in your purse and use them when needed.

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2. Jeans are purchased in three categories: You have date night jeans that are sexy, stylish, and slightly trendy. You have parent/teacher conference jeans that look appropriate with a blazer…not too tight or sexy. You have shopping jeans that are comfortable…not “mom jeans” and can be worn with any pair of shoes.

3. Stylish pair of pumps/heels:  Eventually you will have a “Girls Night Out” or need to wear them to the office.  Every mom should have a pair in her wardrobe.  When starting out, purchase them in basic colors and progress towards “fun” heels.

4. A blazer can do wonders:  Wearing a blazer instantly makes you look stylish but can also hide a few figure imperfections.  They can also go with anything (depending on the color and fabric texture) so this is a must have in your “mommy” wardrobe.

 

5. Proper undergarments:  Once you become a mom (no matter what size) you will have a case of the “jiggles.”  And that’s okay because as a grown woman, you want to have curves but undergarments assist with the shape/fit of your attire.  Stop by your favorite lingerie store and purchase a cami top, hosiery, and body shaper.

Mommy-ista Beauty Tips

1. Buy Concealer and Foundation: This particular beauty product is your best friend! You have long nights, and early mornings (very different from college.)  Therefore at some point, you will want to look awake and refreshed.  Concealer and Foundation can be purchased at Saks or at a local drugstore.  For more questions about concealer, download my e-book Beauty Tips Back to The Basics.

2. Neutral Lipstick and Red Lipstick:  Wearing a neutral lipstick will make your face appear upbeat and match any color blouse (or dress) in your wardrobe.  Wearing a red lipstick will brighten the eyes and refresh your face as well.

3. Groom those Eyebrows:  Your eyebrows are truly a window to the face!  They can be groomed at any local salon for $10.00 or a kit can be purchased from a local drugstore.

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4.  Fragrance, Fragrance, Fragrance:  Wearing a fragrance can boost any mood but most importantly, you will smell pleasant at all times (while running errands.)

 

5. Buy Quick Dry Nail Polish or Nail Stickers:  At some point, you will need to “appear” as if you’ve had a manicure.  Owning nail polish provides the luxury of making your hands look polished but also good for in-home touch ups.  Nail stickers are inexpensive and trendy.