Brows from Shavata, Clarins and Joan Collins

3 min read

Eyebrows shape your face. They also keep the sweat out of your eyes. They can be thin, bushy, shaped, messy, thick, whatever. But, according to eyebrow guru, Shavata, they should always be groomed!

And preferably at one of her counters, of course. I had my brows done at the new Shavata counter in Edinburgh’s Harvey Nichols last month. Shavata opened there around six years ago, but she’s now moved to a bigger, better spot, across the other side of the beauty hall.

I was tinted by Shavata and threaded by Ameera when I was in. Ameera admitted she was terrified in the presence of Shavata herself, but she did a great job. I wanted my brows a bit thinner than they originally were, and it wasn’t a problem. Shavata works to create the brow you want, not the brow they think you should have, which is how it should be! (Eyebrow thread, £17, Eyebrow tint, £13)

Shavata and her Harvey Nichols brow studio

Shavata and her Harvey Nichols brow studio

She’s a formidable woman – an eyebrow evangelist you might say. She’s also brilliant at what she does. Shavata was the first woman to thread my brows – how lucky was I – all those years ago, and if I have to choose a way of getting these brows into shape, I think threading – good threading – is it.

Shavta eyebrows merle

My Shavata brows!

Yes, it’s a wee bit painful, but it’s not that bad, and the results are brilliant. They last a good few weeks as well, and you can pluck some away in between brow bar visits, especially if you get yourself one of Shavata’s 15 X Magnifying Mirrors (£12.95, shavata.co.uk). This thing is amazing – just don’t be looking at the rest of your face in it – I became obsessed with pores and blackheads when I made that mistake!

I love an eyebrow product, always have. Back in my 20s I used to practically get rid of the lot and pencil my brows back in  – not a good idea, hence small patches in my brows today. But I do still love to add a bit of definition to my brows, so they look, well, filled in. I usually use BeneFit’s brilliant Browzings, but recently have been trying two new brow palettes.

First up Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Brow & Eye Definition Kit (£25, joancollinsbeauty.com), which contains three powders, a wax and all the little accessories you need. It’s good, but I still prefer the coloured wax of my Browzings, and for me the highlighters in these kits are a bit redundant.

brows joan collins and clarins

The second kit I’ve had a go of recently is the new Clarins Perfect Eyes & Brow Palette (£35, clarins.co.uk). It’s a tenner dearer than Joan’s version, but is remarkably similar, having just one extra shadow colour the difference really. And perhaps the actual brow powders were of a better quality – creamier, if that makes sense

I also lamented the lack of a coloured wax in this kit, but the highlighter here was a bit of a more natural tone, so perhaps a bit more wearable then the stark paleness of the one in the Joan Collins kit. They both contain those mini tweezers that aren’t that easy to use, and I would say the Clarins tweezers are better.

How do you like your brows? And do you like or loathe threading? Comment below!