The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the eyebrows are their frame. With our peepers hidden in sunglasses this summer, the part that people will notice first are your brows - and they are essential for that fabulous first impression. Groomed brows can diminish the dark circles under your eyes, and brighten up the area. With great brows, the need for make-up is less and less - they can transform your whole face. Eyebrow expert to the stars Anastasia Soare, who has shaped and tweezed brows belonging to Madonna, Avril Lavigne and Jennifer Lopez, believes that it's vital to look after your eyebrows. "I've been grooming eyebrows for 18 years and they can transform the way a person looks. If you have well-shaped eyebrows, you won't need to rush around in the morning because you already look good. Well-groomed eyebrows make you look more sophisticated, intelligent, smart and beautiful - and you could be taken more seriously." Jennifer Lopez and Liz Hurley are just two stars who have taken this advice to heart. * DIY PLUCKING "The look for eyebrows at the moment is softly groomed with a natural arch to widen and highlight the eye area," explains Amanda Bell, Lancome's make-up artist. "To work out where an arch would be most flattering for your individual eye shape, hold a pencil to the corner of your nose and angle it up across the iris of the eye. The point at which the pencil meets your brows is perfect for making an arch." Brows that are over-plucked can look quite severe, and quite ageing, so keep the brow shape as natural as possible. When the arch is in the correct place, this will give an instant lift. * NIFTY TOOLS The right tools are important for the job, and in this case, that means a good pair of tweezers (preferably slanted to get the angle). Mister Mascara Slant Tweezers with mini tweezers, £7.03 at Boots and Beautique.com, Tweezerman LTD Round Tip tweezer, £12 at Boots, and MAC slant tweezer, £24, are the three best ones around - guaranteed to give you a defined shape. If you ever find yourself in a situation where there's not much light to pick those hairs, La-Tweeze, £9.99 at Boots, has a built-in bright white light to highlight fine hairs, and defy low lights or shadows. The Barbara Daly make-up Lash comb, £1.11 at Tesco, will tidy up unruly brows. Eyebrow kits help you pluck and shape, and will be handy if you're finding it a chore. Helen Mirren is a big fan of Jane Iredale Super-Shape Me Eyebrow Kit, £49.95, (020 8450 7111), which includes two powders, a wax to hold brows in place, a lid primer to conceal redness, brushes and mini tweezers. * BROW ENHANCERS An eyebrow pencil can make all the difference between bare and `wow'. "Use light feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil, holding the pencil about halfway down to lighten the touch," Amanda suggests. "Then, use a highlighter in the arch and above the brows to brighten and draw attention to your handiwork." Go from demure to dramatic with Origins Fill In The Blanks pencil, £11, and Pout Eyebrow pencils, £13. MAC Brow Shader, £11, BeneFit Brow Zings, £21.50, and George Cosmetics Professional Brow palette, £5.98 at Asda, contain a soft wax to define and shape, and a setting powder to keep them looking amazing. Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch-Up, £12.50 (0870) 034 2566 is a conditioning cream-gel formula that fills in brows and controls hairs. Available in various natural shades, including clear. | 
Travel, Entertainment & leisure
Professional Services
Health
Home Style
Home Improvements
Fashion & Weddings
Gifts
