Brows: Achieve Stunning Arches Like Lily Collins
Lily Collins’ Signature Brows
Few celebrities have mastered the art of bold, natural brows like Lily Collins’ Signature Brows. Her thick, perfectly arched eyebrows have become a trademark of her beauty style, blending sophistication with a touch of old Hollywood glamour. Whether she’s on-screen in Emily in Paris or gracing the red carpet, Lily’s brows always steal the spotlight. If you’re eager to recreate her iconic brow look, this guide will walk you through the makeup techniques, skincare essentials, and pro tips to nail those flawless, full brows.
Lily’s brows are celebrated for their:
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Natural Fullness: They’re thick but not overdone, with a soft, feathery texture.
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Defined Arch: A subtle arch adds structure without looking harsh.
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Timeless Appeal: They strike a balance between bold and natural, suiting any makeup style.
This look is achievable for anyone—no matter your brow type! Let’s dive into how to get it right.
Step 1: Prep Your Brows with Skincare
Before diving into makeup or grooming, it’s essential to build a healthy foundation for your brows. Healthy, nourished skin around the brows promotes stronger hair growth, prevents irritation, and makes any product application smoother. Here’s how to properly prep your brows with a smart skincare routine:
a) Cleanse & Exfoliate
Start by cleansing the brow area just like the rest of your face. Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that removes oil, dirt, and residual makeup without stripping the skin of moisture. This step ensures your hair follicles stay unclogged and healthy.
Once a week, add exfoliation to your routine. Use a mild chemical exfoliant, such as Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, which gently sloughs off dead skin cells and clears pore congestion around the brow line. This helps prevent ingrown hairs and keeps the skin smooth, which is crucial when applying brow products or grooming.
Pro Tip: Avoid harsh physical scrubs, which can cause microtears in the delicate brow area.
b) Hydrate & Nourish
Hydration is just as important for your brows as it is for your skin. Apply a lightweight moisturizer around your brows daily to prevent dryness and flakiness. For targeted brow care, use a brow or lash serum that supports hair growth and strength. A great option is The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, which contains peptides and nutrients known to enhance hair density.
To take it a step further, incorporate natural oils like castor oil into your nightly routine. Massage a small amount into your brows before bed using your fingertips or a clean spoolie brush. This improves blood circulation and delivers fatty acids that can help stimulate thicker, healthier brows over time.
Pro Tip: Consistency is key—apply oils and serums daily for at least 6–8 weeks to see noticeable results.
c) Avoid Over-Tweezing
One of the most common brow mistakes is over-plucking. To achieve fuller brows like Lily Collins, step away from the tweezers and give your brows time to grow. Aim for a 4–6 week growth period, avoiding any tweezing or waxing during that time. This allows you to assess your brows’ natural shape and fullness without interruption.
If needed, tidy up only the most obvious stray hairs underneath your brow arch. But otherwise, trust the process—your natural brow growth pattern is the key to a strong, bold brow shape.
Pro Tip: Document your brow journey with weekly photos to monitor progress and resist the temptation to over-groom.
Step 2: Map Your Brow Shape
Lily Collins’ brows are iconic for their bold yet naturally soft, rounded arch—making them a top inspiration for beauty lovers seeking a well-defined but approachable brow look. To shape your own brows with similar precision, follow this simple mapping method:
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Starting Point: Hold a brow pencil vertically from the outer edge of your nostril straight up toward your brow. The spot where the pencil intersects your brow bone is where your eyebrow should ideally begin. This helps frame your face symmetrically and keeps your brows from looking too far apart or too close together.
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Arch Point: Next, angle the pencil from your nostril so that it passes directly over the outer edge of your iris (your colored eye area). This is where your natural arch should peak. For soft arches like Lily Collins’ brows, avoid making this point too sharp—aim for a gentle lift that follows your brow bone’s natural curve.
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End Point: Finally, angle the pencil from the outer edge of your nostril to the outer corner of your eye. Where it meets your brow is where the tail should taper off. Keeping this line clean and slightly lifted adds elegance and opens up the eyes.
Pro Tip: Before filling in your brows, use a white eyeliner pencil to sketch out your ideal shape. This allows you to easily adjust and perfect the outline before committing with brow powder or pencil. If you’re going for the full Lily Collins brows effect, opt for a fuller shape with minimal tweezing underneath to maintain that lush, natural vibe.
Step 3: Fill & Define Like a Pro
Achieve Lily’s bold-but-natural look with these makeup techniques:
a) Choose the Right Products
- Brow Pencil: For precise strokes, try Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (matches most hair tones).
- Brow Powder: Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ adds volume with a soft finish.
- Brow Gel: Lock hairs in place with Glossier Boy Brow (clear or tinted).
b) Fill Sparingly
- Use light, upward strokes to mimic natural hairs. Focus on sparse areas.
- Avoid harsh lines—blend with a spoolie brush for a feathery effect.
c) Highlight the Arch
- Dab a concealer (like NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer) under the arch to sharpen it.
- Blend gently with a small brush for a lifted effect.
Step 4: Set & Maintain Your Brows
Now that you’ve sculpted the perfect brow shape, it’s time to lock in your masterpiece and keep your brows looking fresh and polished all day long. Setting and maintaining your brows is just as important as shaping them—especially if you’re aiming for that effortless, long-lasting definition.
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Set with Gel: To hold your brows in place, brush them upward and outward using a clear or tinted brow gel. A tinted gel can add subtle color and dimension, especially helpful if you have lighter or sparser brows. For added volume and texture, opt for a fiber-infused gel to mimic the fullness seen in naturally thick brows. This step not only tames stray hairs but also lifts the entire face by keeping your arches in shape throughout the day.
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Trim Stragglers: Use a spoolie brush to comb your brows upward, then gently trim any excessively long hairs that extend beyond your desired shape using precise brow scissors. Trimming helps maintain a clean silhouette without the need for constant plucking or reshaping. Be conservative—over-trimming can lead to patchiness.
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Tweeze Strategically: Only tweeze hairs that clearly fall outside your mapped shape. Follow the guideline you created earlier, being especially careful not to overpluck beneath the arch, which can dramatically alter your brow’s structure. Strategic tweezing helps maintain your defined shape between professional brow appointments or DIY sessions.
Maintenance Tip: Regularly exfoliate the brow area with a soft brush or gentle scrub to prevent clogged follicles and ingrown hairs. Also, consider applying a nourishing brow serum to encourage growth and enhance thickness over time.
Whether you’re going for natural definition or the full, expressive look of Lily Collins brows, setting and maintaining your brows ensures they stay picture-perfect from morning to night.
Skincare for Long-Term Brow Health
Lily Collins’ brows don’t just owe their fame to clever grooming—they’re the result of intentional, long-term care that nurtures both the hair and the skin underneath. Healthy brows start with a strong foundation, and that means prioritizing skincare in your beauty routine just as much as shaping and styling.
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Daily Sunscreen: The delicate skin around your brows is just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of your face. UV exposure can weaken hair follicles over time, leading to thinning or patchy brows. Apply a lightweight, non-comedogenic SPF 30+ daily—something like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen works perfectly, as it’s invisible, non-greasy, and won’t interfere with brow products. Think of it as protection that helps preserve the fullness and richness of brows like Lily Collins’.
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Weekly Hydrating Mask: Keeping the brow area well-hydrated supports the health of both the skin and the hair follicles. Once or twice a week, apply a hydrating mask like the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, gently smoothing it over your brow bone as part of your self-care ritual. Hydrated skin helps minimize flakiness and keeps the area supple—essential for maintaining sleek, healthy-looking brows.
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Avoid Harsh Ingredients: Retinoids, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid can be transformative for overall skin but are too harsh for the brow area. These active ingredients can dry out and irritate the skin, weakening the hair follicles and potentially causing brow shedding. Be cautious when applying these near your eyebrows, especially during nighttime routines, to avoid accidental contact.
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Bonus Tip – Nourishing Oils: For an extra boost, incorporate a brow serum or natural oil like castor oil or argan oil a few nights a week. Gently massage it into your brows to stimulate circulation and encourage fuller growth over time.
Long-term brow health is about more than just appearance—it’s about creating the right environment for your brows to thrive naturally. With consistent care, you can maintain lush, defined brows that stand the test of time—just like the timeless beauty of Lily Collins’ brows.
Best Products for Lily Collins-Inspired Brows
Product | Use |
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz | Precise outlining |
Glossier Boy Brow | Natural-looking hold |
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum | Brow growth |
Fenty Beauty Match Stix | Arch highlighting |
NARS Concealer | Cleanup & definition |
Why This Look Works for Every Face Shape
One of the reasons Lily Collins’ signature brows continue to inspire beauty lovers worldwide is their remarkable versatility across different face shapes. The softly rounded arch of her brows creates a gentle lifting effect that helps soften angular or square features, adding a touch of femininity and balance. For those with round or oval faces, the thickness and structure of Lily’s brows offer the perfect counterpoint by adding definition and drawing attention upward. What makes this look truly timeless is its natural, effortless appearance—it frames the eyes beautifully without overpowering the rest of your makeup. Whether you’re wearing a bold lip, a smoky eye, or a minimalist look, Lily Collins’ signature brows provide balance and harmony, making them a go-to style for anyone seeking flattering, face-enhancing definition.
Final Thoughts
Lily Collins’ brows are living proof that embracing and enhancing your natural features can be truly transformative. Her signature look shows that bold, well-groomed brows can elevate your entire face, adding character, strength, and timeless beauty. Achieving brows like hers isn’t about rigid perfection—it’s about learning how to work with your unique shape and enhancing it with subtle, intentional care.
With the right skincare routine to keep the brow area healthy, the proper makeup tools to define and fill, and a little patience as you grow and shape your natural arches, you can recreate Lily Collins’ signature brows in a way that feels authentic to you. Most importantly, remember that beauty is personal. Your goal shouldn’t be to copy—it’s to be inspired. Celebrate your individuality while using Lily’s brows as a guide to highlight your own best features. Confidence, after all, is the real finishing touch.