Colour-wise, aim for one to two shades darker than your natural brow. A good guide, Riley says, is often the colour of your hair at the nape of your neck. Then for a feathery effect, use the pencil like an artist, lightly sketching in individual hairs, rather than drawing contours, before gently spoolie-blending.
While any reshaping should be done by a pro, if you’re going to tidy by tweezing, Riley recommends this is the moment to do so, rather than working on a virgin brow. Why? Because it’s much easier to see any errant hairs to remove. She’s adamant you should be circumspect: ‘Leave the inner section of the brow natural and begin about mid-pupil, working slowly outwards, one hair at a time, purely to remove strays.’
Finally, setting gel is a must. And colourless is easiest. I like Ilia In Frame Brow Gel (£24, Ilia Beauty). But don’t plaster it on. Fluff the hair with short strokes. And if you’re mature like me, the effect you’re going for is the ‘Is she or isn’t she?’ Harmony hairspray ads from the 1970s. If you’re a tad younger, just keep it real.