Eyebrows have the power to completely transform the face. They frame our eyes, create balance and can make our facial features appear more lifted and defined. But much like our skin and hair, our brows naturally change as we get older, which means the products that worked perfectly in our twenties and thirties, from brow pencils to brow gels, may not necessarily deliver the same results by the time we reach our fifties.

“As we age, eyebrows usually go through a few natural changes—both in the hairs themselves and the skin underneath,” explains makeup artist and founder of Wolfie Cosmetics, Lucy Hart. “Hair follicles slow down growth over time, so hairs grow back more slowly and sometimes stop growing altogether, resulting in brows appearing thinner.” It’s not just density that changes, either. Hart notes that brow hairs can become coarser, wirier and more unruly, while colour can fade as brows gradually turn grey, white or more muted. “This can make them look sparser, even if the same amount of hair is there,” she says.

For many women, years of over-plucking may also start to show. “People who over-tweezed when they were younger often find those follicles don’t fully recover with age,” says Hart. Hormonal changes can also play a significant role. “Menopause, thyroid changes, stress and general hormone fluctuations can all contribute to brow thinning,” she adds.

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The good news is that a few smart product swaps can make a huge difference. According to Hart, nourishing formulas should become a priority. “Adding nourishing brow oils and conditioning treatments to your routine is recommended,” she says. “For colour, softer definition products tend to become more suited. These help create the appearance of fullness, whilst still looking natural. And a brow gel with serious hold is key to hold any unruly hairs in place all day.”