Shu Uemura may be the go-to beauty destination for lush lash applications, but the Japanese cosmetics brand is attempting to edge into Benefit’s brow grooming territory with the recent launch of its Tokyo Brow Bar at Shu Uemura boutiques across the country. While several of the boutiques have rolled out in-store wax and tweeze services, SF’s Fillmore Street store still awaits the green light on its aesthetics licensing (we’re told to stay tuned for the full services to arrive by late summer). The good news? Instead of a painful pluck forcing your unruly brows into submission, Shu’s local artists will give you the rundown on working with the shape that you already have and stretching out the length of time between your regular waxings, which is easier on your sensitive skin—and your pocketbook. Here’s what we learned about faking the perfect brow from Shu Uemura’s SF store director Alexa Ogle:

Do your brows before applying the rest of your make up.

“This way, if brow powder falls onto your lids or cheeks, it’s easy clean up before having the rest of your face done. Apply foundation after doing your brows, and apply color to the rest of your face at the end.”

Mask stray hairs with concealer and highlighter.


“Pat concealer under the brow bone or a light colored shadow and layer with a dusting of highlighter to cover up strays between waxings. This also creates a lightness and brightness under the eye.”

Brows are sisters, but not twins!


“They should be groomed together, but don’t expect them to be exactly identical.”

Fill in brows with a brow pencil slightly above the upper brow line to create fullness.

“Spring is all about the strong brow. Fill in the brow, and use plenty of mascara but not a lot of eye liner so that the brows are really the focus.” (We're huge fans of Shu's new Hard Formula Hard 9, a smudge-proof oil activated pencil that is carved into a very cool naginata sword shape at the boutique and used to fill in and reshape the brows. Customers can also come in to get complimentary sharpenings after the tip has worn down.)

Extend the length of the brow toward the outer corners of your face for a whole new look.


“Creating length gives an illusion of a mini eye lift!”

Shu Uemura, 1971 Fillmore St., 415-395-0953