If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
Eyebrows offer protection from dust and from water or sweat running into your eyes. These fuzzy facial features are as diverse as people. Some are bushy and thick, others slender, and some shapeless. Regardless of the brows you have, you can shape them perfectly to frame your face, accentuate your features, and pull your look together. For a little extra help in keeping your brows gorgeously groomed, brow pencils are a makeup bag necessity. If you dye your hair darker than your natural shade, you’ll need a brow pencil to touch up light brows to coincide with the tone of your new hair color, making your appearance more natural. To help you get beautiful brows we’ve lined up the best brow pencils in 2024. Since various brow pencils have different characteristics we’ve also included a guide on how to choose the best eyebrow cosmetics for a flawless look.
Detailing the Leading Brow Pencils of 2024
Revlon Pencil — Best Overall
Key Features
- Available in 5 shades
- Waterproof with 24-hour wear
- Dual-ended including a spoolie brush
- Soft and blendable with an angled brush
Another fantastic addition to Revlon’s ColorStay collection is this 24-hour waterproof brow-defining pencil. Soft and blendable, the color range offers something for any complexion including blonde, soft brown, auburn, dark brown, and soft black. The self-sharpening pencil has an angled tip, allowing you to create precise definition as well as shading thicker areas. Use the fine tip of the pencil to draw a soft line on the top and bottom of your natural brow arch and the flat side to fill your shape with short sweeps. When done, smooth out your perfect long-lasting brows with the soft spoolie brush attached on the opposite side.
L'Oreal Paris Pencil — Runner-Up
Key Features
- Available in 10 shades
- Ultra-fine retractable pencil
- Spoolie brush included to define your brow shape
- Waterproof and ophthalmologist tested
Brows don’t only protect your eyes, but they also accentuate your features. That’s why L’Oreal designed this ultra-fine mechanical brow pencil to give you the perfect definition. The waterproof pencil is ideal for drawing fine brow hairs, filling sparse gaps, and accentuating shape. The color blends naturally when brows are groomed with the attached spoolie brush for a natural and clean finish. Plus, there is no need to worry about a blunt or broken pencil tip, especially when you’re on the go, as the Stylist Definer pencil is self-sharpening and retractable.
Maybelline Pencil — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- Available in four colors
- Teardrop tip with angled design
- Spoolie brush included
- Soft tip for smooth application and blending
Total Temptation retractable eyebrow pencils from Maybelline are uniquely designed with a teardrop tip. This shape allows you to use the narrow end of the applicator for definition and fine lines while filling the bottom center to the upper arch area with the base. The pencil has a natural matte finish and is available in blonde, soft brown, medium brown, and deep brown shades. To finish off your perfectly defined brows brush them outward and slightly upward with the small spoolie brush included specifically for brow grooming.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Pencil — Best Color Variety
Key Features
- Available in 12 shades
- Natural matte finish
- Retractable pencil with spoolie brush
- Suitable for detailing, outlining, and shading
Anastasia’s Brow Definer offers a unique triangular-tipped eyebrow pencil, allowing you to draw hair-thin details with the fine tip and to shade and fill with the angled edges. The retractable pencil is available in 12 natural shades, so you can find the perfect match for your complexion. Although the soft applicator may lose its triangular shape over time, depending on how you apply pressure, you can easily restore its defined edges by swiping each edge of the tip on a sheet of clean paper.
NYX Professionals Pencil — Best Micro Tip
Key Features
- Available in 8 colors
- Ultra-fine tip for precise definition
- Spoolie brush included
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Retractable and self-sharpening
The fine tip of this retractable brow pencil allows you to perfectly define your brows to the exact shape you want. Shape, comb, and fill with this one simple, self-sharpening tool. That’s right, no more worrying about broken brow pencil tips and blunt ends because this handy pencil stays pointy without needing to be sharpened. Plus, the creamy formula is easy to apply and blends smoothly for a natural finish as you brush the spoolie through on the final touch.
Finding Your Next Brow Pencil: A Buyer's Guide
You might be under the impression that all brow pencils are the same, but we’re here to break some brow-raising news (literally): they aren’t. Just like artists use pencils and paintbrushes of different thicknesses to achieve certain artistic effects, brow pencils come in different tip shapes and thicknesses, various colors, and with or without dual-ended brush accessories. Choosing the right brow pencil for you will depend largely on the look you want and on your natural brow features. Here’s a full guide to choosing the top pencil for your brows and tips for applying the right color to get the look you want.
Brow Pencil Features
Waterproof
Waterproof is generally the best way to go when choosing a brow pencil. Not only are the pencils slightly creamier but they last longer, keeping your brows beautiful all day...and night. If you live in a hot or humid climate or like to hit the gym after work, make sure your brows stay in place by choosing a water-resistant pencil. If the label does not state specifically that it is waterproof, in most cases it probably isn’t.
Pencil tip shape and thickness
The thickness or shapes of the pencil you choose may depend on your natural brow features. Ultra-fine tips allow you to fill in sparse areas and gaps, and draw fine hairs. Tear-drop-shaped tips allow you to use the thin end for finer work while also using the pencil at an angle for full arch-to-base shading and shape definition. Medium-sized, round tips are suitable for darkening already defined brows and can also double as an eye-liner.
Soft vs hard
Harder pencil types create a clearly defined line. Although they have their use, they are not as versatile as soft-tip accessories and also break fairly easily. Softer pencils generally look more natural since the lines are gentler and you have better control over the shade intensity.
Blendability
This feature ties in with the softness of the pencil. Softer tips offer better blendability than hard ones. Make sure the blendability of the pencil that you want is good, as this will allow you to smooth harsh lines and soften the appearance of any areas that were applied too heavily. Being able to blend the applied color across the brow also allows you to create a more even-textured and natural look.
Ingredients
An important factor most people avoid checking when shopping for makeup is the ingredients. The skin around your eyes is very sensitive, so ensuring you don’t use any products that cause irritation is vital. Doing a patch test is the best option but this is not always possible. If you know a certain brand or product works for you, check the ingredients when trying something new to determine if there are any major differences. Try out new products at home before applying them for the first time to a big event.
Spoolie
This little spiral brush at the end of some brow pencils will help you groom the fine hairs so you don’t look like you have bed head brows. If you have medium to thick brows, opt for a pencil with a spoolie attached.
Sharpening
Many brow pencils now come in a retractable design that doesn’t require sharpening. Pencils that do need sharpening can be unreliable since they break easily and can leave you in a pinch if you don’t have a backup. If you travel often, opt for a pencil that does not need sharpening for ease and reliability. If you use a pencil that does require sharpening, make sure you always have a sharpener specifically for eye pencils.
How to Choose the Right Brow Pencil Shade
When choosing an eyebrow pencil, color is key. The color you choose is generally determined by your hair color. If you dye your hair, work according to the dyed shade. For example, if you are naturally blonde but dye your hair dark brown, your naturally light eyebrows may seem awkwardly light in comparison to your dark hair color. In this instance, just slightly darkening the color of your brows will offer a more natural look all around.
In general, you want to opt for a shade lighter than your hair color when using a brow pencil. To keep the look blended against your natural brow hair, the lighter shade offers a more natural way to fill tiny gaps without obvious darker patches.
Dark or black hair
Avoid harsh-looking brows by opting for a shade or two lighter. Adding color to your brows will already intensify your look, so keep it on the softer side and intensify your look by applying the pencil slightly harder if necessary.
Light hair
Individuals with light hair should also take their skin tone into consideration. If you have very light eyebrows, opt for one or, at the most, two shades darker than your natural shade. Keep it looking natural by not going for something that is too harsh.
Redheads
Redheads tend to naturally have either blonde or light brown eyebrows. Opt for a light or medium brown that keeps on trend with your complexion and skin tone.
Pencils vs. Gels
Brow gel is similar to mascara for your eyebrows and gives the appearance of bolder brows instantly. Pencils and gels offer a slightly different color intensity. When using a gel, you can opt for the same color or one shade darker than your natural brow color as opposed to using a shade lighter with pencils.
Tips for Applying Brow Makeup
Groom and shape before anything else
Applying any type of brow makeup is not a substitute for shaping or grooming but rather an enhancement of your features. Before applying brow makeup, ensure that your brows are shaped and groomed. Tweeze away any stray hairs and even out the space between your brows. If you need to trim bushy brows you can brush them downwards and use tiny makeup scissors to trim.
Light strokes
Apply color from the inner part of the brow with light pressure and short strokes to keep it looking natural. Follow the natural line of your brow moving towards the outside edge. If you want a darker shade, apply another coat or a little more pressure. Using the spoolie brush, brush your brows upward and outward for a natural, fuller look.
Do not:
- Use DIY hair color to dye your brows. These hair dyes are not made for the sensitive skin around your eyes and face. Use specialized eyebrow tinting kits for safe and long-lasting results or, better yet, let a professional beauty therapist do it for you.
- Over-tweeze your brows. They need to be there to protect your eyes, so keep them healthy looking but well defined.
