I feel like eyebrows are often overlooked, which results in many underestimating the power of a great eyebrow pencil. When it comes to makeup trends, people always talk about eyes or lips, but in my opinion, your eyebrows can change your entire look. And I’m not alone in this thought—basically every makeup artist I have ever met has told me that brows are integral to our face shape and overall appearance.
Because of this, brows are not a step that I want to be skipping when doing my makeup routine in the morning. Yes, I get my eyebrows shaped every now and again, but most of the time I rely on one of the best eyebrow pencils and a bit of brow gel to get my desired finish.
I’ve been putting the best eyebrow pencils to the test.
That being said, shopping for an eyebrow pencil can be quite overwhelming. Not only are there millions of options out there, but there are so many different types that it can be hard to know what to go for. Because of this, I decided to reach out to an expert to ask them for all of their advice when choosing an eyebrow pencil, including exactly how to use it to get a natural finish.
Not only that, but I’ve been busy putting the best eyebrow pencils to the test to see which ones will come out on top. Keeping scrolling for the brow pencil edit that might just make you consider cancelling your next microblading appointment…
What to Look for in an Eyebrow Pencil
“When choosing an eyebrow pencil, look for one with a wax-based formula that isn’t too powdery or soft,” says Vanita Parti MBE, founder of Blink Brow Bar. “Unlike an eyeliner that you want to glide and smudge, an eyebrow pencil should adhere to the skin and stay put! A pencil that can be sharpened to a perfect point makes it easy to create natural, hair-like strokes, and a spoolie brush on the end is an essential to blend harsh edges.”
It’s also important to make sure that you choose the correct shade. “I recommend using your natural brow colour as a guide,” says Parti. “Firstly, look at the depth of colour in your brows. If you’re a fair blonde, going slightly darker with your brow pencil can help frame your face and add definition. For those with darker brows, aim to match the depth of colour. Next, look at your undertone. If you have warmth in your brows, skin and hair, opt for a brow pencil with a warmer tone. If you’re cooler toned, try an ashier shade.”
Junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay, applying one of the best eyebrow pencils.
How to Use an Eyebrow Pencil
Now that you know what to look for, it’s important to know how to use an eyebrow pencil properly in order to get the best results. “Begin by sharpening your eyebrow pencil to a perfect point, and ensuring your brows are free from any makeup residue,” says Parti. “Using the pencil and a soft touch, begin to draw hair-like strokes in the direction of your natural hair growth. Continue to build, filling in sparse areas, then take a step back from the mirror and assess your work. If you feel you’ve gone too heavy, simply brush out with a spoolie and redefine where needed.”
So, now you know all that, it’s time to shop the best eyebrow pencils on the market. And, trust me, you can rely on this edit entirely—I’ve put them all to the test.
The Best Eyebrow Pencils, According to an Editor
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brow Wiz
Number of shades: 12
Formula: Wax
This is one of my go-to eyebrow pencils. It has an ultra-slim nib which makes it easy to create natural-looking strokes, and it’s great for filling in any sparse areas. Plus, the spoolie brush means that you can blend the product into your own brow hairs for a softer finish.
The wax formula is pigmented enough that it gives impressive colour pay off, but not too pigmented that you’re afraid of making any mistakes.
For
- Ultra-slim nib
- Comes with a spoolie brush
- Wax formula
Against
- A little more expensive
- Better for a natural finish opposed to statement brows
2. Blink Brow Bar Eyebrow Pencil
Number of shades: 5
Formula: Wax
Next up is this eyebrow pencil from Blink Brow Bar. The classic wooden design comes with a smudge-proof, wax-based formula that stays in place all day long. Because of the wooden design, you can sharpen the pencil in order to get a finer tip, which allows for a more precise application.
When looking at the product, I thought that the formula could be a little harsh and drag on the skin, but it’s actually incredibly soft and blendable. That being said, it’s not too soft that you worry about your brows being halfway down your face by the end of the day.
For
- Lasts all day
- Finer tip allows for precise application
Against
- A little more expensive
- Not a huge shade range to choose from
3. benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumising Eyebrow Pencil
Benefit
Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Pencil
Number of shades: 12
Formula: Fibres and powder
I always know that I can rely on Benefit to create an effective brow product. This volumising pencil has been in my makeup bag for as long as I can remember, and makes filling in my brows easy and quick.
The formula actually combines fibres and powder to make your brows appear fuller and thicker. It’s a great choice for those days when you want to make a statement with your makeup.
For
- Makes your brows appear fuller
- Comes with a pencil and a spoolie
- Transfer-proof formula
Against
- A little more expensive
- Softer than a wax-based formula, so may fade slightly throughout the day
4. UKLASH Brow Pencil
Number of shades: 3
Formula: Cream-based formula
In contrast to above, if you prefer a super-natural finish, I recommend this pencil from UKLASH. Similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil, this product has an ultra-fine tip that allows you to mimic your own brow hairs when applying.
The cream-based formula is quite pigmented, so a little goes a long way, but it’s super long lasting so you don’t have to worry about it sliding off throughout the day.
For
- More affordable
- Ultra-fine tip
- Pigmented formula
Against
- Not a huge range of shades
5. Glossier Boy Brow Arch
Glossier
Boy Brow Arch Pomade Pencil
Number of shades: 9
Formula: Pomade
Glossier’s formula is pretty impressive. It’s long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-resistant, so you can trust that it won’t budge. It also features a slanted tip that makes it easy to get a precise finish.
If you are someone that struggles to get the right shape when filling in your brows, I highly recommend giving this pencil a go. I find it especially helpful when accentuating the arch of my brow which is why I would also recommend it to any eyebrow pencil novices.
For
- Slanted tip makes it easy to get a precise finish
- Long-wearing formula
Against
- Would be good to see even more shades from the brand
6. REFY Brow Pencil
Number of shades: 3
Formula: Pomade
Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden, is a big fan of this eyebrow pencil from Refy, a beauty brand famed for its brow products. “It is ultra-fine, meaning you can create realistic-looking individual brow strokes, and the formula isn’t too hard that it drags, nor too soft that it melts off,” she says. This product adds subtle definition and comes with a spoolie brush to diffuse the pomade further for a natural finish.
For
- Ultra-fine nib for a natural finish
- Adds subtle definition
Against
- Not a huge range of shades
7. Hourglass Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil
Hourglass
Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil
Number of shades: 9
Formula: Wax
Another one of Vousden’s favourites is the Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil—one of the best Hourglass products money can buy. “I find myself reaching for this brow pencil daily, which is testament to how much I like it,” she says. “The nib is fine, meaning you can get precise shading on sparse areas of your brows. I like to fill in and then use the spoolie brush on the other end to diffuse the brow strokes for a seamless result.
“The shade range is also well-considered, catering to both cool and warm hair colours, so you’ll be able to find a natural-looking match for your brows—something to specifically consider if your have an eyebrow-framing fringe.”
For
- Well-considered shade range
- Fine nib
8. Merit Brow 1990
Number of shades: 4
Formula: Gel
The whole Who What Wear UK team is obsessed with Merit Beauty, so it’s no surprise that we are all big fans of this eyebrow pencil. It has a gel formula that doesn’t pull on the skin, making it a lot easier to apply compared to other pencils on the market. In fact, it actually contains lots of nourishing ingredients such as sunflower oil and hibiscus flower extract and is perfect for getting that “no-makeup” makeup look.
One thing to note is because of the fine, gel-based tip, this pencil can break easily. Therefore, be careful not to push it up too much when using. Instead, the brand recommends using no more than 1mm at a time.
For
- Soft gel formula
- Gives a really natural finish
Against
- Can break easily
- Not a huge range of shades
9. Kosas Brow Pop Dual-Action Defining Pencil
Kosas
Brow Pop Dual-Action Defining Pencil
Number of shades: 10
Formula: Wax
Speaking of nourishing formulas, this Kosas pencil is kind to your brows thanks to castor oil and panthenol provitamin B5. When I first read that it contained castor oil, I thought it would be a really slippy product that would fade after a few hours, but I was pleasantly surprised when testing this. The pigmented formula sculpts your brows and adds natural definition without smudging or transfering throughout the day.
For
- Nourishing formula
- Adds natural definition
- Doesn’t smudge
Against
- Softer than a classic eyebrow pencil
Opening image: @nnennaechem
