buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Its almost unfathomable that until about 10 years ago, most of us went about our lives without filling in our arches. Thankfully, eyebrow products have become mainstays in modern makeup application. Whether you reach for it daily or just when youre going for a thicker look, a good brow pencil has a place in every glam kit.
Gels, powders, and pomades have their uses, but if we could only choose one brow product, wed go for this simple unsung hero. "For the most realistic effect … tilt it at a 45-degree angle to your skin and draw quick, thin strokes to simulate hair," suggests celebrity makeup artist Bryan Cantor. Then brush, blend, and fluff with a spoolie.
The brow filler market is pretty saturated at this point. To help you sift through your options, we tried nearly 40 pencils in The Lab, then narrowed it down to those with the best tips, pigments, and staying power.
These are the best brow pencils tested by buuk.top.
Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Eyebrow Pencil at Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer at Amazon
e.l.f. Brow Pencil at Amazon
Gucci Crayon Définition Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil
HUDA BEAUTY Brow Pencil
Too Faced Super Fine Brow Detailer Eyebrow Pencil
NYX Professional Makeup Eyebrow Pomade at Amazon
Kosas Defining Eyebrow Pencil
In This Article
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Best Overall
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat Refillable Hair-Like Eyebrow Pencil
Sephora
View On Charlottetilbury.com
Highly pigmented
Precision tip
Easy to maneuver
Nothing
After trying dozens of products firsthand, Charlotte Tilburys Brow Cheat was our favorite. Our tester used the natural black shade and loved how the highly pigmented color showed up clearly without being too stark or overwhelming. Not only that, but she was able to draw on realistic-looking hairs in a single stroke—no layering needed.
The formula has a matte finish, so it looks natural and blends in with your real hairs. Boasting a thin, angled tip, this pencil is perfect for precision application. You can use it to fill in sparse brows or create a structured shape. Our tester said the creamy texture goes on smoothly without dragging, and the sturdy point resists breaking and smooshing.
The dual-ended design has an attached spoolie to help with blending, fluffing, and shaping. Its also refillable—kind of like a mechanical pencil—so you can cut down on your waste. Available in eight true-to-tone shades that promise 16 hours of waterproof wear, we really have no complaints about this product.
Shades: 8 | Waterproof: Yes| Cruelty-Free:
Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
What Our Testers Say
"The pigment is richly colored and goes on fully without being overwhelming, and you only have to apply each stroke once without needing to layer it."—Madison Yauger, Product Tester
Runner-Up, Best Overall
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer
Amazon
View On Sephora
View On Ulta
Fills in excellent strokes
Highly pigmented
Doesnt smudge
Black shade could be softer
We tried two pencils from Anastasia Beverly Hills, and while we like the Brow Wiz, we love the Brow Definer. Calling it the "gold standard of brow pens," our tester said the consistency is creamy enough to create soft lines without overpowering your existing hairs.
The slanted triangular tip is versatile and user-friendly. You can make thin strokes, outline your arches, or shade them, then flip it over and blend everything out with the built-in spoolie. While the Brow Definer isnt waterproof, our tester said the long-lasting pigment resists smudging. Beyond that, we just wish it came in a soft black shade.
Shades:12 | Waterproof: No| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Key Features
"The gold standard of brow pens, you can see why Anastasia is still the leader: perfectly angled, not too thin, not too fat or heavy."—Mayra Mangal, Product Tester
Best Budget
e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil
Ulta
View On Ulta
View On Target
Sturdy tip
Easy to apply
Perfectly pigmented
Limited shades
Not transfer-resistant
Looking for something less expensive? This brow pencil from e.l.f only costs a few bucks and holds its own against pricier options. After filling in her thick brows with the deep brown shade, our tester said its smooth and creamy with a sturdy tip, making it easy to apply.
Though we wish it came in a few more shades, this product offers the perfect amount of pigment: plenty saturated but not too heavy. Since its not waterproof, our tester said it rubs off pretty easily. But overall, we were impressed and would definitely buy it again.
Shades: 5 | Waterproof: No|Cruelty-Free:Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
What Our Testers Say
"Its the right amount of pigment, not overly heavy, but saturated enough to actually fill in my brows."—Kiara Timo, Product Tester
Best Splurge
Gucci Crayon Définition Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil
Sephora
View On Nordstrom
View On Selfridges.com
Excellent wear
Comes with built-in sharpener
Ultra-pigmented
Able to create hairlike strokes
Could come in more shades
If the steep price doesnt turn you away, you might consider splurging on Guccis Crayon Définition Sourcils. Upon trying the shade 03 Châtain (light brown), our tester said the creamy texture glides on smoothly, and the lightweight design makes it easy to draw hair-like strokes. Whats more, the pigment didnt smudge at all when she repeatedly rubbed her brows.
Though Crayon Définition Sourcils translates to "eyebrow defining pencil," the thick tip is indeed reminiscent of a crayon. It comes with a sharpener, so you can make it a little pointier if needed.
Shades: 6 | Waterproof: No| Cruelty-Free: No
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
What Our Testers Say
"Despite rubbing my brows repeatedly, there was absolutely no smudging."—Dawlat Chebly, Product Tester
Best Waterproof
HUDA BEAUTY #BombBrows Microshade Brow Pencil
Sephora
View On Kohls.com
Precision tip
Doesnt drag or skip
Smudge- and transfer-proof
Limited shade range
Hudas #BombBrows was a hit in The Lab. Boasting the "thinnest tip on the market," our tester loved how the precision point deposits just the right amount of pigment and doesnt drag or skip, making it easy to create natural-looking hairs. Not only that, but the waterproof formula resists smudging and transferring for hours on end.
The pencil itself is easy to hold, and theres a spoolie on the other end for blending and fluffing. While there are eight shades to choose from, theyre mostly concentrated within a medium brown range. Other than that, the price point is just right for a high-quality product: accessible but not so cheap it makes you suspicious.
Shades: 8 |Waterproof:Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
What Our Testers Say
"The pencil doesnt drag or skip; its a very thin point, but it gives you the pigment you need."—Nikki Berryman, Product Tester
Best for Sparse Brows
Too Faced Super Fine Brow Detailer Eyebrow Pencil
Sephora
View On Walmart
View On Nordstrom
Precision tip
Buttery texture
Natural-looking pigment
Minor smudging
If youre working with sparse eyebrows, Too Faced is your best bet. Our tester said the brands Super Fine Brow Detailer has a buttery consistency: not too wet or dry and silky-smooth on the skin. The precision tip makes it easy to draw hair-like strokes, and it didnt break or smoosh at all while she filled in her brows.
Available in eight shades ranging from soft black to taupe, the pigment offers noticeable, natural-looking color. One thing to note is that while the formula is waterproof, our tester said it smudged slightly when she ran her finger over her brow.
Shades: 8 | Waterproof: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples