The 17 Best Eyebrow Pencils for Full and Defined Brows

Kimiko's brow pencils have been a go-to of Black's for years. "The tip is a superfine, extremely precise point that makes it easy to create the illusion of realistic brow hairs," she says. The Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil formula is long-wearing and can be blended for a softer effect. While this product comes in only three shades, Black promises that somehow it works for a wide range of brow colors. 

At this point, we know Rihanna's Fenty Beauty knows how to launch a beauty product, and the MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler is no different. Available in 14 shades, this formula is waterproof and smudge-proof. Plus, the built-in paddle brush combs, shapes, and blends it all out for the best brows every time. 

The One/Size BrowKiki Micro Brow Defining Pencil is ideal for creating hair-like strokes to mimic real hairs in the brows. We also love the bright red casing this formula comes in because it makes it super easy to spot while digging through your makeup bag. 

The NYX Professional Makeup Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pencil Pomade is a teardrop-shaped pencil that's formula comes in eight matte shades and delivers extreme pigment. It's easy to control too, just apply to brows with a lighter hand for more of a fluffy vibe if going bold isn't your cup of tea. 

The Kosas Brow Pop is the "clean" eyebrow liner pick you're looking for. This micro triangle tip fills in sparse brows while the spoolie helps blend it all out. Not to mention, the formula is loaded with castor oil caster oil that will help keep brows strong and shiny. 

Lady Gaga isn't only winning awards for her music. The Haus Laboratories The Edge Precision Brow Pencil is a 2021 Best of Beauty winner, and for great reason. This pencil fills in the gaps and sculpts the sharpest arches for everyone. 

Napoli loves the wax-textured formula in the MAC Eyebrow Styler Brow Pencil. "While there are 14 shades of this available, I find that that Fling, Lingering, Stud, and Spiked work across almost all hair colors and skin tones," he says.

Available in 13 shades, the Sephora Collection Insta-Brow Waxy Brow Pencil is a tinted wax pencil made to define, shape, and hold brows in place. When you first use it, you'll notice the product is sheer, but bold brow lovers, don't fear — once the product is warmed up, the pigment is buildable and fierce. 

Napoli always loves Hourglass's brow pencils and states they're a staple in his kit. "The colors are very unique and there really is a shade for everyone," he says. And we couldn't agree more. The Arch Brow Pencil has shades like Ash, Auburn, and Warm Brunette so it gets really specific in the tones department. As far as the formula goes, count on it to feel wax-like but easy to blend out like a powder. 

Balling on a budget? E.l.f. Cosmetics's Instant Lift Brow Pencil is for you. For only $3, this dual-ended eyebrow pencil is infused with hair-conditioning grapeseed oil and nourishing vitamin E. Doesn't get much better than that. 

The best part about the Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil Eyebrow Definer is that the formula is waterproof. Just ask senior commerce writer Angela Trakoshis, “As someone who lives by a brow pencil, I can confidently say that this one not only lasts all day through subway sweat but it also lasts through summer beach days," she says. If that's not impressive, we don't know what is. 

We never met a Charlotte Tilbury product we didn't like and that includes Brow Cheat Refillable Hair-Like Eyebrow Pencil. Infused with carnauba and micro-crystalline waxes, this pencil is creamy and blendable. Plus, the pure pigments in it give off deep, never ashy, color in each of the eight shades.

Makeup By Mario's Master Blade Brow Pencil is the smartest brow pencil we've ever met. It has an automatic slide-up feature that delivers the perfect amount of product to distribute to your brows. That means it's extremely unlikely for you to snap the pencil's pigment while in use (we've all been there). 

Black considers Shu Uemura's Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil one of the best on the market. “It's very long-lasting and smudge-proof and it comes in colors that are hard to find in US brands including Seal Brown, a medium brown with very cool undertones, and Stone Gray, which is almost a charcoal shade," she says. "It's really great for people with dark brows who don't want warm and reddish tones."   

We should mention that this is a traditional pencil format, so you'll need to sharpen it frequently to keep a precise tip, or you can let it round out for a softer application. The choice is yours. 

Since mechanical brow pencils are single-use products, they can seem wasteful. We love Make Beauty's refillable Blade Line packaging but the formula is also top-notch, and Black agrees. "The product melts into the skin just enough to give a more natural look and the shades are well-curated," she says.