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It takes more than the best eyeliner to really make your eyes pop. Consider your brows an extension of your eyes. Giving your brows a little shape is an easy way to polish up your look. And it's something that can be done with very little effort — as long as you have the best eyebrow pencil at your disposal.
Our top picks:
The picks on our list are based on the categorical expertise of our Beauty Lab experts, as well as our beauty editors' top recommendations and vetted consumer reviews. As you'll see, Benefit seems to rule the roost. Our editors and experts had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the brand's products, with some going so far as to say it's the only brand they trust when it comes to their brows. Still, there are other notables, including our top pick, which has long been a cult favorite.
Read more about our top picks for the best eyebrow pencils. At the end of this guide you can find more information on the most important factors to consider when shopping. If you're looking for more great brow defining products, check out our guide to the best eyebrow makeup, where you'll find vetted brow gels, pencils, tints and more.
Pros
- Comes in 12 shades
- Has built-in spoolie
- No sharpening needed
Cons
- Fine tip is better for shaping
It's no surprise Anastasia Beverly Hills, the queen of brow products, makes our top overall eyebrow pencil. It's a cult classic, thanks to its no-sharpen wax formula, which is specially designed to mimic brow hairs. Translation: It can work even if you have little to no eyebrows. It's also great for those with tough-to-match gray hair. Take it from Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann, who has silver hair and loves the shade Ash Brown, a hue made for gray hair with cool undertones.
Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek has brown hair and also loves this pencil in the shade medium brown, another offering in the lineup of 12 colors. “The formula is really nice because it is stiff enough to really brush on brows and not break but also soft enough to easily apply onto brows," she says. Overall, the thin tip is ideal for the control needed for shaping, but Wizemann says she loves the color so much that she fills in her entire brow with it.
"The spoolie brush also helps brush the product through for a more natural look," she says, noting "this is one product I cannot live without and will always keep in my makeup bag. It's an OG, tried-and-true classic for me.”
Shades | 12 |
---|---|
Waterpoof | No |
Cruelty-free | Yes |
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Cruelty-free
- Fine tip is easy to apply
Cons
- Not waterproof
You don't have to splurge on a luxury product to get a great brow pencil, and this pick from e.l.f. is proof. This cruelty-free pick costs a fraction of what others do, but measures up in both ease of application and results. It's also surprisingly long-lasting, notes our tester.
Our tester uses the neutral brown shade to fill in her medium-dark brown brows. She told us that the fine-pointed tip is easy to use, even in smaller areas like the tail, and that it offers just the right amount of pigment for everyday wear. There's no sharpening required, plus the tool has a built-in spoolie — a huge convenience.
Unfortunately, it's not waterproof, but our tester was impressed by the longevity, telling us she rarely needs to reapply throughout the day.
Shades | 5 |
---|---|
Waterproof | No |
Cruelty-free | Yes |
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Pros
- Infused with shea butter
- Delivers a very natural look
- Clean ingredient list and cruelty-free
Cons
- Doesn't have a built-in spoolie
- May not fit into all sharpeners
If you're on the hunt for a great everyday eyebrow pencil, chances are you want something that delivers a natural look. Jones Road Beauty, the new-ish clean beauty company by makeup maven Bobbi Brown, has a cruelty-free option beloved by our staffers.
"I tried this chunky pencil on a whim and fell in love," says GH editor Elizabeth Berry. "Normally I use an eyebrow pencil that has a thinner tip, but I love the thicker pencil that makes the final look look more natural." Our experts also love that it's formulated with shea butter, which helps the pigment glide on super smooth and look fresh and dewy on skin rather than cakey.
It doesn't have a spoolie, so for best results, we recommend picking one up. Simply apply the eyebrow pencil in soft, feathery strokes, then brush with your spoolie. "I found the color matched my hair well and that you don't have to sharpen the pencil too often," says Berry. Key, because the thicker pencil may not fit into every sharpener.
Shades | 5 |
---|---|
Waterproof | Yes |
Cruelty-free | Yes |
4
Best Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultrafine Shape & Define Pencil
Pros
- Wide range of shades
- No sharpening required
- Built-in spoolie
Cons
- Runs out quickly
When it comes to brows, Benefit Cosmetics is a tried-and-true favorite — it's clear when you take a look at our tester's favorite products. For a waterproof option, it's hard to beat their Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultrafine Shape & Define Pencil, which testers say lives up to its claims, wearing well for as long as 12 hours.
"I used this all the time when I was getting my brows waxed and wanted to add a bit more fullness," says GH editor Jacqueline Saguin. "The fine tip makes for a more precise application, and I found that you could use a heavier hand with it, layering to get your desired look."
There's tons of shades to choose from, too. The 12 colors in the lineup suit all hair colors, including the notoriously more difficult-to-match like red and gray. We love that the twist styles means no sharpening required. There's also a built-in spoolie for convenience. On the downside, users say there's very little product in the pencil, so it runs out quickly — especially if you're a daily user.
Shades | 12 |
---|---|
Waterproof | Yes |
Cruelty-free | No |
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5
Best Eyebrow Pencil for Blonde Hair
Benefit Cosmetics Goof Proof Waterproof Easy Shape & Fill Eyebrow Pencil
Pros
- Comes in 12 shades
- Fine, angled tip is great for details
- Suitable for blondes and redheads
Cons
- Fine tip is easier to break
Another waterproof winner from Benefit Cosmetics, but this time for blondes and redheads. “As a redhead it's hard to find a true color match for my eyebrows, but this warm blonde is perfect, says GH editor Annie O'Sullivan. (It comes in 11 more hues to suit other hair colors, too!)
Our tester's love for this product transcend the shade availability, though. "I love how easily this applies and that the pencil has a lot of product and lasts a long time," says O'Sullivan. The retractable, no-sharpen tip is angled to help newbies draw nice, even strokes that shape, fill and define without over-saturation. The fine tip is ideal for defining and evening the tails of your eyebrows, too. Just go slowly, since some users note the fine tip makes the product a bit more delicate than others.
Shades | 12 |
---|---|
Waterproof | Yes |
Cruelty-free | No |
Pros
- Comes with a built-in spoolie
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Waterproof
Cons
- Soft tip is prone to smudging
Rare Beauty, Selena Gomez's cosmetics line, is a relative newcomer to the beauty world, but one that's quickly taking it by storm across categories. Our tester said this brow pencil has been her go-to since it first launched in 2020.
“The dual-ended pencil features a spoolie that makes it easy to fluff up my brows and an angled brow pencil that lets me fill in sparse areas," says Saguin. "I find it easy to control and achieve a wispy, feathery look." However, it's worth noting that some users say the tip is relatively soft and therefore has a tendency to smudge or look over-pigmented if you go in with a heavy hand.
"I have dark brown hair and use the complementary shade deep brown," says Saguin. For a more dramatic look — one that mirrors brow lamination — she recommends pairing it with the brand's brow gel, which is also vegan, cruelty-free and waterproof.
Shades | 5 |
---|---|
Waterproof | Yes |
Cruelty-free | Yes |
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Pros
- Comes in 12 shades
- Blends very well
- Has built-in spoolie
Cons
- Can be difficult to sharpen
Yet another brow product from Benefit Cosmetics... are you surprised?! Our testers had overwhelmingly positive things to say about all of the brand's brow products, but noted that this one was particularly beginner-friendly.
"It was easy to use, especially compared to other brow pencils that felt too pigmented or not as blendable," says Grace Wu, a GH product reviews analyst. "I appreciate how easy it was to fill in my brows and blend them out for a natural yet subtle look."
Like other brow pencils by Benefit, this one comes in an impressive array of 12 shades to suit all hair colors, including blonde and red. "I have black hair but used the cool gray one, which is an excellent match for my natural brows," says Wu. "Black can be too overwhelming on my light-medium-toned skin, but it felt subtle.” Unfortunately, even though it does come with a built-in spoolie, this particular pencil does need regular shapening — and some users report excess breakage in the process.
Shades | 12 |
---|---|
Waterproof | Yes |
Cruelty-free | No |
How we chose the best eyebrow pencils
While the pros in the GH Beauty Lab have not formally tested eyebrow pencils, we made our experts' categorical expertise and past testing experience. Over the years our staff has tested hundreds of cosmetics and beauty products from as many brands, including some of those mentioned here.
We also based our picks on staff recommendations and vetted consumer reviews. We are confident that our edit of the best eyebrow pencils represents the most reliable choices on the market.
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What to look for when shopping for eyebrow pencils
Eyebrow pencils may seem like relatively simple products, but paying attention to these two key features can help you make the best choice when shopping.
✔️ Pencil width: Some pencils are super-thin for creating hair-like strokes. If you want to define the shape of your brows, use a thin pencil to define the edges of your brows and add color precisely where you need it. If you want to keep the natural shape of your brows and simply enhance them with color, a thicker pencil will make it quick and easy.
✔️ Included spoolie: Many pencils come with a spoolie, a spiral brush used to brush brow hairs into place and blend in the pencil. A spoolie is always helpful to have for the most manicured look, but a built-in option is especially useful for anyone who regularly does their makeup on-the-go.
Should youreyebrowpencil be lighter or darker than your hair?
The short answer: It depends on the color of your natural brows. Here, detailed guidance on selecting the right shade for you, according to Robert Jones’ Makeup Masterclass. If your brows are...
✔️ Naturally light blonde: The pencil should be one shade darker than your brows.
✔️ Dark blonde or auburn: The pencil should be the same color as your brows.
✔️ Light to medium brown: The pencil should be the same color or one shade lighter than your brows.
✔️ Dark brown or black: The pencil should be one shade lighter than your brows.
✔️ Gray: Take a cue from your skin tone. Those with ivory or beige skin tones should select a blonde eyebrow pencil. Those with bronze or ebony skin tones should select a light golden brown.
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Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about cosmetics, including eye and brow makeup. She thoroughly researched the market and interviewed Chiara Butler, a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, about what products the editorial team personally uses and loves, plus what to look for when shopping for eyebrow pencils to help guide the recommendations in this story.
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.