The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but the brows are just as important, especially when it comes to framing your face. Even the slightest adjustment to your eyebrows can have an effect on your overall look, from a plucking session gone awry to a few unruly hairs that are out of place. Those furry lines on our faces have an important job to do! Thankfully, finding the right brow products can assist with your brow game, and the good thing is, you don’t have to break the bank. All you have to do is find the best drugstore eyebrow pencils that can help you achieve perfect, natural-looking brows.
Best drugstore eyebrow pencils at a glance
- Best for defining: E.l.f Ultra-Precise Brow Pencil, $6
- Best for thin brows: Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil, $8
- Best waterproof: L’Oreal Paris Makeup Brow Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil, $8
- Best hypoallergenic: Covergirl Easy Breezy Brow Micro-Fine + Define Pencil, $7
- Best ultra-fine point: Makeup Revolution Precise Brow Pencil, $6
- Best vegan: NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil, $11
- Best two-tone: Revlon Colorstay Browlights Pencil, $8
- Best smudge-proof: JOAH Brow Down To Me Precision Brow Pencil, $9
- Best pencil and gel combo: Pixi By Petra Natural Brow Duo, $16
- Best budget: Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Retract, $3
- Best blendable: Milani Stay Put Precision Brow Pencil, $9
- Best for full brows: Arches & Halos Angled Brow Shading Pencil, $13
- Best for a natural look: LA Girl Shady Slim Brow Pencil, $6
How do I choose an eyebrow pencil?
If you’re wondering where to start, the first step is knowing your brow pencil shade. According to Miles George, a makeup artist who works in Product Development and as an Artistry Educator for E.l.f Beauty, the best thing to do is to use a shade slightly lighter than your natural hair color, but is in the same color family. “For example, if you have black hair, a cool deep brown will complement nicely and give a natural-looking brow,” he says. “For blondes, I will usually choose a shade that is a little deeper than their hair to balance the face. Taupe is often a good choice.”
As for shaping and filling in your brow, George says he likes filling in at the arch, then working toward the front of the brow. This way, you have more control which helps to create a softer, more natural front of your brow. Another tip is to use light pressure to make finer hair-like strokes—it’s easy to go overboard with filling in. “Less is more! Remember, it’s always easier to add more product than to try to remove,” he says. “Try brushing your brows up and out with a spoolie brush after applying a pencil or brow powder to soften the look. This will also blend the color with your natural brows.” Lastly, use a brow gel to set your brows. “If there is one thing I always do for brows, it’s brush in a little brow gel. This makes the brows look clean and polished and help extend the wear of your brow color,” he adds.
Ahead, find 13 of the best drugstore eyebrow pencils that will help you achieve your best brows.
The best drugstore eyebrow pencils
This is George’s go-to pencil for shaping and defining. He’ll top it off with a tinted volumizing brow gel, like e.l.f. Wow Brow, when he wants to create a bold, fluffy brow, and a clear brow gel for more effortless grooming.
Pros
- Buildable gel
- 5 different shades
- Volumizing
Cons
- Tube is small
- Doesn’t hold brows
If your brows are more on the thin side, you’ll love this pencil for its teardrop tip, which helps ensure a filled-in look that still appears natural. Use the narrow end for shaping and the thicker end for filling in.
Pros
- Angled tip for precise application, spoolie for blending
- Smooth texture
- Four different shades
Cons
- Not smudge-proof
For about five bucks, this popular brow pencil will become your eyebrows’ best friend. The super fine tip will help you fake brow hairs, and it’s also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about it smudging throughout the day. Plus, it comes in 10 different shades to ensure a match.
Pros
- Fine tip for precision and spoolie on the other end
- 10 different shades
- Waterproof
- Suitable for sensitive eyes
Cons
- Pencil is small
- Can break easily
Another great, price-friendly choice for a drugstore brow product, this Covergirl pencil has an ultra-fine tip for easy and effective definition. You also don’t have to worry about sharpening it, which means you get more product out of it than other pencils that require sharpening.
Pros
- Micro-fine tip for precision and spoolie on the other end
- No sharpening needed
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Can break easily
- Pencil is hard
It’s always helpful when a brow pencil comes with a spoolie attached! This ultra-fine pencil will help you create a brow that can forgive any bad overplucking moment. Just make sure to be light-handed with your strokes!
Pros
- Ultra-fine point for precision and spoolie on the other side
- 5 different shades
- Volumizing
Cons
- Pencil is small
- Texture is waxy
If you’re not yet ready for microblading, but need serious help with thin, sparse brows, a pencil like this NYX one is the way to go. You’ll be able to draw on a defined shape and fill them in all with this super fine pencil that is made with a vegan and cruelty free formula.
Pros
- Fine point for precision and spoolie on the other side
- 8 different shades
- Goes on smoothly
Cons
- Pencil is small
- Have to press hard to get color
Looking for something unique in the brow pencil department? Revlon’s Browlights features a two-toned brow pencil tip that has your actual brow shade on one side and a lighter shade on the other so you can create a defined highlight on your brow bone after shaping and filling in your brows. On the other end you get a lush kabuki brush that helps you blend and fluff the brow so they look natural and striking at the same time.
Pros
- Pencil on one end and kabuki blender on the other end
- Two-tone technology for a natural look
- Easy to use
Cons
- Can be messy to use, formula is soft
- More for filling than shaping
If a long-lasting, smudge proof pencil is one of your top requirements for a brow product, add Joah’s Brow Down to your cart, ASAP. The tip easily allows you to create defined, natural-looking arches while the formula ensures it stays on throughout the busiest of days.
Pros
- Ultra-fine pencil on one end and spoolie on the other end
- 10 shades
- Smudge-proof and water-resistant
Cons
- Have to press hard to get color
This 2-in-1 brow product allows you to keep your product stash to a minimum. On one end, you get a brow pencil with a waterproof formula to fill in and shape your brows, and on the other, you have a brow gel and spoolie to keep them in place. Easy-peasy.
Pros
- Brow pencil and gel in one
- Pencil is waterproof, gel holds brows in place
- Goes on smoothly
Cons
- May take time to get the angle right
The triangular tip on Wet n Wild’s brow pencil will help you become a master at brows, as it helps you draw the brow shape of your dreams and fills them in afterward. Fluffy, gorgeous brows, here you come! Plus, you can’t beat that price!
Pros
- Angled tip on one end and spoolie on the other end
- Affordable
- Natural look
Cons
- Have to press hard to get the color
- Angle may take getting used to
Eyebrow aficionados say this Milani pencil rivals one of the most popular brow brand’s beloved products (Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz), so it might be worth trying it for that endorsement alone. Much like other micro pencils, this one will help you get a precise, hair-like finish, but with a formula that’s easy to blend so you won’t accidentally end up looking like Oscar the Grouch.
Pros
- Ultra-fine pencil on one end and spoolie on the other end
- 6 shades
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Color is darker than it looks
If you couldn’t tell by the name alone, this brand is all about the brows. If thick, fuller brows are your thing, put this pencil on your shopping list. The angled tip lets you create a nice base and angled arch before filling in the brows afterwards with hair-like precision. Now you can get those Cara Delevingne brows you crave.
Pros
- Angled pencil on one end and spoolie on the other end
- 8 shades
- Goes on smoothly
Cons
- Pencil is on the thicker side
The ultra-slim tip on this pencil ensures fine, hairlike strokes that will look so convincing, no one will know you once went overboard with your tweezers back in the day.
Pros
- Thin pencil on one end and spoolie on the other end
- 5 shades
- Pencil lasts a long time
Cons
- Have to press hard to get color