The 8 Best Brow Pencils of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Eyebrow Pencil

$26 at Sephora $26 at Nordstrom $26 at Charlottetilbury.com

Shades: 8 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

After trying dozens of products firsthand, Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Cheat was our favorite. Our tester, Madison Yauger, 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 it can draw on realistic-looking eyebrow hairs in a single stroke—no layering needed.

The formula has a matte finish, so it looks natural and blends with your hair. 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. Yauger 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 blend, fluff, and shape. It's also refillable—similar to a mechanical pencil—to reduce waste. Available in eight true-to-tone shades that promise 16 hours of waterproof wear, Yauger has no complaints about this product.

Who It’s For 

If you're looking for a high-quality makeup product, reach for this iconic brow pencil—especially if you're on the go or running errands. It'll last for 16 hours and stand up against humidity and smudging. Several users remarked about its long-lasting wear; one even said it lasts for days if necessary. 

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer

$26 at Amazon $13 at Sephora $26 at Ulta

Shades: 12 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We tried two pencils from Anastasia Beverly Hills (and have previously tried the brand’s gel brow pencil), and while we like the Brow Wiz, we love the Brow Definer. Calling it the "gold standard of brow pens," our tester, Myra Mangal, said the consistency is creamy enough to create soft lines without overpowering your existing hair.

The slanted triangular tip is versatile and user-friendly. You can make thin strokes, outline or shade your arches, then flip it over and blend everything out with the built-in spoolie. While the Brow Definer isn't waterproof, Mangal said the long-lasting pigment resists smudging. Beyond that, Mangal wishes it came in a soft black shade.

Who It’s For

This brow pencil comes in 12 shades—from Dark Brown to Strawburn—and two sizes (standard and mini, which is perfect for traveling!). If you often change your brow colors, this is a great staple to have in your makeup arsenal.

Best Budget

E.l.f. Brow Pencil

$3 at Amazon $3 at Ulta $3 at Target

Shades: 5 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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, Kiara Timo, said it's smooth and creamy with a sturdy tip, making it easy to apply.

Though Timo wishes it came in a few more shades, this product offers the perfect amount of pigment: plenty saturated but not too heavy. Since it's not waterproof, Timo said it rubs off easily. But overall, she was impressed and would buy it again.

Who It’s For

This is a great starter pencil for people just dipping their toes into the world of brow lining. It’s inexpensive, high-quality, and has a spoolie to help fluff up the brows after application. Plus, the product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free for guilt-free use.

Best Splurge

Gucci Crayon Définition Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil

$33 at Sephora $33 at Nordstrom $26 at Selfridges.com

Shades: 6 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Gucci's Crayon Définition Sourcils eyebrow pencil is a worthy splurge. Upon trying the shade 03 Châtain (light brown), our tester, Dawlat Chebly, said the creamy texture glides on smoothly, and the lightweight pencil design makes it easy to draw hair-like strokes. What's more, the pigment didn't 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 includes a sharpener, so you can make it a little pointier if needed.

Who It’s For

This eyebrow pencil is a great piece to add to your collection if you love designer items. The brow pencil comes in six shades, ranging from black to taupe. The formula is long-lasting and doesn’t flake (even after using the pencil’s spoolie to fluff your brows), so you’ll have gorgeous coverage for a long time.

Best Waterproof

HUDA BEAUTY Brow Pencil

$17 at Sephora

Shades: 5 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-free: Yes

Huda's #BombBrows was a hit in The Lab. Boasting the "thinnest tip on the market," our tester, Nikki Berryman, loved how the precision point deposits just the right amount of pigment and doesn't 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 is easy to hold, and there's a spoolie on the other end for blending and fluffing. While there are five shades, they're mostly concentrated within a medium brown range. However, the price point is just right for a high-quality product: accessible but not so cheap it makes you suspicious.

Who It’s For

This brow pencil is an excellent tool for those on the go, rain or shine. It's waterproof and infused with vitamin E, castor oil, and coconut oil to help you make soft strokes that look like hair.

Best for Sparse Brows

Too Faced Super Fine Brow Detailer Eyebrow Pencil

$39 at Walmart $25 at Nordstrom View on Toofaced.com

Shades: 8 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're working with sparse eyebrows, Too Faced is your best bet. Our tester, Cherylann Welch, said the brand's 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 didn't break or smoosh at all while she filled in her brows.

The pigment is available in eight shades ranging from soft black to taupe with a noticeable, natural-looking color. And the vitamin E-infused formula creates soft, realistic-looking hairs. One thing to note is that while the formula is waterproof, Welch said it smudged slightly when she ran her finger over her brow.

Who It’s For 

Don’t fret if your natural eyebrows are sparse. This brow pencil will give you fluffy, full-looking brows in no time. The brand boasts that the results from using this product are reminiscent of a professional microblading treatment.

Best Drugstore Brow Pencil

NYX Professional Makeup Eyebrow Pomade

$12 at Amazon $13 at Ulta $13 at Target

Shades: 8 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-free: Yes

NYX is a drugstore staple you can count on for affordable, widely accessible makeup. Case in point: this wallet-friendly eyebrow pencil. (We actually tried two of the brand's pencils, but this one fared a little better in The Lab.) Yauger tested this pencil too and said the smooth and creamy pomade formula filled her brows well.

The slanted triangular tip has a precision point and a thicker edge, so you can draw fine lines or define your arches. Instead of a spoolie, there's a toothbrush-shaped brush on the other end for blending and fluffing. Yauger said the pigment is pretty intense, so you'll want to use a very light hand when creating hair-like strokes.

Who It’s For 

You don’t have to pay top dollar to get quality beauty products; this drugstore eyebrow pencil proves that. It comes in eight shades to work with most brow colors and is vegan- and cruelty-free for guilt-free use. Unsurprisingly, it has an almost five-star rating, with several users positively reporting its pigmentation, color range, and long-lasting wearability.

Best Vegan

Kosas Defining Eyebrow Pencil

$24 at Sephora $24 at Nordstrom View on Kosas.com

Shades: 10 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Jillian Raplee, our tester, said Kosas Brow Pop has a creamy texture and a lightweight feel. Thanks to its triangular tip, this brow pencil has both a precision point and a thicker edge. The multi-step system also features a built-in spoolie for blending and brushing your hairs in the desired direction.

Though the vegan formula isn't waterproof or transfer-resistant, the kit comes with a clear laminating treatment that helps everything stay in place. Raplee said it felt sticky at first, but once dry, her brows were fluffy and soft. It also contains castor oil to support brow growth, though there's not a ton of research on whether this actually works.

Who It’s For

If you care about how your products are made, feel confident knowing this Kosas brow pencil is cruelty-free. But there are other benefits, too. Namely, the fact that it comes in a whopping 10 shades and is clinically proven (so the brand says) to last for up to eight hours.