Boost Your Brow Game With 12 Eyebrow Pencils, Powders, and Gels Our Editors Love (2024)

When it comes to brows, a full, proportioned arch can do wonders for framing your face, complementing your features, and pulling together any makeup look (whether it’s natural or full glamor). But unless you've got Cara Delivingne brows, such a finish might not be feasible if it weren’t for the ideal eyebrow filler product. “If you’re choosing to wear makeup, eyebrow fillers are such an important product,” says makeup artist Michael Brown. “The right formula, texture, shade, and finish will add volume, definition, and depth, not to mention balance out your entire face.”

With so many pencils, powders, pomades, waxes, and brow gels, finding the best one can be seriously overwhelming. That’s where we come in! With the help of Brown, we did extensive research evaluating several popular options based on shade range, formula, application, finish, and wear time—we even tested a few ourselves. The result: Our list of the best products a brow-lover could ask for.

Our Top Picks

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What We Like

  • Built-in spoolie

  • Angled tip

  • Extensive shade range

What to Consider

  • The tip loses its shape over time

Type: Pencil | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.007 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Anastasia Soare—the genius founder and brow artist behind Anastasia Beverly Hills—is a celebrity brow stylist beloved by the stars, so it’s no wonder her namesake beauty line measures up. The Brow Definer, in particular, is a soft, easy-to-use crayon that fills in gaps and thickens up fine brows while the spoolie buffs it through for a seamless finish. Our editors agree that the triangular shape makes it easy to outline and fill in gaps quickly, and the shade range is extensive, meaning it’s a great choice for pretty much any skin tone, too.

Type: Pencil | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.006 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For brilliant brows on a budget, it’s got to be e.l.f. This dual-end crayon and spoolie can be used to define and fill each brow, either subtly or for a more glam effect. It also contains grapeseed oil and vitamin E for added nourishment, and at just a few dollars, it gets the job done beautifully.

What We Like

  • Unique powder pencil finish

  • Natural look

  • Buildable formula

What to Consider

  • Shade range could be more extensive

Type: Pencil | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.04 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What’s amazing about this product from Gucci is that it’s like a pigmented powder in pencil form, so you get a soft, diffused finish without the need to fiddle around with brushes. Create a full but natural brow with light strokes, or build out the intensity for a more dramatic finish.

What We Like

  • Long-wearing

  • Great color payoff

  • A little goes a long way

What to Consider

  • Requires a little more skill to apply

Type: Pomade | Shades: 11 | Size: 0.14 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For thin, uneven brows, Brown loves a waxy pomade like Anastasia Beverly Hills’ famous Dip Brow. Unlike soft pencils and gels, this will adhere to the skin and last all day. It’s incredibly pigmented, so the small pot should last you quite a long time. It definitely takes some practice and skill to learn how to master your brow shape with this one, but once you do, you'll be hooked. Our editors love how well it works to shape and fill in the brows, and they're even more impressed by how well it wears during hot and humid weather.

What We Like

  • Natural finish

  • Has two tones

  • Excellent shade range

What to Consider

  • Not as long-wearing as other options

Type: Powder | Shades: 11 | Size: 0.03 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you prefer a soft finish that's a bit more forgiving for beginners, powder brow products are a great entry point, and Anastasia Beverly Hills did it again with this one. It comes in 11 colorways, each one containing a lighter color to bulk up the front of the brow and a deeper shade to define the arch and tail. All you need is a small angled brush and a few dips into the powder before you can get to work crafting your brows. We love how it can create natural looks and be built up for a bolder brow, making it a versatile option that certainly has our stamp of approval.

What We Like

  • Foolproof

  • Not crunchy

  • Workable texture

What to Consider

  • Can get flaky if over-applied

Type: Wax | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.28 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We told you: Anastasia Soare is really the queen of brows—she creates some incredible eyebrow products in all different formats. This one is a clear, universal wax that works for everyone. All you do is dip a spoolie into the pot to pick up some product and comb it through your brows. It has a workable texture that you can use to mold your brow shape to your liking before it dries down and keeps the hairs in place all day. "I have extremely thick eyebrow hairs, and this is one of the only formulas that keeps them in place," says Alyssa Kaplan, Byrdie commerce writer. "I also love that it adds a bit of volume and texture to my brows without weighing them down or making them look or feel too crunchy."

What We Like

  • Easy to use

  • Precise spoolie applicator

  • Volumizing

  • Keeps brows locked in place

  • Not crunchy

What to Consider

  • Runs out quickly

Type: Gel | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.17 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another favorite of Kaplan is this affordable brow glue, which is pretty much magic for those with thick, unruly brow hairs. "I know it sounds dramatic, but this brow gel completely changed my makeup game," she says. "I used to spend so much time trying to shape my brows and keep the hairs from moving around, but with this gel, I can lock them in place in 10 seconds tops." We love that it's affordable, comes in clear and tinted options, has a precise spoolie for easy application, and sets the brows sans a crunchy finish.

What We Like

  • Waterproof

  • Precise tip

  • Long-wearing

What to Consider

  • Pens are prone to drying out

  • Shade range is limited

Type: Pen | Shades: 3 | Size: 0.02 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Want to be able to dip into the ocean or pool without your brows fading? Then you’ll appreciate this waterproof pen from Stila. With a marker-like felt tip, it enables you to draw in tiny, hair-like strokes for a full finish that will not budge (even in the face of humidity or sweat). It's great for people who have sparse brow hairs and are looking to achieve a more fluffy finish.

What We Like

  • Thin pencil allows for ultra-precise application

  • Excellent shade range

  • Comes with attached spoolie

  • Comes in a mini size

What to Consider

  • Extremely pigmented, which could be too much for a more natural look

Type: Pencil | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.002 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have thin brows or you're looking to achieve really fine, precise brow strokes, we recommend trying this pencil from Benefit. Available in 12 shades, the waterproof formula is contained in a super fine pencil that allows you to draw on hair-like strokes with ease. Though the formula is quite pigmented, which can make it a bit challenging to achieve a natural look right off the bat, the attached spoolie does an excellent job of blending and softening the stokes for a more natural appearance. We've found that our editors with different skin tones and brow colors are able to find a shade match in this range, and we're really impressed with how long-wearing it is.

What We Like

  • Affordable

  • Built-in a spoolie

  • Precise tip

  • Extensive shade range

What to Consider

  • Not as long-wearing as other options

Type: Pencil | Shades: 10 | Size: 0.003 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

For lighter brows, this filler is a top choice—it comes in light blond, blond, or dark blond (as well as other options for different hair colors). If you have blonde hair, you know how tricky it can be to find brow fillers that look natural on you—especially at the drugstore. That's why we appreciate that this one has multiple shades and undertones for blondes. It also has an incredibly fine mechanical tip that can fill in the tiniest of gaps. Just use a light hand, and then buff the product through with the accompanying spoolie.

What We Like

  • Creamy texture

  • Built-in soft brush

  • Precise tip

  • Extensive shade range

What to Consider

  • Not long-wearing as other options

Type: Pencil | Shades: 14 | Size: 0.002 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As for the most diverse shade range, Brown can’t go past Fenty's MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler: “Available in 14 shades, you really can’t go wrong with this fine-tipped mechanical crayon.” It’s quite creamy as far as the texture is concerned, ensuring a smooth, sculpted brow. On the opposite end, you’ll find a tiny little brush almost resembling a bristle hairbrush—it’s softer than a spoolie, so it won’t buff away quite as much product. We love that the range boats multiple options with varying depths and undertones for those with dark brown hair—this allows you to get your precise match for the ultimate natural look.

What We Like

  • Three-step system

  • Long-wearing

  • Versatile

What to Consider

  • Takes a little longer to apply

Type: Gel, pomade, and pencil | Shades: 3 | Size: 0.28 ounces (gel), 0.05 ounces (pomade), 0.002 ounces (pencil) | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Refy is a brand by influencer-turned-beauty-entrepreneur Jess Hunt that’s built a loyal following—all of which are obsessed with full, laminated brows. The 3.0 Stage Brow Collection contains everything you need to create your dream brows. This might sound intimidating, but we promise you when used together, the finished result is pretty spectacular. The idea is to use the sculpting gel first to lift and set before filling in with both the pomade and pencil for an exaggerated, long-lasting finish.

What to Look for in Eyebrow Fillers

  • Formula: Brown explains that the brow filler you choose should come down to two things: the state of yournatural browsand your preferred finish. He explains that pencils, powders, and crayons are great for filling out the natural shape, while gels and waxes simply fluff, lift and provide hold. Pomades, on the other hand, are quite pigmented and long-lasting, so they are ideal if you have very sparse brows or prefer a bold look.“I typically use a combination of two or more products—such as a crayon and a gel—when I’m working with clients,” Brown adds.(We really dove into the differences between each if you want to learn more.)
  • Shades: The other important element to consider is the shade range. “Despite what a lot of people think, an ashy, cool tone is almost always the most flattering when it comes to brows,” explains Brown. The exception is those with red, orange, or strawberry blonde hair, in which case a soft auburn is generally a safe bet. (FYI, here's more on what shade is best for you.)

FAQ

  • How do you use an eyebrow filler?

    This is really up to you and the formula you choose! Use your eyebrow filler whenever you want to add volume or definition to your natural brows—with or without a face of makeup otherwise.

  • How do you select the right shade of eyebrow filler?

    Brown says that when it comes to brow fillers, a cool-toned hue that is one shade lighter than your natural brow coloring usually yields the best results. If you can’t test products out in real life, look for those with a slightly gray, taupe, or ashy undertone.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributorEmily Algarhas been a beauty journalist for over seven years—not to mention someone who is very invested in her brows. Over the years, she’s tested numerous products and chatted to many experts, giving her a great idea of what works and what doesn’t.

Team Byrdie worked with an expert to inform this story:

  • Michael Brown is one of Australia’s leading celebrity makeup artists and has held Australian ambassador roles for global brands including, St Tropez, Marc Jacobs, Moroccanoil, Ardell Lashes, and Olay.
Boost Your Brow Game With 12 Eyebrow Pencils, Powders, and Gels Our Editors Love (2024)

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