10 Best Eyebrow Pencils 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed
Eyebrow pencils are the perfect way to provide a little support to your natural brow shape or define your look. Amongst the selection of products and innovations that all promise to elevate your brows, the humble eyebrow pencil still works for nearly everyone: it's brilliant for beginners and pros alike, with plenty of affordable options from MUA-approved vegan eyebrow pencils to luxury definers.
We'll advise you on how to find the right shade whether your hair flows black, brunette, blonde, or red, as well as share our tips on long-lasting and waterproof brow pencils that stay put even on oily skin. Our top 10 includes products from Amazon, eBay, John Lewis, Asos, and Boots, including favourites from Charlotte Tilbury, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Benefit, and NYX.
Quick List - Top Eyebrow Pencils
A qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist. I provide professional makeup services for all occasions, whether it be for a bride on their wedding day or backstage at a photo shoot. I also enjoy teaching through hosting live talks on my social media, masterclass events, and 1-1 training. My favourite style of makeup is most definitely vibrant. I love a colourful eyeshadow palette... or 10!
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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Table of Contents
With Specialist Consultation From Makeup Artist Claire Higgins
Claire is a qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist; she provides professional makeup services for all occasions, from bridal to backstage at photoshoots. Claire also teaches masterclass events as well as 1-1 training. She's a big fan of the vibrant style and loves a colourful palette... or 10!
Keep up-to-date with Claire through her Facebook and Instagram page, where you can learn the latest tips and tricks when it comes to makeup applications and also get inspired to try new looks!
How to Choose an Eyebrow Pencil in the UK
- Pick a Shade That Is 1 - 2 Shades Lighter Than Your Hair
- Work In Tangent With Your Natural Skin Tone and Eye Colour
- Select Smudge-Proof or Waterproof Pencils for A Long Lasting Effect
Pick A Shade Within 1-2 Shades of Your Hair Colour
There's a golden rule for when it comes to eyebrow pencils. The shade should complement your hair colour, not match it exactly. It should also complement your skin tone and eyes as a secondary measure, which can be a helpful decider if you're struggling between two shades.
Aim for 1 shade lighter than your hair colour, with the exception of blondes who may need something a little darker. Pencils are bolder than other types of eyebrow products and darkened by the oils in your skin via oxidisation.
Brunettes Should Go for Medium Brown or Taupe
The spectrum of hair colours covered by the term 'brunette' is vast, so luckily for you, you'll have the widest choice of pencil shades. Softer browns are usually the best for those with brown tresses, as anything too harsh may be quite overpowering.
Those with dark or medium brown locks should stick to anything in the medium brown family, whilst lighter and mousey brown shades work best with taupe. When in doubt, you can always opt for taupe, which is a universal brow colour.
As a guide, if you fall into the light to mid-brown hair category, stick to medium shades on the colour spectrum. If your hair is of a darker brown, then choose from shades verging closer to deep brown/black. If in doubt, Taupe is an even mix of brown and grey and is commonly used as a universal colour.
Blonde or Grey? Match the Darkest Tone of Brown in Your Hair
For the perfect balance, make sure to match your pencil with the darkest tone of brown in your hair to create a definition without any overwhelming features.
- Ashy blondes like champagne, platinum, and grey hair types can go for ashy,
- Natural blonde shades, while warmer, golden blonde hair tones can get away with light browns and taupes.
It is best that the shade you choose to apply is consistent with the undertone of your hair. Cool shades call for cooler undertones and warm shades call for warm.
Using a dark brown in the front of the brow, gradually apply some pressure to intensify the colour as you approach the brow's tail. Or when you hit the middle of the brow, begin to blend in a black. This creates an ombré effect.
If your hair is generally quite light, for example, a platinum blonde or grey, seek out ash or taupe brown to enhance colour within your brow hair and look delicate against the skin. Warmer blondes can also trust a taupe or a light shade of brown.
Ashy Browns, Auburns, Coppers or Taupes Match Well With Redheads
For those with a natural darker red, ashy browns and auburn shades. are best. If you're naturally pumpkin-ginger, try a copper. Lighter strawberry blondes can go for taupes – which, as you may have gleaned, are the fail safe option for most hair colours!
More so, dark blondes are a good match for lighter redheads too as they help maintain a natural appearance, while dark brown shades are a good option for darker redheads and work well for filling in and shaping.
Light redheads (strawberry blondes) can see an instant difference from a natural flush of colour in a taupe. It will add colour to the face without the tone being unbalanced with the other colourings in the skin.
For darker redheads, try an auburn tone, light ash brown, or medium brown - this will compliment your natural hair colouring and balance with your complexion. Brown shades with a little warmth such as copper will tie in softly with bright ginger hair.
Choose A Lighter Shade to Build Colour on Black Eyebrows
Choosing a true black shade can appear a bit unnatural, so stick to the 1 shade lighter rule and go for a dark to medium brown for a more subtle, realistic brow that you can build up to a deeper shade if you wish.
A dark brunette pencil looks better with dark-black hair than a black pencil. If you have a deeper skin tone, you might want to accentuate the appearance of your brows by first applying a dark drown and then going over it gradually with black.
To achieve a balanced look, aim to complement your natural hair colour. There is no rule that it should match completely, so don’t feel panicked if you dye your hair. Take into consideration your eye colouring and skins undertone.
Ask yourself what colour jewellery or foundation undertone suits your complexion and how does your skin take to the sun? Use this information as a guide to discover your suitable match.
Work With Your Natural Features Including Your Skin Tone and Eye Colour
If you dye your hair a non-natural colour, and you don’t fancy a pink, blue, or mulled wine brow, then you may want to use your skin tone to help you determine a pencil shade. You can also factor in your undertones if you’re not sure which shade to go for by your hair colour alone.
On the whole, warm-toned complexions, such as those who tan easily and tend to suit gold jewellery, will be complemented best by warm to deep browns. For darker skin and dark eyes, a very soft black can work, or try a deep brown accented with a few strokes of black.
Those with cool complexions who usually burn easily, suit silver jewellery, and have red or pink undertones to their skin will be complemented by pale browns, taupes and ashy shades, which will also complement lighter eye colours.
Take a look at some eyeshadows to further complement your features.
Waterproofing, Hyper Sharpness, Rectractables and More: Select Additions To Suit Your Life
The UK Weather Calls for Waterproofing and Smudge-Proof Pencils That Will Stay On for Longer
Never truly knowing whether it is going to snow or be blistering heat from one day to the next, making sure that your eyebrow pencil stays on when you're out and about is imperative. Whether the weather is humid, or you have naturally oily skin, investing in a pencil that has at least smudge-proof properties is a lifesaver.
Opting for a smudge-proof or waterproof eyebrow pencil means that you can leave the house carefree and have one less thing to worry about during your morning commute, on your way to a dinner reservation, or even a night out.
Waterproof eyebrow pencils are perfect in the summer or to take away on holiday with you. They withstand heat well. When attending an event that may be hot or humid due to crowding, your brow product moving or going patchy will be a thing of the past. Waterproof or smudge brow products withstand excess shine that develops on the skin throughout the day. Thus making it a staple product for oilier skin types.
Get a Pencil With a Spoolie Brush for Shaping and Blending
In case you haven't heard the rather charming term 'spoolie brush', it's essentially a fluffy brush similar to that of a mascara wand, and a feature we'd highly recommend looking for in a brow pencil. Don't worry, they're very easy to come across, and any good-quality pencil worth its weight should include one on its opposite end.
Used before you apply any pencil to brush the hairs upward, and then to finish off as a groomer and tidier that helps to evenly disperse colour, they're basically your new best friend when it comes to nailing the perfect brow.
Take a look at our Eyebrow Brushes for more information!
Use the spoolie to groom the brows into shape before applying any colour with the pencil. Brush the hairs in the direction they naturally grow. This will make it clearer to see which areas are sparse and require filling in or extra defining with the pencil.
If you’ve used too much pressure and your brows are looking a little darker than you’d like, use the spoolie to brush out some of the colours to make them appear more natural.
Travellers and People Who Do Make-Up On the Go Should Opt for Retractables
Nowadays it's quite rare to find any makeup pencil that doesn't emulate the mechanical pencils you were told to buy at school, and whilst the decision is up to you, many people do prefer retractable types over the traditional styles that need manually sharpening.
For starters, you'll need to make sure you have a makeup-specific sharpener (no, the pencil sharpener at the bottom of your junk drawer doesn't count), which can be a bit of a pain if you're travelling or on the go and your pencil snaps. And secondly, they're a tad messy, and can split or break much more easily.
Retractable brow pencils are suited to on the go makeup users and, of course, for overall convenience. Simply twist the product up, apply, and then twist back down, enabling a mess-free application. Then there are types that require a sharpener.
This can be hassle-free at your vanity table with a bin close by, but for use when you need a quick top-up, it’s not very practical.
Determine Whether You Want Super Precision or Great Filling
Depending on how you want to use an eyebrow pencil, whether it is to fill in missing areas or define your look, it is a good idea to decide whether you want an eyebrow pencil mastered for precision or great at filling in heavier areas.
Manual pencils only really have one tip shape: the conical point you associate with any other type of pencil. Some retractables are similarly shaped but with a straighter edge, both of which can work in your favour if they are fine enough. The finer the tip of the brow pencil, the easier it will be to draw thin, hair-like strands onto your arches, which is essentially the key to an effortlessly natural-looking brow.
The most commendable is an angle tipped pencil, which allows the application of precise strokes as well as filling and shaping, making it easier to follow your natural arches. The sharper point of the angle can then be used to define each edge, resulting in a much more professional brow than you thought you were capable of.
If you want to explore more options to explore, have a look at our Top 10 Eyeliners for Beginners.
An angled tip allows for single strand hair strokes. With light pressure on the skin and a flicking motion of this wrist, you can control the products intensity and placement to achieve this intricate effect.
If you are looking to even out your brows rather than define them, some brow pencils have a small rounded tip similar to a ball point pen. Merely fill in any sparse areas between your existing hairs to give a natural, fuller brow.
10 Best Eyebrow Pencils in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil | | 12 Hour Waterproof Wonder With 12 Shades Available | |
2 | Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift Eyebrow Pencil｜Star Brow | | 3-in-1 Smudgeproof Supermodel Arches | |
3 | Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long Wear Brow Pencil | | For Brows That Stay Bold for 16 Hours | |
4 | NYX Micro Brow Pencil | | Micro-Fine Tip Especially for Filling in Sparse Brows | |
5 | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer | | Triangular Tipped Brush for Realistic Brows | |
6 | Urban Decay Brow Beater Microfine Pencil & Brush | | Nourished With Vitamin E, Argan and Coconut Oil | |
7 | e.l.f. Essential Instant Lift Brow Pencil | | Cheap, Simple, Fully Vegan Eyebrow Pencil | |
8 | Hourglass Arch™ Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil | | A Sumdgeproof, Ultra-Thin Tip for Controlled Precision | |
9 | NARS Brow Perfecter Eyebrow Pencil | | Buildable, Natural Colour That's Skin-Friendly | |
10 | Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil | | Traditional Pencil With a Respectable Shade Range |
12 Hour Waterproof Wonder With 12 Shades Available
Whether you're a brow-fiend who's always searching for the best products or a complete newbie, we couldn't recommend this pencil more. It's incredibly easy to apply (hence the name!) and glides on just firmly enough to thoroughly fill any patchiness or sparseness.
Plus it's waterproof, smudge-proof, and guaranteed to stick for 12 hours. Available in full size or travel mini, choose between 12 shades from light to deep (with plenty of options for silver foxes and redheads) and thank us later when you're flooded with compliments on your beautiful brows!
3-in-1 Smudgeproof Supermodel Arches
With names that pay homage to our favourite supermodels (which can also help you work out your shade!), this sharply-angled 3-in-1 pencil will shape, lift and add definition for expert-looking bushy, full brows.
The spoolie brush is just firm enough to groom without taking off too much product and pops off to reveal a bonus product in the form of a gorgeous highlighter, designed to enhance and lift your arches. It's the perfect eyebrow pencil for blonde hair and absolutely worth every penny!
For Brows That Stay Bold for 16 Hours
Top pick for those who covet the boldest and most snatched of brows, Bobbi Brown's pencil isn't kidding about the long wear – it's sweat-resistant, humidity-resistant, and waterproof, and will stick around for a mighty 16 hours.
The formulation is made using a mixture of waxes and emollients, so it applies smoothly and easily, and includes a hard to come by grey shade in its range, too so everyone is invited to this brow party!
Micro-Fine Tip Especially for Filling in Sparse Brows
Those from a certain generation may still be suffering from barely-there brows, so it's a good job NYX's ultra-fine tipped pencil is designed especially for the over-plucked! We also love their ethos of creating accessible, professional-quality products for a great price.
It's absolutely one for those wanting a natural, defined finish as opposed to a blocked out brow, with all 8 of the available shades being among the most realistic on the market. Choose from blonde all the way to espresso for a perfect match.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer
Triangular Tipped Brush for Realistic Brows
If you loved Anastasia's previous cult 'Brow Wiz', pencil, wait 'til you try this one! Upping the ante with a triple-sided angled tip, this nifty multifunctional pencil allows you to shade, define, outline and fill. Like all her products, it's highly pigmented so only a light touch is needed.
The spoolie is also very soft and wider than most, seamlessly incorporating the product into your hairs for brows that look seriously convincing. 10 shades are available, with options for blondes, redheads, and jet-black hair types. Plus she's Kim K's brow artist, need we say more?
Nourished With Vitamin E, Argan and Coconut Oil
A brow pencil that nourishes and softens your hair whilst filling in sparse arches? Yes, please! Another vegan formula here, this time packed with vitamin E, argan oil, and coconut oil, and with a precise microfine tip that's cleverly self-sharpening.
Despite the added oils, it's actually waterproof and extremely long-lasting, and easy enough to use on the go if you do need a top-up to take you from office to dance floor. The 4 shades are fairly diverse, with good old taupe being the most versatile.
Cheap, Simple, Fully Vegan Eyebrow Pencil
e.l.f. have stormed the beauty world with their reasonably-priced yet fabulous quality range, which is also vegan. This pencil has even won awards! With a pointed tip and a light pigment, it would suit those wanting either a pencil they can slowly build up or simply a more subtle, natural finish.
Unfortunately, there are only 3 shades to choose from, but the taupe is a good all-rounder for most brunette and dark blonde hair types. However, the bargain price means you can always double up to create your perfect shade!
A Sumdgeproof, Ultra-Thin Tip for Controlled Precision
It may be on the pricier side, but this beauty from Hourglass has expertly taken the convenience and speed of a retractable pencil and combined it with the staying power of wax and the strong pigment of a powder.
With its sharply angled tip of only 1.4mm and a little concentration, it'll enable you to draw razor-thin hair-like strokes before blending and grooming with the spoolie. Smudge-proof and long-lasting, it's definitely one for those who want bold brows with impact.
Buildable, Natural Colour That's Skin-Friendly
Much-loved makeup heroes NARS have created a great brow pencil for gradually building up a full brow without fear of overdoing it. The oval, straight tip may take a bit of getting used to, but if angled correctly it's not too difficult to achieve a hair-like effect.
Enriched with natural ingredients, the pigment itself is lovely and soft to nourish both your skin and brow hairs, although some reviewers report this means it does get used up rather quickly! Fair-toned types praise the range for including a very blonde-friendly shade, 'Calimyrna'.
Traditional Pencil With a Respectable Shade Range
Laura Mercier's offering is a wax/powder combo with a traditional pencil tip, which may well be a little too chunky for beginners or creating a brush-stroke effect, but would certainly do the job for filling in quickly, particularly for those wanting a natural look.
Some may not be keen on the idea of manual sharpening, but at least there's a sharpener included and a brush. Unlike most pencils of this variety, there are 8 shades to choose from, helpfully named after the hair colour they complement rather than just the colour itself.
Written and researched by Natasha Dziubajlo
Top 5 Eyebrow Pencils
No. 1: Benefit ｜Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil
No. 2: Charlotte Tilbury ｜Brow Lift Eyebrow Pencil｜Star Brow
No. 3: Bobbi Brown｜Perfectly Defined Long Wear Brow Pencil
No. 4: NYX｜Micro Brow Pencil
No. 5: Anastasia Beverly Hills ｜Brow Definer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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