BROWS 101

BEST EYEBROW PENCILS OF 2021

• With eye looks front and center this year, we're all focused on creating perfect brow arches that shape our face and enhance our eyes. And when you want perfect eyebrows, the eyebrow pencil is perfection! Here's what to consider when choosing a brow pencil and how to find the best shade match for your brow color. Enjoy, and choose your favorite!

• WHAT DO EYEBROW PENCILS DO?

  The Original Brow savior—smart, shapely, small and very versatile. Eyebrow pencils are used to define and fill in eyebrows for the most natural-looking finish. Their precision tip makes them the perfect eyebrow product for those with sparse, thin or uneven brows. Some eyebrow pencils are pigment-rich, showing up easily with every stroke, some are lighter, and more forgiving of mistakes. What makes them different from brow gels and powders is their versatility, they're quite easy to use, neat and portable, come in all kinds of textures, colors and depths, and can create a range of brow looks, from natural to dramatic.

• WHAT IS THE BEST EYEBROW PENCIL FOR BEGINNERS?

  When you're just starting out in the eyebrow game, you need something that glides on easily, blends in beautifully, and looks truly natural. You also want something that comes with a spoolie brush to help you blend in color after you apply for the most natural-looking, diffused effect and to smooth out any wobbles or gaps.

  
  

  Our newest pencil, TattooStudio Tattoo Brow 36HR Pigment Brow Pencil blends the best of both brow worlds: it's easy to use and ultra-performing with up to 36 hours of fade-resistant, waterproof wear. Its magic lies in its bold pigment level—just a few, feathery strokes is enough to turn thin, limp brows into full, shapely, natural-looking arches.

  
  

  As far as shade matching goes, choose a pencil that is one shade darker than your natural brow shade if you are fair, one shade lighter than your natural brow shade if you have a medium-to-deep complexion. Tattoostudio Tattoo Brow 36 HR Pigment Brow Pencil comes in six ultra-performing and ultra-inclusive shades that show up on diverse skin tones and look hyper-realistic.

• WHAT IS THE BEST EYEBROW PRODUCT FOR SPARSE BROWS?

  People with sparse brows might need a little more heft to fill in their brows, and that's where a dual product like Brow Define + Fill Duo comes in. This has a lightly pigmented pencil on one end, and matching pigmented brow powder on the other end to achieve denser color. Use the two to custom-color in your brow as needed. For instance, some people need the powder to add more color in the thicker, front part of their brows, but for the thinner brow "tail" a more delicate pencil is needed for precision.

• HOW TO USE EYEBROW PENCILS:

  Before using any eyebrow pencil, be sure to use a spoiler brush to groom brow hairs up—this way you can see the true shape of your brows and what areas need filling in and definition.

  
  

  The golden rule about using brow pencils is to flick the pencil from bottom of the brow upwards and outwards, mimicking the growth of the tiny, individual hairs that make up the brow. Also, keep your pencil sharp to look as natural as possible. If sharpening your pencil seems too much to remember, then opt for an automatic, ultra-skinny pencil like Brow Ultra Slim Defining Eyebrow Pencil. The tip is micro-small and draws on so finely, it looks like real hair. Truly miraculous—and the best option for beginners, because any mistakes you make will be small and easily correctable.

• A little note before you dive in with your perfect pencil:

  
  

  Brow specialists often tell us your brows are sisters, not twins. Whereas your left brow might be perfectly arched and smooth, your right brow could be a little rounder, less full. Try your best to even them out but don't become obsessed with making them "match" as in real life, most people have subtly different brows.