Brow trends have no doubt come and gone in recent years, but after an age of overcorrecting ‘90s sparseness with ‘block brows’ and a ‘the bigger the better’ mentality, it seems we’ve at last landed on a happy medium: feathery and filled in without taking either criteria too far.
Now that the beauty world is favouring a more blended brow, however, it can be tricky to know which defining products to call upon to achieve the aforementioned aesthetic. Well, one that we feel is up to the task (despite having fallen somewhat by the wayside in favour of ‘fancier’ pomades and gels) happens to be the humble but powerful pencil.
We know it may seem counterintuitive to reach for anything that encompasses the ability to create the exact harsh, sharp lines we’re attempting to avoid, but trust us; when wielded correctly, a brow pencil may just be the most natural-looking brow product on the market.
The secret to success? A light hand, and the ability to ‘shade’ rather than draw. Instead of simply sketching your desired brow shape (whether it suits your face or not), we recommend building up the brow with soft, subtle strokes that aim to mimic the shape and direction of individual natural hairs. Even if you do make a pigment placement faux pas, a run of the spoolie brush should marry everything together once more.
Long story short, brow pencils are the shortcut to brow definition that appears beautifully hazy rather than blatantly harsh, and we’ve rounded up the very best of them…
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil
$45 at Sephora
An option beloved by brow aficionados across the globe, it was one of the first to introduce the covetably creamy crayon-pencil hybrid.
Zoeva Remarkable Brow Pencil
$28 at Sephora
While many pencils can run too cool for some complexions, this one’s shade range (with several warmer hues included) is certainly worth shouting about.
Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Pencil & Gel
$34 at Sephora
Still prefer to set your arches in place post-definition? This dual-ended tinted gel and angled pencil mix will make the whole process a breeze.
Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler
$36 at Sephora
An innovative blending paddle brush enhances an already ideal (AKA not too creamy but not too dry) precision pencil formula.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil
$43 at Sephora
A classic ‘powder’ pencil offering brought to you by one of Hollywood’s leading brow experts, it creates natural-looking texture with ease.
Gucci Crayon Définition Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil
$52 at Sephora
Looking to add a little luxury into your brow routine? This featherlight pencil (which is as buildable and blendable as it is chic) is definitely the way to do it.
Givenchy Mister Eyebrow Powder Pencil
$38 at Sephora
Another traditional pencil that houses a powder formula, its tapered tip allows for the utmost precision and control while building up ‘believable’ brow hairs.
Main image credit: @nikki_makeup
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