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What to Know About Eyebrow Pencils
Materials
Eyebrow pencils are every brow enthusiast’s best friend. But do you know what’s inside them? According to expert Joey Healy, the secret lies in high-quality waxes like carnauba wax. These waxes help shape the pencil and ensure a smooth application. Be cautious of “waterproof” claims though, as they can be difficult to remove and may harm your precious brows. Opt for “water-resistant” pencils instead, for a stress-free experience.
Color Matching
Selecting the right shade for your brows is crucial. Aim for a tint slightly lighter or exactly matching your natural hair color. Most makeup brands offer a variety of shades to choose from, so don’t hesitate to experiment. For a wide shade range, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer is a top choice, boasting an impressive selection of 12 shades that perfectly match your natural brow color.
Brow Type
While a good eyebrow pencil can work wonders in shaping and volumizing your brows, it’s important to consider your brow type when choosing the perfect pencil. Thin angled tips are ideal for adding volume to sparse brows with hairlike strokes. On the other hand, thicker tips work best for filling in gaps and creating a shaded-in brow effect. Keep your brow type in mind to achieve your desired look effortlessly.
Applicator
Don’t underestimate the power of a good applicator. Some eyebrow pencils come with a spoolie on the end, allowing you to brush and shape your brow hair before applying color. Joey Healy emphasizes the importance of the spoolie, describing it as the perfect tool for blending and softening the color. The Gucci Crayon Définition Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil, one of our top picks, even comes with a spoolie and a sharpener. Other pencils offer either traditional pencil tips or cream-based refillable tips. Narrow refillable tips are great for precise lines and shaping, while thicker pencil tips are perfect for filling in gaps and adding dimension. Our best overall pick, the Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Eyebrow Pencil, features a refillable tip, making it a versatile and convenient choice.
The Power of Your Pencil
The possibilities are endless when it comes to brow pencils. Whether you prefer tight and arched brows or loose and feathery ones, the right pencil can help you achieve your desired look. Remember, less is more. A little color goes a long way, and blending out the pencil will ensure a long-lasting effect.
Behind the Scenes
In our Manhattan lab, we gathered a team of 10 beauty testers to try out 38 of the best eyebrow pencils on the market. We thoroughly examined the texture, feel, pigment, shade range, and ease of application of each pencil. Here’s what we considered:
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Texture and Feel: We scrutinized the texture, pigment, and feel of each pencil by drawing practice strokes on the back of our hands. We evaluated whether the pencil was gritty, creamy, fragile, or sturdy, and observed if it smudged easily when rubbed with our fingers.
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Ease of Application: Our testers applied the pencils to their brows, mimicking hairlike strokes, and filling in any gaps. If the pencils came with spoolies, they used them to smooth out brow hair and spread the color. We assessed how easy the pencils were to use and, most importantly, how they looked.
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Shade Range: We gave careful thought to the shade range of each pencil, considering whether it was easy to find a shade that matched our testers’ natural brow color. A wide variety of shades was highly valued, and our top picks excelled in this category.
Why Trust Our Recommendations?
At our brand, we take pride in providing trustworthy and reliable beauty recommendations. Madison Yauger, our commerce editor and beauty expert, carefully compared texture, feel, pigment, shade range, and ease of application to select the top eyebrow pencils. Madison even participated as one of our testers, giving her firsthand insights. We also consulted eyebrow specialist Joey Healy to ensure the best possible advice for using brow pencils. For thoroughness, Jessie Quinn, another member of our team, later updated this article with two additional eyebrow pencil picks and more insights.
Introducing PEOPLE Tested
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to guide you in finding the very best products for your beauty routine. Our unique methodology involves testing products in multiple labs throughout the country and with our network of home testers. We evaluate effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and other essential factors to rate and recommend products that suit your needs.
But our job doesn’t end there. We regularly revisit and re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval, ensuring that our recommendations remain up to date. We prioritize fairness and impartiality, never accepting payment for endorsements. Companies must earn our recommendation through their product’s excellence and performance.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust for your everyday beauty needs, every step of the way.