The best brow pencils, according to celebrities and experts
By Hannah Southwick,
2 days ago
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Plenty of beauty trends are hair today, gone tomorrow, but healthy brows are always in.
When it comes to amping up one’s arches with pencils and potions, however, not every product’s created equal — something stars and their glam squads know all too well.
Page Six's Picks
Best Overall: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Best Angled Tip: Sania’s Brow Bar Mechanical Brow Pencil
Best Waterproof: Benefit Cosmetics Goof Proof Brow Pencil
“Many people make the mistake of blaming themselves for uneven or overlined brows, but the truth is that the pencil can often be the issue,” Sania Vucetaj, celebrity eyebrow expert and founder of NYC’s Sania’s Brow Bar , tells Page Six Style.
So if you’ve been eyeing a new brow product, keep scrolling for celebrities’ longtime standbys, from handy kits to the pencil behind Lily Collins’ internet-famous arches.
Double-sided design includes a spoolie for blending
Cons:
Some Nordstrom reviewers noted the product runs out quickly
This cult favorite is nothing to raise an eyebrow at. Brand founder Anastasia Soare’s helped perfect the arches of everyone from Oprah to Jennifer Lopez and Khloé Kardashian .
Her hero product’s got an equally A-list following; Chloe Bailey and Kendall Jenner both shouted it out in their respective Vogue “Beauty Secrets” videos, with the latter dubbing it “tried and true.”
“This is a really good brow pencil,” Jenner said. “I’ve been through a little bit of a brow journey, working in the industry that I work in.”
Fuses pencil-like precision with powder-like softness
Includes a spoolie for easy blending
Cons:
Over $25
Whether or not you can pencil in a Big Apple appointment with Vucatej herself, her celeb-trusted brow pencil is a click away. The arch expert’s used the buttery soft pencil on Kaia Gerber, Amal Clooney, Olivia Culpo and Erin Lichy (to name but a few), while Paige DeSorbo even told Elite Daily it’s her desert island must-have.
“Celebrities like Amal Clooney and Olivia Culpo love the results because they’re timeless, not trend-driven,” Vucatej tells us, noting that “fuller, more natural brows” have always been her signature.
“Our SBB pencil is designed to complement this philosophy, allowing clients to achieve definition without looking overdone,” she adds.
Page Six Style’s review: “While I used to shy away from pencils for fear of looking overlined, Sania’s angled brow pencil is so easy to use and glides on like a dream. (Bonus: The spoolie on the other end is great for keeping stray brow hairs in place when I’ve gone a little too long in between appointments). — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer/Reporter
Sold in a wide range of shades — including gray, unlike others on this list
Waterproof for up to 12 hours
Doesn’t require sharpening
Cons:
Some Sephora reviewers noted moisturizers and serums can interfere with its staying power
This behind-the-scenes “Emily in Paris” product costs far less than a flight to Europe. The show’s makeup artist, Aurélie Payan, told Page Six Style she uses this ultra-thin pencil “to fill in tiny parts” of Lily Collins’ famously full arches.
“Once you apply it, it’s like you have fake brows … I love this one,” explained the beauty pro.
Ultra-fine 0.9-mm tip allows for targeted application
Cons:
Less pigmented, which may not be everyone’s preference
Eva Longoria may be a “Desperate Housewives” star, but she’s not desperate for a great brow hack. The actress reached for this ultra-fine pencil in her Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video while showing fans her strategy for outlining and filling in her arches.
“I’m obsessed with my Huda Beauty eye pencil,” she explained. “The point is so thin … It looks like strokes of hair.”
Features a triangular tip for creating both thicker and thinner lines
Comes with a spoolie on one end
Cons:
Over $20
Couldn’t help but wonder what brow pencil Kim Cattrall uses? The “Sex and the City” star’s makeup artist told us she reached for this double-ended tool before her much-awaited cameo on “And Just Like That” in 2023.
She’s not the only famous fan of the clean beauty brand, as we’ve also spotted Hailey Bieber and Mandy Moore using its products.
Comes with tweezers, a mini spoolie brush and an angled brush for applying
Cons:
Over $50
May be more difficult to apply for beginners
If you prefer powder over pencils, Mindy Kaling’s tested out this Chanel kit, which comes with equipped with all the tools you’ll need for application.
“Brows stress me out; I know how important they are for the face,” she told Vogue . “I got this really helpful kit. I love this.”
CHANEL $56.00 FAQ How to use a brow pencil Even Kaia Gerber has sought Vucetaj’s services for her iconic eyebrows. saniasbrowbar/Instagram
Since it’s a (literal) fine line between natural and overdone brows, Vucatej recommends pressing lightly as you outline your desired brow shape.
“The purpose of a pencil is to create the illusion of well-balanced, fuller brows — [and] outlining rather than just merely filling what’s already there will help create that illusion,” she explains.
As for how to pick the perfect shape? “Brows should align with the inner bridge of the nose,” Vucatej instructs. “The arch should fall 3/4 of the way back, and the tail should end approximately at a 45-degree angle with the outer corner of the eye.”
Once you have your desired outline, blend the product in with a spoolie brush to ensure you’re “dispersing the color evenly and softly” through the brow.
The NYC-based brow pro also recommends avoiding waxy pencils or those with a red undertone, as they can “wash you out and look unnatural.”
How to remove brow pencil Paige DeSorbo got her brows shaped by Sania prior to the “Summer House” reunion in 2022. paige_desorbo/INSTAGRAM
“Removing brow product is just as important as applying it,” explains Vucatej, who developed a Brow Shampoo ($38) designed to do just that.
“Makeup removers and traditional face washes are formulated for skin, not for brow hairs, so they may not be as effective in removing product and can even cause damage to the delicate hairs over time by clogging the follicle,” she explains.
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