People With Amazing Brows Say These Low-Cost Pencils Eclipse Expensive Ones

Okay—you want groomed and defined brows without breaking the bank or settling for less-than-perfect quality from the products you’re using. The good news is that there are thousands of low-cost, high-quality brow pencils at your disposal (because who doesn’t love drugstore beauty products?). The bad news is that sifting through them takes time, effort, and energy that you don’t have. For some people, finding an exemplary eyebrow pencil requires trial and error. For you, however, the process of elimination can come more easily with the help of customer reviews, expert advice, and beauty editors who have tested a few for you.

Below, I’m providing you with the best tips, tricks, and product recommendations to cut down the time on your product hunt and expand your chances of finding your product pairing. Sure, it can be just like dating, but in this case, you have the help of a brutally honest critic and glowing reviews. If that sparks your interest, read on to discover Who What Wear’s ultimate guide to the best drugstore eyebrow pencils money can buy. Your brows and your wallet deserve it. Now that you have a running start, check out a few of my favorite drugstore eyebrow pencils below!

The Best Eyebrow Pencils, At A Glance

• Best Overall: Maybelline Express Brow Ultra Slim Eyebrow Pencil
• Best Waterproof: Revlon Colorstay Brow Pencil
• Best Smudge-Proof: Milani Stay Put Precision Brow Pencil
• Best for a Natural-Looking Finish: Physician’s Formula Slim Brow Pencil
• Best for Blondes: Nyx Professional Makeup Vegan Micro Eyebrow Pencil

The Best Eyebrow Pencils of 2025

Best Overall: Maybelline Express Brow Ultra Slim Eyebrow Pencil

Best Waterproof: Revlon Colorstay Brow Pencil

Best Smudge-Proof: Milani Stay Put Precision Brow Pencil

Best for a Natural-Looking Finish: Physician’s Formula Slim Brow Pencil

Best for Blondes: Nyx Professional Makeup Vegan Micro Eyebrow Pencil

Best for Brunettes: E.l.f. Cosmetics Instant Lift Brow Pencil

Best Cruelty-Free Option: Rimmel Kind & Free Brow Definer

Best for Sparse Brows: Wet n Wild Ultimate Eyebrow Retractable Definer Pencil

Best for Beginners: Burt’s Bees Brow Pencil

Best for Oily Skin: Morphe Brown Dual-Ended Pencil & Spoolie

What to Look for in An Eyebrow Pencil

Like any other makeup product, the formulas in eyebrow pencils can make or break any makeup look (yes, even when it’s done by a pro with extensive knowledge). In addition to an affordable price point, shoppers should be on the lookout for eyebrow pencils with wax-based formulas that, when applied to the skin, glide effortlessly over it without tugging the surface but still hold.

I generally prefer eyebrow pencils that are mechanical, allowing me to conserve product where I can and store it however I see fit. You should also take notice of the shape of the tip: Is it a triangle, slightly slanted to one side, or defined and small? An eyebrow pencil’s tip contributes to the definition of the brow, creating precise lines and coating the hairs with product for added pigment. Vanita Parti MBE, founder of Blink Brow Bar previously told Who What Wear UK that “a pencil that can be sharpened to a perfect point makes it easy to create natural, hair-like strokes, and a spoolie brush on the end is an essential to blend harsh edges,”

As for the shade, she suggests using your natural brow hair color as your guide. “Firstly, look at the depth of colour in your brows. If you’re a fair blonde, going slightly darker with your brow pencil can help frame your face and add definition,” she says. “For those with darker brows, aim to match the depth of color. Next, look at your undertone. If you have warmth in your brows, skin and hair, opt for a brow pencil with a warmer tone. If you’re cooler toned, try an ashier shade.”

What’s the best way to use an eyebrow pencil?

When it comes to application, you’ll want to start by sharpening your pencil if need be. From there, use your pinky for stabilization and let your applicator glide smoothly and steadily across the skin helps avoid shaky application or rogue marks. Then, Parti recommends “using the pencil and a soft touch, begin to draw hair-like strokes in the direction of your natural hair growth,” she says. “Continue to build, filling in sparse areas, then take a step back from the mirror and assess your work.” If you went too heavy in one area, simply use the spoolie to reduce the intensity.

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best drugstore eyebrow pencils for this roundup, we leaned on our testing experience and considered several factors, including price, shade range, and lasting power. As beauty editors, we’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list as well.

Why trust Who What Wear

Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.