Whether your eyebrows are big and bushy or thin and sparse, they play a key role in framing your face. The right brow products don’t just shape—they groom, define, and fill in gaps to create your ideal look.
“Eyebrows anchor your facial structure and bring balance to your features. Well-groomed brows make your entire makeup look polished and intentional,” says professional makeup artist Kasey Spickard.
With so many options—pencils, pens, gels, pomades—choosing the right product can feel overwhelming. But the secret is knowing what works best for your needs.
### Vogue’s Top Brow Picks:
– Brow Pencil: Ilia In Full Micro-Tip Brow Pencil ($24)
– Brow Pen: Anastasia Beverly Hills Micro-Stroking Detailing Brow Pen ($26)
– Brow Gel: Victoria Beckham Beauty FeatherFix ($32)
– Brow Pomade: Refy Beauty Eyebrow Pomade ($20)
– Brow Tint: Maybelline TattooBrow Long Lasting Tint ($24)
### Why Brows Matter
“Your brow shape can completely change your makeup look,” says celebrity makeup artist Naïma Bremer. “The same makeup will appear totally different with thin brows versus full, fluffy ones.” She adds, “You can perfect every other detail, but if your brows aren’t right, the whole look falls flat. They’re essential for framing the face.”
Below, top artists break down the best brow products and how to choose the right one for you.
### Brow Pencils
For defining your brow shape, Spickard recommends pencils—they’re wax-based and easy to blend, making them great for beginners. “Pencils are softer than pens, so they create natural, hair-like strokes,” says Bremer. “I use a shade slightly lighter than the natural brow, filling in more at the tail and keeping it soft at the front.”
Brands like Ilia and Ami Colé offer fine-tipped pencils for precise strokes, while Charlotte Tilbury and Jones Road have wider tips for filling larger gaps (Jones Road even includes shades for gray hair).
### Brow Pens
If you need precision, pens are the way to go. “Brow pens have ultra-fine tips that mimic real brow hairs, perfect for detailing,” says Spickard. Bremer suggests using them sparingly—just to fill in gaps—since they’re less forgiving than pencils.
Glossier’s Brow Flick gives a sheer, natural finish, while Benefit’s triple-tip pen creates multiple strokes at once. Anastasia Beverly Hills offers an ultra-thin pen for the finest lines. Still unsure? Urban Decay’s dual-ended tool includes both a pencil and a pen.Brow Products
Brow Pens
– Benefit Cosmetics – Mighty Fine Brow Pen – $28 (Nordstrom)
– Glossier – Brow Flick – $18 (Glossier)
– Anastasia Beverly Hills – Brow Pen – $26 (Bluemercury, Nordstrom)
– Urban Decay – Brow Blade 2-in-1 Eyebrow Pen – $28 (Amazon)
Brow Gels
Brow gels are the most versatile brow product, according to experts. “You can create many different looks with brow gel. For a laminated effect, clear gels with strong hold keep brows in place,” says Spickard, recommending favorites from Victoria Beckham Beauty and Kulfi. “Even with thin brows, you can comb them upward for a fuller look. I like to brush the gel against the hair growth first to coat the brows, then comb them up and outward for a polished finish,” adds Bremer.
For extra volume, fiber-based gels like Hourglass Cosmetics add microfibers to enhance thickness. For a natural tint, Bremer suggests colored gels like Kosas Air Brow.
– Kosas – Air Brow – Tinted – $24 (Bluemercury), $25 (Nordstrom, Revolve)
– Victoria Beckham Beauty – FeatherFix Liquid Lifting Brow Gel – $32 (Bluemercury, Nordstrom)
– Hourglass Cosmetics – Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel – $29 (Bluemercury, Nordstrom, Amazon)
– Kulfi – Free The Brow – $26 (Kulfi)
Brow Pomades
“People still remember the harsh 2016 block brow trend, but pomades are actually very versatile,” says Spickard. “They’re highly pigmented, so apply with precision and build gradually.” Traditional pot formulas (like Benefit) require the right brush, while Refy’s includes an applicator.
For hair-like strokes, Spickard suggests wetting a brow brush with setting spray, dipping it into pomade, removing excess, and flicking it across the brow. For structure, use an angled brush directly in the pomade. “Pomades are great for oily skin or sweating—they don’t budge, even in water,” says Bremer. Modern options like Merit and Surratt apply like gels.
– Merit – Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade – $24 (Merit)
– Refy – Eyebrow Pomade – $20 (Refy)
– Benefit Cosmetics – POWmade Brow Pomade – $23 (Nordstrom)
– Surratt Beauty – Expressioniste Brow Pomade – $35 (Bluemercury)
Brow Tints
For salon-like tinting at home, options range from wash-off gels to long-lasting tints. Celebrity hairstylist Angela Calisti recommends Ardell’s brow tint for its ease of use and simple color selection. “Use an eyeliner brush for precision to avoid smudging,” she advises.
Makeup artist Nick Barose prefers Rye’s brow tint for its natural, clump-free darkening effect. “A few coats define brows beautifully,” he says. Aesthetician Erica Marie Gatt likes Maybelline’s peel-off tint for quick, waterproof results. Cilrofelr offers a similar peel-off option.
– Cilrofelr – Tattoo Peel Eyebrow Gel – $16 (Amazon)
– Rye – Brow Tint – (Price varies)Here’s a cleaner, more natural version of your text:
eTinted Brow Milk
$32 at CREDO
$32 at GOOP
Maybelline TattooBrow Long Lasting Tint
$23 at AMAZON
Ardell Brow Tint
$10 ($9 at AMAZON)
### Meet the Experts
Kasey Spickard is a professional makeup artist in New York and Los Angeles with over 10 years of experience. His clients include Jenna Lyons, Kamie Crawford, and Brynn Whitfield.
Naïma Bremer is a London-based celebrity makeup artist with more than a decade in the industry. She has worked with Saweetie, Kali Uchis, Iris Law, Imaan Hammam, Jasmine Tookes, and others.
Angela Calisti is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist whose clients include Bella Thorne and Olivia Culpo.
Nick Barose is a celebrity makeup artist known for working with Lupita Nyong’o and Kim Cattrall.
Erica Marie Gatt is a celebrity esthetician and makeup artist who has collaborated with Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara, and Travis Barker.
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