7 tips for choosing an eyebrow pencil + 8 best review

An eyebrow pencil is a must-have item for every girl wearing makeup. Even if this type of cosmetics is not used in everyday makeup, it will definitely come in handy for creating an evening, solemn look. In this article, you will find information on what eyeliners are and how to choose the best one, taking into account your individual characteristics, needs and preferences.

Why do you need an eyebrow pencil

An eyebrow pencil will help to correct the shape, size, shade of the eyebrow arches, it is used in the following cases:

1. Blurred brows. Desire to make arcs clearer, more graphic, correct the natural shape.

2. Faded, expressionless eyebrows, in color do not correspond to the general color type of a woman.

3. The need to make the eyebrows visually thicker, more voluminous than they really are.

4. The need to mask areas where hairs grow very rarely or where there are noticeable bald spots.

5. The need to hide scars or scars in the eyebrow area.

As you can see, the pencil is a universal multifunctional cosmetic product that will help to give the eyebrows the desired shape and color, make them more attractive and expressive. But to achieve the goal and get the desired effect is possible only if the tool is selected correctly.

Eyebrow pencil classification

To choose a good pencil that will suit your needs, you should find out how different cosmetics differ from each other, what they are generally. All pencils that you can find on store shelves or on a website on the Internet can be roughly classified as follows:

1. Depending on the shade of the cosmetic. The range of color solutions is wide – from the lightest options to dark brown and black.

2. Depending on the composition of the cosmetic product. In the assortment of large and small cosmetic brands, you can find pencils that are dominated by synthetic or natural ingredients. It is better to give preference to the latter option, since such cosmetics not only does not harm the skin and eyebrow hairs, but also nourishes and protects tissues from negative external influences.

3. Depending on the form of release. It can be a mechanical (automatic) eyebrow pencil with a retractable shaft, or a tool that needs to be sharpened.

4. Depending on the durability of the product. The pencil can be regular or water resistant.

5. Depending on the texture and type of the bar. Pencils can be powdery, gel (liners) or classic.

6. Depending on the hardness of the rod. Pencils can have a hard or soft tip.

You can also choose a regular pencil or a tool that comes with an additional accessory – a brush, a brush, an applicator for shading and / or a sharpener. Some cosmetic brands offer two-in-one eyebrow treatments. On one side there is a slate of a certain shade, on the other side – a rod one tone lighter or darker than the first. By purchasing such a tool, you can dye your eyebrows in a natural color, even if they have an initially uneven shade.

Eyebrow pencil – choosing cosmetics for hair color

Perhaps the most important thing in choosing an eyebrow pencil is the shade of the cosmetic product. More precisely, what color it will give your eyebrows. And in this matter, one cannot proceed solely from one's own preferences. In order for the image to be harmonious, and the eyebrows look natural on the face, and not like foreign objects, the shade of the arches should be combined with the color of the hair on the head. For example, black eyebrows do not suit a blonde at all, and a burning brunette will look ridiculous if the shade of her eyebrows is light blond. Also, when choosing the color of the eyebrow pencil, you can build on the color of the eyelashes. But this is a minor factor, since the shade of the cilia can be easily changed with mascara. In any case, the pencil should give the hair a shade that will be slightly lighter than the color of the painted eyelashes. At the same time, the arches should look one tone darker than the hair on the head if you are blonde or fair-haired, and also one tone lighter than curls if you are brown-haired or red.

Combination of hair color on the head and shade of the eyebrow pencil:

1. If a girl has a cool blonde hair, she can use a light graphite or wet asphalt eyebrow pencil. For owners of hair, which can be described as warm blond, pencils of dark beige and light brown shades are suitable.

2. Natural blondes and fair-haired women can use a tool that matches the color of the hair in the root area. These can be ash, beige and light brown options.

3. Hair color in brown-haired women can be relatively light, darker and brown with a redhead. In the first case, it is recommended to use a brown pencil, in the second – black or dark gray, light chocolate, in the third – brown with a copper tint, copper or terracotta color of the rod.

4. Red-haired beauties usually use copper and brick-colored eyebrow pencils.

5. The selection of a cosmetic product for women with gray hair can be difficult, since a lot here is curled on how much the hair turned gray and on what shade the curls had in youth. Experts recommend experimenting with brown pencils. The choice is even more complicated if not only the curls on the head have turned gray, but also the hairs of the eyebrows themselves. In this case, using a tool of any color is impractical. First, you need to paint the hairs of the eyebrows with paint, and then select the appropriate option.

6. Women with black hair have no problem choosing an eyebrow pencil. Almost one option suits them, duplicating the color of the curls – black.

7. Also, in addition to color, eyebrow pencils have a subtone – warm or cold. Warm is suitable for women with dark skin, dark hair and eyes. Cool is suitable for women with fair, marbled skin, ash-colored hair and light blue or gray eyes.

Mechanical or conventional – which is better to choose

A pencil to be sharpened and a retractable lead have both advantages and disadvantages. So that you can make the right choice, our experts outlined the main pros and cons of different options:

1. The good thing about a mechanical eyebrow pencil is that you don't have to sharpen it. The product is always ready for use. It is good to have it always at hand, that is, to carry it in your purse or cosmetic bag, which will allow you to adjust the make-up outside the house. However, experts note the disadvantages of mechanical pencils – you cannot control the thickness of the lines, since it is impossible to sharpen the tool and make its tip sharper. Over time, the lead can become very dull, as if flattening in contact with the hairs and skin of the eyebrows, and it will be difficult to correct the situation. In addition, pull-out leads of mechanical tools often break off, which does not allow using the product sparingly.

2. A pencil to be sharpened is best used at home. Then you don't have to carry additional accessories (sharpener) in your purse and clog it with sawdust. The advantage of these products is that you can sharpen the tip of the lead as much as you want. That will allow you to perform the subtlest inconspicuous strokes, giving the eyebrows the most natural look. If the lead of a classic pencil is soft, breaks when sharpening, gets stuck and gets stuck in the blade, you can use a life hack that professional makeup artists shared with the readers of our publication. Just place the tool in the freezer 20-30 minutes before sharpening. After this procedure, you will be able to sharpen the rod as sharply as you require.

From the above, we can conclude that a mechanical pencil is ideal for makeup outside the home, and a classic one that needs to be sharpened will allow you to apply any make-up technique at home.

Hard or soft pencil – how to choose a good pencil

Make-up experts agree that neither a soft nor a hard eyebrow pencil is optimal. The arguments put forward are:

1. A product with too soft, greasy lead will not allow you to draw clear lines. The strokes will look too heavy, dense, thick. The shaft will most likely color not the skin under the eyebrow hairs, but the hairs themselves. A product that is too mild is unlikely to have the desired durability. This means that it will be easily smudged, the eyebrows will lose their given shape within a few hours after making the make-up, they will look untidy. An additional disadvantage of a too soft lead is that it will most likely break often.

2. A pencil with an overly hard lead is perhaps an even worse choice than a pencil with a soft lead. Indeed, when using it, two significant problems arise simultaneously. The first – the stylus injures, scratches the skin of the brow arches. It can leave red marks that will make your brows look odd. The second – the paint does not adhere well to the skin, it takes considerable effort to outline the shape, fill the contours with pigment. It is difficult to achieve the desired result, the time to complete the make-up increases.

It turns out that the best choice is to buy a tool with a medium hard lead. Such a tool will not injure the skin, the pigments will fit well and evenly on the skin, partly on the hairs, the paint can be shaded well with a brush, if desired, or the strokes can be left clear so that they ideally mimic the natural hairs of the eyebrows.

Different types and types of eyebrow pencils – making the right choice

The composition and texture of the lead is of great importance in terms of the ease of use of the cosmetic product, as well as in terms of the durability of the make-up. Let's consider what options are presented in the lines of large brands:

1. Waterproof eyebrow makeup products. This is the best choice for active girls and women who do not want to spend a lot of time doing make-up and do not have the opportunity to adjust the shape of their eyebrows during the day. Such options are also widely used in conditions of high humidity or heat, when visiting the pool or beach, gym, on rainy and snowy days. The water resistance of pigments is ensured by the presence of silicones, wax, vegetable oils in the composition of the product. The paint will stay on the skin as long as required, will not smear during the day or during a night's sleep. It will be possible to wash off the cosmetics only with the help of a special makeup remover.

2. Wax-based pencils. Such products also have increased durability. But their main advantage is that they allow you to fix the position of hard, or too soft and unruly hairs.

3. Pencils with a powdery texture. This is ideal for those women who prefer natural make-up. The pigments cover the skin with an even light layer, making the eyebrow color more intense. Envelop each hair, giving the brows natural volume and density. There are two ways to use tools with a powdery core texture. The first is the usual drawing of the shape of the eyebrow arch and shading the space inside the outlines. The second is wet application, which allows for clearer and richer lines, to get a bright, dramatic effect that will be appropriate for a celebration or during a photo shoot. A pencil with a powdery texture will be an excellent choice if the girl has an increased activity of the sebaceous glands or increased sweating. In the composition of such funds there are absorbing particles that absorb excess secretions of the skin, which means that they allow you to maintain the integrity of the make-up for a long time.

4. Gel pencils for eyebrows as liners, eyeliners. Such decorative cosmetics are suitable for girls who want to get the effect of tattooing or continuous pigmentation of the brow region. Make-up made with the use of such pencils allows you to create clear and flawless graphical shapes, to give your eyebrows any rich shades.

Separately, it is worth considering the advantages of eyebrow pencils equipped with additional accessories. Agree, the brush on the other end of the rod or the sharpener built into the cap is useful. You are literally getting two products for the price of one. The brush will help to comb and style the eyebrow hairs in the right direction. And also blend pigments, if necessary. The sharpener will help maintain the sharpness of the rod in any situation.

How to choose a good eyebrow pencil – we look and analyze the composition of the tool

The composition of the cosmetic product is of great importance when choosing an eyebrow pencil. A cheap drug, which is made on the basis of chemicals, parabens and fragrances, can harm not only the hairs of the eyebrow arches, but also the skin and follicles. The result of the regular use of low-quality pencils with a dubious composition can be complications – hair loss and complete cessation of their growth, thinning of the eyebrow arches. Therefore, before buying a pencil, it is recommended to study the composition of its lead. It will be good if the following substances are in the first positions in the list of components:

1. Natural pigments and natural dyes. Such substances cannot cause significant damage to tissues. In most cases, natural dyes have a positive effect on the skin and hair.

2. Paraffin, wax or silicone. This substance can clog the pores of the skin, but if the makeup is washed off overnight, there will be no complications. At the same time, this component is necessary in the composition of the core, as it provides a viscous and uniform texture of the product, prevents the shedding of cosmetics from the skin and eyebrow hairs.

3. Talc is a completely tissue-friendly component of eyebrow pencils and can be absorbent, which is beneficial for oily skin.

4. Lanolin is an ingredient in the rods that has moisturizing and softening properties. Helps to care for brow arches and maintain normal hair growth processes.

5. Silicon is a substance that improves the appearance and structure of hair shafts.

6. A variety of vitamins, mainly A, E, C, as well as those belonging to group B. These nutrients heal and nourish tissues, prevent premature hair loss, increase their elasticity and make them shiny.

7. Natural vegetable oils. These components of the rods nourish the skin, saturate the epidermis with useful substances, and also strengthen and restore the hairs of the eyebrow arches themselves.

Each manufacturer uses almost unique formulas for the manufacture of cosmetic products. And you can't be sure that there are no products in the composition of this or that pencil that can cause an allergic reaction, especially if you are prone to allergies. Therefore, even after studying the composition of the product, making sure of its relative safety, it will not be superfluous to confirm that the cosmetics will not cause unpleasant symptoms in you. After all, hypersensitivity to the composition can manifest itself as very unpleasant phenomena – redness, itching, swelling of the eyelids, as well as tearing. It is not difficult to do a home hypersensitivity test. Simply run the pencil lead over the skin on the inside of your wrist or the inside crease of your elbow. Within 10-15 minutes you will be able to understand whether your body perceives this composition or not. To be sure, you do not need to wash off the pigments for 24 hours, so you can fully make sure that there are no components in the pencil lead that can cause you an allergic reaction.

How to choose the right eyebrow pencil in the store

You can buy an eyebrow pencil in a stationary store or place an order on the website on the Internet. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, consider in what cases it is recommended to make a purchase in a regular and online store:

Visit a fixed point of sale if:

1. You are not sure which pencil color is right for you.

2. You are buying products you haven’t dealt with yet. That is, if you want to buy a pencil of an unfamiliar brand, or a pencil that you have not yet tested on yourself.

3. You can buy an eyebrow pencil online if you are re-ordering the product. That is, we are completely sure that it has the right shade, release form, texture and degree of hardness of the lead.

The advantage of buying cosmetics from a regular store is that you have the opportunity to 'touch' the product. If you have chosen this particular purchase option, then the advice of professional makeup artists will help you choose the right pencil:

1. Decide on the color of the pencil in advance, but be sure to ask the consultant to advise you on some additional color schemes that suit your type of appearance.

2. Take a sample – large stores should have them. Apply a few lines with the test piece to the skin on the back of your hand. This will allow you to evaluate the quality characteristics of the cosmetic product, namely:

3. The degree of hardness of the rod.

4. Does the shaft scratch the skin?

5. How saturated is the pigmentation of the rod, does it increase if you apply one layer of dye to another.

6. How easy it is to draw lines, whether strong pressure is required on the skin.

7. How thick or thin the lines are.

8. Do not erase the lines applied to the skin, wait 10-15 minutes. Then rub the paint lightly with your finger. So you can understand how persistent the pencil is, whether it will not smear when accidentally touching the eyebrows, which often happens during the day.

If the product suits you completely, a test directly on the eyebrow area will help make the final decision. Take a probe, apply a few strokes at the outer tip of one of the arcs, evaluate the result while looking in the mirror. If you can still be near the source of natural light (by the window), it will be even better, since the makeup looks different on the face under daylight and artificial light.

These tips should help you choose the best option for your eyebrow makeup. If you often change your look, in particular dye your hair, do not forget to constantly update your pencil set. Such cosmetics are stored for a long time, so you do not have to throw out pencils that are not used in this period, it is enough just to put them aside until they are needed again.

Review of the best 8 eyebrow pencils

Our experts have compiled a short list of the best eyebrow pencils that can be used in everyday life and for creating an evening look:

1. Dessin des Sourcils eyebrow pencil from YSL Beauté. This is a double-ended tool that will allow you to give the brow arches the desired shade, comb the hairs and style them in the desired direction. The line includes four of the most relevant shades – several options for brown, ash and dark wood. The pencil has an optimal texture, it is not greasy or too hard, the pigments are applied to the skin and hairs easily, without pressure. Color saturation can be adjusted by applying one or two coats of pigments. Another feature of the tool is increased durability. This means that the eyebrow makeup will stay in place all day long, without rubbing off or smudging from accidentally touching the eyebrows. In addition to the decorative function, the eyebrow pencil also serves as a care one, since it contains coconut oil.

2. High Precision Brow Pencil from Giorgio Armani. This cosmetic tool also has two work surfaces, one with a lead and the other with a brush. You can get the pencil in one of three shades – from natural light to very dark. This tool has two features. The first is an ultra-thin lead, with which you can make clear graphic strokes that look like the natural hairs of the brow arches. The second – the pigments of the pencil are not only persistent, they are not affected by water. Therefore, you can safely use this pencil even when it is raining, fog or snow outside the window.

3. Brôw Define Pencil from Lancôme. This representative of decorative cosmetics is equipped with both a pigmented lead, as well as a brush that combs the hairs and blends the paint, evenly distributing it over the entire surface of the arcs. There are six shades in the line, you can easily choose the right option for your eyebrow color. The pencil lead glides very gently over the surface, allowing you to create clear or blurred lines of any thickness. The pigments of the instrument are persistent, so the make-up will last all day.

4. Brow Beater pencil from Urban Decay. It is a cosmetic tool with a twisting shaft. It also has a brush on the other end that you can use to comb your eyebrows, shade your makeup, and separate your eyelashes. This product is available in the four most sought-after shades of taupe. The lead of a pencil has an average hardness, so you can fill in areas of gaps within the contours, and emphasize the shape, and finish drawing individual missing hairs. The texture of the pencil is light enough so that it blends well and allows pigments to be layered one on top of the other, experimenting with the saturation of the shade.

5. Micro Brow Pencil from NYX Professional Makeup. This tool has an ultra-thin lead and a multifunctional brush at the other end. A distinctive feature of this product is a wide color palette (eight options), dense texture and a high degree of pigmentation of the core. By varying the degree of pressure on the lead, you can give your eyebrows a natural look or create bright and catchy images with an emphasis on the upper region of the face.

6. Brow Precise Brow Pencil from Maybelline New York. This is a classic representative of eyebrow cosmetics with a brush on the second end. There are three color solutions for different types of eyebrows on sale – dark blond, chocolate and dark brown. With this durable pencil, you can solve any problem – draw fine strokes, outline the contours, carry out full shading to correct the shade of the eyebrow arches.

7. Brow Artist Designer pencil from L'Oréal Paris. This spiral brush tool is available in two colors to suit the needs of both blondes and brunettes. The slate can be sharpened to any degree of sharpness. And the brush will help in the care of the hairs of the eyebrows or eyelashes.

8. Helena Rubinstein Eyebrow Pencil. A dark brown or light brown pencil has a spiral brush at the back end. Therefore, you can not only draw strokes and long lines, but also blend the pigment as carefully as necessary.

When planning your purchase of a browbrow pencil, you can choose not only from the options recommended by experts. For example, you can buy a tool without a brush if you already have one.

How to use an eyebrow pencil correctly

It's not enough just to buy a good eyebrow pencil, you also need to learn how to use it correctly. Here are some tips from the makeup artists on how to apply this cosmetic to achieve different results:

1. To correct the shape of the brow arches, use a pencil as an artist would. Place the tip of the shank on the inside of your eyebrow, at the bottom of the brow. Begin by drawing the lightest thin line along the hairline towards the outer tip of the arch. When you finish drawing, take a cotton swab and lightly blend this line so that it loses its distinct outlines. After that, in the same way, draw the outline of the eyebrow from above, stepping back from the base of the arc three to five millimeters. The tips of the lines should converge at the extreme point of the brow arch, which is closer to the temple.

2. To shade the area within the outline of the arc, draw the thinnest short lines on the skin. These strokes should mimic natural hairs as closely as possible. Try to keep the strokes in the same direction, thickness and length as the surrounding browbones. When drawing the hairs, alternate the intensity of the pressure on the pencil shaft. Brow pigmentation should grow from base to tip. If the strokes are too crisp and stand out from the natural hairs, blend the pigments using the brow brush.

3. Use the same shading technique to fill in small patches or to sketch in scars that don't grow hair. In this case, the color of the eyebrow pencil should match 100% with the shade of the hairs of the eyebrow arches.

4. After you make up your eyebrows, the result can be fixed with a special fixing gel or spray, wax. If a waterproof pencil is used, additional fixation is not required.

How to store an eyebrow pencil correctly

Proper storage of cosmetics is a guarantee that you will have to buy new decorative products less often. If you provide normal conditions, the eyebrow pencil will easily last for a guaranteed period of 1-2 years. There are cases when cosmetic products retained their properties much longer – for 3-5 years only due to the fact that they were carefully stored.

What can happen to an eyebrow pencil if the cosmetics are stored incorrectly, in inappropriate conditions:

1. The lead can lose moisture, dry out strongly. It will start to scratch the skin and will not give off pigments.

2. The lead will begin to crumble and crumble at the slightest touch. It will be impossible to sharpen it, and even more so to use it for its intended purpose.

3. Pigments can change their color, become lighter or darker, or even stratify into several shades.

4. The pencil may start to smell bad. If the composition of the lead is mainly natural components, over time and with improper storage, they will begin to deteriorate, exude a not very pleasant aroma.

5. To avoid all these troubles and not waste money on eyebrow cosmetics, you should take simple precautions, follow the basic rules for storing cosmetic products:

6. Your eyebrow pencil probably came with a cap that was worn over the tip. Keep this cap tightly closed at all times, do not throw away or lose it. If the cap was not included, make it yourself. To do this, you can use plain food foil by wrapping a piece of it around the exposed pencil shaft.

7. Do not expose an eyebrow pencil, like other cosmetic preparations, to direct sunlight. Keep your cosmetics in a drawer or in a cosmetic bag, clutch, special box, case, wardrobe trunk, case.

8. There is no need to keep cosmetics, including an eyebrow pencil, near sources of heat, cold, or moisture. Many women paint in the bathroom, and they also store cosmetics there. You should not do this, it is better to apply makeup in a room near the window, and cosmetics should be at hand.

9. And the main advice – you should not buy a lot of the same type of cosmetics at the same time. Try to use one pencil before buying another.

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