Looking for the best eyebrow pencil? Need a setting gel that will actually tame your hairs? How about a brow kit that will help build a flawless arch? I don't know about you, but I've always been a bit overwhelmed with options when it comes to brows. I like my arches neat, but not Insta-perfect, fluffy, but not OTT bushy, and tamed, but not stuck to my face. So finding a brow product that ticks all those boxes, can feel like trying to find your soulmate on Tinder...
There are a whole lot of options out there, so in an attempt to make things a little simpler, I've tried some of the UK's most popular brow products. and snapped before and after pics to show how each one looks IRL.
Yep, if you're into the super-sharp Insta brow, it's well worth picking up Anastasia Beverly Hills' DipBrow Pomade. The formula is beyond pigmented, and can be used to add definition to sparse patches whilst the waxy texture helps set hairs into a smooth arch.
Prefer something a little fluffier? Glossier's Boy Brow gives a tint that fills in any gaps, leaving brows looking even whilst also setting hairs in place - perfect if you're after that brushed-up look.
But, if you're after the ultimate multi-tasker, try Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift Pencil, it has a soft, pigmented formula, that glides on easily and adds definition wherever needed. It also has a spoolie and built-in powder highlighter for enhancing the arch.
So, whatever floats your brow boat, these are my top-rated picks for sculpting a flawless arch...
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Best eyebrow makeup: Glossier
Glossier Boy Brow, £14
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Formula: Glossier describe it as an 'all-in-one brow fluffer, filler, and shaper' and I think that's a pretty accurate description tbh. The tinted gel gives a thickness to brow hairs that makes the arch appear fuller, it also has impressive hold, giving that oh-so cute brushed up finish.
Shade range: There's five to choose from. Brown, Black, Blonde, Auburn and Clear.
Packaging and design: Simple but chic. The teeny-tiny brush is perfect for thin brows that need a little extra precision. The tube holds 3.12 grams of product.
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Glossier Boy Brow in Black, £14
My thoughts...
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"I love a natural, brushed-up brow look, so this gel worked a treat. It gave a long-lasting lift to the hairs, whilst filling in any sparse spots and leaving my brows looking thicker.
Glossier's approach to 'no makeup makeup' worked out with Boy Brow, I like that it doesn't look like I'm wearing a lot of product in my eyebrows, instead they just look a little better than they usually do."
Rating: 9/10
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Anastasia Beverly Hills
lookfantastic.com
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade 4.0g (Various Shades)
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Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade in medium brown, £19
My thoughts...
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"I wasn't expecting to like this. I know Anastasia Beverly Hills is THE brow brand, but I've always thought of Dip Brow as being incredibly intense - only to be used if you want that super-sharp 'Instagram brow'. As much as I appreciate how cool a bold brow can be, it's just not very me. I like a soft, natural-looking brow. All that being said, I was surprised by how much I liked this pomade. It's incredibly pigmented, but flexible enough to be softened with a spoolie. I found the cream gave my brows a defined finish without looking too harsh. Plus it lasts for-ever."
Rating: 9.5/10
5
Best Eyebrow Makeup: Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Gimme Brow, £21.68
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Formula: Benefit's Gimme Brow is a must-have for the time poor, the tinted gel has tiny micro-fibres that add faux thickness in just a swipe. It fills in patches, sets hairs in place and adds volume.
Shade range: There are eight shades to choose from, including a range of warm and cool undertones.
Packaging and design: You get 3 grams worth of product in this cute tube, plus the tiny brush is great for taming fine hairs.
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Benefit Gimme Brow in 3, £23.50
My thoughts...
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"I love this. You can barely tell I have product in my brows, they look so natural! The formula gives thickness whilst seamlessly filling in the sparse gaps. The brown shade matched my own eyebrow colour perfectly, plus it kept the hairs brushed up all day."
Rating: 10/10
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Best Eyebrow Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift, £22.50
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Formula: If you want an eyebrow definer that comes with all the frills and fancy, Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift is for you. The rectangle pencil can be used to draw on singular hairs for a feathery finish or to shade in sparser patches for a fuller effect. There's a spoolie on the end which can be used to diffuse the pigment and give a soft finish, PLUS a built-in highlighter to enhance the arch. Genius.
Shade range: Four colour ways, from blonde taupe to black.
Packaging and design: The built-in highlighter is the star of the show here, simply unscrew the middle of the pencil to add a touch of glow to your brows. All in all the product holds 0.6 grams.
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Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift in Super Model, £22.50
My thoughts...
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"This is such a unique product, having a brow pencil with a built-in highlighter is so genius, I wish I'd thought of it first. The pencil itself is soft but subtle, so the colour/intensity can be built gradually."
Rating: 10/10
9
Best eyebrow makeup: Givenchy
Givenchy Mister Brow Fix Mascara in 01 Transparent, £19
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Formula: Finding the perfect clear brow gel is no easy task. You need a strong-hold formula that'll lock down unruly hairs (and keep them in place all day), without being heavy, sticky or crispy. That's where Givenchy's Mister Brow Groom comes in, the light, budge-proof formula sets hair in place and keeps them there no matter what.
Shade range: The clear shade is universal, so can be used over any tinted brow product.
Packaging and design: The curved wand catches and sets hairs in one swipe. You get 5.5ml of product in each tube.
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Givenchy Mister Brow Fix Mascara in 01 Transparent, £19
My thoughts...
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"I used this over my everyday eyebrow pencil, as I would with any other clear brow gel. It set down my hairs and kept them in place all day - without flaking or feel crispy.
The wet formula does take a minute or two to dry down, but this really didn't bother me."
Rating: 8/10
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Best eyebrow makeup: L'Oreal Paris
L'Oreal Paris Micro Tattoo Brow Artist in 101 Blond, £6.95
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Formula: The idea of using an eyebrow marker pen may sound weird, but stay with me. The three-pronged tip allows for easy, natural-looking strokes. The liquid formula dries down quickly, so it's smudge-proof and long lasting.
Shade range: There are six shades, ranging from dark to light.
Packaging and design: The innovative pen hold 2grams of ink. The tip gives super-fine hair strokes with each swipe.
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L'Oreal Paris Micro Tattoo Brow Artist in 101 Blond, £6.95
My thoughts...
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"I found this pen a little tricky at first, it's ultra-pigmented - just like a regular felt tip, so you have to approach the brows with an incredibly light touch. Once I'd mastered the light hand it was easy enough to add some definition to my brows. The ashy shade is perfect for brunettes who are sick of buying eyebrow products that leave a warm/orange cast."
Rating: 7/10
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Best eyebrow makeup: Make Up For Ever
Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow Kit in Ash, £33
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Formula: The liquid-like consistency of this brow tint is pretty unusual, but stick with it and you'll be glad you did. The cream applies oh-so easily whilst the highly-pigmented formula gives a bold brow finish. The waterproof formula is amazingly resilient, so if you're off for a swim and want your brows to stay put, give it a try.
Shade range: There are seven to choose from, ranging from light blonde to brown black.
Packaging and design: This little kit is cool, but a bit of a faff, you get the brow cream (with 7ml of product in it), an angled brush and a spoolie - all of which come in a little pouch.
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Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow Kit in Ash, £33
My thoughts...
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"Yes, this brow kit feels a little intimidating at first - the brow cream has a liquid-like formula thats incredibly pigmented (and waterproof), so I was very careful to approach with caution and use a light hand when a applying. I added a little product and slowly began to build it up to a fuller-looking finish.
I can 100% vouch for the waterproof claims, this brow product stayed intact through my evening shower! It came off pretty easily with an eye makeup remover though."
Rating: 9/10
15
Best Precision Eyebrow Pencil: NYX
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in 05 Ash Brown, £9
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Formula: The ultra-fine point pencil means you can easily draw on individual hairs to give the appearance of a thicker, fuller arch. Plus it's great if you have fine brows and need precision when it comes to filling in sparse spots. The spoolie works a treat for dispersing product and leaving brows looking groomed but natural.
Shade range: There's a cool eight shades, including blonde, auburn and black.
Packaging and design: Simple, but it works. The twist-up pencil holds 0.9grams of products, and luckily you don't have to faff around with a sharpener.
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NYX Micro Brow Pencil in 05 Ash Brown, £9
My thoughts...
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"There's a fine line (literally) between defining your eyebrows and drawing them on, but luckily the spoolie works perfectly for blurring away any harsh lines and giving a natural finish. The tiny pencil is great for adding pigment to any sparse spots, and I liked that overall my brows still looked relatively makeup-free."
Rating: 8/10
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Best eyebrow makeup: MAC
MAC Shape + Shade Brow Tint in Fling, £19.50
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Formula: This strange little device has a brow pen on one end, and a spongy powder applicator on the other. The powder is built into the cap - so every time you put the lid back on it presses powder onto the sponge. Clever, huh?
Shade range: There are seven shades available, including one for red heads.
Packaging and design: Really cool. You get two products in one, so it's super handy for travelling. However I'd recommend keeping a spoolie on hand to brush the products through and ensure a really natural finish every time. Oh, and you get 0.95 grams of product.
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MAC Shape + Shade Brow Tint in Fling, £19.50
My thoughts...
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"Whilst I found the taupe shade a little too light for my naturally dark brows, I loved the idea of this product. The powder/pen combo gives you a flexibility in finish.
My only slight issue was the size of the powder applicator, the sponge was a little thick for my annoyingly small eyebrows, it was easy to fill in the front part of my brows, but I struggled to be precise along the tail. Luckily I could just use the pen instead!"
Rating: 7/10
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Best eyebrow makeup: KVD Vegan Beauty
KVD Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder in Dark Brown, £17
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Formula: The brand recently launched a boatload of new brow products, from pencils to pomades and powders. The Brow Struck powder caught my eye thanks to it's shimmer - yes, shimmer, infused formula. With teeny-tiny flecks of gold this powder is supposed to fill in brows whilst giving 'dimension' as opposed to traditionally matte brow powders, which can look a little flat.
Shade range: There are seven shades available from Debenhams to flatter a wide range of hair colours and skin tones.
Packaging and design: The tiny compact has a decadent black plastic motif on the front, whilst inside there's a tiny mirror. The product holds 1.5g of product.
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KVD Vegan Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder in Dark Brown, £17
My thoughts...
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"I loved how this brow powder looked in person, it gave my arches a subtle definition that was flattering without being OTT.
I found the soft powder easy to use, but I didn't notice much of the shimmer once the product had been applied - probably a good thing, glitter brows are a tad much for a Monday.
My only issue with the powder is that it looked a little 'warm' in my photographs. Whilst I didn't notice the undertone IRL, in pictures it has a very slight red tinge, which isn't ideal."
Rating: 7/10
Victoria Jowett Digital Beauty Director
Victoria Jowett is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK overseeing all the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across print, digital and video.
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