Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between brow pencils and brow pens?
According to Childs, brow pencils are used to create the effect of overall density in the brow and can be applied all over, then brushed out and diffused with a spoolie brush. A brow pen is more targeted and precise because it creates the appearance of individual brow hairs. They’re great for sparse brows that need definition at the arch or at the front or tail of the brow.
How do you use a brow pen?
Before you even pick up your brow pen, make sure your brows are “completely clean and oil-free,” says New York City-based makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes. That means no moisturizer, serums, oils, or even highlighter sitting on the brow area—anything slick can cause the pen to skip or fade.
Once your base is on (foundation, concealer, bronzer, and the rest), Childs recommends going in with your brow pen as the next step in your makeup routine. Applying it after your complexion products helps prevent accidentally smudging or covering freshly drawn strokes with concealer.
Especially if you’re a beginner, keep the pressure light when it comes to technique. “I use light pressure and apply a few flicks toward the front of the brow to create a slight cowlick effect and then a few light strokes on the tail of the brow to elongate it,” says Childs. If you’re going for a fluffy, natural finish, Mehta’s tip is to leave a space between strokes, as it will make your arches appear fuller rather than filled in. For the final step, Mehta suggests brushing your brows with a spooley.
Shade choice matters, too. Mehta says to “use a pen that is a bit lighter [than the natural brow hairs] to add dimension and fullness without making the brow too dark.”
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How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best eyebrow pens, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
