I’ve been a beauty editor for 15 years. These are the best eyebrow pencils under $25 | CNN Underscored (2024)

Drugstore pencil

This tiny but mighty pencil makes brows look perfectly full and natural with minimal effort. Though the pencil is small, it doesn’t easily break off like some other pencils do. Dark Blonde was my shade here (Taupe also works for me), and there are 10 shades to choose from to get your perfect match. The fine-tipped pencil and the spoolie brush makes for the perfect combo. The waterproof formula holds up if you’re taking a dip but also removed easily with my Renée Rouleau Better Than Balm Cleanser. Bonus points: It’s readily available at drugstores or major retailers, usually for around or under $10.

Celebrity favorite

Though this pencil is small, it has a massive pigment payoff, making it quick and easy to fill in your brows. The formula is creamy and easy to apply, and the stiff bristle brush allows you to shape and maneuver your eyebrows as you please. I’m shade Ash Brown, and there is a wide range of 10 shades to choose from. There is also a virtual “try on” tool on the Maybelline website, which allows you to use your own photo or a similar-looking model to find your shade match. This pencil is a favorite of makeup artists, and celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Kacey Musgraves have rocked Maybelline eyebrow pencils on the red carpet.

Angled pencil

This thick brow pencil doesn’t smudge and looks so natural. The big, angled pencil makes it easy to color the brow and then quickly turn it to expertly fill in the tail. The shades Warm Brown, Mocha Blonde and Neutral Brown all work for me. It applies and stays put like a luxury pencil, but it’s available at a drugstore price. It’s ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free, with PETA and Leaping Bunny certifications.

Under $5

Budge- and smudge-proof, this creamy pencil gives massive color payoff for a low price. The highly rated formula is easy to apply, stays all day and perfectly blends, thanks to the large spoolie on the other end of the pencil. Shades are somewhat limited with only five options, but if you have brown hair, you should be totally fine. The brand also has a virtual try-on tool on its website. The pencil doesn’t contain phthalates or parabens, and is vegan and cruelty-free.

Luxury brow pencil

OK, you’ll have to pay one more dollar for this pick, but we think it’s definitely worth it. Plus, it’s refillable and the refills are only $16. If you’ve ever owned a Charlotte Tilbury product, you know that the packaging is luxe and the formulas are fantastic. This stunning tool is a great mixture of a pencil and a crayon. The size is also perfect; it’s in between a micro pencil and a thicker, angled pencil and that makes it fast and easy to fill in your brows. It comes in eight shades and doesn’t smudge. It stayed perfectly put even after a day of hiking through the Maine woods this summer. (Yes, I wear makeup when I am hiking! It’s research!)

Convenient packaging

Not only does this pencil packaging come in my favorite color, Barbie pink, but it’s such a great formula that it’s become one of my go-to brow pencils and also Underscored beauty editor Sophie Shaw's favorite eyebrow products. With shades that work amazing on blondes, brunettes and those with gray hair, this vegan pencil is shaped like a triangle. This allows you to create either thin strokes to define or use a heavier hand to get a thicker application for sparse brows. Castor oil helps nourish brow hairs, and it easily lasts all day and doesn’t smudge. The chunky, square packaging makes it easy and comfortable to hold while doing your makeup too.

For blondes

This highly rated pencil comes in eight shades, including four best suited for blondes, two for redheads and two for brunettes. The cool Taupe shade worked perfectly for me as someone with fair skin and blonde hair. The formula is both buildable and blendable, thanks to the fine-tipped pencil and built-in spoolie brush. Provitamin B5 helps to nourish and condition eyebrow hair too, resulting in thicker, fuller brows.

For brunettes

With 12 shades available, this budget-friendly pencil is a top pick. Vegan and cruelty-free, it has a fine tip that allows you to customize the look you want, and the built-in brush ensures the formula blends with your natural brow hairs seamlessly. Reviewers love the colors, the great pigmentation and the ease of applying the pencil. Some do complain that the formula fades and wears off more easily than others, but I had no issue with the pencil lasting all day. Taupe was my perfect shade.

For red hair

Lucky for me, this pencil is not just for redheads, though it is best for those with red, auburn, copper or strawberry blonde locks. The Taupe shade matches my brows perfectly (there is also an Auburn shade with a more reddish/brown tint). The pencil itself is thick without being chunky, with a consistency that allows me to apply my entire brow in seconds. It’s soft and creamy, and goes on like a dream. There is a brush on the other end to seamlessly blend your brows. The brand has been around for over 30 years and also has an eyebrow stick pencil and tinted brow gel.

For feathery brows

I’m a big fan of Huda Beauty, and this pencil is perfect for getting a more natural brow look. The tip is so fine that if you push it up too much, it does tend to break if you’re pressing too hard. Light, flicky strokes are best for this pencil. I do also love the unique shape of the wand itself. It makes it easy to hold and feels really sturdy in your hand. It comes in five shades and is waterproof, cruelty-free and vegan.

For all ages

These pencils come in four universal shades, so it’s fairly foolproof to find your best match. The oval tip on the pencil makes it a breeze to mimic real hair strokes. The ingredients of the pencil itself include saw palmetto, grape seed extract, antioxidants and biotin, so your eyebrow hair grows stronger and faster. The company is cruelty-free and does not test on animals, and formulates its products with the help and input of plastic surgeons and dermatologists. Buy this pencil in a two-pack from QVC to get the most value for your money ($32 for the pair), or sign up for a recurring delivery on Amazon to get 5% off and save a buck.

• Alyson Hoag, makeup artist, brow expert and owner of Genuist Beauty