15 best eyebrow makeup products for full brows, per experts

Whether you’re only swiping on your favorite mascara or pampering yourself to a full-glam makeup look, one thing’s for sure: the definition is always in the brows.

“Brows bring balance to the face and eyes,” said Jared Bailey, Benefit Cosmetics global brow expert — and The Post couldn’t agree more. That’s why having the ideal brow products for your hair color, brow shape, eye shadow and desired look is pivotal.

But with so many options on the market — pomades, waxes, pencils and pens — it can be difficult to know where to begin.

In an effort to help you find the best brow product, we spoke with three experts: Bailey, National Artist for Sephora, Helen Phillips Dagdag and Michele Shakeshaft, Bobbi Brown Pro Artist.

Collectively, they shared expert tips — including what to look for in a brow product and how to use trendy brow products, such as the soap brow. In addition, they both shared their holy grail brow products and provided expertise in our in-depth FAQ section.

In short, you seriously don’t want to skip this edit. Oh, and you’ll certainly want to check out our reviews to the best eyeshadow palettes and best liquid eyeliners to complete your look.

Click one of the following links below to jump to a specific brow product:

Best Brow Pencils

Brow pencils exist for two things: one, to mimic brow hairs and fill in sparse areas or to provide soft, easy coverage.

1. Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil, $25

Bailey called this Benefit brow product “the love of [his] brow life.”

“The balance of pigment, firmness and pliability inside this formula makes it any artists’ wet dream,” Bailey said of the ultra-defining brow pencil that comes in 14 shades.

Expert tip: Bailey suggests leaving space between each pencil stroke to make the flicks of color look like real hair.

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2. SEPHORA COLLECTION Retractable Brow Pencil, $12

“The Retractable Brow Pencil comes in 12 shades, so you’re sure to find a good match, and it’s waterproof so it will last throughout the day,” Dagdag shared. The fine tip also helps to mimic the natural look of hair, making it perfect for real-looking brows.

Choose from 12 various long-wearing colors that all offer medium coverage and are made with clean ingredients.

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3. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Brow Harmony Pencil & Gel, $11, original price: $22

Bailey mentioned that thicker brow pencils, such as this Rare Beauty pencil, often have a creamier formula.

“These styles of pencils are great for simple washes of color through the brow,” said Bailey. “They’re very user friendly and add a simple illusion of fullness and density to the hair without ‘experience required’ so-to-speak.”

The Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Pencil & Gel certainly adheres to Bailey’s findings, as it features a chunky pencil tip, a buildable formula and an additional tinted brow gel.

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4. Bobbi Brown Micro Eyebrow Pencil, $35

“This is an ultra-precise pencil with 24-hour, brow-true color,” Shakeshaft says. “It’s designed to effortlessly draw hair-like strokes to pinpoint sparse spots, extend tails, and add detailed definition.”

Even better, it comes in a wealth of shades and is 100% waterproof, ensuring it will last for longer.

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Best Brow Pens

Brow pens may seem similar to brow pencils in theory, though they are starkly different. The major difference is brow pens provide the same rich color payoff with either a little or a lot of pressure.

1. Maybelline TattooStudio Brow Tint Pen, $11

The Maybelline TattooStudio Brow Tint Pen creates hair-like strokes to achieve natural-looking brows. According to Bailey, the product also features a multi-pronged tip which helps create “uniformity and structure.”

You can also look forward to 24 hours of smudge-proof wear.

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2. Benefit Cosmetics Brow Microfilling Pen, $25

If you’re worried about a brow pen appearing too bold against your skin, Bailey suggests opting for Benefit’s Brow Microfilling Pen.

“The formula in Brow Microfilling pen has a level of opacity to it that allows you to slightly see through the formula so the color is never jarring or too obvious,” the brow expert shared. 

Beyond the product’s intentional opacity, the three prongs are also designed to assist in the natural look of brows.

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Best Brow Powders

While gels are meant to sit on the brow hairs themselves, powders were created to sit behind the hair. Therefore, powders are typically best for individuals with finer brow hair that want more definition.

Though, if you have oily skin, Dagdag suggests opting for something more long-wearing like a pencil, as powders “tend not to last as long as other formulas.”

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Ombre Effect Long Wearing Brow Powder Duo, $23

Available in 11 various color options, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo was made to create a soft brow.

“Each product offers you two shade options for filling in your brows to ensure the perfect brow color,” shared Dagdag. “I always use the darker shade at the tail of the brow.”

For more, check out our full review of Anastasia Beverly Hills.

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2. Ulta Beauty Brow Powder Duo, $10

The Ulta Brow Powder Duo is a similar product to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo but at a less expensive price point.

Bailey suggests applying powders, such as this one, with a “small hard angled brush so you can ruffle the product under the hair and straight onto the skin.” By doing so, you will be able to prevent excess product fallout.

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Best Brow Gels

Bailey described brow gel as the “the little black dresses of brow products” since there are so many options “and anyone with brow hair can use one.”

There are two main gel categories: fiber brow gels and clear brow gels.

“Fiber gels typically give a light to medium hold on the hair’s overall styling, however, the microfibers inside the formula give your brow instant volume, which is the easiest way to get a thicker, more lush looking brow,” Bailey shared.

On the flip side, Bailey explained that “clear setting gels are very popular for people with more coarse or dense brow hairs.” The formulas typically have a medium to strong hold and “can act as a top coat for your brows.”

1. Glossier Boy Brow, $17

Bailey explains adding a fiber gel on top of other brow products “adds major volume” and gives “instant dimension.”

The Glossier Boy Brow does just that as it features a thickening formula that shapes and grooms brows into place.

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2. Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel, $26

“24-Hour Brow Setter is something I use every day… on myself and literally every one of my clients,” said Bailey.

“Even if you’re not using it to lock your products on, it’s a great product to comb through the brows to create separation and organize your brow hair,” he continued.

The product also includes a custom-molded dual-sized wand perfect for any and all brows.

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3. Maybelline Tattoo Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Gel, $13

Another top performing brow gel is Maybelline’s Tattoo Brow product. Products such as this one “are great if you have brow hair that you want to tame or add volume to,” Dagdag explains.

It retails for only $12.99 while delivering a gel formula that lasts up to two days.

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Best Brow Pomades

While pomades were once reserved for the pros, they are “cycling back more and more into popularity for the everyday brow user,” Bailey shared.

Bailey continued to explain that these formulas are highly pigmented which help create contrast between the brow and the skin. 

Dagdag suggests opting for a creamy, pomade formula if you live in humid weather, have oily skin or want a defined brow, as they tend to have long-wear features.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Brow Pomade, $21

A favorite in the beauty community is this smudge-proof pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills that comes in 11 different color options.

“[It] gives you super clean and defined brows, and is waterproof, so it lasts all day,” shared Dagdag.

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2. Tarte Frameworker Brow Pomade, $20

The Tarte brow pomade doesn’t only define and fill in your brows, but it is also made with clean ingredients such as babassu, amazonian clay and mineral pigment. Together, they condition your brow hair and soften the skin.

This product also minimizes oil production around the hair follicle, which is perfect for adherence to Dagdag’s point of using a pomade for oily skin.

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Best Brow Waxes

Waxes may often be confused with pomades, though there is a key difference: waxes and gels help redirect brow hairs, which is perfect for achieving the soap brow trend. 

“Brow wax is great if you have brow hair that you want to tame or add some volume to,” Dagdag explained. “You can use them alone or with a pencil to get a full, fluffy look.”

While waxes provide lift and shape, they can be tricky to use. Bailey suggests using them with a spoolie brush. “Simply drag [the brush] through the formula, then brush it through the brows in the direction you want it to be styled,” the brow king shared.

Expert note: that waxes typically don’t dry all the way down. To combat this, pair the product with a powder.

1. Anastasia Brow Freeze Styling Wax, $23

If you’re on the hunt for an extreme hold, this is it.

The styling wax literally “freezes” your brow hairs into place while lasting all dang day. But Bailey explains that waxes, such as this one, will provide you that grip without the stiffness of a gel. 

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2. Patrick Ta Major Brow Shaping Wax, $24

Brow waxes can also come in tinted shades, such as the Patrick Ta Brow Shaping Wax.

Dagdag recommended this product as a great alternative to a hard gel, especially if you are looking for a further look. “It has a slight tint but will really hold those brows in place.”

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An FAQ on Brow Products

Ahead, our team of brow experts share the 411 on the different types of products to accentuate your natural brows — including how to make them fuller and more defined.

What should I look for when choosing an eyebrow shade?

“You want to select a shade that mirrors your hair’s undertone (warm, cool or neutral),” Bailey explained. “If you have color treated hair, or naturally have warm and cool tones, neutral tones are going to work best.”

Bailey further suggests selecting a shade that “mirrors the depth of your hair.” In simple terms, this means choosing a shade of blonde, brown, black, red or grey. Though, Bailey explained the depth of color doesn’t have to match your hair exactly, as “everyone’s hair, brows included, have natural low lights and highlights.” 

If you’re selecting a brow product in person, Dagdag suggests drawing lines on the back of your fingers and holding them up to your brow. If you’re deciding between two shades, she recommends going with the cooler tone to start.

What different types of brow products are there?

“There are so many, which can be overwhelming, but it really allows for each person to find the formulas that meet them at their skill level as well as how much time they want to devote to creating the brow style they want,” Shakeshaft adds. A few of these include:

• Brow Pencils: These come in different intensities and shapes so you can softly shade in the shape of the brow or create more defined detail.
• Brow Groomers (such as a pomade, or a gel): These will style and hold the brow hair. They can be clear, or they can add a tint of color. The gels are like a mascara for the brow.
• Powders: You will need to use a brush to apply most of these. 
• Brow Pens: These allow you to create fine, hair like details. 
• Brow Stencils: These can be lifesaving if you struggle to create a brow shape that fits your face.

What are the best types of products for making your eyebrows appear fuller?

Creating fullness is a balance of seeing dimension and definition.

“I like to enhance the natural texture of the brow by using a pomade or brow gel to groom the brow hair up, to add volume, and slightly lift the brow hair away from the skin, to create natural texture and dimension,” Shakeshaft notes. “After that dries, use a pencil, pen, or powder to shade in the shape of the shape of the brow by filling in sparse areas to enhance the natural definition.”

Above all, seeing the natural texture of the brow hair on top of the color is key to creating fullness.

What are the best types of products for defining the natural look of your eyebrows?

The key to naturally defining a brow is to use a product that matches your natural brow hair color, so you only need to apply it in the sparse areas of the brow.

“If the product color doesn’t match the brow hair color, you need to apply product through the entire brow, so it looks cohesive,” Shakeshaft explains. “For example, most people struggle with sparseness in the inner corner and tail of the brow.”

In other words, the goal is to “color the skin” around the brow hair to add color and definition, only where you need it. “By taking this approach, you avoid adding product where there is already a natural fullness and depth to the brow, which can start to look heavy,” she adds. 

Another tip: Shakeshaft finds that brow pencils are often the easiest for clients to use (1) because it’s easier to build intensity with them and (2) they often have a spoolie on the end, which can be used to blend the color in to the brow for a seamless connection. 

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Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more recommendations.