Collage: Jemeria Davison / Images: Courtesy of brands and GettySave this storySave this story
If you're looking for an easy way to get fuller-looking arches, the best eyebrow pens make it surprisingly simple. With ultra-fine felt tips, these pens act more like a tiny paintbrush than a classic brow pencil, letting you draw hair-like strokes exactly where you need them for soft, fluffy brows that look naturally filled in (think the effect of microblading without the needles, commitment, or appointments).
Unlike pencils or pomades, which tend to shade in larger areas, brow pens are all about precision. “They have a sheerer formula, which makes them great for creating realistic hair strokes that blend seamlessly with your real hair,” says New York City-based makeup artist Amrita Mehta. That lightweight, ink-like formula lets you build brows gradually, filling in sparse patches, extending the tail, or adding a little extra definition without making things look heavy or overdrawn.
Our Top Eyebrow Pens
- Best Overall: Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen, $28
- Best for Beginners: Maybelline New York Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen, $16
- Most Long-Lasting: Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen, $28
- Most Natural-Looking: L'Oréal Paris Infallible Faux Brow, $13
Delicate strokes create the illusion of fuller, more defined brows in seconds, which is exactly why brow pens are such a staple in makeup artists’ kits. To find the best ones, we went straight to the source and asked the pros to share the formulas they actually keep on hand.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What's the difference between brow pencils and brow pens?
- How do you use a brow pen?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen
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Benefit Cosmetics
Mighty Fine Brow Pen
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Revolve
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: Why draw one brow hair when you can draw three? Benefit Cosmetics’ Mighty Fine Brow Pen, a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty winner, features a multi-pronged tip to draw on multiple hair-like strokes at once—each one about as thin as a piece of paper—making it incredibly easy to shape and fill your brows in just a few swipes. The flexible prongs create micro-fine lines that blend seamlessly with your natural hairs so much so that you probably won’t even miss having a spoolie on the other end.
Admittedly, there’s a tiny bit of a learning curve at first: You’ll want to hold the pen perpendicular to your brows so all three tips are facing the skin straight on. Once you get the hang of that angle, the strokes practically draw themselves. It also comes in a solid eight-shade range designed to cover a variety of undertones for a natural-looking match. Plus, once it’s on, it stays put—the smudge-proof, sweatproof formula keeps your brows looking fresh all day.
Han before applying the Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I don't go for a filled-in brow look every day but when I do, this Benefit pen makes it so easy. The three-pronged applicator saves a lot of time since I don't have to draw individual strokes but the ‘hairs’ I create are still natural-looking. Plus, a huge benefit is the waterproof finish, so I don't have to worry about my brow tails smudging throughout the day and I can run my beloved clear brow gel through them for a fluffed-up look without messing up the color. (I didn't use gel in this instance to capture the best before-and-after product representation.)" —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Tester feedback from associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“At first glance, the Mighty Fine Brow Pen looks intimidating—and like a three-pronged Papermate—but if I, the most unskilled makeup artist on the Allure team, can use it to easily fill in sparse sections with ease (and little mess), there’s no doubt it deserves its ‘winner’ title." —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
More to know
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- Shades: 8
- Brush type: triple-pronged micro-fine felt tip
Best for Beginners: Maybelline New York Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen
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Maybelline New York
Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Walmart
Why it’s worth it: Has a brow product ever gotten a little out of hand? (Think: too dark, too blocky, or like your brows were drawn on by a Sharpie.) If that sounds familiar, Maybelline’s Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen is as beginner-friendly as it gets. This Allure 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner keeps things simple with a dual-ended design: One side features a pen and the other a brow gel, so you can shape, fill, and set without juggling multiple products. Fill in any sparse spots with the skinny pen, which creates sheer, hair-like strokes that are forgiving even if your hand isn’t perfectly steady. Once it dries for a minute or two, swipe on the gel to lock everything in place and comb your natural hairs exactly how you want them.
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Maybelline New York Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen
Sarah Kinonen
Kinonen after applying the Maybelline New York Build-a-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen
Sarah Kinonen
Tester feedback from former shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis
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“In between microblading sessions, this drugstore pick is everything I need and more. It's the easiest, most user-friendly brow product in the game. Just a few flicks and you have full brows in no time.” —Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
Tester feedback from Kinonen
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"I love getting my brows tinted, but during the two or so weeks when the pigment starts to fade, I need something that will fill the gap—literally. This dual-ended pen, at first, looks a little intimidating, but it's actually super easy to use. First, I comb up my brows with a spooley (any will do), then lightly flick the pen tip into my brows, focusing on areas that look a little sparse or need a little extra color. Then I set the look by brushing up the hair with the brow gel side. Easy! And it lasts all day and doesn't budge. It's easy to use, affordable, and comes in six shades. I oscillate between Soft Brown and Medium Brown, depending on how much my brow tint has faded."—Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Shades: 6
- Brush type: micro-fine felt tip and brow gel
Most Long-Lasting: Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen
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Anastasia Beverly Hills
MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Allure associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry using the Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen
Melanie Curry
Why it’s worth it: Anastasia Soare, founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills, is widely considered the reigning queen of brows—after all, she helped shape (pun intended) the modern brow industry. So it’s no surprise the brand offers a full lineup of tools for sculpting arches. Out of the bunch, the MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen is our pick when long wear matters most. The water-resistant formula stands up to sweat, humidity, and whatever else the day throws your way (the brand claims it will stay on for 24 hours). While we only tested it for about 12 (because, well, beauty sleep), our tester confirmed that she reaches for this pen when she wants her arches to last from morning until night. The ultra-fine tip creates hairlike strokes, while the built-in spoolie helps blend everything into your natural brows for a soft, believable finish. Hydrating glycerin keeps the formula gliding smoothly, and with nine shades to choose from, finding your match is easy.
Curry before using the Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen
Melanie Curry
Curry after using the Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen
Melanie Curry
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
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“I’ve never been a brow pen type of gal. (Pencils only!) But after I started using this new pen, I haven’t looked back. It has a detailed, fine tip, which allows me to easily pencil in those sparse areas without overfilling. The brush end then helps me buff everything out, resulting in a super natural look. No concealer needed!” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
More to know
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- Shades: 9
- Brush type: singular micro-fine felt tip and spoolie
Most Natural-Looking: L'Oréal Paris Faux Brow
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L'Oréal Paris
Faux Brow
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Similar to Benefit’s pen, L'Oréal Paris’s Faux Brow also features a pronged tip—but this one has two instead of three. That makes it helpful for anyone with slightly fuller brows who just needs to fill a few gaps, rather than laying down many strokes at once. That said, if you have finer brows and want a soft, natural-looking fill, it still works beautifully without appearing heavy or overdone. New York City-based makeup artist Kasey Spickard says he reaches for it on almost every client because the strokes stay subtle, meaning he never has to worry about the brows looking too harsh or overdone.
More to know
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- Shades: 8
- Brush type: double-pronged micro-fine felt tips
Best Shade Range: Nyx Professional Makeup Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen
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Nyx Professional Makeup
Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Finding the right brow shade can make all the difference, especially since many people’s brow hairs aren’t just one uniform color. With 10 shades, New York City-based makeup artist Lila Childs loves how easy it is to find your perfect color match with Nyx Professional Makeup’s Lift & Snatch Brow Pen. From Gray Black to Caramel, the lineup goes well beyond a basic “brown” or “blonde,” making it much easier to land on a realistic match. The flexible felt tip pen creates fine, paper-thin strokes with just a few quick flicks, so filling sparse spots or defining the fronts of your brows feels almost foolproof. And, once it’s on, the transfer-resistant formula stays put for up to 16 hours, according to the brand.
More to know
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- Shades: 10
- Brush type: singular micro-fine felt tip
Best Precision: Urban Decay Brow Blade
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Urban Decay
Brow Blade
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: You can go ahead and cancel that microblading appointment—this dual-ended brow tool might be all you need. It pairs two brow essentials into one: a fine-tip pen on one side for precision flicks, and an eyebrow pencil on the other for soft shading and structure. Together, they make it easy for anyone who wants the dimension of microbladed brows without the learning curve of using a pen alone. We like starting with the creamy pencil side to fill in sparse spots and map out the shape of the arches. Then flip to the pen to add fine, hair-like strokes for extra dimension and a more natural-looking brow. If you’re nervous about jumping straight into brow pens, this combo is the perfect middle ground.
More to know
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- Shades: 9
- Brush Type: singular micro-fine felt tip on one side, pencil on the other
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.”
Meet the experts
- Lila Childs is a New York City-based makeup artist
- Amrita Mehta is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist
- Kasey Spickard is a New York City-based makeup artist
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.
Our staff and testers
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.
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