The perfect brow does exist— and it took me [Espinal] years to realize it. Once I finally discovered the right shape for my natural brows, everything clicked. Whether you prefer a barely-there, natural vibe or a bold, sculpted look, your makeup routine isn’t truly complete until your brows are finished and defined.
Yes, mastering the technique can feel intimidating at first, but with a few expert tips, the right products (and a little patience!), achieving a professional-level brow is completely doable. And with so many eyebrow options on the market, choosing the best one for your needs can be challenging.
To help simplify the process, we asked makeup artists to share their go-to advice for creating a flawless arch. Plus, we asked our Shop TODAY editors for their tried-and-true eyebrow products.
Tips to achieve a well-defined eyebrow shape
Brittany Scott, brow specialist and educator, recommends mapping out your brow before you start.
“The ideal brow has a straight line from the front to the arch, then from the arch to the end of the tail with a slight roundness in the arch so that it doesn’t look pointy,” Scott says. “The arch is always off-center, [so] it creates a flattering lifted look to the face.”
However, a well-defined brow does not always have to be sculpted. Makeup artist Caitlyn Dominic says you want to enhance your natural brow structure. "Focus on creating short, hairlike strokes following the same direction your brows grow in. Typically, that’s straight up at the front part (closest to your nose), then more outward strokes toward the center, arch and tail areas. When doing the front part, use an extra-light touch — focus more on the outer tho-thirds of the brow shape for structure," she adds.
How to choose the best eyebrow products
The trick to achieving a well-defined brow is to start slow and small. "Also, start by brushing your brows up and out with a spoolie before you do anything," suggests Dominic.
"Whether you’re using a brow pencil, a brow powder with an angled brow brush or a tinted brow gel, hold the tool super lightly in your hand so that you have a soft touch and don’t apply too much pressure." Dominic shares her favorite eyebrow products to achieve this.
- Eyebrow pencils: "If someone has very sparse brows, a gel or a powder might not work as well. In that case, I would reach for a brow pencil and fill them in with a very light hand," she says.
- Eyebrow powders: This one works "for a softer look compared to a pencil, as long as you use a very light hand and light touch when drawing on the hair-like strokes using an angled brow brush," suggests Dominic.
- Eyebrow gels: According to Dominic, anyone can use this product unless they have sparse eyebrows. "The reason is because the gel needs something to grip onto — it can’t just be skin. So it works for most people aside from those with little to no brows."
Eyebrow products recommended by experts
Having a solid feathering pen is a great way to upgrade your makeup routine. New York-based makeup artist Jonet Williamson says that one of the most challenging parts of creating a brow look is making sure you don’t lose the look of real hairs in your completed brows.
“If you don’t have much fluff naturally, you can fake some with a brow pen or brow gel, depending on the applicator,” Williamson shares.
This applicator aims to be long-lasting with its water and smudge-proof formula. The fine tip pen also helps to make creating individual hair strokes easier.
When it comes to creating the perfect look, it’s all about depth and placement for Williamson.
“Always follow the flow of your natural brows and build up from there,” Williamson says. “If you want more of an arch, a straighter brow or just more fullness, you’ll want to use the front of your brow as a guide.”
This eyebrow pencil aims to provide you with an affordable yet reliable tool for blending and filling. Williamson also likes this product for its affordability and precision.
When you’re deciding on a shape for your brow, Williamson usually uses her natural brows as her guide.
“You’ll want to access your natural brows to see where you need more definition and depth versus applying your brow products the same throughout the entire brow,” says Williamson. “For instance, my natural brows are much fuller in the front but taper off at the tail.”
For those with sensitive eyes, this is the perfect tool. The formula was created with sensitive eyes in mind and was made for easy application. The pencil comes pre-sharpened and can be removed with soap and water.
It’s all in the details when you’re crafting a simple brow design. Williamson suggests using small feather-like strokes to help give the illusion of tiny brow hairs.
If you're opting for a no-makeup look, this eyebrow gel will hold your brows in place. Dominic recommends this one if you want to achieve a cleaner appearance and need that laminated shape.
Scott recommends taking your time when you do your makeup look.
“Practice and patience are key when doing brows,” Scott says. “Your spoolie is like an eraser; use it to help correct a mistake. The Brow Gal Skinny Eyebrow brow pencil helps define these straight lines and has a spoolie to help blur the effect.”
If you have sparse eyebrows, this product will provide precision for a natural-looking shape. Dominic recommends this one for those with minimal hair who need to create a detailed arch with hair-like strokes.
If you're trying to achieve a natural look, Dominic suggests this gel from Hourglass. The gel features a dual-sided brush that offers a soft-hold look and texture to the eyebrows.
Definition and detail are key to completing your brow look. For precision and added detail, Scott suggests using small brush strokes to add little hairs to your brow design.
“Use hair-like strokes to keep the brow looking natural,” shares Scott. “This will ensure some of the skin peeks through — that is what helps the brow remain looking its most natural.”
Editor-approved eyebrow products
Associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson says this eyebrow gel is easy to use and doesn't leave behind flakes. "This is the brow gel I've been using most recently, and I'm really impressed with it. I've used it until it's empty! I like that it has shaping and sculpting tools built in, and the gel itself doesn't leave any flakes behind. It also doesn't leave my eyebrow hairs feeling super stiff or like they're actually glued to my face. They still feel soft, just held in place," comments Stewart.
Stewart-Jackson is also a fan of this stamp kit, which makes eyebrow application a breeze and holds up "perfectly." The kit is easy to use once you've selected your stencil, so you can find the right shape for you. “It didn’t take long for me to see the color start to come through, which intensifies depending on how many times you stamp. Once I removed the stencil, I couldn’t believe it — my brow was perfectly shaped,” she says.
For days when you need a quick makeover, Stewart's second option is this brow gel from Revlon. "I recently went to a Revlon event and they used this brow gel on me and I was impressed by it! They used the shade dark rich brown on me and it blended really seamlessly into my existing brow hairs but gave it a fuller look where it was needed. It's a very user-friendly product and, since I've just finished my last clear brow gel and was looking for a new one, I'm excited to incorporate this one into my (very minimal) beauty routin," she says.
Associate editor Shannon Garlin likes this affordable brow gel when she needs to make her brows fuller, minus the task. "I used to spend so much time filling in and shaping my brows but ever since I started using this brow gel, my brows are fluffed and shaded in seconds. The gel is tinted so it naturally fills in like hair-like strokes, and it stays all day!"
I [Espinal] have bought this eyebrow pencil four times already. The triangular-angled brush provides a defined shape to my natural shape and makes it easier to fill in the gaps. The pigment pays off as well — easily merging the color with my natural hair color. This is one of my most-beloved makeup products for its creamier texture and how easy it blends.
A former Beauty Award-winner, this 3-in-1 tool can help define and shape your brows to your liking. We love it for its ability to tackle a variety of concerns without the clutter. Fill in sparse areas, create hair-like strokes and whip your arches into shape with this multitasker.
Associate social media editor Daniella Musacchio and I [Espinal] rave about this eyebrow product for its design, precision and pigment quality. "I have thin, sparse brows and this is the only eyebrow pencil I will reach for. Other eyebrow products I've tried make my brows look too harsh and unnatural, but this pencil creates the most full, natural-looking brows. I never received compliments on my brows until I started using this product. I also love how there is a spoolie attached to one end, so you don't need any additional brushes or tools to blend the product in," shares Musacchio.
How we chose
The experts we consulted handpicked each eyebrow product featured in this article, taking key factors into consideration. We also added a few editor-approved favorites — items our team has personally tested, used and genuinely loved.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on eyebrow products. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Jonet Williamson is a pro makeup artist and beauty educator with over 14 years of experience.
- Caitlyn Dominic is a Charlotte-based makeup artist who focuses on bridal, event, celebrity and private lessons.
- Brittany Scott is a brow specialist and makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
