It’s the beauty hack all beauty editors swear by.
If you only have time for one thing in the morning, make it a great-looking pair of brows.
The power of a good eyebrow cannot, and should not, be underestimated. Get them right and they’ll completely alter the face, instantly giving you a younger and brighter complexion - and all without a scalpel in sight. No wonder some liken groomed brows to having a face-lift.
Eyebrows are odd things. The hairy bits on our lower foreheads are primarily there to shield our eyes from debris like dust, sweat and rain. They’re also quite useful for silent communication and to emphasise points (see any episode of Schitt’s Creek for a masterclass). Considering how hard they work, it’s wild that we give them so much abuse.
Their shapes wax and wane according to what’s in fashion; so much so that you could tell an 80s power brow from a midcentury Marilyn to a silent movie star’s 1920s arch with a single glance alone.
Right now, theatrical Delevingne-style face framers are en vogue, but if you were around in the 90s and early Noughties, you’ll recall the thin, spindly lines that were the result of being plucked practically into oblivion. It’s a challenge to nurse such anaemic brows back to full health - that’s what brow-boosting serums are for, though you must be religious with your application - but not impossible thanks to the wonder of microblading eyebrow pens.
The pens feature ultra-fine nibs and are designed to impart realistic hair-like detail on your brows, mimicking traditional microblading in which lines are tattooed onto the skin with permanent or semi-permanent ink for long-term, woke-up-like-this results. They take starved brows back to glorious full fat.
Opting for a pen instead of a microblading treatment is not just cheaper, but it means you can subtly change your brows from day to day, from vintage Jennifer Connelly-style slugs to feathery and fanned arches, a la Hailey Bieber.
If you’re worried about colour fading through traditional microblading, taking a few minutes to do them every morning with a pen instead sends those fears packing. They can also serve as a good test run before stumping up the cash for real microblading.
All to win, nothing to lose.
Shop now
Revolution Pro Microblading Precision Eyebrow Pencil 0.04g
Proving that you don't have to spend oodles to achieve quiet luxury brows, Revolution's ultra-fine pencil gets you brows to shout about.
The needle-like point, which doesn't need sharpening, helps to create fine lines which you can use to fill in between sparse bits as well as reshape the outline of your brows. If you're after a statement brow, seal the lines with setting spray; those who want a natural look should brush the creamy formula through with the attached spoolie to soften but keep depth.
Available in four shades.
Buy now £4.99, lookfantastic
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer Deluxe
Give ABH a round of applause for the sheer colour choice in its brow definer: there are a dozen to choose from, including two shades of grey and a caramel option that will suit blondes. This pen gives calligraphy vibes, allowing you to trace thin lines as well as make high-volume strokes when you need curves in a hurry. Twist the Definer to different points and angles to nail the brow look you’re going for.
Buy now £13.00, Cult Beauty
Huda Beauty Bomb Brows Microshade Pencil 0.023g
Fake your brows back to full health with Huda Beauty. The brand's Bomb Brows pencil is perfectly named, offering such earth-shattering transformations that you'll wonder if those brows in the mirror are really yours.
Teeny hair-like strokes are made possible thanks to a super-fine 0.9mm nib, while a brush helps to diffuse colour between strands of real hair. Pick from eight shades.
Buy now £14.90, Sephora
Ciaté London Microblade Effect Pen
Get the microbladed look without the pain or the treatment time thanks to Ciate. The beauty brand has devised this nifty - and nibby - brush that paints thin strokes that are the spit of real hair. The formula is long-lasting to quell any smear fears while the thin pen allows you to deliver precise strokes. You'll be raising your expertly arched brows in no time.
Buy now £14.00, lookfantastic
REFY Brow Collection
Founded by influencer Jess Hunt, Refy has changed the brow game for those looking to transform sparse brows to become fuller, thicker and more feathery. The brow offering comes as a bumper pack of everything you will need to create a natural look or to step your arches up a few notches.
The Brow Sculpt is designed for the shaping and setting element, while the Brow Pomade adds depth and density with a tint (there are three colours; Light, Medium and Dark available). The Brow Pencil is the finishing touch to outline and create 3D definition. The tools are dual-ended for precision and the formulas are designed to stand the test of time with smudging or flaking.
Buy now £40.00, REFY
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift eyebrow pencil
Available in five shades from blonde to black, beauty queen Charlotte Tilbury’s brow pencil is the first step to taming unruly brows.
Application is simple: use the spoolie to brush hairs upwards and then use the pencil to fill in between the hairs using short, regular strokes to imitate natural hair.
If you fancy a softer, more filled-in effect (like the Insta-brow all over social media) just use the flat side of the pencil. Finish by combing through the brows with the brush.
Buy now £25.00, Space NK
M.A.C Eye Brows Styler
Available in a choice of eight shades, this clever pen has everything you need to keep your brows groomed on the go.
The pencil is self-propelling and self-sharpening so you’ll never have to root around for a pencil sharpener when you’re in a fix, while the microfine tip allows you to make slim, hairlike strokes. The finer you go, the less likely you are to make mistakes.
Once you’ve sketched out the borders and filled in the sparse spots, use the spoolie on the other end to brush out the hard lines.
Buy now £20.00, John Lewis
Valentino Beauty Brow Trio Triple Ended brow filler
Frame your face with 3D brows crafted with Valentino’s triple-use pen. Not only will it brush your strands into submission with the attached comb, but you can fill and define them with a liquid ink micro-liner and a flat-tip pencil respectively. Is that all the bases covered? We reckon so.
Buy now £36.00, Selfridges
Benefit goof proof eyebrow pencil
Perfect for light blondes to those with inky black hair, Benefit has a range of brow-taming products to choose from. Among our favourites is the goof-proof pencil, so named because it’s impossible to misuse - yes, even if you’re a rookie. It’s waterproof and there’s even a mini version that will fit in even the smallest of clutches (although it doesn’t come with a spoolie brush).
Buy now £26.00, lookfantastic
Glossier Boy Brow + Brow Flick Duo
Much has been made of Glossier’s Boy Brow and it certainly helps boost the volume and colour of eyebrows. The small brush is perfect for applying the pomade in short strokes - the key to a full look is patience.
While Boy Brow fixes your existing hair into place (up and out is the 2024 look, guys) if you want a filled-in effect, you’re best off shaping with the Brow Flick pen first and using Boy Brow to fix everything in place.
Buy now £33.00, Glossier
