6 Best Eyebrow Pencils for Older Women for Natural-Looking Volume and Fullness

As someone who doesn’t have Brooke Shields-level naturally full brows, I’ve tried a few products designed to make my arches look prettier There. I’ve had my fair share of successes and failures, and that’s true with any brow definition journey, but especially when it comes to finding the best brow pencil for women over 50.

“For those of us who survived the over-plucking epidemic of the ’90s, combined with years of mechanical stress on hair follicles, slower cell turnover, and hormonal changes, we’re faced with the perfect storm of thinning brows,” says esthetician Jenneane Rocha. During our chat, it was immediately clear that no old tool can calm this storm. “A common mistake I see is that women over 50 continue to use the same hard wax pencils they used in their 30s,” Rocha says. “These formulas are designed for youthful, elastic skin and hair. They drag across the skin, pull at brittle hair, and create the dreaded ‘pulled’ look.”

Fortunately, correct Eyebrow pencils can restore aging brows to their natural fullness, dimension and lift without damaging fragile hair or skin. Ahead, find six makeup artist-recommended pencils for rejuvenating aging brows.

Best overall performance: Create beautiful nano eyebrows

• Why we love it: Professional makeup artist and brow expert Pilar DeMann recommends this ultra-fine brow pencil to clients over 50. Very “They’ll be a little softer,” she explains, which prevents the paint from looking too thick or opaque. Nano Brow Pencil is designed to create realistic, hair-like strokes, perfect for those who want to fill in sparse patches for subtle definition and fullness. It has a built-in spoolie to blend color and polish brow shape, and it comes in five highly pigmented shades, from cool taupe to soft black. Other benefits? The formula is long-lasting, smudge-proof, and made with natural ingredients designed in a lab to minimize the risk of irritation for ultimate staying power.
• Main ingredients: Candelilla wax, carnauba wax, dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
• Best for: Fills in sparse brows; adds subtle definition and fullness
• tone: 5

Best chubby rod:Jones Road Beauty eyebrow pencil

• Why we love it: When Deman tried the Jones Road pencil on a whim, she was pleasantly surprised. “It’s a big, fat stick that I never expected to like, but I really do,” she admitted. “It provides plenty of color and is easy to use.” Made with castor seed oil and shea butter, this smooth pencil is designed for creating fluffy, feathery strokes. It can also extend, define and fill sparse patches. If you’re keen to add some lift, be sure to fill in the tops of the arches as well.
• Main ingredients: Castor seed oil, candelilla wax, shea butter, silicon dioxide
• Best for: Lengthen, define or lift brows; add a more complete look
• tone: 6

Best Pharmacy: elf micro eyebrow pencil

• Why we love it: This drugstore gem was high on Deman’s list. This is a micro eyebrow pencil that’s great for creating natural-looking brows and lengthening the ends. This double-ended pencil has a built-in spool and a swivel top that eliminates the need for sharpening, making it perfect for taking on the go. Its creamy pigment comes in eight shades, including a hard-to-find auburn, and glides easily onto brows. Once the formula is applied, it stays on: This pencil is water- and smudge-proof and designed for long-lasting wear.
• Main ingredients: Hydrogenated soybean oil, argan oil, coconut oil, tocopheryl acetate
• Best for: Define or extend the inner and outer edges of your brows
• tone: 8

Best for large gaps: Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyebrow Pencil

• Why we love it: Anastasia’s multi-purpose tool has a retractable triangular tip on one end and a spoolie on the other to help fill, refine and define aging brows. Its flat side can be used for outlining; its fine tip fills in sparse areas with hair-like strokes; and its wide edge allows for applying wider strokes if desired. Pencil was Rocha’s first choice, and he used it to fill in large gaps. Infused with conditioning castor oil and vitamin E, “the triangular tip creates realistic texture without the stiffness of brittle hair,” she says.
• Main ingredients: Lanolin, mica, tocopherol (vitamin E), hydrogenated castor oil
• Best for: Gives brow definition and volume; fills in large gaps
• tone: 12

Best Extra Fine Pencil: MAC Cosmetics Pro Eyebrow Pencil 1MM

• Why we love it: MAC’s ultra-fine pencils are available in 14 colors, including champagne Omega and silver Thunder, and are endorsed by professional makeup artist Michelle Radow. In order to avoid the above situation drawn “Women over 50 should look for natural brow colors with cool undertones,” she says. “A common mistake people make is choosing a brow color that’s too warm.” In addition to its impressive range of shades, MAC pencils have two features that Radow considers key. It has a twisted tip that, she says, is “easier to use than a traditional sharpened pencil.” The formula is also water-resistant, which helps it stay adherent on wrinkled, aging skin.
• Main ingredients: Castor oil, argan oil, coconut oil, carnauba wax
• Best for: Create fuller brows; touch up, shade or exaggerate brow shape
• tone: 14

Best for thick eyebrows: Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ volumizing fiber eyebrow pencil

• Why we love it: Radow is also a fan of Benefit’s volumizing pencils, which come in 12 colors, including frosty gold and grey. The pencil is made with silk cotton tree fiber to add volume, powder to add depth and fullness, and its first-of-its-kind formula is buildable and easy to blend. Rocha says the buildable pigment is a must-have brow pencil for women over 50. “A heavy application can look harsh on thinner, more textured skin, so you need subtle layering abilities,” she points out.
• Main ingredients: Silk cotton tree fiber, mixed pigment particles
• Best for: Volumize, fill and define brows
• tone: 12