From waxes and soaps to pencils and pomades, there’s no shortage of products out there for grooming and enhancing your brows. While your go-to formula is purely a matter of choice, you’ll always be glad to have brow powder in your makeup kit.
“Brow powder works to create shape or add soft definition,” says celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa, explaining that it’s an excellent supplemental product for pre-outlined or already-full eyebrows. “It’s great for sparse areas but not ideal if you want to create thin, hairlike strokes.”
Additionally, Figueroa tells Byrdie, powders are ideal for those who want to achieve a subtle, natural look—plus they work on all skin types. So, which trays, pots, and palettes stand out from the rest? We compiled expert insights, asked our editors, and searched high and low for today’s all-stars.
Ahead are the best brow powders currently on the market.
Best Overall: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo
Courtesy of Sephora
Who else recommends it? BestReviews and Best Products both picked the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo.12
What do buyers say? 92% of 400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
When it comes to eyebrow makeup, Anastasia Beverley Hills is untouchable. The OG brand has been in the game for decades—long before the early-aughts overplucking era—and you can pretty much always count on quality.
The award-winning Brow Powder Duo contains two colors: a lighter one for the inner (thicker) part and a darker hue for the tail. This allows you to create a natural-looking ombré effect.
Available in 11 shades to complement a range of hair colors, the highly pigmented powder goes on smooth and blends effortlessly. While you’ll need to buy a brush separately, this pint-sized pan is ideal for on-the-go use—there’s even a handy mirror inside the compact.
Size: 0.03 oz. | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget: e.l.f. Bite-Size Brow Palette
On a budget? The Bite-Size Brow Palette will only run you a few bucks. It comes with two shades of matte powder for a customized, natural-looking effect, plus a dark and light wax to hold everything in place.
Size: 0.14 oz. | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore: CoverGirl Easy Breezy Brow Powder Kit
From the pharmacy section, we’re big fans of CoverGirl. The Easy Breezy Brow Kit has two shades of powder for filling and defining, plus one lighter hue for highlighting the brow bone. What’s more, it comes with a dual-ended applicator brush.
Size: 0.01 oz. | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge: Lamik Beauty Revelation Brow Duo
Lamik’s Brow Duo is definitely on the pricier end, but if you can swing it, you won’t be disappointed. Available in 15 color combos, you’ll get an ultra-smooth and highly pigmented powder, plus a sculpting cream in a complementing hue.
Size: 0.13 oz. | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Formula: Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Shape & Fill Duo
Sephora
While this product isn’t technically a powder, the unique putty goes on creamy and sets with a matte, powder-like finish. This means you’ll get fuller, shapelier brows without any loose flakes dusting your cheeks. And did we mention it’s waterproof and smudge-resistant?
Size: 0.6 oz. | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Singles: Joey Healy Luxe Brow Powder
This single pot of waterproof brow powder is available in four shades, ranging from raven-black to neutral taupe. Choose one or combine multiple to fill in any sparse areas and achieve a soft, sculpted effect.
Size: 0.1 oz. | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Palette: Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings Pro Palette
Sephora
Benefit makes the best tray, by far. The Brow Zings Palette includes three long-wear powders for filling and shading, plus two high-pigment waxes for defining and one clear wax for a flexible hold. The mirrored compact also comes with an applicator brush and blending spoolie.
Size: 0.33 oz. | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best With Wax: Jane Iredale GreatShape Eyebrow Kit
Nordstrom
This travel-friendly kit comes with a pigmented, water-resistant brow powder that goes on smooth and stands up to smudging, plus a nourishing wax that keeps your hairs in place. We also like that the mirrored compact includes a dual-ended applicator.
Size: 1.5 oz. | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best With Stencils: J.Cat Beauty Brow-Mazing Duo
Ulta
If you’re new to the brow game and need a little help with shaping, J.Cat is your best bet. In addition to two powders, an angled applicator brush, and a spoolie, this kit comes with three stencils to guide you on angle, size, and symmetry.
Size: 0.6 oz. | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best With Brush: RMS Beauty Back2Brow Brow Powder and Brush Kit
QVC
The Back2Brow kit includes a single long-wear powder that goes on smooth and blends effortlessly. You’ll also get a double-sided applicator tool with a precision brush on one end and a spoolie on the other for softening and blending your work.
Size: 0.12 oz. | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Shading: Morphe Brow Powder
Morphe
“I love the brow powder from Morphe Cosmetics,” Figueroa tells Byrdie. “It is a great price point, and its sheer-to-medium coverage is great for shading.”
Shades: 10 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Travel: Clinique Brow Shaper
Heading on a trip? Clinique’s Brow Shaper is not only super packable, but it comes with a precision applicator brush. As for the powder, it’s ultra-fine and pigmented with a buildable, natural-looking finish.
Size: 0.11 oz. | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Tube: Maybelline Brow Drama Shaping Chalk Powder
This portable product contains a smooth, chalk-like powder. The soft-touch applicator makes it easy to fill in your brows on the go, and the tube is small enough to fit in your pocket.
Size: 0.35 oz. | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Pencil: NYX Professional Makeup Eyebrow Powder Pencil
If you like the convenience of a pencil but prefer a powder finish, this one’s for you. The super-fine, powdery-soft formula goes on smooth with a matte finish, and the pointed tip helps you apply it with precision. After applying, flip it over and blend your work with the attached spoolie.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
The Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Powder Duo is undoubtedly the best option available today. It’s highly pigmented, blendable, and available in an impressive range of shades. However, if you’re on a budget, the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bite-Size Brow Palette is an excellent choice—plus it comes with two waxes. And if you’re open to splurging, you might consider springing for the Lamik Beauty Revolution Brow Duo.
What to Look for in a Brow Powder
Color
Make sure to choose a shade that matches your brows for the best results. Those with darker hair should opt for a shade that’s the same or close to their hue, whereas someone with lightened or highlighted hair would choose one that matches their natural roots. Feel free to test a few shades before you make your decision.
Blendability
Since brows are not an exact science, you’ll want a formula that’s pretty easy to blend. This will help you fill in areas that are sparse and allow you to hide any potential mistakes. Opt for a formula that can be built-upon and blended easily, so you can play around to figure out just how you want your brows to look.
Wear
If you want your formula to last you through the entire day, choose something that’s either waterproof or long-wearing to ensure that it doesn’t smudge. Make sure to apply with the proper brush and use a setting spray to hold everything into place and yield the best results. For a little bit more hold, you can even wet the brush a little bit.
