Daily Times

We know Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil are kit go-tos. Beauty junkies everywhere around the world are obsessed with Glossier Boy Brow and pretty much anything Benefit.

But among all the brow pencils, waxes, tints and powders, what product has the power to really define arches, fill in any gaps and perfectly match hair color—in less than two minutes?

The Holy Grail: In the category of best defining brow pencil (and, trust, I tried everything from Sephora best-sellers to drugstore sell-outs), the winner goes to Burberry Effortless Eyebrow Definer! Surprised? We thought the champion product would come from a company that specializes in brows, too—but the prestige beauty brand, more known for classic fragrances and elegant packaging, has created a product you could easily use every single day.

Application: Listen: My brow-drawing skills are pretty embarrassing for a style editor. I want to spend two minutes max filling those babies in before I jet out the door. The pencil’s retractable triangle tip creates precise lines (if you use the pointy side) and the ability to colour in sparse areas (with the longer edge), while the brush on the other side perfectly diffuses the product out for a more natural look. Done and done.

Consistency: If there are any concerns, it is that some may find the pencil too waxy, maybe even slippery. However, I found this helpful during application because it just glides onto hair without much force. Unlike with products with more grip or texture, it doesn’t pull your hair either. As one reviewer wrote, “This is not a product for your Instagram brow—this is for your grown-up brows.” Natural is the name of the game here. Plus, if you mess up, you can easily wipe product off—in the 45 seconds it takes to set, it finishes more like powder, which does last all day and, even better, it’s buildable. You know, in case you have plans in need of bolder brows.

Colour: First world problems, if you have a colour that lives somewhere in between dark brown and black, so finding that perfect middle hue often proves difficult. Out of Burberry’s five shade offerings, Ash Brown 03 accentuates such colour strands just right. It’s not too dark or too light. The pencil shades are subtle, with an option to go darker if you choose to build on more, making this product almost customizable to any hair colour.

Runner-Ups: Again, if you feel this product may be too waxy, Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift Three-Way Shape, Lift & Shade Eyebrow Pencil is a genius alternative. Not only is the texture a tad tackier (read: no smudges!) but the dual-ended pencil has a third compartment in the middle with a highlighter cushion to provide lift to those arches.

For those looking for a more affordable option, NYX Micro Eyebrow Pencil is also a nifty option. Because the tip itself is so small, you’d think this pencil would only be good for fine-tuning patchy spots, but it glides on so well and the texture is so buildable that you can have natural-looking, fuller brows with a heavier hand and a few more minutes.