The ELF Ultra Precise Brow Pencil is my top pick for an affordable brow pencil. At just $6, it’s one of the few automatic brow pencils left under $10, which means no sharpening required! It’s super accessible and available at nearly any retailer. Personally, I prefer twist-up, thin pencils—not because I want to mimic brow hairs, but because thinner pencils tend to have a firmer formula and less waxiness. This makes them less prone to smudging or transferring. While I’ve tried ELF’s Instant Lift Brow Pencil, which is only $3, it’s slightly thicker than the Ultra Precise Brow Pencil, so I always find myself reaching for the latter.

What really sets the Ultra Precise Brow Pencil apart is the shade range. It’s one of the few drugstore options with a true neutral brown, which can be tough to find at this price point. The four available shades—taupe, brunette, cool brown, and neutral brown—cover the basics, but I do wish they’d expand the range a bit more. Still, for $6, it’s hard to beat.

When it comes to drugstore brow products, NYX is another brand that nails it. They offer just about every brow product imaginable, with a wide variety of shades. Most of their products are over $10, which has me exploring other drugstore brands under $10 to see what can compete. My go-to NYX shade is “espresso,” which strikes the perfect balance—not too warm, not too cool.

Over the past year, I’ve been focusing on project panning my brow products, and it’s been quite the challenge! Here’s a quick rundown of the ones I’ve managed to finish:

• ELF Ultra Precise Brow Pencil in the shade Neutral Brown
• Covergirl Clean Fresh Brow Nano Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Dark Brown
• NYX Micro Brow Pencil in the shade Espresso
• Benefit Fluff Up Brow Wax (Mini)
• Benefit Gimme Brow+ Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (Mini) in the shade 4.5 Medium

Unfortunately, I ended up giving up on a few as well:

• NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in the shade Espresso
• Covergirl Easy Breezy Brow Fill + Define Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Rich Brown

The NYX brow pen just wasn’t a fit for me—I was intrigued by the idea but realized it’s more suited for people looking to create the appearance of individual brow hairs. Since I focus on making my brows look fuller and darker, I prefer traditional pencils. As for the Covergirl pencil, the “Rich Brown” shade had a red undertone that just didn’t work for me. It was too warm-toned for my liking.

I’ve also rediscovered that twistable pencils are my favorite. The last time I used a sharpenable one was way back in high school when I relied on a cheap Wet N’ Wild pencil! 

In the ever-evolving world of brow products, finding the right formula and shade can be a bit of a journey. While ELF’s Ultra Precise Brow Pencil continues to be my top pick for its price, accessibility, and true neutral brown shade, I’ve found that exploring different brands—like NYX and Covergirl—comes with both hits and misses. Ultimately, brow products are highly personal, and what works for one person may not work for another. But through project panning and a little trial and error, I’ve discovered that my go-to favorites tend to be twistable pencils with neutral-toned shades. If you’re in the market for budget-friendly, effective brow products, these are definitely worth a try!