Our Honest Thoughts On The New Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil

THE TOP LINE ON GLOSSIER'S BOY BROW ARCH POMADE PENCIL

• Sculpted with an ultra-fine tip to perfect fine, hair-like strokes

• Combines the precision of a pencil with the hold of a pomade

• Enriched with coconut oil and hyaluronic acid to nourish and condition brows

• Botanical clay complex ensures water-resistant wear and impactful colour

What are the Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil shades?

Similar to the brow gel, the Boy Brow Arch Pomade Pencil is formulated in nine inclusive and versatile shades, from cool blonde to grey and inky-black noir. Today our team is reviewing six shades, including Warm Blonde, Cool Blonde, Warm Brown, Warm Dark Brown and Cool Dark Brown.

Sophia’s Boy Brow Arch Pencil review

• Shade reviewed: Cool Blonde

• Skin tone: Pale with subtle cool undertones

I’m guilty of over-plucking in the past, and, as expected, my eyebrows now suffer from sparseness and unshapely angles. So, the ultra-fine tip of this pencil appeared to be just the antidote my brows needed. With the buttery texture of a pomade, this pencil moved seamlessly over my brows to add detail, definition and depth.

However, while it was good for filling in, it didn’t give the ‘feathery’ appearance some more traditional eyebrow pencils do – even when I attempted to sharpen this pencil on the colour-coated shaping edge attached to the lid. 

A real plus was the broad and inclusive shade range this pencil comes in that encompass all ages, skin tones and hair colours. Cool blonde complemented my complexion perfectly and as promised, the rich pigment gripped my eyebrow hairs and remained in place all day for a water-resistant, smudge-proof hold. I will definitely be introducing this pencil into my current beauty rotation.

Hanitra's Boy Brow Arch Pencil review

• Shade reviewed: Cool Dark Brown

• Skin tone: Medium-Tan

The Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil certainly has the unique texture of the pomade; I could tell it felt more gripping than an ordinary brow pencil, but without the expected heaviness of a gel. It's undoubtedly the most precise pencil I’ve used, the slender tip is perfect for shading sparse spots and imitating ultra-fine, hair-like strokes.

I was also impressed by the product's staying power. This Glossier pencil delivered rich, smudge-proof pigment that lasted against harsh daily aggressors (over-crowded commutes, air-conditioned offices, rain). However, it’s worth noting I did finish with my Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel on top to tame, sculpt and set my fairly thick eyebrows. 

One downside is that it takes time to perfect the application. The tiny and slender tip means it requires much longer to perfect a thick and fuller-looking brow. That said, the conditioning benefits of this formula are top-tier and allow for a smooth application that glides effortlessly over my brows without tugging.

I think The Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil is perfect for anyone who struggles with sparseness or controlling the application of a pomade. But for me, the minuscule point of this pencil was just a little too time-consuming for daily use.

Charlotte's Boy Brow Arch Pencil review

• Shade reviewed: Warm Dark Brown

• Skin tone: Light with neutral undertones

There’s very much a fine line between defining your eyebrows and drawing them on, so the unique, two-in-one formula of The Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil really piqued my interest. First of all, I loved the slanted tip of this pencil – the narrow, extra-precise point works wonders at re-creating hair-like strokes, while the angled, flat edge is excellent for lining and dictating the shape of your eyebrows.

The accompanying spoolie is a lovely addition too, neatly dispersing any product clumps and softening the harsh lines of my eyebrows. 

It’s a constant battle to tame and sculpt the unruly strands of my brows, so I paired this product with the matching Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel to groom them into shape and ensure extra longevity during the day. Unlike other stiff, glue-like formulations I've tried, this eyebrow pencil had a featherlight feel and didn’t weigh my brows down.

I'm already a huge admirer of Glossier’s fuss-free and skin-first approach to beauty, but The Boy Brow Arch pencil has crystallised my love for the label. Whether it’s lifting, carving or shading my eyebrows, this little magic wand is a makeup must-have and will be treasured by me in the future.

Stephanie's Boy Brow Arch Pencil review

• Shade reviewed: Warm Brown

• Skin tone: Pale with pink undertones

When I first tested the Boy Brow Arch pencil, I was quite critical of its creamy pomade texture as I felt it wasn’t as precise as promised and actually created quite a heavy, almost blocky brow. However, after multiple uses, this beauty gem really changed my mind. Its smooth, impactful colour is both buildable and easy to blend, so you can shade natural, whisper-thin flicks or full-bodied brows with minimal fuss. The spoolie is a great addition for carefully carving the arches of my brows, too!

I wasn’t convinced this pencil would keep my eyebrows full and fixed, so I added a coat of clear gel to regain control of my unruly strands and hold them in place. With such intense and creamy pigment, it’s worth mentioning you only need a very light hand to define and add depth with accuracy.

With the Boy Brow Arch pencil, Glossier really bottled the beauty secrets to creating the perfect brow. Whether I’m shading, feathering or sculpting my brows, I’ll definitely be adding this product to my beauty bag. 

April's Boy Brow Arch Pencil review

• Shade reviewed: Warm Blonde

• Skin tone: Pale with neutral undertones

The Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil glided effortlessly across my eyebrows. With other brow pencils, you have to push quite hard for any colour to even appear, but I didn’t need much product at all to achieve a full and fluffy brow. I have quite thin eyebrows, so the pincer-sharp point of this pencil was great for defining and enhancing each individual hair. 

I applied this product at 6:15am, headed into the chaos of my London commute, returned home at 7:30pm, and the product had not budged at all. I did apply a light layer of my Boy Brow Eyebrow gel over the top to lock-in the colour, but that’s an impressive total of over ten hours!  

My only complaint is the formula of this pomade-pencil hybrid. Although the silky-soft texture of this pencil distributed the product with ease across my brows, it actually crumbled without much pressure at all – so I would definitely question the longevity of this product. However, if you have very slim, softly-arched eyebrows like me, this could be your new beauty bestie. 

Can I use my Boy Brow Eyebrow gel with my Boy Brow Arch Pencil?

The Glossier Boy Brow Eyebrow gel is formulated in a very similar selection of shades as Boy Brow Arch Pomade Pencil, so the two are a perfect pairing! Both Hanitra, Charlotte and April followed up with the eyebrow gel to guarantee maximum hold and sculpt the shape of their eyebrows.

The Verdict on Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil

We know the proverb by now, “eyebrows are sisters, not twins,” but that doesn't stop us from striving to get our arches as precise as possible. And if we’re talking precision, the Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pomade Pencil is a superstar product to add to your beauty routine. The slanted point of this pencil allows for ultimate accuracy when filling gaps or enhancing your natural eyebrow hairs. All reviewers enjoyed the rich, velvety pigment that gripped and defined each individual strand – when paired with the Boy Brow Gel, it’s a match made in makeup heaven! 

The Pros: Combining the control of a pencil with the grip of a pomade, the Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil enhances hairs with silky-smooth, rich colour that withstands rain, wind and other aggressors while delivering comfortable, all-day wear. Enriched with coconut moisturiser, the team were also impressed by the product’s nourishing properties and lightweight feel.

The Cons: The custom, dual-ended tip may be one of the prime selling points of this pencil, but many Space NK team members found the ultra-fine nib quite arduous in achieving a fuller, bolder brow. With such a buttery and smooth texture, there were also some concerns this mechanical pencil may run out quickly or even snap.

More on Glossier

Glossier has gained a cult-following with its no-makeup makeup products, with star products like Glossier Futuredew Facial Oil-Serum Hybrid, £30.00 or the Glossier Stretch Concealer, £22.00. The brand also has people raving about Glossier You Eau de Parfum, £32.00, a unique skin-scent enhancer that smells different on everyone thanks to the base notes that adapt to your skin. For a kiss of rosy colour, why not try the label’s dew-delivering Glossier Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush, £22.00?