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Look, I'm not going to pretend that I'm a natural when it comes to shaping my eyebrows. Even though I'm a beauty editor who can help you find the best brow pencil of your freaking life, I'm far from a pro when it comes to the actual, uh, application (shout to my extreme laziness! And my shaky hands!). The only thing that makes filling in my brows a biiit easier? Using an eyebrow stencil.
For those of you who aren't familiar, eyebrow stencils are itty-bitty templates that you stick or hold on top of your brows to prevent you from "coloring" outside of the lines of your brows with your powders, pencils, or gels. Basically, they're a total game-changer for folks like me who can't freehand their eyebrows. So if you need a little assistance, do yourself a favor and shop one of the seven best eyebrow stencils, ahead. Promise you won't regret it.
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Wait, do eyebrow stencils really work?
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Sure, eyebrow stencils might sound like something you'd see on a late-night infomercial, but they're actually legit. And even better, they're pretty freaking easy to use (as is evident by this quick YouTube tutorial from LakiaStar). Start off by finding a stencil that matches your aesthetic (do you want something full and defined? Low-key and soft?), lining it up with your natural brows, and gently holding it in place with your thumb and index fingers.
Then, using your free hand, fill in your brows with whatever products you usually use (making sure you don't get anything outside of the stencil), and repeat on the opposite side with the same stencil. When you're all set, remove the stencil and prepare to admire the sh*t out of your work. Easy, right?
K, now what you really came here for—keep reading for the best eyebrow stencils to shop RFN.
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Best Eyebrow Stencils for Beginners
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stencils
This pack of five eyebrow stencils from Anastasia Beverly Hills is a great starting point for first-timers. You get a variety of sizes (think: petite, medium, full arch, etc.) and the thick plastic means you can clean and re-use them as much as you want.Psst: You can even use these bbs to help pluck your brows.
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Gone are the days of sifting through your makeup bag to find your brow pencils and powders—this contour kit has every brow product you could possibly need in one convenient palette. In addition to five eyebrow stencils, it also comes with six brow powders, a highlighter, a cream concealer, setting wax, tweezers, and a brow brush/spoolie. Yeah, consider your brows handled.
Don't feel like dropping a lot of cashon an eyebrow stencil? No prob—this drugstore option from Ardell is just as good as its pricey counterparts. The $4 pack comes with four stencil shapes (delicate, elegant, glamorous, and classic), and the plastic islightweight enough that it won't stick to your skin ormess up your foundation.
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If you have a hard time holding your eyebrow stencil steady, you'll love the genius little handle on this guy. It comes with eight reusable styles and a flexible handle that sits right over your nose (which, IMO, lets you spend more time focusing on the actual shaping of your brows).
And if a bulky handle isn't really your vibe, your next option is this pack of eyebrow stencil stickers.The adhesive is super gentle (so much so that you can peel 'em off and reuse them), but they stay on long enough for practically hands-free application. This kit comes with 36 stickers and a multi-use brow pencil.
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Nope, you aren't imaging it—these eyebrow stencils are literally $2. Whether you use them daily or only once in a blue moon, you can't really go wrong with this affordable kit from Elf, which includes four shapes that are all reusable.
Don't need all the bells and whistles of a contour kit, but still want a little extra something with your eyebrow stencil? Yeah, you need this brow powder and stencil combo, which comes equipped with four stencils, a brow brush, and a universal brown powder. Score.
Ruby Buddemeyer
Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.