TL;DR
My absolute favorite brow gel is Benefit’s 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel for its fantastic applicator and firm all-day hold. For sparse brows, Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Brows Tinted Eyebrow Gel gives a perfectly full look while holding your brow shape. Finally, e.l.f’s Brow Lift offers incredible performance at a very budget-friendly price.
I have skinny brows that don’t like to stay in place, so a good eyebrow gel has become an essential part of my everyday makeup routine. “Eyebrow gels can completely transform your look by allowing you to tame and sculpt unruly brows,” says Collin Adams, a beauty expert at Paul Labrecque Salon. With the right product, my brows look fuller and more shaped, and my eyes even appear slightly lifted.
Of course, no two pairs of brows are alike, so it’s important to find the right product for yours, whether thick, thin, wild, or naturally well-shaped. Since I was looking for fullness and long-lasting hold, I kept those attributes in mind as Itested 15 top-reviewed eyebrow gels over nearly six weeks. I evaluated each gel on its performance and overall look. I considered the applicators, how the gel felt throughout the day, and how easy (or difficult) it was to remove at night. These are the ones that stuck with me (literally, in most cases).
Our Top Picks
Best Flexible Hold:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel Flexible Medium-Hold Eyebrow Setter at Sephora$13
Best for Sparse Brows:
Best for Full Brows:
Kulfi Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel at Sephora$26
Best Natural Tint:
Best Budget, Tinted:
Best for Shaping:
Best Lamination Effect:
Hold: Strong | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: No
Throughout testing, I tried many great brow gels, but I just kept coming back to this one. It’s a clear formula with a nice, strong hold but not so stiff that moving your eyebrows causes it to flake or weaken. I was impressed by how well it held my brows in place throughout the day without making them look unnatural.
This gel has a two-sided applicator, one side with longer plastic bristles and shorter bristles on the other, allowing for easy and precise application. The formula is thin enough to layer to get your shape just right. As someone with unruly brows, I love how well this gel performed, but it’s worth noting that you may have to put a little extra effort into removing the product at the end of the day (I suggest using a good cleansing oil).
e.l.f.’s Brow Lift is a cult favorite for its performance and affordable price tag (under $10!). I don’t believe less expensive means a lesser product, but even with that mindset, this gel exceeded my expectations. It delivered a strong, comfortable hold while providing a fluffy, soapy look.
The quality for the price is truly remarkable, but I also appreciate how much product you get (0.31 ounces). That said, unlike the other brow gels I tested, this one doesn’t come with a brush, so be prepared to purchase one if you don’t already have one handy. It is a little tricky to get the right amount of product on the brush at first, but it didn’t take me too long to get the hang of it, and for the price of this product, I’d say it’s worth the effort.
Hold: Strong | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: Yes
After trying this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills, my brows were practically glued in place—but in the best way possible. The large, double-sided wand picks up a good amount of product making it easy to apply the clear gel evenly while simultaneously getting the shape you want.
The formula is somewhat wet upon application, but this allows for plenty of flexibility while you’re shaping your brows and it dries relatively quickly. Once dry, the gel did leave my brows looking thicker and feeling somewhat stiff, but not so stiff that it was uncomfortable. When I went to remove my makeup at the end of the day I noticed some flaking but it was very minor.
Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Even though this gel’s hold level is considered flexible, I still got good hold throughout the day, and my brows looked (and felt) less stiff and more natural (always a plus). The formula goes on wet and takes a little longer to dry than some of the others I tested, but once it fully set, it was super comfortable (even when I wiggled my eyebrows a bunch).
Since this gel isn’t quite as strong as some of the others on this list, I expected my brow shape to fall quite a bit throughout the day. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how good my eyebrows still looked when I went to cleanse my face before bed. I also didn’t experience any smudging or flaking throughout the day. I do wish this gel helped thicken my thin brows so I didn’t have to fill them in with a brow pencil, but otherwise, this product delivered on its promise of a good flexible hold.
Best for Sparse Brows
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel
Hold: Flexible | Shades: Four | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This gel practically transformed my brows with just a few swipes, thanks to its soft brown tint. It not only held my shape in place throughout the day, but the tint also filled in the sparse areas of my brows to give them serious fullness. Additionally, since the formula isn’t super thick and the applicator is so small/delicate, the gel can be built up to achieve just the right shape and fill.
The gel is available in four shades and is formulated with emollients, elasticizing wax, and vitamin E to give the brows flexibility, moisture, and shine. It gave my brows a nice, flexible hold and kept them looking natural, even with the tint. I love the water-resistant formula because I could wear the gel in the heat without worrying about it smudging or running. I only wish it was available in a larger size.
Best for Full Brows
Kulfi Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel
Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While I don’t have fuller brows I can totally see how this one puts them in their place. It offers a lasting, flexible hold that’s still firm enough to keep your shape throughout the day. But what really makes this product stand out for fuller brows is its three-in-one brush that helps sculpt brows without the risk of layering on too much product.
The brush has a standard spoolie end that twists in and out of the tube for applying the product directly to the brows. But unlike many gels, you don’t have to rely on this brush for shaping. On the opposite end is a shaping tool with a comb on one side and a brush with long bristles on the other. The comb helps shape the ends of the brow—and remove excess product as needed—and the brush lays brow hairs in place to help set them. I noticed the tool getting a little gunky during testing, so be sure to regularly clean the comb and brush to avoid product buildup over time.
Hold: Flexible | Shades: four | Cruelty-Free: Yes
With this brow gel, I barely had to fill in any sparse areas with my eyebrow pencil thanks to the lovely tint. It’s formulated with kaolin clay and mineral pigments to deliver a buildable tint and offers a flexible hold that helps keep brows shaped without freezing them in place. I didn’t need a lot of product to get the shape and fill I wanted, and once the gel fully dried my brows looked super natural.
This gel is available in three shades, all of which give brows an extra boost of volume. My brow shape held up well throughout the day and I didn’t experience any smudging, running, or flaking. I really love the overall look this one gave me, but the brush does pick up a good amount of product, so be sure to apply it conservatively to get the natural look.
Hold: Flexible | Shades: five | Cruelty-Free: Yes
NYX is a fantastic drugstore brand, and The Brow Glue does not disappoint. I was impressed by the look this tinted gel gave my brows, and the affordable price tag was the cherry on top. It performed just as well (and even better, in some areas) as some of the higher-end gels I tested, leaving my brows with a great amount of volume and fullness.
This one’s available in four shades, plus a clear option. I liked how much color the tint gave my eyebrows without making them look overdone, which I partially credit to the small applicator brush that allows for precise application. I was particularly surprised by how well the color stayed throughout the day. That said, despite this product being labeled a “glue,” it offers a more flexible hold and I did notice that my brow shape fell a bit within a few hours of application.
Best for Shaping
Live Tinted Huebrew Clear Setting Eyebrow Gel
Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This wand gave me the best shape with the least amount of effort. The brush is plastic and double-sided, with longer bristles on one side and shorter bristles on the other. It separates brow hairs well, making it easy to get them in just the right place for the shape I wanted.
Additionally, the brush picks up just a little bit of product at once, reducing the risk of overapply applying gel. The formula also layers well, so if the brush doesn’t pick up enough product the first time around you can add a little more to get more shape and hold. Once the gel has fully dried, try to avoid touching your face throughout the day—rubbing your brows could cause the formula to flake.
Best Lamination Effect
Refy Brow Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel
Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear | Cruelty-Free: Yes
I love the big, full, laminated look I was able to achieve with this brow gel. Not only did it deliver this specific style, but it also provided a strong enough hold to keep the style in place throughout the day without making my brows feel stiff or uncomfortable. Despite how thin and sparse my eyebrows are, with this clear gel still managed to make them look fluffy enough that I didn’t even have to fill in any sparse spots with an eyebrow pencil.
The wax-gel hybrid formula helped me achieve the laminated look along with the three-in-one brush with an applicator on one end and a fine comb and brush with longer bristles on the other. The multitool brush helped me get just the right shape, and the strong gel formula held that shape in place all day—including a workout. This product delivers a specific look, though, so it’s not the best option for someone looking for a more natural, flexible hold.
What to Look for When Buying Brow Gel
- Applicator: There are a variety of applicator styles, each one producing a slightly different effect. When shopping for brow gels, consider your natural brows (are they arched well already, or are they more unruly?) and the look you want to achieve. A product with different-sized/shaped brushes, for example, can help you achieve a multitude of styles.
- Shade: Many eyebrow gel formulas are clear, but numerous others offer tints to help your brows look fuller and more filled in. If you opt for a tint, consider what shade will work best with your complexion. “I normally pick a shade darker than my natural hair color to add depth to my look,” notes Adams.
- Ingredients: As with all makeup products, you should always check the ingredients list to ensure it does not contain anything you have sensitivities to. Additionally, Adams recommends looking for ingredients that are “clean and safe for use near the eye contour.” He also suggests eyebrow products that are waterproof and smudge-proof.
How We Tested Brow Gels
We believe in using the products we recommend just like you would—which is why make it a priority totest productsin real-life settings.
- Eyebrow Gels Tested:15
- Testing Period:Six weeks
- Methodology:Brow gels were tested at home and worn for a full day's worth.
- Factors Considered:Texture, consistency, how easily and precisely it applied, its performance throughout the day, overall look, and removal process.
FAQ
What’s the best way to remove eyebrow gel at the end of the day?
You can remove eyebrow gel using a typical makeup remover followed by a face wash. For best results, Adams says, “I like to use a good pre-cleansing oil or cleansing balm so that my skin doesn’t get stripped of its hydration when removing makeup.”
What’s the difference between a brow gel and brow pencil?
Eyebrow pencils and brow gels achieve different results (though they can work together to achieve a desired look). Brow gels help hold eyebrows in place, while eyebrow pencils help fill in sparse areas using hairlike strokes to give the appearance of fuller brows.
Meet Our Expert
For this story we tapped expert brow artists to better understand everything brows.
- Collin Adams is a beauty expert at Paul Labrecque Salon in Palm Beach, Florida.
Why Trust Byrdie
Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle writer specializing in beauty and fashion product recommendations. She has written for several publications over the years, including Byrdie. She also tests products and services so she can stand behind her recommendations. She is always on the lookout for high-quality brow gels, especially if they can breathe life into her thin, unruly eyebrows.
According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough color correctors for dark circles from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.