What product is best for eyebrows?

Photo: Chinea Rodriguez/Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

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I have talked in great detail about my eyebrows. Here’s the tl;dr, though: Mine are pretty sparse but unruly. Since I don’t really tweeze my brows, most of my beauty routine consists of getting them into shape and keeping them that way. I have landed on e.l.f.’s Brow Lift for taming them, but as a dedicated shopping writer, I have tried and tested several brow products over the past few months, and even more in the past few years, in pursuit of a new favorite.

How do I know I’ve landed on the one? The criteria for a good brow product begins with how good it makes my brows look, duh. Are they fuller? Darker? In place? None of the aforementioned matters if, by the end of the day, my brows look messy. Last, I consider how easy it is to use. My everyday beauty routine doesn’t take long, and shaping my brows shouldn’t either.

If you too are in search of the best eyebrow gels out there, here are ten products for color, hold, shape, and otherwise faking fuller brows.

If You Want the Best Hold

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Brow Styling Wax

$19

$23

now 17% off

$19

Pros: Good hold, little to no residue
Cons: Short shelf life

With a light hand and a clean spoolie, you can use this wax to slick your lashes into place and keep them there all day with no residue and no budging at all. The only downside is the short shelf life.

$19

Buy

$23

Buy

If You Want a Dupe

Photo: Chinea Rodriguez/Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

If You Want Fuller Brows

Glossier Boy Brow

$20

$20

Pros: Hybrid formula adds hold, fullness and tint
Cons: Can be messy

The cult-favorite brow product is a gel-wax hybrid that adds hold, color (depending on the shade you choose), and texture. By wiggling this back and forth through your brows, you can get a fuller look, then fill in any sparse areas with the brand’s Brow Flick.

$20

Buy

$20

Buy

If You Want Something Affordable

NYX Professional Makeup Brow Glue Stick

$10

$10

Pros: Good hold, affordable
Cons: Smell

This is the closest you can get to gluing your brows down without actual glue (though I’ll note it does smell like glue). I have had many facials during which my eyebrows didn’t budge at all when I was wearing this.

$10

Buy

$8

Buy

If You Want Brows That Don’t Move

Patrick Ta Major Brow Lamination Gel

$27

$27

Pros: Good hold
Cons: Dries quickly

Like the NYX Brow Glue, this one will keep your brows in place, but it uses a lighter formula. It dries fast, so you have to move quickly. With a little effort, though, you can achieve the coveted laminated-brow look.

$27

Buy

If You Want to Put In a Little Extra Effort

Patrick Ta Major Brow Shaping Wax

$24

$24

Pros: Good hold
Cons: Some residue

Get soap brows without the soap with this product. A light spritz is all you need to activate it, and the extra effort is worth it since the wax keeps your brows in place and lasts a while.

$24

Buy

If You Want Just a Little Hold

If You Want to Fake Tinted Brows

Iconic London Tint and Texture Brow Gel

$13

$26

now 50% off

$13

Pros: Adds color and fullness
Cons: Light hold

This has the tiniest brush to easily apply the tinted gel without getting it all over your brows. It’s easy to build up the color without overdoing it. You won’t get the laminated-brow look, but you can still fake bushier, fuller brows while keeping them in place.

$13

Buy

If You Want Volume

If You Want Something Easy

If You Want Something Very Affordable

essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara

$4

$4

Pros: Affordable
Cons: Light hold

I usually grab this one for quick and easy (but light) hold. It has a big brush, which is usually messy for brow application, but the formula leaves no residue at all so it’s okay to be a little reckless when applying. It provides a super-light hold so if you want that laminated look, you’ll want to skip this. However, if you don’t want to spend more than $10, it’s a good option.

$4

Buy

$4

Buy

If You Want a Natural Hold

If You Want a Multitasker

Got 2b Glued Brow & Edge Gel

$8

$8

Pros: Strong hold
Cons: Some residue

If you’ve tried any of Got 2b’s Glued line on your hair, you know it keeps everything in place. This brow gel is no different. With the dense two-sided brush, applying the product and shaping your brows is easy. One big con of the product is that it does leave some residue as it dries, but with a light hand, it can be avoided. At just under $10, it’s still worth grabbing for the hold alone.

$8

Buy

If You Want Something Lightweight

Kulfi Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel

$26

$26

Pros: Strong hold, no reside
Cons: Brush

Kulfi’s newest launch takes a little more work when it comes to applying, but it’s worth it for the results and lightweight feel. You apply the waxy formula with the wand and then shape it with the brush and comb attachment for laminated brows. I’m not the biggest fan of the comb, but the brush helps sleek and shape your brows pretty easily. I’ve fallen asleep with this on my brows and woke up with them still in place.

$26

Buy

$26

Buy

If You Want to Get Every Hair

Urban Decay Slick Day Strong-Hold Clear Brow Gel

$28

$28

Pros: Strong hold, no residue
Cons: Comb

I’m not the biggest fan of this comb applicator since I find it to be a little harsh on my skin, but overall, it works. The textured side helps to lift and slick your brows down while the comb grabs and shapes every little hair into place.

$28

Buy

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It doesn't matter if your face is graced with thin, sparse arches or the full, bushy brows of Instagram dreams. Chances are an Allure editor probably has a brow shape similar to yours. We've spent hours and hours in front of tiny mirrors plucking our own (occasionally going overboard, we will admit) and sitting in the chairs of experts who thread, wax, and tint our arches. Some of us also can't leave the house without filling in our brows, which means we've tested all of the best brow products on the market.

To share the knowledge gained from all our in-office and real-life experimentation, we've rounded up our favorite, long-lasting products for filling in, thickening, brushing out, and holding our brows in place. Everything is accounted for — powders, gels, pens, pomades, and pencils — plus the most genius tips and tricks we've learned from makeup artists (and each other) along the way on how to use our go-to tools. 

Ready to find your new favorite brow product? Keep scrolling to see our picks from brands like Benefit, Hourglass, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and more.