There are a myriad of ways to groom your brows—from ’90s-inspired thin arches to thick fluffy versions. Whether paired with other products or used alone, the best brow gels are designed to shape and hold your eyebrows in place without smudging or flaking through the day. It only takes a few swipes to add polish and definition using one of our top picks like the Make Infinite Hold gel or Glossier Boy Brow.
The best brow gels work to help you set and style your arches easily.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
When shopping for brow gels, you want to consider the formula, how well it holds, applicator type and shades. While some versions only come in clear, others also offer tinted gels to match and thicken brow hairs. We’ve tested many options and consulted deputy editor Jane Sung as well as eyebrow specialists to narrow down our favorites. Read on for the best brow gels, according to experts.
A Long-Lasting Formula With A Handy Dual-Sided Brush
MOST POPULAR
MAKE Beauty
Make Infinite Hold Sculpting Brow Gel
Shades: 2 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Strong
What makes this Make brow gel special is its dual-sided brush that makes application a breeze. One side of the brush features short bristles (to deposit product and add volume) while the other has longer ones (to tame, feather and lift brows). Equally noteworthy, the formula is infused with advanced polymers for a strong hold to give you a sculpted look that lasts all day without a flake in sight. Choose between the clear or cool brown shade.
Best Drugstore Brow Gel
A Lightweight Option For Feathered Brows
Amazon
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Brow Enhancer
Shades: 1 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
The first time I used this CoverGirl gel, I was happily surprised by how fluffy my brows looked after a few swipes. The cone-shaped brush allows you to reach every corner and the clear gel wax gives good hold that’s not crunchy or sticky. It’s also sweat-proof and made with nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin B5.
Best Luxury Brow Gel
A Solid Pick For Thicker Brows Over Time
Amazon
Grande Cosmetics 2-In-1 Tinted Brow Gel And Serum
Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
This product does double duty: Not only is it a brow gel but it’s also an enhancing serum that helps thicken hair with consistent use. It features castor oil (to moisturize) and beet root extract (to support hair health). When using this product, I save time by skipping the step of using a brow pencil since it’s pretty pigmented and comes in four buildable shades.
Best Brow Gel For Fine Hair
A Unique Brush To Create A Laminated Look
Ulta Beauty
MAC Pro Locked Brow Gel
Shades: 1 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
This small but mighty wand makes it easy to set fine hairs into place. One side of the brush has a mix of short and long bristles so you can smooth and groom your brows, while the other has a flat back so you can set it for a laminated look if that’s your style. Plus, the sweat- and humidity-resistant clear formula doesn’t cake or flake; it’s designed to last up to 12 hours.
Best Brow Gel For Thick Hair
A Sculpting Product That Leaves Your Brows Silky Smooth
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix
Shades: 1 | Finish: Shine | Hold: Flexible
Although my brow hairs are thick, I have quite a few sparse spots. I rely on this clear formula by Charlotte Tilbury, which I often pair with a brow pencil, to camouflage the gaps. The full brush easily catches onto each hair, giving my eyebrows a noticeable lift. Made with silk proteins, it helps to condition hairs, leaving them looking and feeling silky smooth. There’s no flakiness or crunchiness here—just a flexible hold that’s designed to last up to 24 hours.
Best Flexible Hold Brow Gel
A Versatile Brow Gel That’s Also A Great Value
Amazon
Arches & Halos Natural Hold Brow Gel
Shades: 1 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
Since the brush of this Arches & Halos brow gel is so narrow, it really gives you the freedom to style your brows however you want. If you’re aiming for a thin brow look, brush your hairs straight across instead of brushing them up, and vice versa for a fluffier-looking style. The clear vegan formula feels ultra-flexible yet holds brows in place from morning until night. For $10, this also earns a spot as the best value pick on the list.
Best Waterproof Brow Gel
A Semi-Permanent Option That Lasts For Days
Amazon
Wunderbrow Waterproof Eyebrow Gel
Shades: 6 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
Like a temporary tattoo, this Wunderbrow formula can last for days. The application takes less than two minutes and comes off when you decide to remove it using a waterproof cleanser. Just note that a little goes a long way, so it helps to start slow and add more if you want. I only needed to use a bit of product on the brush to fill in those sparse spots. The spoolie helped distribute the formula and make my brows look more natural.
Best Brow Gel Shade Range
A Flexible Formula That Creates A Feathery Look
Amazon
Kosas Air Brow Tinted Gel
Shades: 10 | Finish: Soft matte | Hold: Flexible
This mousse-like formula comes in ten shades, the most options of all the brow gels on this list. To make it easier to match up to the right one, the brand’s site shows each shade on people with a variety of hair and skin tones. Brow specialist Robin Evans especially loves this pick for its feather-light hold. Brush it on for fluffy, volumized brows created using hair-like strokes.
Best Thickening Brow Gel
A Brow Product That's Inspired By Mustache Pomade
Sephora
Glossier Boy Brow
Shades: 7 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Flexible
A roundup of the best brow gels would not be complete without the cult-favorite Glossier Boy Brow. Inspired by the texture of mustache pomade, this creamy formula thickens and shapes brows quickly and easily. Whether you have thin or thick hair to begin with, this product will help give them a fuller look with a subtle tint. Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, which boosts hydration, softness and flexibility.
Best Volumizing Brow Gel
A Buildable Tinted Option For Fuller-Looking Brows
Amazon
Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Gel
Shades: 6 | Finish: Natural | Hold: Soft and flexible
Look no further than this Hourglass option if you’re aiming to turn up the volume on your brows. Evans recommends this pick for its microfibers that help to build length for the ultimate feathered look. If you look closely, you’ll see that one side of the brush features short bristles and the other side has long bristles, so you can easily apply the product in varying levels of intensity. Use short, upward strokes to build the illusion of more volume.
Wendy Sy is the author of this article and a contributor with more than a decade of experience covering lifestyle and beauty topics. She has personally tested many of the brow gels featured here.
Deputy editor Jane Sung assigned and edited this article, and approved all product selections. She oversees the beauty and grooming category and has more than 15 years of experience as a lifestyle journalist.
Sy also gathered key insights and top picks from brow experts Joey Healy and Robin Evans.
How We Chose The Best Brow Gels
To choose the best brow gels, we put together a list of our tried-and-true products from top retailers and brands, including Make, Grande Cosmetics, Glossier and more.
We carefully evaluated each product’s formula, features, shade options and ingredients, prioritizing versions that shape and nourish brows without leaving hairs flaky or crunchy.
We also tapped brow experts who shared insight on the category as well as their favorite brow gels based on their own experience.
Our final list includes an inclusive roundup of different textures, shades and finishes in a variety of price points for various budgets.
What To Consider In A Brow Gel
To choose the best brow gel to fit your needs, consider the formula type, hold, applicator and color options.
Formula
Evans recommends going for products that are fragrance-free, as they can be gentler and help prevent damage and dry-out. Healy says, “You want to make sure that it doesn’t get crispy, crunchy or leave a weird residue, and that it really feels like it’s balanced with the finish.” As for ingredients, I’ve found that my brows felt more hydrated after using brow gels with hyaluronic acid, such as ones from CoverGirl and Glossier.
Hold
From barely-there gels to heavy wax, there’s a wide range of hold levels for brow gels. It’s all a matter of preference on the style you’re looking to achieve—whether you want your brows to feel and look natural, how long-lasting you want the hold and pigment to be and more. In our list, we included different options and noted their various levels of hold.
Applicator
The applicator that works best on your brows is also a matter of preference and can depend on whether it’s a clear or tinted formula. For products that are clear, a big fluffy brush can make it easy to apply and you don’t need to worry about being as precise. Healy recommends a finer applicator for products that have color, as it can help you have more control. “If you love to do little sprouts in the front, look for a mascara wand applicator that comes to somewhat of a point so you can flick those hairs up in the front,” says Healy.
Color
If you like your brows to look natural, use a tinted brow gel that is as close to your hair color as possible or one shade lighter. Alternatively, you can fill them in lightly with a brow pencil then use a clear gel. If you have white or grays coming in and are looking to disguise them, Healy recommends a tinted brow gel that matches the main part of your brow. You can also think of brow gels as a temporary way to change up your look with color. For example, if you have soft blonde brows, you can use a dark brown brow gel for a bolder style.
