The 9 Best Eyebrow Gels In Every Shade, Hold, And Finish

As anyone who overplucked in middle school can tell you, the importance of eyebrows to your overall makeup look can’t be overstated. We love all kinds of brow products, from pencils to pomades, but the best eyebrow gels can help you achieve a groomed, put-together look with just a few strokes. Whether you want a fluffy, laminated look or to fill in sparse areas with a tinted gel, there’s a brow gel formula for you. Below, we share our expert picks, best-sellers worth trying, and advice from New York-based eyebrow expert Joey Healy.

Related article: The 8 Best Eyebrow Tints For Maximum Brow Definition

Best Clear Brow Gel

Pros: Waterproof and sweatproof

I never get more compliments on my brows than when I use this clear gel from Rare Beauty, which has just enough hold and a dense brush that moves hairs precisely where I want them. Use it on its own, or atop the brow pencil of your choice.

Number of shades: 1

Customer Review: “Who needs brow lamination when you got this gel? It’s lightweight but holds brows the way you want them. Love it.” — Amberlee

Best Shade Range

Pros: Has a smaller brush for precise application

Cons: Some reviewers said it needs reapplying throughout the day

Benefit is iconic in the brow game, in part thanks to this tinted brow gel. An impressive range of shades—including red and grey—sets this product apart, and it also provides natural-looking volume thanks to tiny microfibers in a matter of seconds.

Number of shades: 10

Customer Review: “I’ve been using shade 3.5 for the past four years and its been a game changer. Adds color and fullness to my lighter brows and last throughout the day. Highly recommend!” — Tanna

Best For A Laminated Look

Pros: Contains glycerin to hydrate

If you want the appearance of laminated brows without going to the salon, try this brow-wax hybrid from Anastasia Beverly Hills; it gives brows that same feathery look, holding them in place for hours and hours.

Number of shades: 1

Customer Review: “This is hands down the best brow product I have ever used. I have very stubborn brow hairs and this is the only product that actually holds the hair down and gives that laminated effect. It dries down hard so my hairs won’t move which is exactly what I was looking for. It also doesn’t flake which is a plus!” — Bre

Best For A Natural Look

Pros: Contains conditioning oleic acid and collagen

Cons: Some reviewers said the product dried up too quickly

Boy Brow first launched during peak Cara Delevingne-brow years, kickstarting a major obsession (and waitlist). Nearly a decade later, it’s still a must-have as it softly sets hair, deposits color, and adds volume without looking flaky or stiff.

Number of shades: 7

Customer Review: “Love this stuff! I’m on my third bottle. I’ve tried lots of different brow products and this is the best. The color is a good match, it doesn’t flake and it keeps my very unruly brows in place all day. It’s also not goopy.” —HubbleHound

Related article: Exactly What You Need To Know About Eyebrow Threading

Expert Pick

Pros: Flexible hold

Healy recommends this clear gel from his own line, “because of what it doesn’t do versus what it does do: It doesn’t get crispy, crunchy, flaky, doesn’t dry with residue or shiny.”

Number of shades: 1

Customer Review :“This brow gel works great! It kept my brows in place all day. I love that it’s clear and lightweight not leaving my brows crunchy or hard. The applicator brush is perfect and doesn’t apply too much product or feel too wet. Highly recommended.” — Tracybeth

Best Drugstore Brow Gel

Pros: Has a dual-ended wand for easy grooming

Cons: Some reviewers said it feels sticky

E.l.f. has, once again, come through with a great product for less than $20—in this case, a clear brow gel that’s great for a fluffy brow, and retains hold all day long. Plus, we love the option of three different combs to help tame any and all brow hairs.

Number of shades: 1

Customer Review: “ELF has always had great products and I am liking this brow laminating gel! Sometimes my eyebrows get a little crazy and this gel helps very well. It goes on easily and dries fast. Doesn’t irritate and is easy to remove.” — Mallory

Best Sheer Brow Gel

Pros: Has conditioning ingredients

Cons: Limited shade range

A lot of brow products are heavier on pigment, but this sheer gel imparts just a whisper of color for an easy, natural look. Those with naturally fuller brows will also like the ball-like brush, which gets to all the hairs at once.

Number of shades: 4

Customer Review:

“I LOVE this product. I like the gel consistency as opposed to a more traditional pomade/cream type product. I think this is a great product if you have naturally thick/dense eye brows, as it provides very minimal color and does help brows to keep their shape (which i like).” — MadisonJoy20

Best For Brow Growth

Pros: Soft, airbrushed appearance

Cons: Some reviewers said they found the texture thick

This cult-fave product has a great shade range and natural finish somewhere between a cream and a gel. Even better, it’s also boosted with panthenol, castor oil, and biotinoyl tripeptide-1 to help support brow hair growth.

Number of shades: 10

Customer Review: “I’ve used this probably for a year now and I love it! The color is great, it makes my brows look thicker, holds everything in place for the whole day, and it doesn’t peel or anything!” — mackenzie555

Related article: The 11 Best Eyebrow Growth Serums That Really Work

Best Gel And Marker Combo

Pros: Great for travel

Cons: Marker takes advanced skills to perfect and pigment could be stronger

“I’ve been testing these for months and love how natural the finish is,” says BAZAAR US’ beauty director Jenna Rosenstein. “The marker end makes sheer, hair-like strokes that take a little practice, while the clear brow gel on the other end sets each hair into place without feeling crunchy or flaky. I keep one in my travel makeup bag since it’s essentially two products in one.”

Number of shades: 6

Customer Review: “Great pigmentation and easy to use on the Brows. Blendable product as well makes the job easier and leaves brows looking natural & more realistic. Perfect for everyday wear.” — Dama222

What Does Eyebrow Gel Do?

It depends on which product you’re using, says Healy. “Clear brow gel will hold brows into place, style them, and help direct them to make them look more fringy or fluffy,” says the pro. “If your brows are a little wild and you want them to look neater and put together, a clear brow gel will help as it is used for styling.”

Tinted gels, as you might assume, also lend color to the brow, which can make them look fuller. “It gives you styling capability, but it also helps fill in the brow, add color (which adds volume and density to the brow), and can camouflage white, gray, and blonde hairs by actually changing the color of the individual hairs,” explains Healy.

How Do You Apply Brow Gel?

This will depend on the final look you’re going for, but here’s a good starting point: “Following the direction of the natural brow is a great way to go,” advises Healy. “This means going vertical in the front for the first quarter of the brow closest to the nose, then a 45-degree angle while pinching the tails together so the hairs can overlap. This is great when you have your brows first done, and they are well-trimmed and styled. “

Brow gel can also be used for grooming in between salon appointments. “Between professional shapings, the brows get wiry and long, so you want to tuck them in more by using the tip of the point to tuck those brows in,” says the expert.

Meet The Expert

Joey Healy is a New York-based eyebrow expert and owner of Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio and founder of Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection.

This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.