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Everyone knows about eyebrow pencils for filling in arches and eyebrow serums to help with growth, but eyebrow gels are actually one of the top beauty editor and makeup artist go-to eyebrow products, since they're easy to use and almost foolproof.
So what exactly does eyebrow gel do? The gel formulas contain ingredients like polymers and waxes that help tame and shape brow hairs, plus hold them in place. Brow gels come in both tinted and clear versions; those that are tinted can also help fill in gaps in the arches and add definition. Some eyebrow gels are also infused with tiny synthetic fibers, which can help temporarily make brows look fuller and fill sparse areas. As for the best way to use an eyebrow gel, they often come with an included brow brush or applicator, so experts recommend brushing the gel through arches from the inner corners out for the best shape, repeating if necessary.
But first, find the best eyebrow gel for you from these Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab expert-recommended and shopper top-rated picks, including drugstore buys.
Pros
- Long-lasting color and hold
- Makes brows look fuller
- Large shade range
Cons
From a brand known for their eyebrow innovations, Benefit'stinted brow gel in a wide range of 10 shades (including gray!)is a favorite among several GH BeautyLab experts and editors. "The gel feels light on the eyebrows anddoesn’t stiffen up, so I can move my brows without that pesky glue-like feeling," says GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "The pigments stay throughout the day and italso incorporates fibers, so eyebrows look instantly fuller."
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Pros
- Water-resistant and lasting
- Makes brows look thicker
- Good value
Cons
This Good Housekeeping Seal star from L'Oréal Parisis perfect for creating the look of strong, thick brows that won't budge, thanks to a water-resistant tinted formula. In a consumer test of 100 women, 85% reported their brows looked thicker when using the geland 93% said it wore well for a full day. It comes in five shades with a two-sided applicator brush.
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Pros
- Not tinted
- Bargain price
- Smooths and tames brows
Cons
Maybelline's bargain eyebrow gel comes in both clear and tinted versions, and has over 1,700 five-star ratings on Amazon."This product combs [brows] out and keeps them in place so they look nice without adding any goopy color," a reviewer reported.
Pros
- Long-lasting color
- Shapes and tints brows
Cons
- Limited shades
Brush on this GH Beauty Award-winning Thrive Causemeticstinted brow gel to fake perfectly full arches in seconds — it fills gaps, defines, shapes and sets simultaneously. “I love this: It gives subtle color and helps hold my brow shape,” says GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.
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Pros
- Boost brow fullness
- Believable look
Cons
- Limited shades
- Pricey
To fill in eyebrow gaps or pump up puny arches, look no further than tinted Babe Lash, infused with fibers to add bulk to brow hairs. "This is so good for making my brows look fuller than they are in a way that doesn’t appear fake," says GH Beauty Assistant Katie Berohn.
Pros
- Two-in-one product
- Fills and sets brows
Cons
Top rated on Amazon with over 700 five-star reviews, this two-in-one tintedTres'tique brow groomer has an eyebrow gel on one side and an eyebrow pencil on the other. In four shades, the tool "makes it so easy to create a gorgeous brow that holds all day," a reviewer raved.
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Pros
- Shapes brow hairs
- Natural look
Cons
A cult favorite, Glossier's eyebrow gel is also a GH beauty editor go-to, in four shades plus a clear version. "This is my holy grail brow gel — I like my brows to look shaped but natural and not too filled in, and this does everything I want it to," Berohn notes.
Pros
- Brand says it's made with natural, softening ingredients
- Brush targets small areas
Cons
- Pricey
- Limited shades
Infused with conditioning botanicalingredients like sunflower seed oil, Ilia's tinted eyebrow gel leaves arches plush. "Brow hairs both feel and look soft using this, and I love the smaller brush for targeting bare patches," GH's beauty director says.
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Pros
- Understated, natural look
- Precision tip brush
Cons
In four shades, Charlotte Tilbury's tinted eyebrow gel is ideal for those who don't like to look as if they're wearing brow makeup. "I really like it if I want lighter coverage on my brows," Berohn explains. "It’s a pretty subtle wash of color."
Pros
- Fibers boost brow fullness
- Affordably-priced
Cons
A Walmart best-seller, thisbargain-pricedE.l.f Cosmeticseyebrow gel in four shades contains fibers to add volume to sparse or thin brows. "This is the best thing I have found for thinning eyebrows!" a reviewer exclaimed.
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Pros
- Clear formula
- Shapes and sets brows
- Long-lasting hold
Cons
- Pricey
Top-rated on Sephora, celebrity makeup artistPatrick Ta's clear eyebrow gel is made to seal or "laminate" brow hairs in place. "Completely holds hairs in place without being crunchy," a reviewer said. "It lasted all day and night even in the hot weather!"
Pros
- Tint helps hide gray hairs
- Tames brows
Cons
- Limited shades
This Dermstore best-seller from Jane Iredale is tinted in three shades to help cover even gray brow hairs. "Adds depth to my brow color and keeps my unruly strands in place," a reviewer reported.
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.