Best eyebrow gel 2024: Create perfect arches every time from £6
Shape, define and give eyebrows some oomph with the best eyebrow gels
From pencils to pomades, there are too many eyebrow products on the market to count – but if you’re going to buy one, make sure it’s the best eyebrow gel. If you ask us, there’s no better product to transform your eyebrows and give them unmatched dimension and shape that lasts all day.
Whether it’s a clear formula that’s used simply to set unruly hairs in place or a tinted product to give your brows a deeper, bolder colour, eyebrow gels are among the most versatile and easy-to-use makeup products around.
We’ve put the best through their paces, assessing everything from ease of application and removal to how well they style brows, keep hairs in place, their depth of colour and whether or not they’re smudge-proof. So before we reveal our pick of the best brow gels available right now, read our guide on how you should go about choosing the right product for you.
Best eyebrow gels: At a glance
| Best eyebrow gel for volume | Huda Beauty #BOMBBROWS Full ‘N Fluffy Fiber Gel (~£14) | Check price at Sephora |
| Best eyebrow gel for laminated brows | NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue (~£6) | Check price at LookFantastic |
| Best thickening eyebrow gel | Eyeko Fluffy Brow (~£18) | Check price at Eyeko |
| Best budget eyebrow gel | e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel (~£6) | Check price at Sephora |
| Best for fluffy brows | West Barn Co Soap Brows Extra Strong (~£6) | Check price at West Barn Co |
How to choose the best eyebrow gel for you
What does an eyebrow gel do?
While formulas might vary, brow gel is essentially like a mascara for your eyebrows. A clear brow gel is designed to define and keep hairs in place, without changing the colour or shape. These are perfect for those who have been blessed with naturally full, dark brows, or if you want to set brows that have been filled in with pencil. Other formulas might be tinted or contain hair-like microfibres, the latter helping to build your brows in a natural-looking way.
In most cases, any tinted brow gel worth its salt will make brows look fuller with just a single coat. The best products also contain conditioning and growth-boosting ingredients such as peptides and vitamin B5.
How do you apply eyebrow gel?
When applying any brow product, the key is to start by grooming what mother nature gave you. Most brow gels will come with a mascara-like wand for easy application, but you might first want to give them a brush with a dry spoolie to achieve the look you want and pluck any strays. Then, according to makeup artist Georgie Murtagh, the best way to apply the gel is to desaturate the brush of extra product and brush it in the opposite direction of the hair growth. “This will coat the hairs in the product effectively,” she says.
“Then brush the brows in the direction of hair growth – I like to brush upwards to give a fuller effect – and once you have the shape you want, lightly press down on the hairs using your fingers to flatten them, so they stay in place.”
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How much should I spend?
While most brow gels sit within the £10 to £20 price bracket, you’ll find plenty of budget-friendly options on the high street that do just as good a job as their more expensive counterparts – it all depends on what you’re looking for. Basic, transparent gels tend to be more affordable than those that contain brow-enhancing microfibres and conditioning ingredients, although that isn’t always the case. Despite there being a huge number of pricier cult products out there, this is one makeup purchase you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune on to achieve a well-groomed look.
How we test eyebrow gel
At Expert Reviews, we take great pride in recommending the very best products on the market. To ensure every product we recommend is of the highest quality, including eyebrow gels, we have a thorough testing process.
When testing eyebrow gels we consider the gel’s formula and longevity using all day wear tests. If a formula isn’t quite right, it may melt off the brows throughout the day, flake off, or set too stiffly on your face. The best formulas apply easily and set comfortably so that the hairs stay in place and you can’t feel the gel sitting on the hairs. We always make sure that brow gels are long-lasting and comfortable all day long.
The other thing to consider is the gel’s applicator, if it has one. Some applicators are far too huge, which can make application difficult and messy on people with sparse brows, especially if the formula is on the wet side. Some of this will depend on personal preference – we’re just looking to avoid formulas that are mismatched with their accompanying brushes. We also take note of the shade range – the bigger the shade range, the better.
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The best eyebrow gels you can buy in 2024
1. Huda Beauty Bomb Brows Full N’Fluffy Fiber Gel: The best eyebrow gel for volume
Price when reviewed: £16 | Check price at Sephora
Our tester loved how this gel went on – leaving the finest hair-like fibres in its wake for a truly feathery finish. The spoolie is ultra-thin, which allows for precise, buildable application on even the tiniest of hairs, and the colour is so bold, it instantly gives the appearance of naturally fuller and more dense brows. There was no clumping, smudging, or patchiness, and our tester was happy with how well the gel lasted throughout the day. Note, too, that the formula contains a combination of hair-loving ingredients, including coconut oil, castor oil and vitamin E. And with eight colours to choose from, you’re sure to find a shade that works for you.
Key specs – Formula: Microfibre gel; Colour range: Warm blonde, neutral blonde, caramel blonde, light brown, medium brown, rich brown, black-brown, soft black
2. Glossier Boy Brow: Best eyebrow gel for natural brows
Price when reviewed: £15 | Check price at Glossier
Striking the balance between a brow gel that adds colour and is comfortable, long-lasting and natural-looking is difficult. Luckily, Glossier’s Boy Brow gets it right. When applied, its waxy formula effortlessly adds depth, shape and definition to the brows without making them look unnatural. It also sets quickly without feeling tight or too stiff on the brow hairs. It’s available to buy in five different colours, including a blonde shade that (unlike most blond gels) doesn’t show up with red tones. And, if you want to add more depth, it’s easy to layer on another coat. If you’re on the hunt for a gel that will preserve and enhance your natural brows, definitely consider this one.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Black, Brown, Auburn, Blonde, Clear
3. NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue: The best eyebrow gel for laminated brows
Price when reviewed: £6 | Check price at LookFantastic
For expert-level hold, NYX’s Professional Brow Glue (don’t worry, although it isn’t technically a glue, its hairspray-like grip says otherwise) is what brow lamination dreams are made of. The non-sticky, transparent gel dries quickly – sans residue – and keeps brow hairs styled in place all day long. The small application brush is made up of extra-thin bristles, which allow you to coat each and every strand.
Use with a pen, pencil or powder for filling in sparse areas or adding dimension, but if you’ve had your brows laminated and just want some serious hold, this product is the way to go.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Clear
4. e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel: The best budget eyebrow gel
Price when reviewed: £6 | Check price at Sephora
If you’re looking for a highly affordable microfibre gel, this is, by far, the best option on the high street we’ve found. One common complaint about highly pigmented brow gels is how messy they can be to apply, particularly around the brow line where the colour can smudge and transfer on to the skin. But thanks to the super-precise brush that accompanies this product, application is a breeze.
The Wow Brow Gel can be used as a topcoat over e.l.f.’s brow powders or pencils; however, the buildable colour is so good, our tester found it delivered fuller-looking brows even when used alone, and after just a single coat. Hold, too, is excellent (without being stiff), and there’s a good range of shades to suit a wide range of hair colours and skin tones.
Key specs – Formula: Gel-wax microfibre hybrid; Colour range: Taupe, brunette, brown, deep brown, black
5. Milk Makeup Kush Brow Lamination Gel: Best easy to use eyebrow gel
Price when reviewed: £22 | Check price at Space NK
If you’re something of a beginner when it comes to grooming your brows, Milk Makeup’s Kush Brow Lamination Gel couldn’t be more straightforward to use. To start, the shorter, two-bristle-length brush was one of our favourites to get to grips with: combined with the clear formula, it lifted and groomed brows with ease, creating a laminated aesthetic when worn without colour, but also worked well over pencil for a denser look.
The hold was equally great and left our brows feeling secured without over-drying them or leaving behind any flaky residue. We’re also huge fans of the nourishing ingredients in this formula; hemp-derived cannabis oil and glycerin gently hydrate and soften the hairs as it coats them.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Clear
6. Jones Road The Brow Gel: Best eyebrow gel for definition
Price when reviewed: £23 | Check price at Jones Road
Whether you opt for the clear gel or one of the colour-enhancing shades, The Brow Gel from Jones Road delivers statement brows and excellent hold with minimum effort. Application is super easy and though the product can feel a little thick initially, it’s nothing that scraping the brush of excess product before applying won’t sort out. The spoolie itself is a great tool for defining, sculpting, and creating that much-desired “brushed-up” look.
We tried both the clear and brunette formulas and were pleased with both the colour payoff and the way the clear gel gave extra oomph to brows filled in with pencil.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Dark brunette, brunette, light brunette, ash, blonde, clear
7. Eyeko Fluffy Brow volumising fibre gel: The best thickening eyebrow gel
Price when reviewed: £18 | Check price at Eyeko
If you struggle to get thick looking brows with your average eyebrow gel, then you’ll want a gel with a dense, waxy formula that not only thickens but also fixes existing hairs into place. The Eyeko Fluffy Brow volumising fibre gel performed incredibly well in our tests, making the brows appear thicker and fuller in one swipe. Its small applicator made it really easy to control where the product went, and the gel formula is infused with castor oil and vitamin E to condition and nourish the hairs.
If your brows need even more volume after the first application, the formula is very buildable, giving you complete control over your look. It dries waxy, which means the product doesn’t set hard on the brows and feels lightweight and comfortable all day. For a more defined, precise look, you can finish with the matching Eyeko Micro Brow Pencil. The gel claims to last for 16 hours – while we didn’t set a timer in our tests, it didn’t struggle to hold up for a full day. It’s a fabulous option if you’re happy to invest in a game-changing brow product.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Ash blonde, taupe brown, medium brown, deep brown, black brown
8. Jecca Blac Brow Seal: Best long-lasting brow gel
Price when reviewed: £10 | Check price at Jecca Blac
Sometimes there isn’t enough time to reapply makeup throughout the day, which is where Jecca Blac’s Brow Seal eyebrow gel comes in. Its thick, sticky gel consistency grips onto the hairs and keeps them in your desired shape so that no matter what you’re doing, they won’t budge. Because it’s so goopy, your brows may appear shiny at first, but when it dries down it’s completely translucent and matte. Unlike other brow gels, the applicator isn’t a bristle brush, but rather a fine-toothed comb that is perfect for precision styling. This takes a bit of getting used to, but the finished result is unmatched, both in terms of shape and longevity.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Clear
9. West Barn Co Gel Brows: The best eyebrow gel pot
Price when reviewed: £15 | Check price at West Barn Co
If you want a clear formula that will help you style your brows and maintain their shape, this new, travel-friendly pot of wonder stands head and shoulders above the majority on the market right now. West Barn Co is known for its cult Soap Brows product – a favourite of many a beauty editor – and this is the brand’s latest launch. It glides on beautifully without feeling greasy or sticky, and dries without leaving behind any white residue or flakiness. What’s more, a little goes a long way – our tester barely made a dent in the pot following a couple of weeks of use. It’s water-resistant and holds up well in the heat, too, meaning you can wear it on the beach or by the pool with confidence, knowing your brows won’t budge.
Key specs – Formula: Gel; Colour range: Clear