The 7 Best Brow Gels of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

Our top pick for the best eyebrow gel was Glossier Boy Brow for its ease of styling sans residue. Another favorite was Wander Beauty Frame Your Face Precise Brow Gel, which offers a precise brush, impressive hold, and added brow growth benefits via Hinoki essential oil. If you prefer tinted brow gels, Thrive Causemetics Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel applies beautifully and helps to darken the brow hairs over time. As far as setting gels, Benefit Cosmetics 24-HR Brow Setter offers impressive hold and can be worn alone or styled over your filled-in brows.

How We Tested

Over several weeks, beauty editor Jessica Ourisman (who has written for several outlets on the topic of eyebrows) tried on the eyebrow gels featured in this article. She paid special attention to those that were best suited for the on-trend "fluffy" brow aesthetic. Some of them stood out as clear winners, which required a closer look—for instance, comparing two by applying one on each eyebrow to see which outperformed the other. Others looked beautiful upon application, but lost their lifted effect quickly, which was noted. For extra long-lasting and waterproof formulas, Jessica underwent mild workouts to determine how they held up. As for removal, she double-cleansed with a balm or oil, and/or used Orveda Eye Make-Up Remover and Pro-Fortifying Lash Serum for any residual product and made sure to note whether a product caused any brow hair loss.

Other Options We Tested

Uoma Beauty Brow-Fro Blow Out Volumizing Gel Pomade

This is a fantastic brow gel for volume, but the only problem with this tinted gel was that it clumped upon application.

L'Oréal Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Topcoat

This product offers the best hold of all the drugstore eyebrow gels. However, removal was the issue—it pulled out an eyebrow hair—which is a fatal error among brow gels.

Huda Beauty #BombBrows Full 'N Fluffy Volumizing Fiber Gel

This microfiber gel goes on beautifully, leaving a feathered aesthetic in its wake. However, the applicator itself is so thin that it makes application difficult, and the formula itself did not even hold for the duration of the entire makeup application.

What to Look For in a Brow Gel

Clear vs. Tinted

Clear brow gels can be used simply to shape the brow or applied over a brow that has been filled in with a pencil or felt-tip marker. Our tester notes that finding a gel that hardens into place without flaking is especially important. Thus, texture, hold, and residue remain the priorities. "For clear, I like a great hold but it can't be too stiff, sticky, or flaky," says Streicher. 

If, on the other hand, you would like a one-and-done gel, seek out a tinted iteration. "For those looking to add a bit more color to their brows, I always keep Glossier Boy Brow in my makeup bag," says Shaughnessy Otsuji, cosmetic tattoo artist.

Hold

"When it comes to styling brows, I am all about that brushed-up runway brow," says Otsuji. "I typically look for a clear, strong brow gel that lasts all day, like Benefit's 24-HR Brow Setter." The important thing is to find a formula that evenly coats the brow without clumping, and that does not dry into a texture you dislike.

Otsuji also adds a word of warning when it comes to long-hold formulas. "A lot of strong-hold products can harden, crack, and flake throughout the day as our faces move," she says. "I have found the best workaround for this is to simply use a very small amount of brow gel to keep some flexibility to the product." Noting that a thin layer of product dries more evenly across the brows, she recommends that you blot away the excess to avoid too much flaking.

Gel vs. Microfiber

If you are in search of volume or feathery edges, formulas that are infused with microfibers will help you achieve that look. "For tinted brow gels, I like mine with microfibers for added fluff," Streicher says. "These are especially great to use on thin, fine, and light brows. All those tiny microfibers give major volume once they're dispersed up and around all sides of the brow hair." She recommends Kosas Air Brow Tinted Volumizing Gel (above) for this. 

For added volume, Streicher recommends back brushing or backcombing. "Starting at the tail of your brow, and working toward the front, use one hand to hold the brow skin taut, and the other to make short feather strokes," she says. "Push up and into the hair against the growth pattern." She notes that this is the "flip-over-and-shake-it-out" move for your hair, just for your brows.

Removal

The ideal brow product removes gently, without necessitating any excessive rubbing or tugging against the gentle follicles. "I am a big fan of double cleansing," Otsuji notes. "Using an oil or makeup-removing cleanser first will help gently break down any makeup and stronghold brow gels without too much rubbing or irritation." She adds that it's also a good idea to keep your brows moisturized and nourished overnight following your cleansing regimen.

What Is Byrdie Verified?

Did you notice the Byrdie Verified seal of approval at the top of this story? This seal means that our team has researched and tested every product on this list using a unique methodology that’s designed to focus on what our readers really want to know—and to deliver insights that you can’t find anywhere else. Occasionally, beauty brands and PR agencies will send us samples for coverage consideration, but our thoughts and opinions are fully our own. If you visit links within our content, we may receive commissions from your purchases, but we never receive any compensation or consideration for the content of our recommendations. In short, the Byrdie Verified seal stands for product recommendations you can trust.

Why Trust Byrdie

Jessica Ourisman has been a beauty editor since 2016, also covering the fashion, wellness, and lifestyle verticals. She has a passion for covering topics related to the "mind-body-beauty" connection. After receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego, she went on to receive a master's at Columbia University. She has lived and worked in New York and Paris and now resides in Los Angeles.