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With the right eyebrow products, you can easily manipulate the shape, hair color, and length of your eyebrows. Compared to other tools (like pomades, pencils, and powders), gel formulas are relatively beginner-friendly and set your brows in a few swipes — making these brow products especially perfect for busy mornings or quick five-minute routines.
Eyebrow trends may rise and fall in popularity, but it’s safe to say that brow gels are here to stay. Whether you prefer a “laminated” or a soapy brow look, brow gels give your brows a fluffy yet textured style in seconds. “Lamination is very popular right now because it creates this structure by making the brows stand up,” New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin previously shared Curls. “It’s making a comeback with brow gel because it’s something you can use at home and give you the same effect,” she noted.
Tinted brow gels also work beautifully in conjunction with eyebrow pencils and pencils if you prefer a thick, full brow. But brow gels alone impart a natural look — especially if you reach for a clear gel.
Jared Bailey, Benefit Cosmetics’ in-house brow expert, also previously recommended using a strong brow gel to condition and trim the brows. “Take a clear gel and brush the brow hairs up toward the hairline and outward toward the temple,” he instructed. “Let the gel dry completely, then just snip off the ends that stick out too far past the shape you want.” And just like that, you never chop off too much or too little.
But how do you separate the “good” brow gels from the “just about”? New York-based makeup artist Tobi Henney narrates Curls that “the best brow gels keep the hairs separated and [looking] natural”—and they definitely won’t dry out to a hard, lumpy consistency. (No thanks.) As for choosing the perfect shade, experts have recommended going a shade or two lighter than your hair if you’re brunette or try taupe if you’re blonde — but it really comes down to personal preference Henney, for example, has blonde ends that she prefers to darken to a brunette hue.
Whatever eyebrow color you choose, remember that less is more. “Always remove some of the product before applying it,” suggests Henney. “You don’t need a lot of product on the spoolie to finish the brow,” so don’t be fooled if these little tubes don’t look like they have enough product in them—because they’ll last you quite a while.
Read on for the best eyebrow gels on the market, approved by makeup artists and beauty editors — available at your favorite retailers like Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta — that create feathery, flake-free brows and keep your brow hairs shape and hold for hours.