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I have talked in great detail about my eyebrows. Here’s the tl;dr, though: Mine are pretty sparse but unruly. Since I don’t really tweeze my brows, most of my beauty routine consists of getting them into shape and keeping them that way. I have landed on e.l.f.’s Brow Lift for taming them, but as a dedicated shopping writer, I have tried and tested several brow products over the past few months, and even more in the past few years, in pursuit of a new favorite.
How do I know I’ve landed on the one? The criteria for a good brow product begins with how good it makes my brows look, duh. Are they fuller? Darker? In place? None of the aforementioned matters if, by the end of the day, my brows look messy. Last, I consider how easy it is to use. My everyday beauty routine doesn’t take long, and shaping my brows shouldn’t either.
If you too are in search of the best eyebrow gels out there, here are ten products for color, hold, shape, and otherwise faking fuller brows.
If You Want the Best Hold
Pros: Good hold, little to no residue
Cons: Short shelf life
With a light hand and a clean spoolie, you can use this wax to slick your lashes into place and keep them there all day with no residue and no budging at all. The only downside is the short shelf life.
If You Want a Dupe
Pros: Affordable, good hold
Cons: Texture, some residue
My holy-grail brow product and a confirmed dupe for the aforementioned brow wax. This under-$10 product laminates my brows and keeps them still. The texture is thicker than Freeze Brow’s, but it feels fine as long as you start with a little product and build up from there.
If You Want Fuller Brows
Pros: Hybrid formula adds hold, fullness and tint
Cons: Can be messy
The cult-favorite brow product is a gel-wax hybrid that adds hold, color (depending on the shade you choose), and texture. By wiggling this back and forth through your brows, you can get a fuller look, then fill in any sparse areas with the brand’s Brow Flick.
If You Want Something Affordable
Pros: Good hold, affordable
Cons: Smell
This is the closest you can get to gluing your brows down without actual glue (though I’ll note it does smell like glue). I have had many facials during which my eyebrows didn’t budge at all when I was wearing this.
If You Want Brows That Don’t Move
Pros: Good hold
Cons: Dries quickly
Like the NYX Brow Glue, this one will keep your brows in place, but it uses a lighter formula. It dries fast, so you have to move quickly. With a little effort, though, you can achieve the coveted laminated-brow look.
If You Want to Put In a Little Extra Effort
Pros: Good hold
Cons: Some residue
Get soap brows without the soap with this product. A light spritz is all you need to activate it, and the extra effort is worth it since the wax keeps your brows in place and lasts a while.
If You Want Just a Little Hold
Pros: Good hold and shaping
Cons: Lighter hold
We get it, not everyone wants their brows slicked into place; sometimes you just want some hold and shaping. This gel will give you a laminated brow without the gluelike, extra-strength hold and texture.
If You Want to Fake Tinted Brows
Pros: Adds color and fullness
Cons: Light hold
This has the tiniest brush to easily apply the tinted gel without getting it all over your brows. It’s easy to build up the color without overdoing it. You won’t get the laminated-brow look, but you can still fake bushier, fuller brows while keeping them in place.
If You Want Volume
Pros: Adds color and fullness
Cons: Light hold, messy
Your brows can be as voluminous as your blowout with this top-rated gel. You won’t get tons of hold, but the tinted gel and teeny brush will shape and highlight those little brow hairs you didn’t even know were there.
If You Want Something Easy
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Very light hold
One side of this is a wax stick; the other is a brush to shape and lift brows. Application is extremely easy, and despite being a wax, it doesn’t feel super-waxy.
If You Want Something Very Affordable
Pros: Affordable
Cons: Light hold
I usually grab this one for quick and easy (but light) hold. It has a big brush, which is usually messy for brow application, but the formula leaves no residue at all so it’s okay to be a little reckless when applying. It provides a super-light hold so if you want that laminated look, you’ll want to skip this. However, if you don’t want to spend more than $10, it’s a good option.
If You Want a Natural Hold
Pros: No residue, natural shaping and hold
Cons: Slightly messy application
If you want better brows that still look like yours, this is for you. Ami Colé’s shaping gel, has a residue-free formula that shapes and nourishes brows without leaving them feeling waxy or crunchy just fluffy and full.
If You Want a Multitasker
Pros: Strong hold
Cons: Some residue
If you’ve tried any of Got 2b’s Glued line on your hair, you know it keeps everything in place. This brow gel is no different. With the dense two-sided brush, applying the product and shaping your brows is easy. One big con of the product is that it does leave some residue as it dries, but with a light hand, it can be avoided. At just under $10, it’s still worth grabbing for the hold alone.
If You Want Something Lightweight
Pros: Strong hold, no reside
Cons: Brush
Kulfi’s newest launch takes a little more work when it comes to applying, but it’s worth it for the results and lightweight feel. You apply the waxy formula with the wand and then shape it with the brush and comb attachment for laminated brows. I’m not the biggest fan of the comb, but the brush helps sleek and shape your brows pretty easily. I’ve fallen asleep with this on my brows and woke up with them still in place.
If You Want to Get Every Hair
Pros: Strong hold, no residue
Cons: Comb
I’m not the biggest fan of this comb applicator since I find it to be a little harsh on my skin, but overall, it works. The textured side helps to lift and slick your brows down while the comb grabs and shapes every little hair into place.
