10 Best Eyebrow Gels for Perfect Arches

If the eyes are the windows to your soul, then your brows are the curtains that make them look complete. Your brows help to frame your face, and depending on how you shape them, can also influence how people perceive you. Too much arch? You might come off as slightly angry or unapproachable. Conversely, if you leave the tail too long, it can throw off the shape of your face. 

But not everyone is born with lush eyebrows. For this segment of beauties — as well as anyone else who wants to have those perfect brows every day — there are eyebrow products to help you groom, shape, and define them, like eyebrow gel. This malleable product helps to fill and define your brows. If you pick the right one, it’ll take you through the whole day.

Brow styles are constantly changing, from May West pencil-thin to mid-2010s big Instagram brows to today’s more believable brow shape. No matter what style you opt for, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Check out our top picks for the best eyebrow gels that can help you put your best face forward. 

Best eyebrow gels overview:

• Best overall: Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade
• Best budget: Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Retractable
• Best clear: Sephora Collection Clear Long-Lasting Brow Gel
• Best pencil: Morphe Micro Brow Pencil
• Best set: Benefit Cosmetics Bigtime Brow Haul
• Best waterproof: NYX Cosmetics Eyebrow Gel
• Best precision: Kevyn Aucoin True Feather Brow Marker Gel Duo
• Best drugstore: Maybelline TattooStudio Waterproof Eyebrow Gel
• Best eyebrow duo: Pixi Beauty Natural Brow Duo
• Best vegan: Pür Cosmetics Arch Nemesis 4-in-1 Dual-Ended Brow Pencil

How we chose the best eyebrow gels

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including color range, longevity, format, ease of use, and more, to create a short list of the top eyebrow gels. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best eyebrow gels for each category.

Our picks for the best eyebrow gels

Unless you’re new to the world of makeup and brow products, you probably know that Anastasia Beverly Hills reigns supreme as the go-to trend cosmetics brand for all things brows. The brand’s DIPBROW Pomade made a splash in the mid-2010s when fuller, sculpted Instagram brows were a non-stop trending topic. Since then, Anastasia Beverly Hills continues to be the first stop for many makeup mavens that want to tame and frame their brows. 

Available in a variety of shades, this is a long-lasting, vegan, and cruelty-free pomade (solid gel) that gives you the malleability you need, along with rich color payoff. It offers a buildable formula so you can make your brows as bold or natural as you prefer. Better yet, you don’t have to have thick brows for this to work. So, even those with sparse brows can appreciate the bold color that helps to fill in any bare spots. 

The only drawback is for makeup newbies. Because this comes in a pot, you’ll need to also invest in brow brushes to expertly apply this product. You might also find that there’s a slight learning curve, as pomades can sometimes be tricky to apply. Make sure to allow for dry downtime between adding layers to prevent previous layers from being wiped away.

Shades: 11 | Format: Pomade pot

Quality makeup products don’t have to be expensive, and Wet n Wild is one of those go-to, OG drugstore brands. It’s made a name for itself by offering budget-friendly cosmetics that can genuinely go head-to-head with premium brands — and win. 

The Ultimate Brow Retractable is a dual-ended gel pencil that has a built-in spoolie, so you can tame, frame, and fill. You’ll get a large triangle-shaped gel pencil that can easily be extended or retracted. The larger size allows you to define and fill your brows while the spoolie ensures that errant hairs are tamed. Plus, you can make precision and broader strokes thanks to the pencil shape. And we think the dual-end design makes it a travel-friendly option as well.

Shades: 4 | Format: Retractable gel pencil with built-in spoolie

For those gifted with full, lush brows, you might not need a seriously pigmented brow gel. Instead, you can opt for a clear brow gel like this one from the Sephora Collection. It’s especially ideal if you have curly brow hair, which tends to do what it wants when it wants.

This brow gel can easily be mistaken for mascara. But you’ll appreciate that it dries quickly and is lightweight, so you won’t be left with any gross flakes. The tapered brush allows for precision placement, and you’ll get a hold that lasts all day. Although we’re recommending this product for people with naturally lush brows, you can use it on top of other brow products to lock in color if you need to fill and define.

Shades: 1 | Format: Mascara-style gel

Initially known for reasonably-priced yet high-quality makeup brushes and massive palettes, Morphe has, well, morphed into a full makeup force. While Morphe does also make pomade pots, the brand’s Micro Brow Pencil is a solid contender for your everyday eyebrow makeup needs. 

This micro-headed pencil features a harder gel formula, which is promoted as a wax. This means you can make fine lines for a more natural finish, and you’ll get pigment that won’t budge. This product comes in 10 different colors, so you can achieve a more natural finish. The dual-headed retractable design with a built-in spoolie makes it a convenient option, too. And we can’t forget that this product is in a pencil format, making it fairly user-friendly, even for makeup beginners.

Shades: 10 | Format: Retractable dual-ended gel pencil with spoolie

You can’t have a conversation about brow products and not include Benefit Cosmetics. This brand has made a name around eyebrows — you can even visit Benefit Brow Bars to get your brows professionally shaped, defined, and filled. But when it comes to at-home brow maintenance, Benefit’s Bigtime Brow Haul set is a must-have if you need a one-stop shop for all things brows. 

The set comes with three full-sized bestsellers from Benefit’s brow collection: the Precisely, My Brow Pencil, the High Brow Duo Pencil, and the 24-Hour Brow Setter. Start by using the Precisely, My Brow Pencil to define and fill, then highlight your under-brow with the High Brow Duo Pencil. Finally, set those brows in place with the 24-Hour Brow Setter. 

This all-in-one solution is available in four shades, allowing you to test Benefit’s best sellers to see which items work best for you.

Shades: 4 | Format: Retractable gel pencil, dual-ended highlighter pencil, and mascara-style brow gel

If you’ve ever rubbed your forehead, forgetting that there was makeup on your brows, you know how frustrating the end results can be. Thankfully, waterproof brow products are a thing, and you never have to experience that failure again. The NYX Cosmetics Eyebrow Gel is a wallet-friendly brow gel that’s explicitly designed to be applied and locked in place. 

While you only have five shades to choose from, this is a product where a little goes a long way.   It’s a highly pigmented gel best for people with sparse brows, but you’ll need to be well-versed in application techniques so it doesn’t look too harsh. 

This waterproof gel is particularly ideal for people with fuller brows or those seeking the 2010s bold Instagram brow look. But you need the right brow brushes and tools to apply the gel properly, so it may not be ideal for beginners.

Shades: 5 | Format: Gel squeeze tube

If you love the concept of micro-bladed brows but aren’t exactly ready to hop in the chair for the procedure, consider this pain-free alternative from Kevyn Aucoin. While it’s a bit of a splurge, the True Feather Brow Marker Gel Duo features a dual-ended design: a precision tip marker on one end and a brow gel spoolie on the other. 

The fine-tipped marker allows you to shape, define, and create hair-like strokes with precision for a natural effect. Meanwhile, the included clear gel locks your brows in place without flaking. With just four colors, it doesn’t offer the broadest shade range. But it’s an innovative product concept that we haven’t seen many other brands attempt to dupe.

Shades: 4 | Format: Dual-ended brow marker with clear gel spoolie

If you’re not a fan of buying your makeup online, sight unseen, we get it. In that case, Maybelline is one of those drugstore brands that offer quality products at a reasonable price. More importantly, you can go into nearly any drugstore in the country and find most of Maybelline’s product offerings. 

The TattooStudio Waterproof Eyebrow Gel is a solid option for your brows. It’s formatted in a hybrid packaging that looks like a squeeze tube but is actually a lid with a doe foot applicator. This award-winning brow product offers waterproof longevity while also adding definition. 

However, some people may find the doe foot applicator a little challenging to work with — especially if you’re trying to define your brow shape. In that case, we recommend investing in an angled brow brush to dab into the applicator and apply with more precision.

Shades: 8 | Format: Gel tube with doe foot applicator

If you prefer to use pencils and touch up your brows with gel, this Pixi Beauty Natural Brow Duo is a solid choice. The travel-friendly design is a gel-like pencil that offers a creamy texture for drag-free application. Better yet, the retractable pencil features a rectangular format that makes light strokes or thicker lines easier to create. 

Additionally, there’s the complementing brow gel end with a petite mascara wand applicator for easy placement that provides a soft hold that doesn’t look stiff and won’t flake. Although there are only four shades, the brand promises that the colors will automatically adjust to your actual brow color — assuming you pick the shade closest to your natural hue.

Shades: 4 | Format: Dual-ended pencil and brow gel

You shouldn’t have to settle for less just because you believe in aligning your shopping habits with your principles. For the vegans out there, shopping for beauty products has certainly become easier, but it can still be hard to figure out where to buy your favorite products. Thankfully, Pür Cosmetics prevents vegans and animal rights activists from feeling left out of the fun. 

The brand’s Arch Nemesis 4-in-1 Dual-Ended Brow Pencil is the perfect example. Along with being vegan and cruelty-free, it comes packed with features that’ll make it an indispensable part of your beauty routine. This double-headed gel pencil contains both a thick and micro head, allowing you to define and fill your brows. 

The larger head is best for defining by using broad strokes to create boundaries and fill in sparser areas. Meanwhile, the micro head is perfect for making precision strokes for fuller areas. Once you’ve finished, use the brow brush on the cap to blend for an undetectable finish. And of course, this pick is made with ingredients that help to nourish your brow hair. 

We also like that there’s a self-sharpening component so you always have the perfect edge to define and fill your brows. The only drawback is that you’re limited to three shades.

Shades: 3 | Format: Dual-ended pencil and brow brush

Create the brows you want

It goes without saying that we’re big fans of brow products. Whether you like them thin, fluffy, soaped up, or Instagram-worthy, there’s a product out there that’ll define, fill, and set your brows to perfection. While gel is just one of the many products you can use to create the perfect brows, it’s also one of the easier products to work with, thanks to a more malleable texture, richer pigmentation, and a generally easier application process.

When in doubt, we always recommend that you start with our Best Overall recommendation, the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade. With a wide shade range, buildable color, and a waterproof finish that locks into place, you can’t go wrong, no matter how full or thin your brows are.  

How to pick the right brow gel for you

Brow gel is a great starter product if you’re interested in defining your brows but don’t know where to start. Before purchasing, consider these key factors. 

Format

• Pot. Brow gel can actually cover a wide range of product formulations, and brands often use the terms interchangeably. For example, pomades are usually gels that are in pots. These have a workable texture but are often a bit thicker. 
• Pencil. The easiest of all the products to use, pencils are usually retractable. The format makes application much easier, but you’ll still need to be mindful of how you draw your brows to achieve a more natural effect.
• Mascara. If you’re buying a brow product from a tube, it’s most likely made to look like mascara — but not quite as pigmented. These types of brow gels are usually intended for locking your brow hairs in place. While you can get pigmented brow gels in tube form, you can also opt for clear gel. 

Brow thickness

• Sparse. If you have sparse brows, yours will need the most work to create a defined brow shape. In many cases, you may find that gel pencils are better as they allow you to define and fill your brow shape. A dual-ended pencil with a regular and micro end is ideal, as you can adjust between thicker and finer strokes. 
• Full. For people with full brows, the world is your oyster. You can opt for pencils, tubes, and pots. Just be sure to pick a shade that closely matches your natural brow shade.
• Thick. With thick brows, gel brow mascara is your best bet. You don’t need to fill in your brows since they’re so thick. But you might find yourself fighting a few errant hairs. A brow mascara can help to lock those hairs in place for a long-lasting hold. 

Other considerations

• Shade range. Picking the right shade is essential. Ideally, you should find a shade that closely matches your own. Going too light will make your brows look ashen, while going too dark may make your brows look too harsh against your face. 
• Longevity. If you’re trying to apply brows that last throughout the day, look for waterproof formulas that lock your brow hairs and any applied pigment into place. 
• Application process. If you’re just starting in the world of brow makeup, pencils are by far the easiest option, as they don’t require additional beauty tool usage. Meanwhile, depending on the applicator, gel tubes may require extra tools, and brow gel/pomade pots require that you invest in a good angled eyebrow brush for proper application.

FAQs

What’s the best eyebrow gel? 

This depends on how you want your brows to look, how much filling and defining you need, and of course, body chemistry. That said, we recommend starting your brow quest with our Best Overall pick, the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade. 

Is gel good for eyebrows?

Gel can be a great option to define and fill your brows. In most cases, it offers a more flexible texture that’s easy to apply and a buildable formula that allows you to adjust the pigmentation depending on how sparse or full your brows are. 

Should I get clear or tinted eyebrow gel?

Why not get both? If you have thick brows, you can easily get away with a clear brow gel, as all you need to do is tame a few errant hairs. But if you’re filling your brows, a tinted brow gel can be a nice option to pull double duty — filling and taming. Those with sparse brows may see the best results with a traditional pencil format and then locking that color in place with a clear or tinted