15 best brow gels tested for volume and staying power

The best formula for a quick one-and-done brow, this formula tints, thickens and holds hairs in place without making them feel crunchy. The best bit? It’s water-resistant and transfer-proof, making it an ideal companion at the gym, in the rain and during midday naps. The skinny spoolie brush is easy to use (though it might take a moment to really comb through thicker brows), and the formula is packed with conditioning heroes such as vitamin E, castor oil and coconut oil. For a fuller look, you’ll have no problem using this alongside your favourite pencil or powder.

If you love the laminated look and don’t want your brows to move (ever), you can stop reading now – this is all you need. When I say this formula doesn’t move, I mean it. It does to brows what Botox does to your muscles – freezes them in place. This obviously comes with some caveats: yes, your brows will feel crisp but they will look exactly the same at 8pm as they did at 8am. There’s also only one shade, which is clear, but don’t let that put you off.

This gel gives incredible colour and fluffy volume all on its own, in just one or two coats. It’s got a very delicate spoolie – surprising, compared with the pleasingly chunky packaging – so it’s easy to build up colour with precision.

The gel delivers good lift and hold but doesn’t feel tight or crispy on the skin when it dries. The sheer amount of pigment, however, means it’s easy to make a mess – it took me a few goes to get just the right amount of product and pressure but it’s well worth the practice. It also comes in eight colours – pretty good for a brow product.

Overall, this formula loses a few points because it required some getting used to, and because I spied polyacrylamides in the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) list – although, I didn’t find the formula to be drying at all.

There’s no denying this clear-brow formula took the world by storm upon its release. It went viral instantly, and it is an incredible product, but beauty editors are notoriously hard to please. When I first tried it, I thought this was the best thing since sliced bread, but the brow industry has since boomed, and the competition is high. I love the innovative wand (nothing is better for combing and setting brows), and while the formula is brilliant at holding brows in place, it does flake noticeably on darker hairs. If you have blonde brows, get it – there’s nothing else like it – but if you have darker brows, another product may work better for you.

This brow gel is wonderfully waxy, with a soft formula that’s great for those with flaky skin and brows. Super nourishing and brimming with the likes of moisturising glycerin and panthenol, it makes your brows look super thick. It’s incredibly pigmented, too (there’s nothing worse than a sheer, ashy deposit of colour). There are a few drawbacks, though – it transfers and smudges with each touch, and it’s impossible not to get it on your skin, though, I think this is what makes it look so supermodel-esque, if you manage to apply it in a shapely manner.

I’ve used this product every day for more than a month. It’s a perfect two-in-one, with a gentle bristle (rather than felt-tip) brow pen tip at one end and a clear gel at the other. Draw on individual hairs in sparse areas first – a much more natural effect than filling with a solid colour – and then brush up and out with the clear gel for gloss and hold. I was happy to find that my brows stayed lifted all day but still felt nice and soft. A good all-rounder, it loses a point for its disappointing shade range though.

This is ideal if you’re after something cheap and cheerful to fill your brows with added volume and colour, but it won’t hold your brows in place all day. It can be a little clumpy to work with, too – the trick is to wipe any excess off the wand before application. It’s the perfect weapon on your quest to cheat your way to fuller, natural-looking brows.

This option has a very small spoolie, so you can get into those tiny hairs with precision, giving volume and colour without going OTT or overly dark.

The brow gel is light enough that you can wear it alone or over other brow products, and it gives good hold and lift, with a slightly crispy texture. It comes in particularly lovely shades for blondes and redheads – being neutral-toned and not too dark, shade three is perfect for mousy hair or blondes with darker eyebrows. If your hair is really thick and heavy, this formula might not be for you – I found my brows dropped after a few hours.

A personal favourite of many a beauty editor, this product is now a bona fide industry icon. I recommend this to everyone thanks to its clear, flexible formula that doesn’t feel crunchy or stiff but holds like glue. It’s perfect for anyone – from those who want just a little bit of structure to those who want a laminated look (which will last all day, by the way). The real pièce de résistance? The fact that it holds so well without leaving little white flakes – the Achilles heel of many brow gels I tested.

I love the pot, but some might find this packaging to be a bit of a faff, which is why I’ve marked it down half a point. While the brand has since released a new version with a wand (the brow freeze gel: £24, Boots.com), it’s just not as good. I’d also love to see this released in different colours.

Blink Brow Bar is all about brows, so I had high hopes for this formula. If you’ve got lots of hairs but they’re fine, this coats them beautifully and adds volume and depth – it also has a tiny spoolie for precision. It dries very quickly to a natural, powdery, matte finish and contains conditioning macadamia oil and argan oil, for complete brow bliss.

Whether you have thin brows, short brows or even thick brows, this gel has something to offer you. It defines and fills sparse brows while shaping and structuring thicker ones. I love this versatility, along with the fact it can be used with other brow products or alone. It’s also waterproof and won’t clump or harden. The waxy formula is really comfortable, too.

Fluffy and full brows are key to the minimalist, easygoing Glossier look, and boy brow is one of the brand’s cult products. I like it best in its clear formula, which I use to brush hairs upwards and outwards once I’ve filled in the gaps with a pencil or pen.

This product gives a good hold throughout the day but is soft and doesn’t go crispy. It’s also quick to dry, meaning you can add a little more colour without sticking the hairs to your face.

While it makes brows look incredibly thick and healthy, Glossier’s coloured iterations do transfer quite easily. They’re certainly not nap-proof.

When it comes to hair health, you know you can always trust Revitalash. Packed with peptides and oat beta glucans, this formula offers lasting, fluffy results, by fortifying and conditioning your brows. Instantly, it’s just as impressive: it sculpts, holds, tints and styles effortlessly. I love how easy the brush is to use, too, but, as with many of its rivals, I’d like to see a bigger shade range.

This miracle pot gives you the most incredible soap brow look without the need for any water. It sticks to brows like glue, without flaking, and gives an all-day lift. The clear shade will work for all tones, and it’s not messy at all. Plus, it comes with its own applicator, even though it comes in a pot. It’s the little things that make a big difference.

With the rise of ‘Sephora kids’, it’s nice to see a swift boom of brands that are specifically aimed at the younger generation, giving them safe and targeted alternatives to potentially damaging formulas that are aimed at older, more mature skin and hair. Enter: Indu, a teen-first brand with subtle and efficacious formulas you can trust. This clear, soft and waxy brow gel will last all day (it’s also perfect for touch-ups), and it won’t flake or feel uncomfortable.