Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel

$26 at Amazon$26 at Sephora$26 at Ulta

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Four| Cruelty-Free: Yes

This gel practically transformed my brows with just a few swipes, thanks to its soft brown tint. It held my shape in place throughout the day, and the tint filled in the sparse areas of my brows to give them serious fullness. Additionally, since the formula isn’t super thick and the applicator is so small/delicate, the gel can be built up to achieve just the right shape and fill.

The gel is available in four shades and is formulated with emollients, elasticizing wax, and vitamin E to give the brows flexibility, moisture, and shine. I noticed a nice, flexible hold that kept my brows looking natural, even with the tint. I love the water-resistant formula because I can wear the gel in the heat without worrying about smudging or running. I only wish it were available in a larger size.

Best for Sparse Brows

Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hr Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel

$28

$25 at Amazon$28 at Sephora$28 at Ulta

Hold: Strong | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: No

I tried many great brow gels throughout testing, but I kept returning to this one. It’s a clear formula with a nice, strong hold, but not so stiff that moving your eyebrows causes it to flake or weaken. I was impressed by how well it held my brows in place throughout the day without making them look unnatural.

This gel has a two-sided applicator, one side with longer plastic bristles and shorter bristles on the other, allowing for easy and precise application. The formula is thin enough to layer to get your shape just right. As someone with unruly brows, I love how well this gel performed, but it’s worth noting that you may have to put extra effort into removing the product at the end of the day (I suggest using a good cleansing oil).

Best Budget, Clear

e.l.f Brow Lift

$7

$6 at Amazon$7 at Ulta$6 at Target

Hold: Strong | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

e.l.f.’s Brow Lift is a cult favorite for its performance and affordable price tag (under $10!). I don’t believe less expensive means a lesser product, but even with that mindset, this gel exceeded my expectations. It delivered a strong, comfortable hold while providing a fluffy, soapy look.

The quality for the price is truly remarkable, but I also appreciate how much product you get (0.31 ounces). That said, unlike the other brow gels I tested, this one doesn’t come with a brush, so be prepared to purchase one if you don’t already have one handy. It is a little tricky to get the right amount of product on the brush at first, but it didn’t take me too long to get the hang of it, and for the price of this product, I’d say it’s worth the effort.

Best Flexible Hold

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

$24 at SephoraView on Ulta$16 at Target

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Even though this gel’s hold level is considered flexible, it still offers a good amount of hold throughout the day, but my brows looked (and felt) less stiff and more natural (always a plus). The formula goes on wet and takes a little longer to dry than some of the others I tested, but once it fully sets, it’s super comfortable (even when I wiggle my eyebrows a bunch).

Since this gel isn’t quite as strong as some of the others on this list, I expected my brow shape to fall quite a bit throughout the day. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how good my eyebrows still looked when I went to cleanse my face before bed. I also didn’t experience any smudging or flaking. I do wish this gel helped thicken my thin brows so I didn’t have to fill them in with a brow pencil, but otherwise, it delivered on its promise of a good flexible hold.

Best Strong Hold

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel

$26

$24 at Amazon$26 at Sephora$26 at Ulta

Hold: Strong | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

After trying this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills, my brows were practically glued in place—but in the best way possible. The large, double-sided wand picks up a good amount of product, making it easy to apply the clear gel evenly while simultaneously getting the shape you want.

The formula is somewhat wet upon application, but this allows for plenty of flexibility while shaping your brows. It dries relatively quickly, and once dry, the gel left my brows looking thicker and feeling somewhat stiff, but not so stiff that it was uncomfortable. When I went to remove my makeup at the end of the day, I noticed some flaking, but it was very minor.

Best for Full Brows

Kulfi Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel

$26 at SephoraView on Kulfibeauty.com

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

While I don’t have fuller brows, I can totally see how this one puts them in their place. It offers a lasting, flexible hold that’s firm enough to keep your shape throughout the day. However, what truly sets this product apart for fuller brows is its three-in-one brush, which helps sculpt brows without the risk of applying too much product.

The brush has a standard spoolie end that twists in and out of the tube to apply the product directly to the brows. But unlike many gels, you don’t have to rely on the brush for shaping. On the opposite end is a shaping tool with a comb on one side and a brush with long bristles on the other. The comb helps shape the ends of the brow—and remove excess product as needed. What’s more, the brush lays brow hairs in place to help set them. I noticed the tool getting a little gunky during testing, so be sure to regularly clean the comb and brush to avoid product buildup over time.

Best Tinted

MERIT Brow 1980 Gel

$24 at SephoraView on Meritbeauty.com

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Four| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Thanks to this brow gel’s lovely tint, I barely had to fill in any sparse areas with my eyebrow pencil. It’s formulated with kaolin clay and mineral pigments to deliver a buildable tint and offers a flexible hold that helps keep brows shaped without freezing them in place. I didn’t need a lot of product to get the shape and fill I wanted, and once the gel fully dried, my brows looked super natural.

This formula is available in four shades, all of which give brows an extra boost of volume. My brow shape held up well throughout the day, and I didn’t experience any smudging, running, or flaking. I really love the overall look this one gave me, but the brush does pick up a good amount of product, so be sure to apply it conservatively to get a natural look.

Best Budget, Tinted

NYX The Brow Glue

$10

$10 at Amazon$10 at Ulta$10 at Target

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Five| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nyx is a fantastic drugstore brand, and the brand’s Brow Glue does not disappoint. I was impressed by the look this tinted gel gave my brows, and the affordable price tag was the cherry on top. It performed just as well (and even better in some areas) as the higher-end gels I tested, leaving my brows with great volume and fullness.

This one’s available in five shades, plus a clear option. I liked how much color the tint gave my eyebrows without making them look overdone, which I partially credit to the small applicator brush that allows for precise application. I was particularly surprised by how well the color stayed throughout the day. That said, despite this product being labeled a “glue,” it offers a more flexible hold, and I noticed that my brow shape fell a bit within a few hours of application.

Best for Shaping

Live Tinted Huebrew Clear Setting Eyebrow Gel

$22

$21 at Amazon$22 at UltaView on Livetinted.com

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

This wand gave me the best shape with the least amount of effort. The brush is plastic and double-sided, with longer bristles on one side and shorter bristles on the other. It separates brow hairs well, making it easy to get them in just the right place for the shape I want.

Additionally, the brush picks up just a little bit of product at once, reducing the risk of over-applying gel. The formula layers well, too, so if the brush doesn’t pick up enough product the first time, you can add a little more to get more shape and hold. Once the gel has fully dried, try to avoid touching your face throughout the day—rubbing your brows could cause the formula to flake.

Best Lamination Effect

Refy Brow Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel

$26 at SephoraView on Refybeauty.comView on Selfridges.com

Hold: Flexible | Shades: Clear| Cruelty-Free: Yes

I love the big, full, laminated look I achieved with this brow gel. It also provided a strong enough hold to keep the style in place throughout the day without making my brows feel stiff or uncomfortable. Despite how thin and sparse my eyebrows are, this clear gel still managed to make them look fluffy enough that I didn’t even have to fill in any sparse spots with an eyebrow pencil.

The wax-gel hybrid formula helped me achieve the laminated look, along with the three-in-one brush with an applicator on one end and a fine comb and brush with longer bristles on the other. The multitool brush helped me get just the right shape, and the strong gel formula held that shape in place all day, including during a workout. This product delivers a specific look, though, so it’s not the best option for someone looking for a more natural, flexible hold.