Eyebrow shapes and thickness are constantly changing. Thick or thin, eyebrow gel lets you tame and enhance your brows with ease (and is more glamorous and less greasy than Vaseline…). If you aren’t sure which gel to use, help is on the way: StudyFinds created a list of the best clear eyebrow gels for a polished, yet natural look.
Why opt for a natural look? The results of a Scottish study suggest that less makeup is more, at least if you intend to climb the career ladder. Researchers from Abertay University found that women who wear too much makeup are viewed as less qualified to hold a position of leadership. For the study, participants rated two side-by-side images according to which woman appeared to be the better leader. The researchers found that participants, both men and women, frequently chose the women with less makeup as the stronger choice.
Then again, wearing makeup benefits our self-esteem — a U.S. study confirms this. The majority of women (75 percent) feel more empowered to step outside of their comfort zone and accomplish new things when they feel secure about their physical appearance and nearly two in five (38%) say that makeup gives them the confidence boost they’re looking for. The study further shows that many women wish they could naturally enhance their eyebrows (28%).
Well, it’s possible! Eyebrow gel not only keeps your eyebrow pencil from fading, but it also keeps hairs in place and some products even contain growth serum. To find the right product to add to your routine, StudyFinds reviewed ten beauty websites and compiled our top five best clear eyebrow gels list based on expert recommendations. Have some feedback about our list? Please let us know in the comments!
The List: Best Clear Eyebrow Gels, According to Makeup Pros
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Meet Ms. Popularity! This gel got some serious “Best Overall” endorsements. InStyle, for instance, writes: “After all of our testing, we found no eyebrow hold gel compared to Anastasia Beverly Hills Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel. For starters, it has one of the largest wands — practically the size of a mascara wand — which makes it especially easy to swipe on. And since it’s on the larger side, our tester found that it only took one swipe per brow to fully fluff them up.”
“There wasn’t an area in which this crowd-pleaser didn’t deliver, pulling in a perfect score in every testing category,” raves People. “We appreciated how well it tamed errant hairs on thick brows while still looking natural. The feel was a huge attribute as well — lightweight with no flakes or stickiness and a lasting hold that didn’t feel stiff.”
Byrdie also awards this product top grades: “Of course, the queen of anything and everything brow would have an A+ gel in her line. This one earns especially high marks for the all-day hold it offers, without ever turning clumpy or sticky. The strong hold lasts all day, shaping arches precisely, but without leaving them feeling stiff. We love that the formula keeps brows soft while still performing an excellent job of shaping and sculpting. Although this product is expensive, we feel that the superior performance justifies the spend.”
2. Glossier Boy Brow
Honestly, this product could have tied with our number one. It gets equally enthusiastic reviews (just not quite as many as its competitor)! “She’s an icon, she’s a legend, she’s been the moment since she first launched in 2015 — she is Glossier’s Boy Brow,” proclaims Glamour. “A legion of fans swear by her super-light but thickening formula, which delivers the softest and fluffiest brows. Just a couple swipes will make your brows look groomed and defined, never cartoonish.”
Icon, legend… Any higher praise for this product? According to WhoWhatWear, “a more famous brow gel than Glossier’s all-time best-selling product, Boy Brow, simply does not exist. Try it for yourself, and you’ll understand why it’s a cult favorite. Unlike so many brow gels, which can get gummy, flaky, or tacky, Boy Brow is a creamy and brushable formula, effortlessly thickening, shaping, and grooming any type of brow. The solution contains healthy conditioning agents like oleic acid, lecithin, and soluble collagen, and celebrities go absolutely nuts for it.”
Insider also uses the phrase “cult favorite” and claims this brow gel is best for adding volume: “The Glossier Boy Brow is a cult favorite for a reason. The waxy formula is inspired by hair pomade, so it gives brows a fluffy, volumized appearance. It also holds hairs in place all day, without any stiffness or flakiness. I like that the brush is small but dense, so it’s easy to coat each and every brow hair. The Glossier Boy Brow currently comes in five shades including clear, so you’re likely to find something that works for your brows.”
3. Milk Makeup Kush Clear Brow Gel
As for our third pick, InStyle awards the “Best Volume” title to Milk Makeup’s Kush Clear Brow Gel (seasoned with some celebrity endorsement): “A favorite of Hailey Bieber’s, the Milk Makeup Kush Eyebrow Gel is perfect for giving brows volume. It’s made with tinted heart-shaped fibers that fill in brows and give them definition. It also contains cannabis seed oil to condition hairs.”
Glamour also works in a Bieber-reference when their contributing editor reviews the gel: “I have basically nothing in common with Hailey Bieber, except for the fact that we share a favorite eyebrow product. In her viral ‘Lazy Makeup Routine’ on TikTok, the only thing the model puts on her brows is Milk Makeup’s Kush Brow Gel — and same here, girl, same. The gel perfectly fluffs up arches and defines hairs for a soft-soap brow look without any residue. […] It may be a ‘lazy’ product for Mrs. Bieber, but it’s an everyday thing for me.”
Byrdie, on the other hand, likes this product for folks who already have voluminous brows and points out Milk Makeup’s vegan formula: “To keep bushy brows in place, reach for this pick. A tree-shaped brush with firm, dense bristles is ideal for combing through and depositing the gel evenly through even thicker hair. Plus, the vegan formula contains softening hemp seed oil. Sacks give it big points for being conditioning, though notes that it is a heavy formula, hence why it’s best for those with thicker brows.”
4. TIE: NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue Laminating Setting Gel AND NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel
The experts like both products equally, they are the same brand, and both have intense names — so they may as well share a spot. Apropos names, “Don’t be fooled by the name,” cautions People regarding the Glue Gel. “This formula boasts a surprisingly light consistency, though is still extremely effective when it comes to keeping hairs in place; it’s both waterproof and transfer-proof, lasting up to 16 hours. We were especially big fans of the smaller, rounded spoolie brush, which we found to be perfect for grabbing the exact right amount of product and evenly depositing it through thicker, arched brows.”
Have wild brows? Try the Glue! “With naturally curly hair comes naturally curly brows, so not every brow gel on the market can tame these bad boys. The Nyx brow glue keeps those brow ends down and straight with just a few swipes. I also love that I don’t have to worry about any sticky gel residue as the day passes,” writes a contributor at Glamour.
As for the Control Freak, StyleCraze writes: “If you want to tame your untidy and unmanageable eyebrows instantly, this universal clear gel is a stellar choice. You can achieve a natural look with this clear brow gel in no time as it helps you create the arch of your dreams.”
And Elite Daily‘s review point out more benefits: “There are nearly 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon for this drugstore brow gel, many of which report that it’s a great dupe for more expensive formulas. NYX’s Control Freak Eyebrow Gel is a cruelty-free and vegan formula that gives brows hold without leaving them feeling crunchy or sticky.”
5. Benefit Cosmetics 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel with Lamination Effect
This brow gel follows number four very closely. The 24-HR is a hint: This gel has a seriously long and strong hold. “We can confirm: once this gel dries, your brows will stay in place until it’s time to remove your makeup,” states InStyle.
“I have been using Benefit’s 24-Hour Brow Setter for years and have yet to find a brow gel that holds as well or as long — even throughout the rigorous testing process for this story,” reports an Insider reviewer. Also, “a single dip into the product is plenty for both brows, so one tube is enough to last for several months.”
And the brow expert at WhoWhatWear writes: “Benefit Cosmetics makes some of the most iconic brow products of all time, so it’s no surprise this clear formula with 24-hour staying power ranks high on my list. It mimics the look of laminated brows, if that’s the vibe you’re after sans spendy treatment.”
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.Â