buuk.top / Lecia Landis
In the world of brow products, it’s often the pigmented ones—the pencils and pomades of the world—that get all the play. But here’s the thing: These guys usually lack one very important quality. We’re talking about hold. After all, shaping and filling your arches to perfection, only to have everything get messed up a few hours into your day, is no fun.
Enter the beauty of a clear brow gel. “It’s the perfect way to tame and control the hair, and set your brow shape,” says brow expert Azi Sacks. Plus, a clear brow gel is also super versatile; you can use it alone, or layer it over a brow powder or pencil if you also want to add a little color and definition, she says. Not to mention that they’re also an excellent pick for no-makeup makeup days. Brush one on to tame unruly hairs and add a gorgeous sheen, just enough of a little something to polish off your look. And let’s not forget that they can pull double duty, too, a great swap for black mascara if you want to give lashes a little natural-looking boost. Basically, the bottom line is that you need a clear brow gel in your makeup stash.
We conducted hours of research on the best clear brow gels, evaluating formulas on how well they sculpt and shape brows, and the longevity of performance. We also took into consideration how the formula feels on brows, and if theres any stiffness, clumping, or flaking. And although each formula featured here comes in a clear variety, we also noted if the brand offers any tinted varieties. After considering dozens of options and consulting with a brow expert for recommended picks, we landed on the following best in show.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel at Amazon
Urban Decay Brow Finish Waterproof Brow Gel at Kohls.com
NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel
CoverGirl Clear Brow Setting Gel at Amazon
Glossier Boy Brow
Sephora Collection Clear Long-Lasting Brow Gel at Sephora
Milk Makeup Clear Brow Gel
Kosas Brow Fluff & Hold Treatment Gel
Chantecaille Brow Perfecting Gel at Amazon
Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hr Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel at Amazon
In This Article
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Best Overall
Anastasia Beverly Hills Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Ulta
Strong hold
Leaves brows feeling soft
Mini size available
Expensive per ounce
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.
Shades: Clear | Size:0.3 fl. oz |Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Editors Say
"This one has long been my go-to. I love the hold (the brow hairs do not move), and it’s important to me that each brow stays in its proper place. I feather each brow, brushing the hairs up and out to define the arch and keep the strays under control, as I never tweeze or wax. The formula ensures there’s no flaking or stickiness in sight, and it’s enriched with chamomile to condition your brows as you wear it each day. The best part? It’s small enough to stick in your bag, so you can have it on hand everywhere you go." - Hallie Gould, Associate Editorial Director
Runner-Up, Best Overall
Urban Decay Brow Finish Waterproof Brow Gel
Sephora
Keeps brows soft
Water-resistant
Adds shimmery finish
No clear or tinted varieties
This checks all of our clear brow gel boxes. A lightweight formula that’s never sticky or crunchy and won’t flake? Yep. An easy-to-use brush? You bet. Water-resistance and long-lasting hold? Check and check.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget Brow Gel
NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel
Amazon
View On Amazon
View On Target
Easy to remove
Applies smoothly
Helps brows appear thicker
Contains parabens
If a brow gel isn’t where you want to blow your makeup budget, we get it. Happily, you don’t have to. Save your cash with this guy, which offers the same hold, setting power, and shaping abilities.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.3 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore Brow Gel
CoverGirl Easy Breezy Brow Setting Gel
Amazon
View On Walmart
View On Riteaid.com
Easy to apply
Lightweight
Provides strong hold
Difficult to remove
Simple and straightforward, this guy offers everything you could want from a clear brow gel for a very wallet-friendly price. A precise brush makes it easy to apply the non-sticky, featherweight, vegan, and cruelty-free formula, which works great both on its own and layered over any pigmented brow products.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you apply it starting at the tail of the brow, brushing inwards against the direction of hair growth, it can help make your arches appear thicker.
Best Conditioning Brow Gel
Glossier Boy Brow
Amazon
View On Amazon
View On Walmart
Provides strong hold
Enhances brow shape
Easy to use
Very little product
Technically this is a brushable wax, rather than a gel, but it still delivers awesome shaping and hold. It also earns bonus points for boasting oleic acid, lecithin, and atelocollagen to condition and moisturize delicate brow hairs. And even though the tube and brush are teeny-tiny, it’s still easy to hold and apply.
Shades: 4 | Size: 0.1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Lightweight Brow Gel
Sephora Collection Clear Long-Lasting Brow Gel
Sephora
Lightweight
Keeps brows soft
Doesnt flake
Does not provide long-lasting hold
If you’re playing the word association game, ‘gel’ and ‘crunchy,’ ‘hard’ and ‘sticky’ all inevitably go together. But this formula is so featherweight that it’s truly undetectable. The only way you’ll know it’s there after you brush it on is because your brows will look amazing.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Thick Brows
Milk Makeup Kush Clear Brow Gel
Sephora
View On Walmart
View On Kohls.com
Applies evenly
Vegan
Tames thick brows
A little heavy for thinner brows
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.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.15 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Brow Gel for Thin Brows
Kosas Air Brow Fluff & Hold Treatment Gel
Sephora
View On Nordstrom
View On Revolve
Makes brows look fuller
Lifts brows
Chic packaging
Very little product
Sacks calls this newbie, “amazing,” lauding it for the addition of castor oil, one of her favorite ingredients for helping to maintain good brows. In related news, it’s an ideal pick for those with thinner arches. Along with castor oil, it also touts a tripeptide that supports stronger brow hair in the long run, as well as plant-based microfibers that instantly make brows look fuller and more voluminous, lifting them for an almost laminated effect. We also appreciate that the formula isn’t goopy or sticky, but rather airy and mousse-like.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Splurge
Chantecaille Full Brow Perfecting Gel
Saks Fifth Avenue
View On Dermstore
View On Nordstrom
Conditioning formula
Lightweight
Contains peptides
Only 2 shades
Another one of Sack’s picks, she likes that this option contains panthenol, one of the best conditioning ingredients to seek out in a brow gel. While it is a bit pricier, it imparts both texture and fullness to brows, boasts a brow-enhancing peptide, and dries and sets extremely quickly.
Shades: 2 | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Long-Wear Brow Gel
Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hr Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel with Lamination Effect
Benefit Cosmetics
View On Sephora
View On Sephora
Long-lasting hold
Tames brows
Available in 2 sizes
Can flake over time
Rocking wild-child brows? Meet your new BFF. The dual-sided brush features short bristles on one side to sculpt and shape hairs, and longer bristles on the other to evenly coat every hair from root to tip. A flake-free formula lasts for up to 24 hours, and also dries in seconds, too.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Natural
PYT Beauty Holy Grail Brow Gel Clear
PYT Beauty
Vegan
Conditioning formula
Sustainable packaging
Doesnt provide long-lasting hold
Free of over 2,700 questionable ingredients, this pick is also vegan and cruelty-free. (In fact, it even pulls double duty as a great lash primer under mascara.) We also appreciate that this brand goes above and beyond the “clean” game, focusing largely on sustainability as well. Case in point: This packaging is made with 37% recycled plastic.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best with Benefits
BBB London Clear Brow Gel
Nordstrom
Long-lasting
Conditioning formula
Easy to apply
Not for matte brows
“This is another fantastic option that contains moisturizing jojoba oil and vitamin E,” says Sacks. There’s also rosemary leaf oil in the mix to help promote hair growth, and the formula stays put for up to 14 hours. And we really appreciate the itty-bitty brush, which makes it easy to reach and coat every last hair with the glossy gel.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Strengthening Brow Gel
Kimiko The Brow Sensei
Kimiko
View On Verishop.com
View On Shen-beauty.com
Fortifies brow hairs
Supports healthy growth
Pricey
Kimikos take on clear brow gel does more than keep your groomed arches in place. It calls on a blend of peptides,1 amino acids,2and castor oil to fortify each hair and support healthy growth. We also like that the mini tapered brush is designed to deposit the exact right amount of product onto your brows to make styling easier. Its on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way.
Shades: Clear | Size: 0.1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Brow Gel for Laminated Look
MAC Brow Set
MAC
View On Ulta
View On Target
Long-lasting formula
Adds shape and shine
Hard to remove
If you want to make your eyebrows look like theyre laminated without having to head to the salon or shell out hundreds of dollars, this ones for you. MAC Brow Set adds shape and shine while you brush your brows upward, and you can count on the style to last for hours on end. The only potential drawback is that this product works almost too well in that the glue-like formula can be hard to remove at the end of the day.
Shades: Clear | Size:0.3 fl. oz |Cruelty-Free: No
Final Verdict
Clear brow gels are an invaluable addition to your brow-perfecting routine. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel and Urban Decay Brow Finish Waterproof Brow Gel are two of our all-time favorites, offering plenty of hold and shine, without feeling sticky or heavy. There are plenty of wallet-friendly clear brow gels out there; the NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel and CoverGirl Easy Breezy Clear Brow Setting Gel being two of the best.
What to Look For in a Clear Brow Gel
Moisturizing Ingredients
To ensure your gel doesn’t damage your brows, Sacks advises looking for formulas that contain things such as panthenol (vitamin B5), castor oil, or shea butter.
For instance, Glossiers cult-loved Boy Brow not only shapes your arches but also conditions them with a blend of collagen and oleic acid. Kosas Air Brow is another good one. It contains vitamin B5 and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
No Flakes
Any gel that feels stiff or immediately flakes after the first swipe is a no-go, as it’s a tell-tale sign that it’s too heavy and can end up damaging your brows and causing breakage, cautions Sacks. Sephora Collection Clear Long-Lasting Brow Gel and Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Gel are great options if you want to avoid flakes. We also love the Glossier Boy Brow, a slightly thicker option that’s more wax than gel-like but still gets the job done, sans flakes.
Brow gel works to shape and set your brows, controlling the hairs so they stay in place. Pigmented brow gels help create fullness to your brows and make them appear thicker and even. Clear gels simply keep your brows in place or seal your brows after filling with other products without color deposits.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel is our top pick for the best brow gel. It provides a strong hold without stiffness, leaving a more natural feel to your brows. Other great brow gel picks include the Urban Decay Brow Finish and the NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel.
Brow gel goes on after you fill your brows with other products if you use them. Alternatively, you can purchase a brow gel that works to fill your brows in one step. Brow gel is typically the last step when doing your brows.
Apply brow gel by swiping along the brows in the direction of growth. Keep a cotton swab nearby to trace along your brow line, removing any smudges. Wipe off or dab any excess product on your brows.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list
Why Trust buuk.top
buuk.top contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. “Blessed” with thin, blonde brows, she rotates through brow products regularly, and a clear brow gel was one of the first makeup products she ever used.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any clear brow gels from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@buuk.top.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
Article Sources
Uno H, Kurata S. Chemical agents and peptides affect hair growth. J Invest Dermatol. 1993;101(1 Suppl):143S-147S. doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12363275
Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
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