Experts Tell Me Brow Pencils Are Becoming Redundant—Here's What I Use Instead
One beauty editor shares her round-up of the very best brow gels on the market.
I have had a turbulent relationship with my eyebrows for as long as I can remember, which may have something to do with my now-dependence on the best brow gels I can get my hands on.
When I was at school, people would make comments about my eyebrows being a "bushy monobrow." As a result, I started plucking my eyebrows from a very young age (probably around 9 or 10).
As I grew into my teenage years, my eyebrows got thinner and thinner. Even though my eyebrow hairs are thick and dark, I still felt inclined to scribble over them with brow pencil in a bid to fit in with my friends (who wouldn't leave the house without a prominently stencilled brow).
As the years went on, however, thick, busy, and unruly brows took centre stage, and I found myself longing for the brows of my childhood. To try to get my brows back to their natural state, I stopped plucking, waxing and threading and vowed that I would never take a pair of tweezers to them ever again.
That was five years ago, and, with the exception of one or two beauty treatments, like eyebrow lamination, that couldn't be missed for work purposes, I've stuck to my guns. As a result, though, I have spent most of that time grappling with brow pencils in a bid to create some sort of illusion of fullness.
Only I'm no makeup artist. In fact, I'd say my makeup skills are subpar. And brow pencils, I have learned, are tools that should be reserved exclusively for those with a moderate level of makeup know-how.
After four years of trying to create a brow look that says natural fullness without appearing too bold or drawn-on, around 12 months ago, I finally gave up. One day, after spending 20 minutes trying to get my brows right, I threw every brow pencil I owned (all three of them) in the bin.
And I'll be honest; it felt totally liberating. Since then, I have embraced my natural eyebrow shape every single day, simply fixing strands into place with a brow gel.
And while at the time my makeup-artist friends thought that was a mistake, now there seems to be a change in the air. Brow pencils are, in my opinion, finally exposed for what they are: a total nuisance. In fact, when I recently spoke with my go-to brow queen, Kallinika Aynsley (seriously, if you're after a full-looking brow, she's your girl), she confirmed what I already knew.
"Brow pencils are literally becoming a thing of the past, Aynsley confirmed. "People want a softer, more subtle look that is more easily achieved through low-maintenance, semi-permanent options," she says.
"In most cases, people are far too heavy-handed with pencils. Comb a brow gel against the hairs, fluffing them up and grooming them into place," Aynsley adds. "The less-is-more approach to brows reigns supreme—texture over flat, dull drawings wins."
What Is a Brow Gel?
Brow gels are a beauty product that uses a lacquer-like substance to help hold and shape your brows. While they've become a mainstay in many makeup brands, the tool has only recently become popular thanks to the rise in arched, feathered and lifted brow shapes.
Brow gels are available in both tinted and clear colour ways, meaning you further control the amount of product applied while adding dimension and the appearance of fuller brows.
So if, like me, you are just too damn busy to be spending your mornings wrestling a brow pencil or grooming your hairs into shape all in the name of full brows, I'm about to save you a lot of time. Keep scrolling for the 12 best brow gels that money can buy (and no, you won't need a pencil).
The Best Brow Gels, Tried and Tested
- Best Overall Brow Gel: Vieve Modern Brow Gel, £23
- Best Brow Gel for a Laminated Look: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, £23
- Best Brow Gel for Thick Hair: Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix, £27
- Best Brow Gel for Thin Hair: Dior Beauty Diorshow On Set Brow, £30
- Best Brow Gel for Fluffiness: Glossier Boy Brow, £22
1. Vieve Modern Brow Gel
Key Ingredients: A blend of elastic film formers
New from Vieve, this has quickly become deputy beauty editor Grace Lindsay's favourite brow gel of all time. "This is, hands down, the best brow gel I have ever tried. The small brush makes it easy to coat every single brow hair, and it lifts and shapes my brows in seconds. Plus, it literally never goes crispy or crunchy like so many other brow gels I have tried. It gives a natural finish, yet holds my brows in place all day long."
Pros
- Small brush coats every hair
- Holds them in place all day long
Cons
- Only available in a clear shade
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze
Key Ingredients: Glycerin
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze is the product to buy if you want that lifted and feathered look. Apply the gel to a clean spoolie, and work the product through your strands, lifting from root to tip. When you're done, run your finger along the brows in a lifting motion to secure hairs to your forehead. I have recommended this product to countless friends, and they're all equally as obsessed.
Pros
- Gives a similar effect to brow lamination
Cons
- Can be a little more fiddly to apply
3. Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix
Key Ingredients: Hair nourishing silk thread and watercress extract
I adore this brow gel. It came my way when I first got into the laminated (read: super-lifted, shiny brow hairs) look, and it seems like the perfect brow weapon. If you want a natural look that has some flexibility and movement, this product won't be for you—where you apply it, it stays. My top tip? Remove as much excess from the brush as you possibly can to avoid white flaky bits cropping up throughout the day.
Pros
- Keeps brows in place all day
Cons
- Some may prefer a more natural look
4. Dior Beauty Diorshow On Set Brow
Key Ingredients: Vitamin B5
If you have fine or thin hair that requires extra filling in, this product is for you. The small brush allows you to set hairs in place while the tint helps blend in sparse areas for a fuller look. It also doesn't cause brows to go stiff and crunchy, unlike so many others out there.
Pros
- Luxury packaging
- Small brush helps fill in fine brows
- Not crunchy
- Comes in different shades
Cons
- More expensive
5. Glossier Boy Brow
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, carnauba wax, oleic acid and collagen
Glossier's Boy Brow is widely considered to be one of the best brow gels of all time. In fact, I'd go as far as saying it was the product that put brow gels on the map. The formula is waxy and tacky, meaning it doesn't dry down on the brows; rather, it gives them a gentle but hard-wearing hold all day long. The brush is tiny, meaning it's easy to get every hair and distribute tint where you want it.
Pros
- Lots of shades available
- Small brush gets every brow
Cons
- Some may prefer a more statement finish
6. Rare Beauty Harmony Flexible Lifting Gel
Key Ingredients: Water-based formula
This Rare Beauty brow gel is beauty editor Eleanor Vousden's top choice. "Most brow gels leave my brows feeling stiff and crunchy, but this clear brow gel gently coaxes my brows into place with flexible hold and no flaking. It's really versatile, as you can sweep it through your brows for a naturally groomed look, or layer it up for a laminated effect. I've just finished my tube, which is a testament to how good it is."
Pros
- Flexible hold
- No flaking
Cons
- Only available in a clear shade
7. Merit Brow 1980
Key Ingredients: Panthenol and Kaolin clay
Another one Vousden loves is the Merit Beauty Brow 1980. "There aren't many tinted brow gels that I like, but I'll make an exception for this one from Merit Beauty. It deposits just the right amount of product into the brows to subtly volumise hairs and fill in sparse areas while locking them in place all day."
Pros
- Adds a subtle tint to the brows
- Locks them in place
Cons
- Would love to see more shades in the future
8. BareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel
Key Ingredients: A plant-based serum, powered by Red Clover Flower and peptides
This is, without doubt, my best brow discovery of the past decade. If you have thicker brow strands, it's a game-changer. With a plastic wand that really grabs onto the root of the brow, just swipe upward for a really impressive, natural-looking lift. While other brow gels sometimes require a separate spoolie to lift strands first, this clever gel does it all in one. Oh, and the cherry on the cake? It's formulated with brow-loving conditioners to keep strands soft, strong and healthy.
Pros
- Quick to apply
- Formulated with brow-loving ingredients
Cons
- Applicator can take a little while to get used to
9. E.l.F. Brow Lift
Key Ingredients: Glycerin
A great, affordable option from Elf. It works in a similar way to the Anastasia Beverly Hills product above, gives very similar results, and only costs £7. Sure, it lacks the luxury vibe of Brow Freeze, but if you're looking to save a pretty penny, this stuff is how you do it.
Pros
- Affordable
- Gives a laminated look
Cons
- Not as luxurious as other options in this roundup
10. Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued 4 Brows & Edges 2 in 1 Hair Gel
Key Ingredients: Vegan and free from silicones and alcohol
When Schwarzkopf learned that beauty buffs were using their Got2b super-hold hair gel as a brow product, they stepped up. Influencers far and wide have relied on Got2b hair gel thanks to its intense holding properties. The only downside? It's messy. To answer our brow prayers, Schwarzkopf launched its formula in a strong-hold brow gel, complete with a handy spoolie to brush strands in place. Oh, and it works a treat on edges, too.
Pros
- Affordable
- Really strong hold
Cons
- Some may prefer a more natural finish
11. Benefit Gimme Brow+ Gel
Key Ingredients: Formula is fibre-infused for added volume
Consider Benefit's products as eyebrow royalty. In fact, it was Benefit that really put the importance of good brows on the makeup map. Although Gimme Brow+ is a great product thanks to its long-wearing hold, other gels have since come on the scene that give it a run for its money. Where others can't compete, however, is in shade offering. Whatever the tint you want to go for, Gimme Brow+ has you covered.
Pros
- Large range of shades
Cons
- Not the best for that laminated look
12. Refy Brow Sculpt
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax
London-based beauty brand Refy put itself on the map with its multi-tasking Brow Sculpt— a product that combs, tames and shapes even the most stubborn eyebrows. Promising all-day hold and a flake-free finish, simply brush up with the dual-end brush before evenly dispersing the setting gel through your brows.
Pros
- Holds brows well
- Doesn't flake
Cons
- Only available in clear
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
