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17 of the best eyebrow products – Brow pencils, powders and gels tested
And we are four of the pickiest editors...
Looking for the best eyebrow pencil? Need a setting gel that will actually tame your hairs? How about a brow kit that will help build a flawless arch? I don't know about you, but I, personally speaking, have always been a bit overwhelmed with options when it comes to brows. I like my arches neat but not Insta-perfect, fluffy but not OTT bushy, and tamed but not stuck to my face. So, finding a brow product that ticks all those boxes can feel like trying to find your soulmate on Tinder... trust us, we've all been there.
And like fish in the sea, there are a whole lot of options out there, so, in an attempt to make things a little simpler, we've tried some of the UK's most popular brow products.
Yep, if you're into the super-sharp Insta 'brow, it's well worth picking up Anastasia Beverly Hills' DipBrow Pomade. The formula is beyond pigmented and can be used to add definition to sparse patches whilst the waxy texture helps set hairs into a smooth arch.
Prefer something a little fluffier? Well, Glossier's Boy Brow gives a tint that fills in any gaps, leaving brows looking even whilst also setting hairs in place – perfect if you're after that brushed-up look.
But, if you're after the ultimate multi-tasker, try Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift Pencil; it has a soft, pigmented formula, that glides on easily and adds definition wherever needed. It also has a built-in spoolie brush. An all-round win-win.
So, whatever floats your brow boat, these are Cosmopolitan's top-rated picks for sculpting a flawless arch.
Best eyebrow makeup
Pros
- Nice applicator; easy to create a 'lifted' look
Cons
- Hold isn't quite as long-lasting as others
Formula: A lightweight gel that helps to keep your brows from drooping – cancel that brow lamination appointment, appaz LP has come to the rescue!
Shade range: Clear
Our thoughts: Want that laminated lewk for less? Look to L’Oréal Paris next time you’re in Boots or Superdrug because this clear gel isn’t much over a tenner. The hold is fairly decent, the little brush is easy to use and comb through your brow hairs, and the finish is clear and not crusty. All pretty ideal, in my book.
Pros
- Incredible, lasting hold; nice angled doe foot brush
Cons
- Will flake if you touch it after its set
Formula: They say, "Create the look of a salon brow treatment at home with PATRICK TA's Major Brow Lamination Gel"
Shade range: Clear
Our thoughts: A little brow pencil followed by this is my current everyday brow combo for that lasting “brushed up” look. The angled doe foot makes shaping your brows just so a breeze.
I will say that, with this one, you should work one brow at a time because once it’s set, it’s set for the day. It’s not flexible, so you don’t want to brush it after this point or you’ll see it all flake it off. But IMO, its hold is unrivalled and I like that there’s a mini version, too for my fellow space-saving fans. How adorbs?
Pros
- Lasts well; natural-looking shades; built-in spoolie
Cons
- Quite expensive
Formula: They say, "Create structure with versatile Brow Perfector. Its retractable, oval-shaped tip delivers soft, hair-like strokes for effortless building and blending. On the other end, a durable spoolie brush diffuses to perfection. Flexible formula. Natural finish."
Shades: Six
Our thoughts: I have so many brow pencils that I love but this is a clear frontrunner at the moment; I’ve gone back to it time after time and its in my everyday makeup bag RN.
Luxe artistry brand NARS makes one of the top pencils, in my opinion, because Brow Perfector comes in true-to-life shades and does not migrate all over the place through the day, even on my very (very) oily brows. Tens across the board.
Pros
- No longer goes flaky on brows; invisible finish; built-in dual-sided comb
Cons
- Kinda pricey
Formula: They say, "Delivers 12-hour sculpted hold with a flake-free, zero-residue formula"
Shades: Clear
Our thoughts: OK, so this had a little makeover recently. We love when a brand takes on and actions feedback! It’s always been my personal fave of the trio of Refy brow products, but now it’s noticeably better.
I always wipe away excess product from the little brush, but it does not clump and once you brush it through with the double-sided brush in the cap, you cannot see it at all (which was the main critique before). Super lightweight and I’d go as far as to say I’d even wear it without any pencil. A bold claim for me!
Pros
- Super affordable; volumising results
Cons
- Could offer more shades
Formula: They say, "Get full, voluminous-looking brows with this buildable, fibre-infused brow gel. This wax-gel hybrid formula adheres to brow hairs and brushes them into place while depositing hair-like fibres for fuller-looking brows that wow."
Shades: Four
Our thoughts: A high street honey if ever we’ve known one, this six quid e.l.f. buy gets you volumised, thicker-looking brows in less than 30 secs. Despite the brush looking like it’s fairly loaded with product when you unscrew this, the formula itself doesn’t go all claggy or clumpy while applying it. It’s easy to coat your brows with the right amount for that full, fluffy finish.
Pros
- Literally lasts all damn day
Cons
- Not cheap!
Formula: We thought ABH had done it all; they hit the peak of 'brows; they single-handedly changed the makeup game circa 2016, never to be the same again. But their latest formula *cough* see the above *cough*, begs to differ with an eyebrow innovation like no other. The sticky and thick yet workable consistency sculpts and sets brows with extreme hold and precision. So, with winds up to [insert absurd number, here] 100mph in the UK, you best believe your peeper shaders will stay put all day.
Shade range: N/A clear.
Packaging and design: While I am one to fangirl over packaging (she does, indeed, judge a book by its cover), it’s actually the wand design itself that has me reaching for this product daily. Not only does it have a dual action comb applicator but the flat part of the wand helps to firmly press hairs in their place.
Our thoughts: If you're a bushy brow'ed girl and have lots of hair to work with, I would highly recommend this product. The long length of bristles are so easy to work with and the formula itself really does keep my hairs in place all day. Plus, it doesn't crust or flake!
This product is available in our Summer Beauty Box with Boots, which costs just £55 but is worth over £280! Shop here!
Pros
- Delivers bold, creamy pigment
- Remains in place all day
- The wax formula can be blended with the spoolie for a natural look
Cons
- Requires frequent sharpening so the pencil draw thin, realistic lines
- It’s a little spenny
Formula: They say: “A wax-based formula for smudge-proof, long lasting colour, dual-ended with a spoolie tamer brush for seamless blending.”
Shade range: Five
Packaging and design: I mean, it’s a standard pencil really – but, a good one at that! The dual-ended pencil holds the formula at one end and a spoolie at the other.
Our thoughts: I know it’s a little spenny for a brow pencil, but it’s £22 I’d happily spend every time. The shade Cool Brown is the perfect hue to fill out my brows with smudge-proof colour that lasts the entire day. Plus, the creamy pigment glides on without dragging!
Naturally, the pencil is most effective when freshly sharpened as it creates the illusion of fine brow hairs – and this helps with precision – so just make sure you have a good sharpener on hand.
Pros
- Creates the look of natural, fluffy brows – and ones that are easy to draw on
- It's affordable
Cons
- Needs to be layered up for a more dramatic, bolder look
Formula: Brand new from L’Oréal Paris, the Infallible Faux Brow pen does exactly what it says on the tin – it creates the illusion of natural brows and no one will ever believe they’re drawn on. Of course, the design is interesting (there’s more on that to come) but let’s discuss the formula. It’s described as semi-permanent so it sticks on all day without smudging, flaking or transferring from sweat or water. But dw, it comes off easily with makeup remover.
Shade range: Six
Packaging and design: Now this is a brow pen like you’ve never seen before. The two-pronged pen may look slightly intimidating, but it’s actually an incredibly easy tool to create the illusion of fine brow hairs. The two prongs are very thin, so you’ll draw on fine, delicate lines (and with precision) to perfect your arches.
Our thoughts: As someone with sparse brows, filling them in without looking like I’ve got two thick caterpillars crawling across my forehead was always a challenge, but this pen fills my arches to look natural and fluffy. It’s the pen I reach for when I want natural brows for a day-to-day look, however for the evening I often double up with a pencil to add on a bit more pigment.
Formula: They say: “This revolutionary gel, combined with its innovative 2 sides applicator, ensures enhanced performance and longer staying power like never before.”
Shade range: Clear
Packaging and design: IMO, the performance of a brow gel rests in the applicator – and this one truly impresses. Instead of a classic spoolie wand, the Brow Aid Lift & Lock has an innovative micro fibre sponge on one side to apply the gel, and stiff bristles on the other to brush out the product. This allows you to precisely sculpt and lock down hairs and mould them into the shape you want.
Our thoughts: This brow gel is a game changer – and that’s coming from a girl who’s never fussed by brow gels. Unlike most, I can actually feel the formula locking down my hairs but without feeling tight or crunchy on my forehead. It literally holds them in place all day. And the gel is completely clear so it doesn’t leave any sort of residue.
Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Waterproof, Smudge Proof Brow Pomade 4g
Formula: Anastasia Beverly Hills' Dip Brow is a cream-pomade that gives a super-pigmented dose colour along with a light hold that keeps arches looking groomed. The soft formula is super versatile, take a light-handed approach for a natural finish or build it up for a fuller, bolder brow.
Shade range: Available in 11 shades, from blonde to auburn to black.
Packaging and design: There's not much too it really, but I like that. Simple and easy, the little pot is good for travelling and holds 4 grams of product.
Our thoughts: I wasn't expecting to like this. I know Anastasia Beverly Hills is THE brow brand, but I've always thought of Dip Brow as being incredibly intense - only to be used if you want that super-sharp 'Instagram brow'. As much as I appreciate how cool a bold brow can be, it's just not very me. I like a soft, natural-looking brow. All that being said, I was surprised by how much I liked this pomade.
It's incredibly pigmented, but flexible enough to be softened with a spoolie brush. I found the cream gave my brows a defined finish without looking too harsh. Plus it lasts for-ever."
Formula: The ultra-fine point pencil means you can easily draw on individual hairs to give the appearance of a thicker, fuller arch. Plus it's great if you have fine brows and need precision when it comes to filling in sparse spots. The spoolie works a treat for dispersing product and leaving brows looking groomed but natural.
Shade range: There's a cool eight shades, including blonde, auburn and black.
Packaging and design: Simple, but it works. The twist-up pencil holds 0.9grams of products, and luckily you don't have to faff around with a sharpener.
Our thoughts: There's a fine line (literally) between defining your eyebrows and drawing them on, but luckily the spoolie works perfectly for blurring away any harsh lines and giving a natural finish. The tiny pencil is great for adding pigment to any sparse spots, and I liked that overall my brows still looked relatively makeup-free.
Formula: If you've got a heavy hand (no, because same), then you may want to proceed with caution because this 'brow gel may be small in size but it sure does pack a punch when it comes to pigment. And to prove it's power, it's a firm favourite of Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner.
Shade range: There are a whopping 10 shades to choose from but if you still can't find colour, fear not for the brand also have this very formula in a clear gel.
Packaging and design: At first, I did think the wand on this brush was too small for my slug-like (in the best way poss) 'brows. But after some trialling, I couldn't love it any more. Plus, it holds 3.7g of product.
Our thoughts: Now, as someone who has experienced the torture that is bleached brow regrowth (read: George Clooney's salt and pepper locks), I can vouch that this is your best bet for camouflage. One sheet swipe does plenty, as they say.
Oh, and if that hadn't sold ya, it's the product that all my friends steal from me!
Formula: Glossier describe it as an 'all-in-one brow fluffer, filler, and shaper' and I think that's a pretty accurate description, TBH. The tinted gel gives a thickness to brow hairs that makes the arch appear fuller, it also has impressive hold, giving that oh-so cute brushed up finish.
Shade range: There's five to choose from. Brown, Black, Blonde, Auburn and Clear.
Packaging and design: Simple but chic. The teeny-tiny brush is perfect for thin brows that need a little extra precision. The tube holds 3.12 grams of product.
Our thoughts: I love a natural, brushed-up brow look, so this gel worked a treat. It gave a long-lasting lift to the hairs, whilst filling in any sparse spots and leaving my brows looking thicker. Glossier's approach to 'no makeup makeup' worked out with Boy Brow, I like that it doesn't look like I'm wearing a lot of product in my eyebrows, instead they just look a little better than they usually do.
Formula: Benefit's Gimme Brow is a must-have for the time poor, the tinted gel has tiny micro-fibres that add faux thickness in just a swipe. It fills in patches, sets hairs in place and adds volume.
Shade range: There are eight shades to choose from, including a range of warm and cool undertones.
Packaging and design: You get 3 grams worth of product in this cute tube, plus the tiny brush is great for taming fine hairs.
Our thoughts: I love this. You can barely tell I have product in my brows, they look so natural! The formula gives thickness whilst seamlessly filling in the sparse gaps. The brown shade matched my own eyebrow colour perfectly, plus it kept the hairs brushed up all day.
Formula: If you want an eyebrow definer that comes with all the frills and fancy, Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift is for you. The rectangle pencil can be used to draw on singular hairs for a feathery finish or to shade in sparser patches for a fuller effect. There's a spoolie on the end which can be used to diffuse the pigment and give a soft finish.
Shade range: Four colour ways, from blonde taupe to black.
Packaging and design: The built-in highlighter is the star of the show here, simply unscrew the middle of the pencil to add a touch of glow to your brows. All in all the product holds 0.6 grams.
Our thoughts: The pencil itself is soft but subtle, so the colour/intensity can be built gradually.
Formula: Finding the perfect clear brow gel is no easy task. You need a strong-hold formula that'll lock down unruly hairs (and keep them in place all day), without being heavy, sticky or crispy. That's where Givenchy's Mister Brow Groom comes in, the light, budge-proof formula sets hair in place and keeps them there no matter what.
Shade range: The clear shade is universal, so can be used over any tinted brow product.
Packaging and design: The curved wand catches and sets hairs in one swipe. You get 5.5ml of product in each tube.
Our thoughts: I used this over my everyday eyebrow pencil, as I would with any other clear brow gel. It set down my hairs and kept them in place all day - without flaking or feel crispy.The wet formula does take a minute or two to dry down, but this really didn't bother me.
Formula: The idea of using an eyebrow marker pen may sound weird, but stay with me. The three-pronged tip allows for easy, natural-looking strokes. The liquid formula dries down quickly, so it's smudge-proof and long lasting.
Shade range: There are six shades, ranging from dark to light.
Packaging and design: The innovative pen hold 2grams of ink. The tip gives super-fine hair strokes with each swipe.
Our thoughts: I found this pen a little tricky at first, it's ultra-pigmented - just like a regular felt tip, so you have to approach the brows with an incredibly light touch. Once I'd mastered the light hand it was easy enough to add some definition to my brows. The ashy shade is perfect for brunettes who are sick of buying eyebrow products that leave a warm/orange cast.
How we tested the best eyebrow products
When reviewing the best eyebrow products, I revisited longtime faves that I’ve worn for many full days and new-to-me contenders – which I wore for at least several hours, ideally a full day or evening out. I always keep an eye out for things like flaking, smudging, colour fade and hold (depending on the product type) to see how well they wear, as well as what they look like when freshly applied.
As for removal, depending on how heavy-duty the product was, I took them off with either micellar water as my first cleanse, or a more powerful makeup remover or cleanser. Easy peasy.
Why trust us?
Together, Lia, Vic, Keeks and Lucy have tested hundreds of eyebrow products over the years and, combined, have over three decades in the beauty industry. It's what gives them an good eye for a complete dud and an absolute winner whether they are testing gels, tints, eyebrow pencils or waxes.
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
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