“Eyebrow gel is the easiest way to tame brows and make them look fuller and groomed,” says makeup artist Tasha Brown, who works with Yara Shahidi, Logan Browning, and Maggie Betts. “I use clear brows gel and brush brows upwards and out for basic grooming. My go-to technique is to use a brow powder and create small, hair-like strokes in the direction the hair grows in the brows. Then I finish with a generous coating of tinted brow gel for a clean, believable effect." Her favorite gel is none other than the cult-favorite Glossier Brow Boy. Here, Boy Brow and 12 other gels that will keep your brow game strong. Science tells us that our brows are the most important part of our face. Beauty experts tell us that they’re also the most challenging feature to get right because they’re the only makeup you’re always wearing. This just got complicated. The array of taming and perfecting eyebrow products are certainly not lacking, but it can still be difficult to achieve a balanced, symmetrical look. From the arch to the shape and fullness of eyebrows, there are myriad concerns when it comes to grooming them, and let’s be honest, deciding between the different kinds of tools—no less figuring out what you’re supposed to be using—is extremely overwhelming. There’s pencils, markers, powders, gels, tinted gels, pomades, waxes, brushes, combs, scissors, We asked experts to lay down the basics around common brow tools so that you know exactly how and when to use them—whether your arches are thick, sparse, light, dark, or anything in between. Ahead, we break down the best eyebrow tools for Insta-worthy brows. You can use all kinds of products to fill your brows with color, but few offer the hair-like precision of a pencil no matter what kind of arches you naturally have. "I’ve tried every brow product under the sun, and the only type of product that fills them in realistically is a soft, waxy pencil. This is why most experts will say that pencils are the most essential brow product to have on hand. "They’re great because you can define your brows and increase or decrease your intensity easily. You want to use very light strokes that mimic your own brow hairs. Be patient and take the time to layer the strokes if you’d like to increase the saturation, as Bhatty says, for the most realistic-looking results.
- Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil
- Alima Pure Natural Definition Brow Pencil
- MAC Veluxe Brow Liner
“Brow Powder creates a shadow underneath the hair of the brows, which makes them appear fuller, more dense, and defined,” says makeup artist Michael Anthony. You need both the right color and the right brush, says Bhatty, who likes Smashbox’s Brow Brush define-groom-brow-brush) ($20). “It’s firm and dense so it really allows you to deposit product in a concise, targeted way.” Simply sweep on a bit of powder over your arches, layering, and refining with the brush until you reach your desired shape and color. Still, once you have the right products on hand, don’t be intimidated. “Powder brow products are the easiest because you can control the amount applied and clean up is much easier if you make a mistake,” says celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin , who has worked with Kate Bosworth and Chloë Sevigny. - It Cosmetics Brow Power Powder
- NYX Cosmetics Eyebrow Cake Powder
“It’s like hair spray for your eyebrows,” says Anthony, who adds that it’s a must-have for those with thick brows, as it helps tame and lock hairs into place for a simple, groomed look. “You can give your arches a little oomph without having to pencil them in,” adds Bhatty. It’s pretty foolproof—you’re just combing the existing hairs into the shape of your choice. Our go-to method comes from guru Kristie Streicher who advises brushing the fronts of the brows up, and the “tails” of the arches up and out for a natural-looking shape. - Lime Crime Bushy Brow Gel ($18)
- Dior Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Brow) ($27)
Pomades are slightly different from gels in that they don’t lock hairs in quite as firmly, but instead, emphasize texture and definition and offer some hold. It helps thick, dark brows look striking without the help of other products, but can amp up lighter arches as well., like Glossier’s Boy Brow. - Surratt Beauty Expressioniste Brow Pomade ($30)
- Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade ($21)
“Markers add more pigment and precision to create shape and depth,” says Martin, who has been using the above Japanese product for years. “They’re great for someone who wants a really long-wearing and defined looking shape,” adds Anthony. Those with very light or sparse brows might want to try out markers, as they’re a quick way to create arches out of thin air. you can’t get movie star brows on the first try. Choose a formula with a light, almost sheer pigment. Bhatty recommends borrowing the technique of a pencil: Apply in light, hair-like strokes that complement the growth direction of the hair, to make it look natural. - Glossier Brow Flick ($18)
- Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow ($22)
Whether you’re all about the Insta look or want to enhance the brows you’ve got getting your hands on the best eyebrow makeup and tools will have a major impact on your final outcome. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Brows have been the center of attention for a few years now (thank Cara Delevingne), and with that obsession has come an absurd amount of eyebrow products. It’s no longer just about threading about-eyebrow-threading) or waxing—or microblading but that’s a whole other thing—now we’ve got shelves of options to consider. What makes finding the best eyebrow makeup even more tricky are all the personal factors at play. Everything from your skin type to your hair color to how badly you overplucked back in the day (thank the nineties) can have an effect on which powder or pomade works best. So we turned it over to our editors to find out exactly which brow products they’re using for their specific concerns. From a game-changing conditioning serum to an award-winning brow pencil, here are the glowing recommendations we got back.