The 13 Best Eyebrow Growth Serums, According to Experts and Editors

Overplucked your brows? We got you.

collage of eyebrow growth serums including GrandeBROW and B.Well by Briogeo
(Image credit: Future)

One of the best pieces of beauty advice we've ever received: Put the tweezers down. But if you got a little over-eager while plucking away at stray hairs or your brow reshaping went sideways, there’s still hope. Eyebrow pencils and brow tinting, of course, offer temporary solutions, but for a more permanent fix, it's worthwhile to consider an eyebrow growth serum or gel. Not only can these products restore your pre-tweezed brows to their fullest, bushiest state, but they'll also help those with naturally sparse eyebrows, not to mention those whose eyebrows have thinned over the years.

"Over time, our eyebrows experience a decrease in density, fullness, and growth of hairs due to aging or possible other external factors," says Licensed Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) Maylen Cadenas, "such as skin conditions like eczema, hormonal changes or diet deficiencies." Utilizing an eyebrow growth serum can help mitigate or even reverse these natural effects of aging.

How does a daily swipe of clear gel work such wonders, you ask? The technology is very similar to that of eyelash serums. “Brow serums often contain peptides, biotin, keratin, oil, and other natural and active ingredients that work by supporting and strengthening the hair follicles within your brow line,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nazanin Saedi. “These ingredients also help condition and strengthen the brow hair that is present.” 

Cadenas adds that if you're using a medication or serum that incorporates Latisse, its active ingredient, bimatoprost "helps to increase the length, thickness and darkness of eyelashes and eyebrows. [Bimatoprost] works by increasing the amount of time hair follicles spend in the growth phase and by increasing the number of hairs that grow during this time."

With consistent infusion of ingredients like these, you’ll likely start to notice fuller-looking eyebrows in the coming weeks or months. Ready to embark on your journey to thicker, stronger, healthier brows? Scroll on to shop for the best eyebrow growth serums, from dermatologist-approved options to beauty editor tried-and-tested favorites.

How Do Brow Growth Serums Work?

Eyebrow serums are filled with nutrients and vitamins that target the existing hair and hair follicles to improve hair growth and overall strength. "They can repair damage from the past of over-tweezing, waxing, threading, and overworking of the brows as a teenager," brow expert Joey Healy explains, noting that pregnancy and menopause are also big hair thinning triggers. 

Thanks to ingredients like vegan keratin and (most notably) peptides, eyebrow growth serums are able to "create proteins, which are the building blocks of hair," Healy says. Over time, this leads to thicker, fuller brows. 

What to Look for in an Eyebrow Growth Serum

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Neera Nathan tells us, "It is really important to use safe, non-toxic products on the eyebrows or anywhere near the eyes. Certain ingredients, like mung bean or red clover, have shown promise to support eyebrow growth naturally."

Is a Brow Growth Serum Right for Me?

"Anyone who wants thicker, fuller brows is a great candidate," says Dr. Saedi. "Patchy brows, thin brows, and over-plucked brows will all benefit [from an eyebrow growth serum]." 

Every product we recommend below has been dermatologist-tested, but if you have super sensitive or reactive skin, always do a patch test before committing to a product. And, of course, consult with your board-certified dermatologist.

How Long Do Brow Growth Serums Take to Work?

The length of time brow growth serums take to work depends on your current brow situation—results will vary if you're a constant plucker, frequent waxer, threader, or occasional brow shaper. Healy says, "Generally, the more damaged the brow is, the more time it takes to see a maximum result."

The most important thing is to keep it up. "As with any hair growth journey, you need to be committed and consistent," says Dr. Saedi. "If you stick with it, you should see fuller, thicker brows in three months."

How Often Should I Apply Brow Growth Serum?

Make sure you're following a proper regimen for applying the serum if you want it to be effective, because consistency is key. "Most eyebrow growth serums need to be applied twice a day for six weeks and once a day after that. It's important that it needs to be for six weeks because you want to saturate the hair as all of those hairs are entering their early growth phase," says Healy.

A bonus? Healy says that most brow serums also work as eyelash serums. Nothing beats a good two-in-one!

Are Brow Growth Serums Safe?

Like anything, eyebrow growth serums can side effects in some people. "The most common side effects are eye redness, dryness, and irritation," says Cadenas. "These are usually mild and go away after a few days."

Dr. Nathan also reminds users to exercise caution with eyebrow growth serums in the same way you would with any other new skincare product. "Like anything, eyebrow growth serums can side effects in some people. Allergy or irritation can occur when using eyebrow growth serums," he says. "Before using any new product on the eyebrows or face, I recommend testing a small amount on the inside of the wrist first and waiting for two days to ensure there is no reaction before proceeding with regular use."

Still, since you're applying brow growth serums near your eyes, there are specific formulas to avoid, warns Healy. "The one thing you do want to avoid is hormones such as prostaglandins that can have bizarre effects in the eye area, including darkness underneath the eye and changing in the iris color." Dr. Nathan agrees, citing specific compounds called prostaglandin analogs, which include bitamoprost and latanaprost. "These ingredients can worsen the appearance of dark circles and also darken the natural color of the iris," he says, "which can be permanent in some cases." 

Popular brow and lash growth ingredient Latisse, for instance, can potentially cause such side effects. "Latisse can cause more severe side effects in rare cases, including changes in iris color, vision problems, and allergic reactions," Cadenas tells us. "Talking to your doctor about potential side effects before using Latisse is important.”

Finally, it's important to remember that you're using a product designed to stimulate hair growth on any skin it touches. "Keep it away from your eyes and only apply it to your brow line," warns Dr. Saedi. "If not applied carefully across the brow line, you can end up with unwanted hair in other areas."

The Best Eyebrow Growth Serums and Gels

The products on this list have either been tested and vetted by Marie Claire's E-Commerce Writer, Gabrielle Ulubay (aka yours truly), Marie Claire's Beauty Director, Deena Campbell, and Marie Claire's Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender; or have been hand-selected by a board-certified dermatologist or trichologist. Each one includes ingredients that are clinically proven to support brow growth and hydrate brows, in addition to being highly rated by reviewers. While the *best* eyebrow growth serum for you will vary based on factors such as skin type and personal preference, you truly can't go wrong with one of the items on this list. For a more personalized recommendation or if you have any concerns, check with your board-certified dermatologist or trichologist.

Meet the Experts

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Dr. Nazanin Saedi, MD FAAD

Dr. Nazanin Saedi is a leading board-certified dermatologist serving patients throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. She is a clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department Co-Chair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting. Dr. Naz specializes in a wide variety of cosmetic, medical  and surgical procedures, offering the latest, cutting edge technology and services to her patients. Dr. Naz graduated cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B in Anthropology. She attended The George Washington University School of Medicine, where she graduated with distinction and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical society. She completed her residency at the University of California, Irvine where she served as chief resident, followed by her fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery at SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

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Joey Healy

Known for his trendsetting vision and amazing technical skill, Joey Healy is one of the most influential and sought-after eyebrow specialists in the industry. With his skill for crafting the ideal arch, Joey launched his eyebrow empire in 2010 with his signature product line, Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection, following in 2011. In 2012 Joey opened his flagship Fifth Avenue Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio, a stylish eyebrow sanctuary for his jet-setting, unisex clientele. With his popularity rapidly growing, Joey expanded with a new team of brow proteges to a larger NYC location in 2015.

Maylen Cadenas
Maylen Cadenas

Maylen Cadenas is a Licensed Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) in Florida. Maylen has over ten years of experience in General and Cosmetic Dermatology, with an incredible amount of diverse knowledge of surgical, cosmetic and general dermatology.

Dr. Neera Nathan
Dr. Neera Nathan

Dr. Neera Nathan is a board-certified dermatologist currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also a contributor to Forbes Magazine and has over six years of medical experience. 

Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com. Before working with Marie Claire, Gabrielle worked in local government, higher education, and sales, and has resided in four countries and counting. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, and spent two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.

Deeply political, she believes that skincare, haircare, and sexual wellness are central tenets to one's overall health and fights for them to be taken seriously, especially for people of color. She also loves studying makeup as a means of artistic expression, drawing on her experience as an artist in her analysis of beauty trends. She's based in New York City, where she can be found watching movies or running her art business when she isn't writing. Find her on Twitter at @GabrielleUlubay or on Instagram at @gabrielle.ulubay, or follow her art at @suburban.graffiti.art