Like, do they even work?
Literally Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Eyebrow Serums
Possibly the only thing I regret more than trying to shape my brows in middle school (and plucking off the entire tail of them) is spending $100 on an eyebrow growth serum that did nothing to fix my mistakes. But because I've seen enough convincing before-and-after photos of brow formulas that have worked, I've decided to not give up on them just yet (that, and I'm also not ready to spend the cash on microblading, so here we are). Instead, I turned to Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, to help me figure out whether or not there are eyebrow growth serums that'll give me the brows of my dreams (though, let's be honest, I'd settle for normal-looking ones, too).
What is the best eyebrow growth serum?
If you want a product that's proven to be effective for actual hair growth, you gotta see a doctor. Why? Because the only serum that's FDA approved for hair growth is Latisse (yes, that's the eyelash-growth serum), and it's only available by prescription. Latisse contains the very effective ingredient bimatoprost, which helps grow lash and brow hairs. Buuut, it also has potential side effects, like irritation and rashes, which is why you need to consult your doc before using it.
Cool, so what about the billions of other eyebrow growth serums you see all over Instagram that don't require a prescription? Let's discuss.
Do eyebrow growth serums actually work?
Yes and no. Here's the thing: The effectiveness of eyebrow growth serums totally depends on what your idea of "works" is. Is that random serum your high school friend swears by going to transform your skimpy tadpole arches into thick, Lily Collins-level brows? Nope, not even a little. But will they make your natural brows look a little better, thicker, and healthier? Potentially yes.
"Most of the latest non-prescription brow serums are designed to improve the thickness of each brow hair, and, depending on the formula, can maybe even improve growth," says Dr. Mariwalla. Basically, they can make your eyebrow area a healthier, happier place, which, in turn, can encourage even better eyebrow growth. Still, don't expect overnight results: Dr. Mariwalla explains that you could be waiting anywhere from 3-6 months before you notice any visible changes.
If you do wanna try your hand at non-prescription brow serums, Dr. Mariwalla suggests looking for formulas with biotin and panthenol, both of which help nourish the hair, antioxidants, amino acids, keratin, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. And because I know nobody has the time or energy to pour of product labels, I went ahead and did it for you. Ahead, the 13 eyebrow growth serums actually worth trying.
$29.99
Consistency is key for most products to work, but making something a habit is easier said than done. Enter: this eyebrow growth serum and brow-gel hybrid. Use it to style your brow hairs and set them in place, and it'll simultaneously work to improve the condition of your brows, thanks to vitamin E and aloe vera.
This Dermatologist-Favorite Eyebrow Serum
$110.00
You might already be familiar with the sister product, RevitaLash, and maybe you even use it make your eyelashes grow, but if you're looking for something specifically designed for brows, Dr. Mariwalla recommends trying this version. It's got peptides, biotin, and panthenol that'll help strengthen your lil brow hairs.
This Brow-Thickening Serum
$39.99
If you're looking for the best brows of your life (aren't we all), give this conditioning formula a try. Forty bucks ain't a bad price for a formula that's comes highly recommended by Dr. Mariwalla and is full of brow-nourishing ingredients to look for: vitamins (like panthenol and biotin), polypeptides, amino acids, and keratin.
This Eyebrow Booster for Sensitive Eyes
$30.00
You (and every single makeup artist) already know and love the face moisturizer from this brand, but this eyelash and eyebrow booster is also worth checking out. Another top pick by Dr. Mariwalla, this formula uses peptides, panthenol, and antioxidants to make your brows look and feel fuller, stronger, and healthier. It's also gentle, so all you contact wearers and peeps with sensitive eyes, this one goes to you.
This Affordable Brow Serum
$13.49
If you wanna test brow serums without spending a ton of money, I highly recommend starting off with a drugstore makeup product like this one from CoverGirl. It has exactly what you want in a brow serum: an easy-to-use applicator and ingredients like biotin and peptides.
This Conditioning Brow and Lash Serum
$48.00
This serum is packed with plant peptides, panthenol, cannabis sativa seed oil (aka hemp seed oil, which is full of antioxidants) and other natural ingredients to support hair health and improve the condition of brows and lashes that could use a little pick-me-up.
The Eco-Friendly Brow Serum
$25.95
Your brows and lashes will love this serum because it contains the humectant panthenol, along with two peptides that encourage the production of keratin, and the antioxidant green tea extract. You'll love it because it's also an eco-friendly product that's been certified by Amazon as climate-pledge friendly.
This Easy-to-Use Eyebrow Serum
$100.00
The packaging isn't the most important quality of this brow serum, but the double-sided applicator with a brush tip, eyebrow brush, and comb is definitely worth noting. It's a little on the pricier side, but with a formula that contains so many good ingredients, like keratin, biotin, panthenol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, it's worth a try IMO.
This Eyebrow-Enhancing Serum
$36.00
Amino acids, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-packed grapeseed extract—what doesn't this eyebrow growth serum have in its formula? Once you swipe this on your sparse brows for a few months (hey, I told you this stuff takes time), you'll see why it's one of the top-rated brow serums.
This Amazon-Favorite Brow Growth Serum
$29.89
I can't decide which is more impressive, the affordable price tag on this eyelash and brow serum, or the 40,000+ Amazon reviews. You could get a super-fancy eyebrow pencil to fill in your sparse brows every day, oooor just spend the same amount of money on this serum. Decisions, decisions.
This Oil-Free Eyebrow Serum
$32.00
Full of peptides and panthenol and free of gluten, fragrance, and parabens, this eyebrow-growth serum can be used to strengthen both brows and lashes. And if you do choose to use it for your lashes, you'll be happy to know this oil-free formula is safe to apply on lash extensions, too.
This Vegan Brow Growth Serum
$30.00
If you prefer vegan products, grab a bottle of this eyebrow growth serum and conditioner, which is 100 percent natural and made to order in small batches. Inside, you'll find ingredients like vitamin E, black seed oil (which is high in antioxidants), moisturizing castor oil, and rosemary essential oil, which may help stimulate hair growth.
This Natural Brow Growth Serum
$95.00
Another great option if you like natural beauty products, this 100 percent natural brow serum includes organic ingredients, like aloe vera and castor oil, as well as honey extract (a humectant) and vitamin E (an antioxidant) to make your brows look thicker.
This story originally appeared on: Cosmopolitan - Author:Brooke Shunatona
