No matter what your ideal brow shape is, getting the look you desire is easier when you have enough hair there to groom. And while a pencil can certainly be used to define brows, having to rely on makeup isn’t for everyone. That’s where an eyebrow growth serum comes in. A number of formulas on the market say they may help condition brows, prevent breakage, combat thinning and even lead to potential hair growth. All you have to do is incorporate the serum into your daily skin care routine for results.
I spoke to board-certified dermatologists about the efficacy of eyebrow growth serums, what to know when using one and how to determine which one is best for you. I also gathered some of their recommendations as well as highly rated options available on the market now.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best eyebrow growth serums | Best eyebrow growth serums | How to shop for eyebrow growth serums
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How I picked the best eyebrow growth serums
An eyebrow growth serum can help improve your brow hair health, growth, density, and more. When shopping for one, our experts recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
- Ingredients: When you’re looking for an effective eyebrow growth serum, ingredients matter most. Our experts recommend ingredients that can stimulate hair growth, like peptides, and ingredients that will help condition the hair, including castor oil. More on the different types of stimulating and conditioning ingredients down below.
- Price: Eyebrow growth serums can vary in price. My list has options as low as $15 and as high as $125.
The best brow growth serums
While some of the dermatologists I spoke to had reservations about fully endorsing the efficacy of brow growth serums for growth, they did recommend several options with ingredients that have conditioning aspects or that they have seen their patients achieve success with.
Best overall: Vegamour GRO Brow Serum
- Targets hair at the root
- Improves brow appearance
- One serum can last two months
- Nothing to note at this time
When it comes to eyebrow growth serums, this option from Vegamour is one of the most successful ones for her patients, according to Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. The serum has a vegan formula with ingredients including acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and red clover extract, both of which have been shown to be helpful for hair growth, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
For the best results, apply the serum to your brows twice daily for the first two months. After using this as part of your skin care routine, you’ll see longer, denser, fuller and bolder brows, according to the brand.
Best conditioning: RevitaLash RevitaBrow Advanced
- Prevents breakage
- Improves flexibility of hairs
- Safe for. color-treated brows
- Higher price point
Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Debra Jaliman and King both recommend this option from RevitaLash, which helps combat over-grooming and chemical and environmental stressors. The formula has the brand’s proprietary BioPetin complex, a blend of peptides, biotin and green tea to condition and strengthen brows while also giving it an overall healthier appearance. Reviewers say their brows look more defined and now have a bolder and fuller look after consistently using the serum.
Best for brow health: RapidLash RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum
- Strengthens brow hair
- Improves brow hair density
- Conditions brows
- Nothing to note at this time
If you want to target all aspects of your brow, consider this serum, which comes recommended by Jaliman and King. It has peptides including octapeptide-2, copper tripeptide-1 and sh-polypeptide-1, all of which have been shown in studies to be potentially helpful for hair growth, says King. In addition to peptides, the serum has ingredients like keratin, biotin and panthenol to maintain the health and appearance of your brows and focuses on nourishing, conditioning, strengthening and softening brow hair, according to the brand.
Best budget pick: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Small applicator
- Can be irritating
The Ordinary’s water-based serum helps create and maintain thick and full eyebrows while also supporting overall health and appearance, according to the brand. Reviewers notice a slight growth, length and strength in their brows and lashes, but some say it can be irritating, so be cautious if you have reactive skin. This serum has a 4.0-star average rating from over 3,000 reviews at The Ordinary.
Most nourishing: Babe Original Brow Amplifying Serum
- Fragrance-free
- Strengthens brow hair
- Has isopropyl cloprostenate
King recommends this serum from Babe Original, which is formulated with nourishing emollients like castor oil and hyaluronic acid, which can help hydrate and thicken the appearance of brows.
You can use this brow growth serum on a nightly basis to see results, but if you have sensitive skin, use it every other night for the first two weeks so that your skin can acclimate to the product, according to the brand.
Easiest to apply: Maya Chia Power Fol Eye
- Large size
- Easy to brush through hairs
- Doubles as a brow gel
- Higher price point
This option from Maya Chia, which comes recommended by King, has peptides in the formula to stimulate hair growth and panthenol to nourish the hair. It’s safe for both your eyelashes and eyebrows and has a dual-ended applicator, making it easy to switch between applying to both areas. One side of the applicator has a fine-tip brush so you can draw a thin line at the base of your eyelashes. The other side is a spoolie brush so it can evenly distribute the product throughout your eyebrow hairs. Reviewers say the treatment doesn’t cause any irritation or itchiness.
Best for sensitive eyes: Kosas GrowPotion Fluffy Brow + Lash Boosting Serum
- Helps with length & thickness
- Safe for contact lens wearers
- Ophthalmologist-tested
- Nothing to note at this time
This hypoallergenic formula will help minimize hair breakage and loss while also giving you full and feathery brows, according to the brand. Reviewers say the doe foot applicator makes it really easy to apply to their brows, and after a month, they can see a noticeable change in brow growth and thickness. They also say that it might leave behind a residue if you apply too much, but it’s easy to remove, and the formula doesn’t irritate their eyes or skin.
Best splurge: Joey Healy Brow Renovation Serum
- Supports overall brow health
- One serum can last 2-3 months
- Strengthens current brows
- Higher price point
This paraben-free serum from Joey Healey contains peptides to stimulate hair growth and hyaluronic acid to nourish and hydrate brow hairs, says King. It also contains hydrolyzed wheat protein to add volume to your hair, according to the brand.
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How to shop for an eyebrow growth serum
Again, experts I spoke to expressed some skepticism that brow growth serums can seriously boost hair growth. However, they agreed that if they have the right ingredients, they can help improve the condition of the hair that’s already there and even help to create an environment that encourages new growth.
Below are a few ingredients you’ll likely encounter in your search, along with notes on their efficacy and tips on what to avoid.
Ingredients for growth:
- Peptides: Peptides and amino acids are stimulants that can promote hair growth, according to Jaliman and Green.
- Biotin: Many brow growth serums contain biotin, a form of vitamin B commonly taken orally to help with hair and nail growth, rather than topically, like in a brow serum. While biotin is a safe ingredient and won’t cause any damage, using it topically may not always be the most effective solution, according to our experts.
Ingredients for follicle conditioning:
- Hyaluronic acid: This popular skin-care ingredient is a humectant that can help hydrate and thicken the appearance of the hair and coats the follicles but won’t promote growth, says Green. It can also help condition the brows and prevent breakage, according to King.
- Castor oil: Like hyaluronic acid, castor oil can provide some conditioning that improves the flexibility of the hair fiber, says King. However, no studies show castor oil directly causes hair growth, she says.
- Argan oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E and D: The dermatologists we spoke to agree that these ingredients are safe and effective. They will help eyebrow health but not promote hair growth.
Ingredients to avoid:
You may want to be cautious using an eyebrow growth serum if it has prostaglandins because they often have side effects like irritation, according to our experts. Prostaglandins are hormone-like compounds produced by the body in response to various stimuli that affect bodily processes, says King. However, prostaglandins are associated with a risk of orbital fat loss — a side effect that can lead to the appearance of sunken or hollow-looking eyes, she says. While these are effective in causing growth for your lashes and brows, you may want to avoid that potential side effect and instead consider formulations that are peptide-based or contain botanical DHT blockers.
Some examples of prostaglandins include s — Isopropyl cloprostenate, Isopropanol Phenyl-hydroxyl-pentene, Dihydroxy-cyclopentyl-heptenate, Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide and Trifluoromethyl Dechloro Ethylprostenolamide.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Michele Green is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Debra Jaliman is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and author of “Skin Rules.”
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a former product reviewer and editor for NBC Select, where I covered beauty and wellness topics. For this article, I interviewed three board-certified dermatologists and gathered their expert recommendations.
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