Brows are getting fluffier and fluffier from year to year, and we think Glossier is partially responsible for the trend. Glossier Boy Brow is an iconic eyebrow gel that keeps brows looking full and feathery but not conspicuously made up.
It’s a phenomenal product for any bushy brow lover, but it’s not cheap nor widely available. If you’d like to achieve the same results Boy Brow offers but for a little less money, then you’ll appreciate this guide. We’ve selected the best Glossier Boy Brow dupes for groomed but fluffy supermodel brows. We analyze these dupes based on the same factors that make Boy Brow so iconic, so you can easily find your new eyebrow Holy Grail.
Why Buy a Glossier Boy Brow Dupe?
Glossier practically invented the “cool girl” trend. It’s a variation on the “no makeup” look, with dewy skin, flushed lips, and bushy eyebrows. But what do you do if your brows aren’t naturally full and boyish? You pick up a product like Boy Brow, of course!
Boy Brow is an eyebrow wax that comes in a tube, with a teeny-tiny spoolie that allows you to brush each hair up to perfection. Because of its thick texture yet soft pigmentation, Boy Brow goes on easily, covers each brow hair thoroughly, yet never looks too dark. That means you never have to worry about over-applying.
It gives the brows a bit of color and helps them stay in place with a medium hold. It’s useful whether you like the trendy brushed-up look or prefer a more timeless diagonal brush.
It’s available in 4 colors and 1 clear version:
- Blonde is a honey-yellow blonde shade
- Auburn is a light orange-brown designed for redheads
- Brown is a milk-chocolate brown
- Black is more of a dark charcoal shade
- Clear goes on white but dries clear
However, there are a few good reasons why you might want a Glossier Boy Brow dupe. Boy Brow can be hard to source since it’s sold through very few retailers beyond the Glossier website. There’s also the simple but important question of price. Boy Brow isn’t extremely expensive, but it’s definitely not cheap, especially when you consider that a tube only holds 0.11 Oz. of product.
For these reasons, we want to give you a few more options. We’ve done the research, and selected the best Glossier Boy Brow dupes to amp up your brows.
Top 3 Glossier Boy Brow Dupes
1. Best Overall Dupe: NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Tinted Brow Mascara
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.22 Oz.
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
- Shade Range: 5
Performance
The Tinted Brow Mascara from NYX is our top Glossier Boy Brow dupe. This formula comes closest to the original Boy Brow but at a fraction of the cost.
It has the same light pigmentation that makes it so great for a subtle, natural look. It also has that same slightly thick, waxy texture that holds the brows in place without looking crispy or drying down too hard.
The only major application difference between the two products is the wand itself, where Glossier is the winner. The NYX wand is about double the size of the Boy Brow’s, which can be unwieldy. If your brows are naturally quite large, this might be a time-saver, but for most users, it just makes the application messier.
Shade Match
As for the colors, some shades are more similar than others, so this should help you find the correct Boy Brow dupe for your coloring:
- NYX Blonde is just a touch lighter than Boy Brow in Blonde
- NYX Brunette is nearly identical to Boy Brow in Brown
- NYX Chocolate is similar but a touch browner than the reddish Boy Brow in Auburn
- NYX Black is a brown-black while Boy Brow in black is a soft charcoal-black
- Finally, the NYX tinted mascara is also available in an Espresso shade for which there is no comparable Boy Brow shade.
- NYX also sells a separate clear eyebrow gel with a polymer-based formula that offers a stronger hold.
Value
When it comes to price, NYX easily beats out Glossier. The Tinted Brow Mascara comes in a tube that’s double the size of Boy Brow yet retails for half the price. This makes it an incredibly affordable option, especially if you use your brow gel on a daily basis.
Pros
- Nearly identical to Boy Brow
- Natural-looking formula
- Similar color range to Boy Brow
- Extremely affordable
Cons
- Larger, unwieldy wand
2. Best Fiber-Infused Dupe: E.L.F. Wow Brow
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.12
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Shade Range: 5
Performance
E.L.F. is another great budget-friendly brand with a reputation for “being inspired” by high-end brands. It’s clear that Boy Brow was the muse behind Wow Brow, and this dupe definitely delivers.
The ingredient list isn’t identical to Boy Brow, but it still results in a similar waxy texture and soft pigmentation. It colors and sets the brow hairs well while still looking soft and fluffy. We find that it’s even an hour or two more long-lasting than Boy Brow.
However, this is not an identical dupe. Unlike Boy Brow, Wow Brow is infused with fibers, which add a fluffier and even more volumizing effect. Some shoppers will love it, but for others, the end result might be a little too dramatic when compared to the subtle Boy Brow.
Another, smaller difference is that Wow Brow is infused with kaolin clay, which gives it a slightly drier feel right from the start. Some users may find the result a little powdery, although those with oily skin might actually prefer it. Despite the texture, Wow Brow is actually made without beeswax, so it’s a great option for vegans!
Finally, the Wow Brow brush is just a little larger than Boy Brow, although it’s still small and easy to use. Both have a tapered shape that makes precise applications simple.
Shade Match
Some of the Wow Brow shades are better Glossier dupes than others, so here is a quick comparison to help you choose.
- L.F.’s Taupe is similar to Blonde but it’s a touch more neutral
- L.F.’s Neutral Brown is almost identical to Brown
- L.F.’s Brunette is a reddish-brown similar but a touch darker than Auburn
- L.F.’s Deep Brown is a deep chocolate brown that doesn’t have a Boy Brow equivalent
- L.F.’s Black is a good match for Glossier’s Black
Value
The quantity of product in a Wow Brow tube is similar to Boy Brow, but depending on where you purchase it, you can expect it to cost anywhere from a third to a quarter of the original.
Pros
- Vegan-friendly alternative
- Added fluffiness thanks to fibers
- Retains soft and natural appearance
- Affordable
Cons
- Slightly powdery finish
- Slightly more dramatic than Boy Brow
3. Best Long-Wearing Dupe: Essence Make Me Brow
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.13
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Shade Range: 5
Performance
While many hail the Essence Make Me Brow as a Boy Brow dupe, we’d argue the two formulas are actually quite different. Despite that, Make Me Brow is a fantastic product, and you might even like it more than the original Boy Brow.
Make Me Brow has a lighter, more liquidy formula compared to the waxy Boy Brow. It relies on strong-hold polymers, kind of like waterproof eyeliner, so it stays put incredibly well. The drawback to this is that the hairs can feel a little harder and look a little shinier, as opposed to the soft, fluffy look of Boy Brow. It’s like the difference between a hair spray and a pomade, so the final result is very neat as opposed to the intentional messiness of the Boy Brow aesthetic.
For additional volume, this eye gel is also infused with tiny, hair-like fibers. When you sweep it on, those fibers adhere to your brow hairs, making the brows look even fuller. The fibers can clump together if you’re not careful, so we recommend a slower application.
The final wear difference is the pigmentation. Make Me Brow is just a little more pigmented than Boy Brow, although it’s not so pigmented that it’ll make your brows look too dark.
As for the application, Essence has a slightly thinner but longer brush than Boy Brow, and we find that both are very easy to use.
Shade Match
As you’ll soon see, the names of the Make Me Brow shades are a little silly. The shades themselves, however, are very nice. Here’s how they compare to the Boy Brow color range:
- Blondy Brows is similar but slightly more ashy than Blonde
- Soft Browny Brows is a touch lighter and more yellow-based than Brown
- Ashy Brows is a dark brown that’s similar but more neutral-cool than Brow
- Chocolatey Brows is similar but slightly deeper than Auburn
- Browny Brows is a touch lighter but has the same charcoal vibe as Black
Value
A tube of Make Me Brow holds just a little more product than a Boy Brow tube, but it’s about a fifth of the cost. You can probably pick one up even if you’re on the tightest budget, and if you don’t love it, no harm done.
Pros
- Great hold and longevity
- Fibers make brows look fuller
- Great for a very neat look
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not actually a close dupe
- Can get a little clumpy
- Looks less fluffy and natural
Finding Your Dream Boy Brow Dupe
Boy Brow may be a tiny product, but there are a lot of factors that make it special. This is what we considered when choosing the best Boy Brow dupes.
Performance
The way an eyebrow gel like Boy Brow performs depends on a complex combination of factors, which we’ll discuss here briefly.
Texture
Boy Brow has a waxy texture that dries down to a soft finish. Few brands are able to replicate it exactly, but the NYX Tinted Brow Mascara comes closest.
Pigmentation
Boy Brow offers a softer level of pigmentation, so it colors the brows but never makes them too dark. Once again, the NYX Tinted Brow Mascara offers the best match.
Hold
Boy Brow doesn’t have the strongest hold or longevity. It’s more than adequate, especially for those with fine, easy-to-manipulate brows. Most of the dupes on our list offer similar results, but Essence Make Me Brow actually surpasses Boy Brow.
Brush
Glossier has a tiny, tapered brush that allows for a precise application. You rarely have to wipe off excess product, so it’s fairly quick and easy to use. While none of the dupes out there have an identical brush, both Essence Make Me Brow and E.L.F. Wow Brow come with small brushes that are just as precise.
Color
While performance is an important marker of product quality, it doesn’t mean much if you can’t find a Boy Brow dupe that’ll match your hair color. None of the dupes have a shade range that matches Boy Brow 100%, but each one of them has at least a few shades that come very close. In some cases, you may even find that the dupe shades are a better fit for you than the original.
Value
Expensive makeup adds up, especially when it comes to staple products that get used on a daily basis, like brow gel. While there are some very expensive luxury products out there that resemble Boy Brow, we wanted to give you options that’ll give you a better bang for your buck.
Cruelty-Free Status
If one of the reasons you love Glossier is because it’s a cruelty-free brand, it only follows that you’d prefer a cruelty-free dupe, as well. That’s why all of the dupes on our list are cruelty-free. Boy Brow isn’t vegan, since it does contain beeswax, so if you’d like a vegan option, we recommend [ANCHOR #E.L.F. Wow Brow]E.L.F. Wow Brow[END ANCHOR].
Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Browed
Having a set of full brows is practically a must if you love that “off-duty supermodel” aesthetic. Glossier practically invented the concept, which is also known as the “cool girl” look. By doing that, they ushered in a revolution and capitalized on it with Boy Brow, an eyebrow gel that helps create that full and fluffy look. With our list of Boy Brow dupes, we know you’ll be able to achieve those thicker eyebrows without having to thin out your wallet.