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These Eyebrow Growth Serums Are Here To Save Your Pencil-Thin Brows
You were warned not to overpluck, weren't you? Luckily, solutions for those sparse brows are in store...
The pencil-thin eyebrows of the 1990s might have made a worrying return last year, thanks to the likes of Gabbriette and Amelia Gray, but if you’re old enough to have lived through the Gwen Stefani effect, you’re likely reluctant to wield the tweezers quite so enthusiastically once again. The good news, at least for Millennials, is that big eyebrows are back.
Despite what the Tiktok microtrends may suggest, pencil-thin brows aren't hugely popular right now. 'From Sept 2023 to now, we've seen terms like "skinny brows" on the decline, with searches such as ‘thicker eyebrows’ ‘eyebrow growth’ and ‘brow growth serum’ amongst the top searched in eyebrow category,' say Vanita Parti, founder of brow and lash treatment brand, BBB. Meanwhile, on TikTok, the hashtag 'ThickerEyebrows' has 221.8M views.
So then, for those of us who would rather keep their brows as bushy, fluffy and as big as possible, an eyebrow growth serum is a must.
How Do Eyebrow Growth Serums Work?
In general, eyebrow growth serums work by nourishing the hair, right at the follicle, encouraging the longest and strongest growth possible. Peptides are a good ingredient to scan for, as these ‘cell communicators’ will kick lazy follicles into gear, helping you finally regrow those stubborn patches.
As Andy Jones, director of product development at Chāmpo explains, lab-grown biomimetic signal peptides, which are engineered to mimic those found naturally in skin, are particularly promising for brow growth. 'They are able to specifically target the short brow-growth cycle through follicle stimulation, improving conditions at the root and scalp, and optimising the natural growth process,' he says.
Similarly, biotin shows promise in coaxing back over-plucked areas, while conditioning extracts such as castor oil and panthenol will keep hairs hydrated and happy, which could in turn lead to glossier, bushier brows.
Here, see the tried-and-tested eyebrow growth serums that have earned the ELLE team’s seal of approval.
The Best Eyebrow Growth Serums To Try Now
If you're more on the sensitive side, this hybrid lash and brow serum by Milk Makeup ticks a lot of boxes – it's ophthalmologist tested, free of fragrance and parabens but still with a hardworking formula that helps condition, thicken and nourish brows and lashes.
Powered by a stellar line-up of ingredients, from caffeine to vitamin F, hydrating hyaluronic acid and thickening biotin, this eyebrow serum feeds the hair and follicles with all the good stuff to support hair growth. The result: thicker-looking, bushier brows in as little as two months.
A brand that causing quite a stir right now, Uklash creates nicely priced brow and lash serums that work just as well as the investment-level options.
This brow-growth serum combines boosting peptides with conditioning vitamins, and works especially well on bringing back those long-overplucked arches.
The Ordinary is really giving us what we want this year: first came the brand's excellent peptide-based hair-thickening serum, and now we've been treated to the most affordable brow-growth serum on the market. Boasting a blend of peptides and vitamins, it's a genuinely impressive proposition for such a fair price.
This one will take persistence to see results, but stick with it and boy will your money have been well spent.
This classic product won't provide you with enviable eyebrows overnight, but it will increase the density and colour of your brows with a few weeks of diligent use. Fair haired? You should definitely give it a whirl. And of course, the corresponding lash serum is a classic choice, too.
Rising stars Chāmpo (pronounced 'shar-pour') are not only best-selling hair brand in the whole of Harrods, but also the fastest-growing independent beauty name in the UK.
Speaking of growth, the brand's latest launch is designed to boost your brow density in 12 weeks. It combines a tetrapeptide complex, with caffeine and haritaki: a fruit long used in Ayurvedic medicine for its follicle-stimulating properties.
And while we're on the subject, do not sleep on the corresponding Pitta Growth Serum: a fast-absorbing hair-growth treatment that revives sparse hairlines in a matter of months.
A favourite not only for its vegan formulation, Vegamour's brow serum uses red clover extract, which has been shown in independent studies to boost hair growth, alongside peptides to help create the optimal environment for your bushiest brows ever.
Ok, so this is an investment that'll deliver seriously satisfying results. Augustinus Bader's milky, nourishing serum will work on brows and lashes to encourage faster growth and glossier hairs.
The complex is based around amino acids (the building blocks of your hair), growth-boosting biotin and conditioning extracts to keep the hairs you already have looking their best. Employ nightly for a month and marvel at the results.
True to Ayurvedic tradition, Mauli's strengthening brow oil is formulated with extracts of brahmi, bhringraj and amla: adaptogenic herbs believed to encourage lustrous hair growth. They're steeped in a base of jojoba, argan and castor, and boosted with jasmine sambac and rose to turn application into a fragrant ritual.
Not just the most sensorial formula, this one delivers real results too, with people raving about the way it brings enthusiastically plucked brows back to life.
From the queen of excellent eyebrows, this conditioning serum combines castor oil with peptides and biotin to strengthen the brows you already have, preventing brittle hairs and premature fallout.
In line with Susanne Kaufmann's natural ethos, this lash and brow-building serum uses mallow leaf water and edelweiss to nourish hair and encourage optimal growth. Users especially love the way it works on fair, fine hair.
Another new name on our radar, Baebrow's lash-boosting serum has us seriously impressed. It's an all-natural blend of oils (without the addition of peptides) and works by deeply conditioning the hair you have, encouraging healthier, glossier brows over time. While you're there, grab a tin of the brand's brilliant Hold Up brow wax too.
This clever serum contains peptides as well as vitamins and botanical conditioners to improve the length and thickness of sparse eyebrows and lashes. The teeny tiny brush means you can apply it exactly where you need it, reducing wastage and making your tube go further.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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