Product Comparison
NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue vs Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
NYX Professional Makeup
NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue
The Brow Glue is a lightweight, clear gel that actually delivers on hold without the crunchiness of heavier pomades—it sets brows with a natural finish that lasts through sweat and humidity. The thin, precise brush applicator makes it easy to coat individual hairs and define shape without the learning curve of traditional brow products, and a little goes a long way. If you're after that effortless, groomed-but-not-done-up aesthetic, this outperforms similar drugstore gels at its price point.
Worth noting: The formula can feel slightly tacky on the brows during application and takes a few seconds to set, which means touching your face too soon will disrupt the hold.
Benefit
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
Gimme Brow+ is the reliable workhorse of tinted brow gels—the kind of product you grab when you want instant fullness without overthinking it. The formula's slightly tacky, fibrous texture grabs existing hairs and deposits a buildable tint simultaneously, while the spiral brush applicator is compact enough to catch strays but sturdy enough to coat fuller brows. It holds through sweat and humidity better than most, though by hour 12 you'll notice some flaking at the tail if you've layered it heavily.
Worth noting: The shade range maxes out at five options, which leaves deeper or redder brow tones with imperfect matches compared to competitors offering eight or more shades.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Spec | NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue | Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NYX Professional Makeup | Benefit |
| Category | gel | gel |
| Price | $9.00 | $11.00 |
| Best For | Brow lamination enthusiasts, Natural, feathered brow looks, Beginners who find pomades intimidating, Anyone with fine or sparse hair texture | naturally sparse or thin brows, quick morning routines, anyone who struggles with brow pencil precision, warm and cool undertones equally |
| Our Take | The Brow Glue is a lightweight, clear gel that actually delivers on hold without the crunchiness of heavier pomades—it sets brows with a natural finish that lasts through sweat and humidity. The thin, precise brush applicator makes it easy to coat individual hairs and define shape without the learning curve of traditional brow products, and a little goes a long way. If you're after that effortless, groomed-but-not-done-up aesthetic, this outperforms similar drugstore gels at its price point. | Gimme Brow+ is the reliable workhorse of tinted brow gels—the kind of product you grab when you want instant fullness without overthinking it. The formula's slightly tacky, fibrous texture grabs existing hairs and deposits a buildable tint simultaneously, while the spiral brush applicator is compact enough to catch strays but sturdy enough to coat fuller brows. It holds through sweat and humidity better than most, though by hour 12 you'll notice some flaking at the tail if you've layered it heavily. |
| Worth Noting | The formula can feel slightly tacky on the brows during application and takes a few seconds to set, which means touching your face too soon will disrupt the hold. | The shade range maxes out at five options, which leaves deeper or redder brow tones with imperfect matches compared to competitors offering eight or more shades. |
Our Verdict
The Great Drugstore Brow Gel Showdown: NYX Brow Glue vs. Benefit Gimme Brow+
Both of these products sit in that sweet spot of affordable brow gels that actually work, which is why they're constantly being compared on beauty forums and Instagram. But "works" means different things depending on what you're trying to achieve with your brows—and that's where these two diverge significantly.
NYX The Brow Glue: The Minimalist's Dream
Let's start with what makes The Brow Glue genuinely special. This is a clear gel that acts like a lamination product at drugstore prices, and that's not hyperbole. The formula is genuinely lightweight—you're not loading product onto your brows, which means it works beautifully for anyone with fine hair or naturally sparse brows who wants to avoid that heavy, waxy aesthetic that comes with thicker pomades.
The thin brush applicator is a legitimate advantage here. It lets you coat individual hairs with precision, something the spiral applicators on competitor products can't do as effectively. If you're the type who wants to groom and set your natural brows without adding visible color or drama, this is your product. The hold is respectable for the price—it'll survive your morning commute, light sweating, and normal humidity without budging.
The honest downside: that tackiness during application is real, and it matters if you're in a rush. You need about 10-15 seconds of hands-off time for the gel to set, which means you can't immediately touch your face or adjust your brows without smudging. If you're doing your brows while your coffee is cooling or your straightener is heating up, you might get impatient. Additionally, if you have particularly stubborn brows that point in multiple directions, this lightweight formula won't wrestle them into submission the way a thicker gel can.
Benefit Gimme Brow+: The Coverage Champion
Gimme Brow+ takes the opposite approach entirely. This is a tinted gel with actual pigment and texture-building fibers, which means you're getting instant fullness plus a wash of color in one product. That's genuinely useful if your brows are naturally thin or pale, or if you're someone who wants visible results without layering multiple products.
The spiral brush is sturdier than most, which makes it effective for coating both fine hairs and thicker brows. And here's something important: the hold truly does outlast most competitors through a full workday. The formula has enough grip that it won't slip or separate, even with normal activity.
The trade-off is complexity. That tacky, fibrous texture that creates the hold and deposits color is less forgiving if you make a mistake. The tint sits on your brows, which means uneven application is more visible than with a clear gel. More concerning is the limited shade range—only five options is genuinely problematic. If you have auburn brows or deeper skin tones, you're likely choosing between something too cool-toned or too warm, which is a frustrating compromise at any price point. And yes, heavy layering can flake by evening, which shouldn't happen with a premium-priced product.
Head-to-Head: Where They Actually Differ
Finish: Brow Glue gives you a natural, groomed look. Gimme Brow+ gives you visible fullness with a slightly powdery finish. Pick based on whether you want enhancement or transformation.
Longevity: They're honestly comparable—both last through a standard workday. Gimme Brow+ edges ahead slightly, but you'll notice flaking before the Brow Glue shows wear.
Ease of Use: Brow Glue requires patience while it sets. Gimme Brow+ is grab-and-go, though it demands more precision during application.
Value: At $9 versus $11, the Brow Glue wins on price, but Gimme Brow+ offers actual color correction, which some people genuinely need.
The Verdict
Choose NYX The Brow Glue if you have naturally full brows (even if they're sparse in texture), want a natural finish, or hate waiting for products to set. It's also the better choice if you have medium-to-deep skin tones, since shade-matching won't be an issue.
Choose Benefit Gimme Brow+ only if your brows genuinely need color and texture-building, and you can find a shade that matches your undertone. If Gimme Brow+ is that shade match, it delivers results the Brow Glue simply cannot—but that's a big if.
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