Dupe diaries: Does this $18 brow gel live up to the hype of the $39 cult-favourite?

If there’s one makeup trend that has seen some major evolution over the years, it’s brows.

From ultra-thin to overly filled in, our poor brows have been through it all, but now that we are seeing a shift towards 'your skin but better' in the beauty industry, the natural options are beginning to take over... and that's where brow lamination comes in.

Brow lamination is essentially a perm for your eyebrows, applying a series of solutions to manipulate the hairs before sealing them in place. The results are incredible; however, as with anything, there is a catch. This process is temporary and very expensive, which, in this cost-of-living crisis, just won't do.

Lucky for us, a few key brands have come to the table, offering a 'brow lamination in a bottle', if you will, with specific brow gels designed to mimic the laminated look, at a fraction of the price.

Not all brow products are made equal, though, which is why we have been on the search for the best options.

Our search has led us straight to two products: the e.l.f Brow Laminating Gel, and the REFY Brow Sculpt.

Each of these products promises a naturally lifted brow in seconds, except one is $18, and the other is $39.

After putting each product to the test, here's how they compare.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

REFY Brow Sculpt

Here for $39

To kickstart the trial, I first used the REFY Brow Sculpt as it felt right to see what it was that set this product apart from its more affordable competitor.

I will start by saying that while it isn't overly cheap, $39 does still feel like a reasonable price for a brow gel, considering I find them to last months at a time.

In terms of packaging, this product definitely felt high-end, made from a super sturdy plastic with a matte finish.

With only one swipe of product into my brows, I could already see the definition starting to take shape, and the formula was drying down in seconds. This was both a good and bad thing, as it meant you had only a few seconds to perfect your desired look with the dual-sided combing tool.

The formula boasts an impressive 12-hour hold, while also being flake-free and waterproof, so my expectations were high for this product, and I must say, I was impressed with the sleek look I was able to achieve in seconds.

In terms of consistency, it looks, smells, and behaves almost like glue, which meant that after application, my brows did not budge at all the entire night, even after being rained on, so that gives the waterproof claim a big tick.

However, when it comes to the zero-residue formula, I unfortunately didn't have the same luck. I could tell almost instantly when applying the brow gel that the brush head was simply too big for my brows, and the product was getting everywhere and drying down before I had a chance to remove it.

This meant I was finding little white flecks all throughout my brows, which is something I try to avoid when using a brow gel, because we all know how frustrating that dreaded ‘brow dandruff’ look is.

Final thoughts

I can't deny that the REFY Brow Sculpt definitely helped me to achieve the laminated look, and with all-night hold, this is absolutely a strong contender whether you're a reformed brow laminator or looking to dip your toes into this style.

But the thing that really does set this back for me is the flakiness. I hate the way a flaky brow feels, or when I see little bits of residue scattered across my face during the day.

While it wasn't super visible to others around me, I was conscious that it was there.

e.l.f Brow Laminating Gel

Here for $18

Then it was time to test out the e.l.f Brow Laminating Gel, which at just $18 is less than what I often spend on lunch!

I won't lie, my first impression was that the product packaging feels cheaper than the REFY, and I just know that the clear plastic lid protecting the combing tool will inevitably break in my makeup bag in due time.

The product consistency was exactly the same as the REFY, looking and feeling like glue; however, I felt more prepared to move quicker with this product, knowing that it was bound to set in seconds, whether I was happy with the brow hair placement or not.

I loved how the applicator on this brow gel was smaller in size, because it meant I was able to have more precise control over where I was placing the product. It also meant that I was able to do a few swipes on each brow, as opposed to just one.

Immediately upon applying, my brows almost felt frozen in place, which was a crazy sensation that strangely reassured me that they wouldn't be budging anytime soon.

Promising the same waterproof formula as REFY, this brow gel was true to its word, and I found myself at the end of the day with perfectly placed brows, except this time with NO flaky residue.

Final thoughts

For under $20, I really feel this brow gel did exactly what it was meant to do, giving an almost identical look to the REFY Brow Sculpt.

Finding a 'dupe' that gets the job done just as effectively as the original can often be a rarity, but the smaller applicator and lack of flaky residue make this product hard to beat.

The verdict

The $21 price difference is pretty substantial – for the price of one REFY Brow Sculpt, you can get two e.l.f Brow Laminating Gels and then some.

In my opinion, both products behaved the same, mimicking the look of a brow lamination well and offering incredible lasting power.

While each has its own pros and cons, if I had to choose only one to keep in my makeup bag, it would be the e.l.f Brow Laminating Gel, as I loved the small, precise brush head, and found it to help with application.

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