Do eyebrow growth serums actually work?
Experts weigh in on the best solutions for sparse eyebrows and how they work.


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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.