Finally found a replacement for Anastasia's brow gel. In the same class but at a much better price.
It's important to work with one brow at a time and NOT touch them when they start to dry, then you avoid flakes and my brows hold perfectly all day. Another trick is to go in with a q-tip right after application and "press down" the brows —> removes excess product and sets the brows in place.
The applicator is surprisingly good. I also find that they become less crusty and "hair gel" without being more laminated but fluffy. I fill in the gaps in my brows after the gel has dried completely (important) with Maybelline's micro-eyebrow pen.