Here Are 10 Eyeshadow Brushes We’re Obsessing Over
Iantha Yu is an experienced beauty editor with over ten years of experience in the publishing industry. Her words can be found on Marie Claire, Beauty Crew, Women's Health, Virgin Voyeur, SHOP Til You Drop, Broadsheet, and more.
Wearing a light wash of colour on your eyelids? Or something that packs a bit more of a punch, like a smoky eye?
Either way, the type *and* quality of your eyeshadow brushes make a world of difference to your finished look.
Yep, we assert that your eyeshadow brushes are just as important as the brand of eyeshadow you’re applying!
First things first: did you know there are different eyeshadow brush types and uses? For starters, you have regular eyeshadow brushes, which pick up powder and cream eyeshadow and spread it across your eyelids.
Then, there are eyeshadow blending brushes, which blend out your shadow until no harsh lines are left.
And how could we forget about eyeliner brushes? They make lining your upper and lower lash line so easy.
Without further ado, here’s the ultimate list of the best eyeshadow brushes we’ve come across.
The best eyeshadow brushes
A versitile must-have for cream and powders eyeshadows
You can’t beat one of the O.G. brands, M.A.C Cosmetics, when it comes to adding the best eyeshadow brushes to your cart. If you’re wondering what brush to use for cream eyeshadow, the 239S Eye Shader is the bee’s knees. This eyeshadow brush easily picks up powdered or cream eyeshadow and spreads it seamlessly across your eyelids. Psst… The brush hairs are synthetic, making a vegan-friendly eyeshadow brush.
Ideal for corners, creases or contouring and smudging.
To cover a greater area in one sweep, go with an angled fluffy brush such as the Bobbi Brown Angle Eye Shadow Brush. This brush makes contouring and building smokey eyes sooo easy. To use, hold the brush so the longer hairs can reach your crease and beyond. Sweep your eyeshadow from the outer corner to your inner corner and back. Don’t forget to blend out the colour with an eyeshadow blending brush.
The best eyeshadow blending brushes
An eyeshadow blending brush perfect for one sweep application
It may look like a toothbrush, but the Real Techniques Blend & Blur Shadow Brush is a top-rated eyeshadow blending brush. The dome-shaped bristles can blend out your eyeshadow or merge several colours together for a smoky eye. Real Techniques brushes are always made from synthetic bristles that feel incredibly soft, so they’re cruelty-free *and* vegan.
A long, rounded blending brush ideal for a wash of eyeshadow
On the other hand, the MAKE UP FOR EVER Blender Brush in Large N°242 is a more classic eyeshadow blending brush made with vegan fibres. The hairs on this large eyeshadow brush are a little longer, so they allow for easy blending across the eyelid without taking too much product off. For best results, use this brush in small circular motions to blend colours together.
The best eyeliner brushes
An essential, versatile tool for brows and eyes
If you’re looking to create a winged eyeliner look, then an angled eyeliner brush such as Nude by Nature Angled Eyeliner Brush 17 is the way to go. This cruelty-free and vegan brush features straight, angled bristles that are stiff enough to pull gel eyeliner across the lash line without tugging too hard.
A synthetic haired brush that can be used with wet or dry products
Now, the elf Contour Brush may not be an eyeliner brush as such, but it still works a treat in lining the eyes. The densely packed short bristles can distribute powder or cream eyeshadow in a concentrated manner around the eyes or in the inner corners. If you only use vegan or cruelty-free products, you’re in luck: this brush is made with synthetic bristles.
The best eyeshadow smudge brushes
A medium sized brush for more control on specific blending needs
An eyeshadow smudge brush is another essential eyeshadow brush you should have in your beauty kit. Usually featuring a flat bunch of short and firm bristles, this particular eyeshadow brush perfectly smudges eyeliner (such as kohl) or a cream eyeshadow along your upper and lower lash lines. The elf Eyeshadow “C” Brush is one of the best eyeshadow smudge brushes we’ve come across, and we’re constantly reaching for it. It’s a sturdy brush that’ll last for years, plus it’s cruelty-free and vegan.
The best eyeshadow brush sets
A complete eyeshadow brush kit, to prepare you for any situation
If you’re looking for a complete eyeshadow brush set in one package, then you can’t go past the Crown Brush Professional Brush Set with Case. Besides instantly making you look like a real-deal makeup artist, this eyeshadow brush set contains *all* the brushes you could possibly need for your face, cheeks, and eyes. In the eyeshadow brush department, the set includes a regular fluffy eyeshadow brush, an eyeliner brush, and eyeshadow blending brushes, to name a few.
An eyeshadow brush set duo for full coverage shadow application
For an eyeshadow brush set that’s a little more low-key, we can’t recommend the Real Techniques Instapop Eye Brush Duo enough. The 2 super-soft brushes included in this eyeshadow brush set are perfect for applying eyeshadow and blending out your creases with ease. Oh, and did we mention that Real Techniques brushes are a hot favourite amongst makeup artists? Yep, they’re that good.
A curated 10 piece set
If you're looking for a curated set with all the essentials, try the Spectrum 10 Piece Malachite Set. Perfect for travel, this iconic green set contains everything you need to perfect your brows, eyes and base. Inspired by the Malachite crystal, which is said to boost creativity and banish negative energy, this brush set is certain to put you in the right mode to master your artistry. The fact that they are made from super-soft synthetic Taklon hair only helps.
One more thing: just as your hair needs regular washing, your eyeshadow brushes need to be cleaned regularly too.
Go with an eyeshadow brush cleaner such as Bobbi Brown Conditioning Brush Cleanser to get rid of product particles and keep bristles squeaky clean to eliminate bacteria. Bobbi Brown brush cleanser is extra-gentle, so you don’t have to worry about ruining delicate bristles.
Oh, and don’t forget to pat-dry your eyeshadow brushes gently. Reshape the heads with your fingers and leave them to dry on a flat towel.
Want more of the best makeup brushes? Check out the guides below...
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