The Best Eyeshadow Brush
Our Review Process
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Our Picks For The Top Eyeshadow Brushes
This nifty little domed-tip brush is designed for precise eyeshadow applications, thanks to rounded bristles and an ergonomically-designed handle for a steady hold. You'll love its dense softness and non-absorbent synthetic fibers.
Apply a Little MagicYou need this brush in your makeup kit for precise application every time you do your eyes!
Here's a set of seven essential premium eyeshadow and liner brushes that all feature dark wooden handles, attractive gold accents and non-porous, soft synthetic bristles. They're labeled, too, so you know just what to use to create any look.
Well Rounded and AngledWith this non-shedding set, you'll have all the brushes you need to create whatever effect you desire.
Real Perfection's eyeshadow brush kit includes six pink wooden wands topped with synthetic, non-shedding bristles in different shapes and sizes, plus a spoolie to smooth out your eyebrows. They're soft and easy to clean.
Silky Soft and PrettyThese thick, fluffy eye makeup brushes quickly pick up powders, creams and liquids and won't shed.
This professional-quality eyeshadow brush set provides blending, eyeliner, eyebrow, shadow and concealer brushes, all made with dense, finely-textured synthetic fibers. The natural wood handles with rose gold ferrules feel good in your palm.
A Dozen Great ToolsYou'll feel confident knowing that you have every tool you need to beautify your eyes anytime.
Buying Guide
Although you might think you don’t need an eyeshadow brush because your fingers work just as well to apply makeup, you’re missing out. Eyeshadow brushes offer great control for adding makeup to sensitive and small areas. You can create some dramatic effects or stay subtle as per your preference.
Besides, application with your fingers is not always a good idea because bacteria on your hands could lead to pink eye and other infections.
Makeup brushes specifically designed to apply eyeshadow can be sold individually or in kits, but you might get more bang for your buck if you buy a set.
One thing you’ll want to consider as you’re buying is whether or not you prefer natural or synthetic fibers in your brushes. Makeup brushes made with natural animal hair bristles (squirrel, horse, goat, sable) are very soft and tend to be on the costlier side. However, natural bristles work very well with powders.Â
Synthetic brushes are made from materials like polyester, taklon or nylon. They cost less because it isn’t as difficult to source good, uniform fibers as with natural brushes. Synthetic brushes provide soft, streak-free, smooth application, and are best used with creams and liquids. You can also cut these synthetic brushes more sharply to create angles for precise applications.
Eyeshadow brush handles are made from wood, metal, resin, plastic or other materials. They can have rose gold, silver and other colored accents; the wood can be in assorted colors, too. They’ll have a plastic or metal ferrule, which is what attaches the bristles to the handle.
If it’s important to you, you’ll find that many eyeshadow brushes are also 100% cruelty-free and vegan, so you won’t have a hard time being eco-friendly.
Look for brushes that have some weight to them, as this is a good indicator of quality. You won’t want it to a brush to be too heavy, though, or it will feel awkward and tire out your hand.Â
You’ll find so many shapes of brushes designed for your eyes, including some basics. For example, a round-tipped flat shader brush is great for beginners and those who prefer quick application while a crease brush has an angled edge for contouring. This works well to add definition to the eye socket line and to create a base for your shadow. Smudge brushes are multi-purpose and work well with highly pigmented eyeshadows. Contoured blending brushes and eyeshadow stamp brushes are also available.Â
If any of this seems confusing, watch a few YouTube eyeshadow application tutorials; before you know it, you’ll be a pro!
What to Look For
- Some eyeshadow brush kits also come with tools to shape and color eyebrows and eyeliner, along with different contouring, flat, crease and angled eyeshadow brushes to create depth and allow easier blending.
- Well-made makeup brushes will not shed bristles.
- Wash your makeup brushes once every two weeks or sooner if you see visible makeup on them.
- Never share any makeup products or brushes with other people; otherwise, you put yourself and them at risk for infections.
- Proper care will protect all of your makeup brushes and help them last longer. Wash them with gentle liquid soap, and keep rinsing until the water clears. Squeeze out the excess, and fluff up the bristles as best you can. Lay them flat on a towel to dry; if you leave them standing up, the water will drip down into the handles.
More to Explore
You may already know that makeup was used as far back as ancient Egypt in 3000 B.C.E., when citizens used very familiar techniques and rituals to express themselves and enhance beauty. One early example of makeup brushes found by archaeologists was buried with a Saxon during 500-600 B.C.E. But did you know researchers have found evidence that humans were using pigment to add color to their bodies 164,000 years ago in South Africa?
However, the use of makeup brushes may have been limited to the well-to-do until relatively recently. This is at least in part because mirrors weren’t readily available to the middle and lower classes , so makeup brushes were used mainly by servants attending their masters.
Germany and Japan early developed small cultures devoted to creating high-quality brushes — Germany because it is credited with first mass-producing mirrors in the mid-1800s and creating the modern makeup brush, Japan because artisans there transferred their calligraphy brush-making skills to makeup brush-making skills. Today, high-end makeup brushes from those areas are still much coveted, and are often still hand-made.
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