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I strongly believe that you only really need a few eyeshadow brushes to get a variety of looks going. There are all sorts of wild brush shapes out there and you're free to experiment with them, but unless you're a makeup artist, the basics should do you just fine.
My daily essentials are as follows: A fluffy tapered brush to blend out edges, a flat brush for packing color on the lid, and a pencil brush for detail work. Sometimes I grab a shorter fluffy brush to diffuse matte shadows across the entire lid. But really, that's it!
For a long time I felt compelled to test-drive every unique eye brush that hit my desk, but eventually I realized I was complicating things unnecessarily. Even the most adventurous among us have an eyeshadow formula of sorts that we gravitate toward on a regular basis, and mine doesn't require more than two or three brushes at a time.
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IT Cosmetics makes some of my favorite brushes for eyes and face, and the Airbrush Blending Crease Brush #105 is the best of all. I use my IT Cosmetics crease brush for everything — applying neutral transition shades, defining the outer edge of my eye socket, and blending it all together.
While it’s primarily designed as a blending brush for the dip of your eye socket, I find that this brush is a true multitasker. The bristles are incredibly soft and, though the brush comes to a slight taper, it’s wide enough to give you a wash of diffused color. I use it to blend out the edges of powder, cream, and liquid shadows.
I’ve used the heck out of this brush for several years now and it’s just barely starting to shed. Exclusive to Ulta, it has a 4.7 rating based on 349 reviews.
One shopper writes, “This brush is fabulous! I don't know how I've managed without it. The quality is on part with some higher end brushes I have. This brush is soft/fluffy enough to use for a streamlined and more broadly blended look. I have one that's shorter and more dense that is less versatile.”
Why you’ll love it: The Sigma E30 Pencil Brush has a tiny, gently pointed shape that makes detail work a total breeze.
A pencil brush like the Sigma E30 might seem like a non-essential, but it has the perfect shape to get into hard-to-reach areas. I use mine to highlight the tear duct or to apply shadow to my lower lash line. You can also use it to blend pencil, cream, or gel eyeliners along the top lid.
The bristles are made of SigmaTech fibers “synthetically engineered to outperform traditional animal hair” and designed to seamlessly apply powder and cream formulas. The bristles are also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial — you still need to wash them, though. As an added touch, the wooden handle is scratch-resistant. Mine has stayed in pitch-perfect condition over the past couple of years.
The Sigma E30 has been featured by Elle and has almost a full 5-star rating on Nordstrom based on 100 reviews.
“This brush is so good for many parts of eyeshadow including: smudging upper or lower lashline, precision application of shadow on the outer corner (deepening a crease/outer-v), highlighting the inner corner of the eye, smudging eyeliner ... just a nice brush to have on hand! I have a pencil brush from a cheaper brand on hand but the sigma brush has a better brush head to do all of the above,” writes one shopper.
Pros: Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, sturdy bristles, good for detail work, scratch-proof handle
Why you’ll love it: The Sigma E55 Eye Shader Brush is a short, dense brush that packs shimmer or dark colors onto the lid.
Another Sigma brush that has earned a spot in my regular rotation is the E55 Eye Shader Brush. The bristles are short and dense to help distribute high-impact color. I use this brush primarily to apply shimmers or darker matte colors all over my lid. It’s great for precise application.
The tightly-packed bristles helps you build up shadows to their fullest pigmentation, so they read similarly on the eye to how they look in the pan. Made with SigmaTech fibers, this brush is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. I notice that the bristles don’t hold on to shadows or get stained as easily as other brushes in my collection.
The E55 Eye Shader has been recommended by Stylecraze and has an almost perfect rating on Nordstrom based on 80 reviews.
“Great brush and quality product, perfect for placing single shade on eyelid. Would recommend this brand,” writes one shopper.
Pros: Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, scratch-resistant handle, rounded edges allow for easy blending
Cons: Doesn’t pick up cream shadows as well as powders
Why you’ll love it: The e.l.f. Crease Brush only costs $3, but it defines and blends eyeshadow with the best of ‘em.
Drugstore brands make fantastic brushes, and the brand e.l.f. does some of the cheapest and best. I’m partial to the e.l.f. Crease Brush, which costs only $3 but still gives you a precise, even blend.
As the name suggests, it’s a crease brush, but it’s smaller and more dramatically tapered than the IT Cosmetics brush I featured as the top pick. The shape makes it great for targeted color application, whether in the eye socket or around the outer "V" of the eye, which is actually how I use this most frequently.
The brush is vegan, cruelty-free, and made of synthetic materials. It’s highly rated by Target shoppers, with 90 reviews and over 4 stars.
“This brush is perfect! It is the perfect size to blend out colors in the crease and it is so soft. I will be purchasing more. Love it!” writes one shopper. “I really like this brush. It's the perfect size for me to really get a more defined crease. [...] e.l.f. Studio Brushes rarely let me down,” says another.
Pros: Affordable, tapered, good for detailed blending, vegan and cruelty-free
If you want to step up your eyeshadow game a notch, invest in a smudger brush. My personal pick is the Sephora Collection PRO Smudge Brush #11. It’s a super dense, domed brush that packs on intense color.
I typically reach for this brush when I want to create a diffused eyeliner look or define the lash line with shadow. It blends pencil, cream, and gel liners out in two seconds flat or lets you create a mini cat-eye with dark eye shadow. I prefer soft, artfully messy eyeliner to sharp liquid liner, and this helps me achieve the look easily.
You can also use it to pack shadow onto compact areas like the center of the lid. One reviewer says it’s great for placing color on the lid if you have small eyes. Overall, the brush has a 4.7 Sephora rating based on 153 reviews. The product is not tested on animals but is made of natural pony hair as opposed to synthetic bristles.
“Great brush. Excellent precision. Great for smudging. Delivers exactly what the description promises! I love it,” writes one shopper.
Pros: Small and dense, not animal tested, works with creams and powders
