There are two equally common and valid ways to apply eyeshadow: with your fingers and with brushes. Don't get us wrong, we love the resourcefulness of blending on pigments with your fingertips, but there's just something so nice about having a makeup kit stacked with all of the best eyeshadow brushes to help you pull off Instagram-level eye-makeup looks. From fluffy blending brushes to flat, dense brushes designed to pack on cream formulas, there are a handful of eye-makeup brushes that everyone should own to take their makeup game to a whole new level.
When it comes to brushes — and makeup products in general — it never hurts to be stacked with the essentials. Think of an artist: they keep bins upon bins of tools on hand to create their masterpieces, and we think makeup should be treated in a similar fashion. The staples that every collection should contain include a variety of blending brushes, a fine-tip eyeliner brush, a couple of flat shader brushes, an angled crease brush or two, and a stiff dome eyeshadow brush. And the more you have, the less you need to wash your eyeshadow brushes between each use.
Whether you're a bona-fide vlogger with a fully stocked toolkit looking to add some new options into the mix or a makeup beginner starting from scratch, we rounded up the best eyeshadow brushes to buy for sweeping and blending pigment across your eyelids ahead.
The Sephora Collection Essential Eye Brush Set ($29) contains five brushes in total — two standard shadow brushes, a crease brush, a smudge brush, and a brow brush — at an affordable price. They are vegan and contain extra-soft bristles.
The Morphe Mini Firm Blending Eyeshadow Brush ($8) is great for detail work and precise eye-makeup looks. The smaller tip allows you to apply eyeshadow pigments on top of each other with ease.
Every makeup kit needs an eyeliner brush, and we love the E.l.f. Cosmetics Angled Eyeliner Brush ($4) because the bend in the handle makes it easy to create smooth lines. Use it with liquid eyeliner or eyeshadow to create graphic or cat-eye makeup looks.
Not only do you get five brushes in the EcoTools Daily Defined Eye Kit ($9), but it also comes in a convenient traveling case. The soft brushes, which range from superfine tip to fluffy blending options, are made from renewable bamboo and recycled aluminum.
You can't beat the deal you get with the Real Techniques Everyday Eye Essentials Makeup Brush Set ($20). The eight-piece set has everything you need to step up your eye-makeup game without breaking the bank.
Create dazzling eyeshadow looks with the Fenty Beauty Plush Eyeshadow Brush 240 ($24). Use it on powder or cream eyeshadow for a soft, diffused look.
The dense, short bristles of the Sigma Beauty E20 Short Shader Brush ($15) allow you to pack on pigment for a super-saturated look, kind of like your fingers. You can also hold it sideways and use it as an eyeliner brush.
The firm paddle shape of the MAC 242 Synthetic Shader Brush ($28) makes it best suited for applying cream or emollient eyeshadow formulas.
Not only does the Luxie 207 Medium Angled Shading Brush ($8) look pretty sitting on your vanity, but it's super functional, too. Use it to blend eyeshadow into your crease, or if you're on the go and down a few tools, sweep on some highlighter with it, too.
The Giorgio Armani Large Maestro Contouring Eye Brush ($38) is a uniquely shaped, round, tightly packed brush with short, angled bristles, which makes it great for smudging cream or powder eyeshadow into your crease.
For just $4, the Moda Angle Eye Blender Makeup Brush ($4) stacks up against brushes triple its price. It also comes in a variety of fun colors.
The Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Eye Shadow Brush ($37) is the ultimate multitasker. Use it to shade, buff, pack, and blend cream and powder pigments onto your eyelids.
The five-piece Sonia Kashuk Essential Collection Complete Eye Makeup Brush Set ($20) makes a great gift. The brushes are top-notch quality and a welcome addition to any makeup stash.
Aptly named The Finger Brush ($26), this short, stubby eyeshadow brush from Urban Decay mimics your fingertip, allowing you to apply thick layers of product.
The dual-sided Makeup by Mario EF 1 Makeup Brush ($22) is great for travel or keeping in your work bag, because you can create a multidimensional eye-makeup look with it.