The best eyeshadow brushes for blending, lining and packing on colour
In the makeup brush Olympics, it’d probably be a close contest between eyeshadow brushes and our trusty foundation brush as to which is the “most essential” tool. But the best eyeshadow brushes are definitely up there as a must-own if you wear makeup on the regular.
We’ll be the first to stress that there’s nothing wrong with a bit of finger application from time to time, whether you’re blending out a creamy crayon or roughly applying one shade of powder. But using an eyeshadow brush makes your overall look more polished, allowing you to add more depth and definition for standout eyes every time.
As we’ve tested hundreds of the best eyeshadow brushes in our careers, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the top tools on the market to suit a broad range of budgets. But first, let’s answer a few of the most common Qs around eyeshadow brush-ology…
Do eyeshadow brushes make a difference?
If you’re parting with your hard-earned cash, this is arguably the most important question: will this beauty purchase actually be worth it? The answer is a big “yes”, but we figured that few people are better placed to convince you than a legit makeup artist.
"In some instances I like to use my fingers, for example when applying my foundation to my face, because the area is larger,” says makeup artist Adeola Gboyega, who has worked for some of the biggest makeup brands during her career. “But with your eyes, it’s a smaller area and you need to be more precise. It is harder to control eyeshadow application with your fingers, and so having specific brushes will allow you to be more detailed."
How many eyeshadow brushes do you need?
This will depend on the level of makeup looks you’re creating; if you don’t consider yourself semi-pro then you probably don’t need to buy 45 eyeshadow brushes right away. If you like to keep things simple with one or two all-over colours, then a straightforward eyeshadow brush, a denser smudging brush for definition and a blending brush are a good place to start.
If you’re more adventurous or want to take your skill level up a notch by practising along with your favourite beauty YouTuber, you can also branch out to an angled brush or two, crease brushes and detailing brushes.
What to look for in a good eyeshadow brush
“Brushes that are made of good quality materials will last longer and really help you to achieve the best application,” says Adeola. “When buying brushes I look for ones that have soft bristles that don’t look or feel harsh on the skin, as this will give me a better blend with eyeshadow.”
Heavier handles are a plus and can be a good indication of a tool’s quality, and there’s also the natural vs synthetic brushes question to consider. As demand for vegan beauty has shot up in recent years, high performing synthetic brushes are waaaay more readily available.
“Natural makeup brushes are typically made with animal hair like horse or squirrel,” Adeola confirms. “They tend to be softer and great for blending out your eye makeup as they don’t feel as harsh. Synthetic brushes are man-made and it used to be that they weren’t as soft, but today you can get super soft synthetic options.”
“Typically you would only use natural brushes to apply powder and synthetic brushes can be used to apply both powder and cream products,” she adds. “If budget is something that you are concerned about then synthetic brushes tend to be the more affordable option.”
Now let’s dive into some of our favourite eyeshadow brushes – and don’t forget: the best thing you can do for your eyeshadow brushes to ensure they last as long as possible is using one of the best makeup brush cleaners once every week. Tedious, but oh-so necessary.
The best eyeshadow brushes at a glance:
- Best eyeshadow brush overall: Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable All-Over Eyeshadow Brush, £15, Space NK
- Best eyeshadow brushes set: Real Techniques Everyday Eye Essentials Set, £20, LookFantastic
- Best eyeshadow brush for hooded eyes: Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush, £25, Cult Beauty
- Best eyeshadow brush for beginners: IT Cosmetics Superhero Makeup Brush, £24, Boots
- Best eyeshadow brush for cream eyeshadow: VIEVE 219 Small Eyeshadow Blender Brush, £22, Cult Beauty
For more from freelance beauty writer and editor Lucy, follow her on Instagram at @lucyabbers. After more makeup brushes for your growing collection? Head this way for bronzer brushes, over here for blusher brushes and this way for concealer brushes.
Scroll for our full edit of the best eyeshadow brushes in 2022.
Best eyeshadow brush overall
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable All-Over Eyeshadow Brush, £15, Space NK
Selena Gomez’s brand Rare Beauty’s brilliant makeup products have taken TikTok by storm since its launch, but the brushes are really great too (they also make one of the best concealer brush buys on the market). With a slightly angled tip, this is a great straightforward eyeshadow brush with a slightly shorter-than-standard handle and, like the rest of the brand, it’s really reasonably priced. Cheers, Selena!
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Space NK discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brushes set
Real Techniques Everyday Eye Essentials Set, £20, LookFantastic
Looking for a nice set that’s going to kick you off with all your essential eye brushes in one? Hiya, Real Techniques. Founded by YouTuber sisters Sam and Nic Chapman, their brushes are super popular with the masses; they’re very affordable but also loved by the professional MUA crowd. This brush set will kit you out with eight different quality tools so you’ll be well equipped to create all sorts of eyeshadow looks.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brush for cream eyeshadow
VIEVE 219 Small Eyeshadow Blender Brush, £22, Cult Beauty
YouTuber and MUA Jamie Genevieve’s brand may have only branched into vegan makeup brushes this year, but they’re already proving a hit with her fans and the makeup artistry crowd alike. No. 219 is slightly smaller than your standard blending brush, so it’s way more precise, but still supremely fluffy. It’s also great for cream eyeshadow formulas, like VIEVE’s super popular Eye Wands.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Most versatile eyeshadow brush
Hourglass No 3 All Over Shadow Brush, £33, Net-A-Porter
If you have more budget to play with, Hourglass’s brushes feel properly luxurious and good quality with nice weighty handles, and they perform brilliantly too. The synthetic No 3 All Over Shadow Brush can be used to apply a mix of formula types, from your best eyeshadow palettes to cream formulas, for really easy and seamless application. A lovely, luxe tool.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.
Eyeshadow essentials brushes
EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Set, £5.99, LookFantastic
We told you it’s possible to find decent tools that don’t cost the earth. If you’re only after the bare essentials EcoTools’ little duo will kit you out with two great dual-ended brushes, one shading brush and winged liner brush in one, and the other a dense smudger and fluffy blending brush. Multipurpose tools for makeup fans that like their money’s worth.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best affordable eyeshadow brush
Lottie London LE015 Firm Shadow Brush, £8, ASOS
Calling all millennial pink fans: Lottie London’s brushes are all vegan and cruelty-free, as well as being really reasonably priced, so a few of their eyeshadow brushes won’t be too much of a dent in the ol’ bank balance. This particular buy is great for smudging in darker eyeshadow shades to add a nice bit of definition around the eye, and it’s nice and dense.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these ASOS discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brush for winged liner
Spectrum Collections A09 Angled Liner Brush, £5.99, LookFantastic
Another great buy from Spectrum Collections, this time in the form of their sharp A09 Angled Liner Brush. It’s both thin and nice and firm, and will give you that perfectly precise end you need for winging things out. Great if you’re all over the Gen Z loved softer eyeshadow winged liner look.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brush for powder shadow
NARS All-Over Eyeshadow Brush, £28, Space NK
Another name that’s loved by makeup artists and creates great pro level tools is legendary makeup brand NARS. If you’d like an eyeshadow application brush that’s a little bigger than your standard tool, this synthetic brush is perfect – it’s nice and full and can be used with both cream and powder shadows, and the simple design is really chic.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Space NK discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brushes for hooded eyes
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush, £25, Cult Beauty
This is one of many top makeup artists’ favourite eyeshadow brushes, including Adeola, so you know it’s a good one. The small and compact brush head is perfect for blending shadow across the lash line or into the socket, and it comes in Charlotte’s super chic signature burgundy and rose gold colour scheme.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brush for blending
MAC 217S Blending Brush, £21, ASOS
This brush is so many people’s favourite, both makeup artists and beauty shoppers, and we wouldn’t argue with that. It’s nice and fluffy, great for diffusing edges and blends shades together perfectly for flawless eyeshadow creations every time. Just what you’d expert from one of the go-to makeup artistry brands in the world, really.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these ASOS discount discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brushes for beginners
IT Cosmetics Superhero Makeup Brush, £24, Boots
Two in one brushes are one thing, but four brushes in one? Excellent value if you can’t afford to splurge on a few different high quality tools. IT Cosmetics’ offering is retractable at one end, meaning you can adjust it to three different density levels to apply and smudge, and it has a sharper angled liner brush at the other for all your winged eye makeup needs. A great option if you’re travelling light.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Boots discount codes.
Best angled eyeshadow brush
Bobbi Brown Angle Eye Shadow Brush, £19, John Lewis
One of the big names on the market, Bobbi Brown has made excellent makeup brushes for years. The Angle Eye Shadow Brush is a little smaller than many other angled brushes, which makes it great for more precise eyeshadow application, but is flexible enough that you can use it to apply all-over colour too. A great investment for your makeup brush collection.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these John Lewis discount codes.
Best eyeshadow brush under £3
BB202 Blending Eyeshadow Brush, £3, Beauty Bay
Vegan and cruelty-free (and pretty friendly on the bank balance to boot), this eyeshadow brush features super-soft synthetic bristles which accurately mimic the feel of natural hair. The handle is durable and heavy enough to serve up total accuracy when you're blending and cutting the perfect crease.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these Beauty Bay discount codes.
Best fluffy eyeshadow brush
ZOEVA 228 Luxe Soft Crease Brush, £13.50, LookFantastic
All of brush brand ZOEVA’s tools are very reasonably priced and the Luxe Soft Crease Blush really is a perfect soft eyeshadow blending brush, featuring a brush head that’s made from mix of natural and synthetic hairs. Because you can never have too many fluffy blender brushes in your kit.
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best vegan eyeshadow brush
ByJoyadenuga The Smudger Brush 007, £10, byjoyadenuga.com
Another of Adeola’s name-checked recommendations, makeup artist Joy Adenuga only launched her brush brand a couple of years ago but she’s already picked up several awards for her brilliant tools. Just as its name suggests this brush is a great little smudger, and it’s vegan to boot.
Best luxury eyeshadow brush
Anastasia Beverly Hills A6 Pro Buff and Blend Brush, £24, Harrods
We do love ourselves a bit of Anastasia Beverly Hills. The brand has several excellent blending and smudging brushes on offer, but a standout for is the Pro Buff and Blend Brush. It strikes a great balance of firmness as brushes, working brilliantly at buffing in colour without being too fluffy for the job.
Best eyeshadow brush for packing on colour
Spectrum A07 Colour Applicator, £5.99, spectrumcollections.com
To be honest it’s hard to choose just one eyeshadow brush to recommend from Spectrum Collections, so we thought we’d start with one of the best-sellers from this sister-founded brand, a nice shorter shading brush. Other colour schemes are available if pink, purple and blue isn’t your bag, but we’re big fans of their affordable yet high performing tools.
