Your Guide to Eyeshadow Brushes

Whether you consider yourself to be a makeup novice or veteran, you know that creating the perfect eye makeup look takes time, patience, and the right beauty tools. However, with a seemingly endless number of eye makeup brushes available, it’s safe to say you may not know how to use each one correctly. Much like liquid foundation brushes, kabukis, and stippling brushes are all face makeup brushes that serve a specific purpose, different eyeshadow brushes each have their own job to do. If you're ready to get the 4-1-1 on eye brushes, you've come to the right place! Keep reading to learn all about eyeshadow makeup brushes, so you can take your beauty game to new heights.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #1: FLAT EYESHADOW BRUSH

To kick off our guide to eyeshadow brushes, it’s best to start off with the basics. And the flat eyeshadow brush is as basic as it gets. Designed with stiff densely-packed bristles, this brush comes in handy to smoothly pack your lids with color for a one-and-done beauty look. In other words, it’s an essential for your eye makeup brush collection.

To use, simply dip your brush into the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Sunset Sheine and press the shadow all over your lid and crease for a gorgeous wash of color.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #2: ANGLED EYESHADOW BRUSH

Next up: the angled eyeshadow brush! Thanks to its angled shape and soft bristles, this is the go-to eyeshadow brush for applying the perfect amount of eyeshadow under the arch of your brow for a glorious highlighted effect. This brush is key for tying your eye makeup looks together and creating a stunning finish. Pick up a shimmering, lightly colored shadow on the brush and run it along the underside of your brow for the easiest highlight ever.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #3: PENCIL BRUSH

If you struggle to target hard to reach areas in your eye makeup routine, a pencil brush will help to pick up the slack. Designed with soft densely-packed bristles that emulate the shape of a pencil, hence the name, this versatile eyeshadow brush works to provide your eyes with precise color just where you need it. From applying color in your crease to adding a highlight to your inner corner, you can’t go wrong with this eyeshadow brush.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #4: SMUDGE BRUSH

Fancy a gorgeous smoky eye? It's time to grab a smudge brush! Featuring short, dense bristles, this brush gives you free rein to smudge creams, shadows, and liners across your lash line and blend out harsh lines for a smoky effect. Start by applying the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24 HR Pencil Eyeliner in Black to your lash line, and follow up with your smudge brush to blend and extend the color for the perfect smoky finish. To set the eyeliner, you can also apply black shadow right on top using the same brush.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #5: EYESHADOW BLENDING BRUSH

An eyeshadow blending brush is a must for every collection. Seriously, well-blended eyeshadow is what sets beginners and pros apart. A crease blending brush that’s perfect for both placing color and blending it out is just what you need to define your eyes and make sure your eyeshadow looks are seamless.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #6: FLUFFY EYESHADOW BRUSH

Want to show off your blending skills even more? The fluffy eyeshadow brush will make it happen! While the previous brush is meant for more targeted blending, this one features long, tapered bristles that can help you blend and diffuse eyeshadow shades seamlessly onto your lids, covering a larger space. A true beauty staple, every beauty lover should have this eyeshadow blending brush in their arsenal, too.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #7: LARGE SHADOW BRUSH

If you prefer to keep your makeup routine short and sweet, the large shadow brush deserves a spot in your beauty tool collection. Flaunting a large, flat shape with tapered bristles, this brush is ideal for creating an eyeshadow look with just a few swipes across the eye. Perfect for days when you prefer a monochromatic look or are in the mood to rock a solo eyeshadow color, this brush will pull your eye makeup look together in little to no time.

To see for yourself, swipe the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow in Amethyst Quartz onto the center of your lid and use a large shadow brush to blend the color over your eye.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #8: PRECISION EYESHADOW BRUSH

As you explore more intricate eyeshadow looks, brushes that can help you be more precise with where you’re placing shadow are key. This petite brush is perfect for applying eyeshadow if you have small eyes and not a lot of lid space or when you’re playing with a whole bunch of colors and need each to sit in the perfect spot.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #9: CREAM EYESHADOW BRUSH

Cream eyeshadows are majorly trending, but they need the right brush and application technique if you’re going to use them. As the name suggests, a cream shadow brush makes cream eyeshadow application a breeze. Similar to a concealer brush, this tool features dense bristles with a flat shape that works to smoothly blend color onto your lids without getting the product stuck in the bristles. This means you can score major coverage and real color payoff with one swipe.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #10: ANGLED EYELINER BRUSH

If you're ready to explore the wonders of the classic cat eye, you may want to use an angled tip brush to complete your look. Featuring a flat edge with dense bristles, this brush comes in small, medium, and large angles to suit your needs. While this brush would typically be considered an eyeliner brush, it’s worth mentioning here since you can dip it into shadows too.

Try creating a more subtle wing with eyeshadow instead of eyeliner, picking up some of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Eternal Black on the brush. Drag the brush along your lash line, then pull it out and up at your outer corner to make a flick.

EYE MAKEUP BRUSH #11: BENT LINER BRUSH

Ready to give your eye makeup an extra pop of color? It'd be smart to add the bent liner brush to your arsenal. Designed with soft, short bristles with a bent-tip, this thin-pointed brush gives you full control to apply the right amount of color for a super thin and precise touch. Just like the tool mentioned above, it’s typically meant for eyeliner, but you can totally switch it up and use it with eyeshadow to amp up your makeup look.

HOW TO CARE FOR EYESHADOW MAKEUP BRUSHES

By now, you likely know the importance of keeping your beauty tools in tip-top shape. Since you may be using your eye brushes almost every day, the amount of product buildup on them can be enough to affect your makeup application. Not to mention, your brushes can become a breeding ground for bacteria, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The AAD recommends that you clean brushes every seven to 10 days to protect your skin.

Not sure how to clean your eyeshadow brushes the right way? Head on over to our article, How to Clean Makeup Brushes and Blenders, for everything you need to know.

Next up: Now that you're educated on eyeshadow brushes, why not focus on a particularly trendy type of makeup brush? Click through to our article, How to Use an Oval Makeup Brush.