17 Best Eyeshadow Brushes According to a Makeup Artist

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. 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8aao6Wdoq58o7HSrWSesZWotaKwzrBkm6qlqLWmvw%3D%3D