Is there anything more powerful than a great makeup brush? The best makeup brushes make creating even the most complicated makeup looks so much easier, whether you're using a contour brush to build a glowing goddess bronzer look or creating a flawless finish using a foundation brush.
And eye makeup is no different. The best eyeshadow brushes can empower you to create eyeshadow looks worthy of an A-list makeup artist. But it isn't always easy to wade through all the noise and determine which brush is the best for what you need. That's why we chose two of our favorite brush sets, then combed through past Glam Bag reviews to determine the best eyeshadow brushes that are actually worth adding to your makeup brush collection.
From the best eye makeup brush set to smudge-proof crease brushes, find your new favorite eyeshadow brush–or eyeshadow brushes!– below.
1. F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES Tapered Blending Brush
“I can’t say enough about the softness of this brush.”
This cruelty-free blending brush can be used for almost anything and everything you can think of, but it's especially effective as a crease brush or for buffing and blending colors together. The vegan synthetic bristles pick up both powder and cream products with maximum ease, and can be used wet or dry to build your pigment as desired. One Ipster wrote this eyeshadow brush is a “beautiful brush...soft bristles and distributes product nicely." Ipster @j_lydall also loved the soft bristles, writing, “My go to brush. Very soft and great for buffing eyeshadows out. I can't say enough about the softness of this brush.”
2. SLMISSGLAM E61 Angled Shadow Brush
You’ll love this eye brush if you’re looking for one that picks up–and packs on–tons of color. The bristles are extra soft, and the green gems and glittery handle make it an eye-catching accessory in any makeup bag. Plus, it's super-versatile: use it as an eyeliner brush for an ultra-smoky look, or use it as a shader brush for contouring the sides of your nose.
One Ipster absolutely “love[s] this brush. I use it to put highlighter under my brow bone,” and while another wrote, “THIS BRUSH IS EVERYTHING! It blends so well and makes your eyeshadow look professional.” It's even Ipster @agarvey80’s “go-to for all eye applications ’cause of the perfect angle.” Made with synthetic bristles, this eyeshadow brush is also cruelty-free and vegan
3. ELIZABETH MOTT All Over Shadow Brush
“[The] perfect eyeshadow and blending brush!”
ELIZABETH MOTT makes some of the most luxe makeup brushes out there, and this cruelty-free pink one is as chic as it is functional. The soft, densely-packed synthetic bristles make for shadow blending that’s seamless and streak-free. Use it to pop highlighter onto your brow bone, or to apply and build color all over your lid: you can even use it as a face brush for swiping just the tiniest amount of highlighter on top of your cheekbones. Ipster @jenny8279 wrote it’s the “perfect eyeshadow and blending brush! I love it, and the color is so cute. I use this all the time.” And another Ipster commented on the soft bristles, writing: “I love this brush—it's so soft and I use it every day!”
4. VASANTI COSMETICS Contour Eyeshadow Blend It Out Brush
The dome-shaped brush head on this eye brush is exactly the shape and size that you need for perfectly contouring your eyelids and carving out your crease. The fluffy bristles are great for blending and buffing both neutral and highly pigmented shades, and you can even use it as a pencil brush or smudge brush (simply hold the end of the bristles together with your fingers). Ipster @kaseya45 wrote, “It’s chic AND blends very nicely! 10/10, my friends.”
5. ROYAL & LANGNICKEL MŌDA Pro Precision Angle Brush
"This is one of my favorite brushes!!”
This brush is made extra-luxurious thanks to its waterproof, silk-textured handle. It’s also the right size to apply not just eyeshadow, but also highlighter and contouring products. The angled tip makes it easy to apply pigment in a single sweep, and it's great for buffing product into the outer corner of your eye. Ipster @kmh5662128 wrote, “It feels nice in the hand. It applies nicely. It feels luxurious.” And another Ipster wrote, “This is one of my favorite brushes!! It has the BEST grip, and that makes it so much easier to hold on to, especially for us people with pain in their hands!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!”
6. AISLING ORGANICS Eco-Luxe Eyeshadow Brush
This stunning eyeshadow brush can do it all thanks to its dual-ended applicator. Use the flatter brush head as a concealer brush or as an eyeliner brush on your lower lash line. The other brush head is an amazing blending brush and great for applying shadow all over your eyelid or building into your crease. And not only is this brush cruelty-free and vegan, but AISLING ORGANICS also donates a portion of their proceeds to Lipstick Angels, an organization that provides beauty services to cancer patients. It's truly a win no matter how you skew it, and Ipsters agree: one Ipster wrote, “It’s a good blending brush. I’m finding I’m a big fan of dual-ended brushes.” And Ipster @lovingthebeach4ever agrees, writing: “This brush is awesome. The flat end is perfect for glitters and patting shades on with a wet brush.”
7. LUXIE BEAUTY Precision Blending Eye Brush 243
“...it’s the only [eyeshadow brush] I will use from now on.”
This high-quality blending brush features a tapered brush head that perfectly fits the contours of your eye, meaning it’s great for both subtle smoky effects and adding definition to your eye makeup look. Ipster @kmbarta wrote it’s “fantastic for applying shadow and blending out different shades. I have a few of these,” while Ipster @3steinforts says, “I don't like brushes at all, but I use this one constantly to apply my eyeshadow and it's the only one I will use from now on.” As a bonus, the ultra-soft synthetic bristles on this pencil brush are also vegan and cruelty-free.
8. IBY BEAUTY Fluff Eyeshadow Brush
The rounded, beveled edge on this luxe makeup brush enables the smoothest makeup application ever. This fluffy brush helps blend everything from eyeshadow to concealer, and the bristles are flat enough to use with loose shadows without having to fuss over fallout. Ipster @amoetamici wrote it’s a “really well-made brush. Very soft and applies eyeshadow very effectively while not irritating the skin at all.” And Ipster @jyoung1104 noted that it “works beautifully and isn't scratchy. Perfect for planning on color.”
9. F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES 5-Piece Eye Perfection Set
“...you’ll be finding yourself reaching for this set every time…”
This gorgeous five-piece makeup brush set is packed with some of the best makeup brushes out there for creating any eye makeup look you desire. Take your smoky eye to the next level with the Tapered Blending Brush; glam up hard-to-reach areas with the Mini Tapered Blending Brush; apply pretty washes of color across your lids with the Large Shading Brush; dampen the Short Shading Brush for dramatic pops of pigment; and add some winged eyeliner with the Fly Wings Eyeliner Brush. Ipster @Itsburtnii wrote, “This brush set is perfect IMO for any and every kind of look you could think of and you’ll be finding yourself reaching for this set every time...Super soft brushes that blend stupid well and I have yet to experience any kind of shedding whatsoever with these brushes.” And like all F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES, they're cruelty-free and vegan.
10. MORPHE Eye Slay 6-Piece Brush Collection
If you’ve ever wanted a brush set that would be the envy of professional makeup artists, try this out. The set includes six synthetic brushes that will help you do everything from applying gel and cream liners to creating soft, smudged lines. The set also includes a blemish-zapping concealer brush and a thick brush that packs on color while diffusing edges. Whether you want a crisp, clean look or a sexy, smoky one, this brush set allows for infinite possibilities.
11. SIGMA BEAUTY Basic Eye Brush Kit
Softening, blending, buffing, contouring—this brush set does it all. The seven classic eye brushes play well with eyeliner, eyeshadow, and eyebrows. The set also includes SIGMA BEAUTY’s best-selling SigmaTech® fiber blending brush, the E40. The set is cruelty-free and engineered to more effectively hold, apply, and blend your makeup products.