The 13 Best Eyeshadow Brushes for Every Kind of Eye Look, MUA-Approved

Best Overall

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Brush

$29 at Walmart $40 at Nordstrom View on Bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic

If we could bring only one eyeshadow brush with us to a desert island, we'd grab this classic pick by makeup legend Bobbi Brown. With synthetic bristles and a round, perfectly sloped head, it's ideal for defining your lash line, smoothing color into your crease, and all-over blending. The brush is designed for powdered shadows, effortlessly picking up and holding pigment until you tap off the excess or swipe it onto your lids. However, it may not be as idea for applying creams, which work best with a more precise brush tip.

Best Budget

e.l.f. Cosmetics Eyeshadow "C" Brush

$4 at Amazon $5 at Ulta $5 at Target

Function: Packing | Bristle Type: Synthetic

This medium-sized, multipurpose brush packs eyeshadow onto the lids with aplomb. It's large enough to cover a nice surface area, yet small enough to allow you to work with a bit of precision (great if you have more hooded eyes). We love that it also has a bit of a narrow edge that's great for smudging shadows along the upper or lower lash line (hello smoky eye looks). We tend to prefer a more rounded, fluffy brush for blending, but you can get the job done with this one. This highly affordable pick is especially great for eyeshadow beginners who don't want to spend a ton of money or buy multiple brushes at once.

Best for Everyday

BK Beauty 206 Blending Shader

View on Bkbeauty.com

Size: Medium | Bristle Type: Synthetic

Chances are, you'll need a few different eyeshadow brushes to create intricate looks—but if you're going for a minimalist, everyday look, this one will get the job done beautifully. The medium size is great for a variety of eye shapes and sizes. It packs shadows onto the lid as well as blends the edges for a soft look. While it's ideal for diffusing powder formulas, the synthetic bristles also pick up and apply creams nicely. Both the bristles and the handle feel durable and well-made, and we appreciate its versatility and how easy it is to use.

Best Dual-Ended

Chanel Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush N°200

$42 at Nordstrom $42 at Macy's

Function: Packing and blending | Bristle Type: Synthetic

The Chanel N°200 is a fantastic, dual-ended tool that's retractable with caps on both ends, so it's easy to store and ideal for on-the-go makeup. One end has a medium packing brush that works to apply color to the eyelids, while the opposite end has a fluffy crease brush to diffuse your look. And the high-quality bristles effortlessly glide over your eyelids with cream or powder formulas. It is a pricier pick, so if you're newer to eyeshadow, you may want to start with a less expensive brush and work your way up to this one.

Best Set

Sigma Beauty Basic Eye Brush Set

$56 at Amazon $77 at Dermstore $56 at Target

Size: Small, medium | Bristle Type: Synthetic

Sigma has been making functional, high-quality brushes for many years, and this set has been an editor favorite for quite some time. If you're not sure how to curate a well-rounded eyeshadow brush collection, we recommend a complete set like this one. It comes with seven brushes that are everything you'll need to create basic looks as well as more intricate looks. The brush handles are long and sturdy, and the bristles are all synthetic, meaning they're not made with animal hair. Though the blending brush sheds a bit, particularly in the beginning and when you wash it, it still works beautifully and the shedding isn't major.

Best Value

Real Techniques Everyday Eye Essentials Makeup Brush Kit

$15 at Amazon

Size: Small, medium, large | Bristle Type: Synthetic

Real Techniques has mastered the art of creating high-quality brushes at an affordable price. This set with eight brushes will cost you less than the price of one high-end makeup brush; it comes with a variety of different-shaped brushes to create a wide range of looks. The purple aluminum handles are sturdy, and the synthetic bristles are soft and work beautifully with both cream and powder formulas. This set is a perfect place to start if you're new to makeup or simply want to add to your brush collection without making a huge investment.

Best Fluffy Crease Brush

Sephora Collection PRO Crease Brush #19

$22 at Sephora

Size: Medium | Bristle Type: Synthetic

A fluffy crease brush is arguably the most important brush for making your eye look come to life—it helps to diffuse the colors for a well-blended finish. This one from Sephora Collection is our top pick for several reasons, the most important being the size. It's perfect for diffusing shadows in the crease while maintaining control. Read: It's not too big or too small. In addition to the size and shape, we appreciate that the synthetic bristles are soft and work beautifully to apply powders and cream eyeshadows. That said, some reviewers said the bristles were too soft for their purposes.

Best for Lash Line

Morphe Flat Liner Definer Brush

$8 at Ulta View on Morphe.com

Size: Small | Bristle Type: Synthetic

A small flat-tipped brush with a straight edge like the Morphe M432 is ideal for applying eyeshadow to your lash lines and buffing out the color. It's especially useful for defining your lower lash line and connecting it to your winged eyeliner. We like this one in particular because it's not so wide that you lose precision, but also not so narrow that it takes too long to sweep color along your lash line. The bristles are short and dense, and the edges are very square so it can feel slightly rough—just be sure to use a gentle touch.

Best for Cream Eyeshadow

Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable All-Over Eyeshadow Brush

$15 at Sephora $15 at Kohls.com View on Rarebeauty.com

Size: Medium | Bristle Type: Synthetic

If you're working with a cream formula, you'll be glad to have this brush in your arsenal. It has a dome-like shape that easily picks up creamy eyeshadow formulas and applies them to the lids. The bristles are dense for packing on the color, but they're still smooth, soft, and gentle against the delicate skin on the eyelids. Though it's not ideal for blending colors into the crease of the eyes due to the shape, it's a must-have if you like to wear cream shadows and are looking for a tool to help you apply them to your lids effortlessly.

Best for Smoky Eye Looks

Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush

$36 at Sephora

Size: Small | Bristle Type: Synthetic

When it comes to smoky-eye makeup, the right brush is essential—and the Eye Smudger is up for the task. This eyeshadow brush has short and dense bristles, allowing you to smudge powder or cream eyeshadows in targeted areas to create a sultry, smoldering effect. It's also great at smudging out eyeliner pencils for a softer, more diffused look. Plus, the small tip is perfect for highlighting the inner corners of the eyes. It's definitely a bit pricey for a single brush, but you'd be surprised by just how functional it is.

Best Angled

Sigma Beauty Angled Shading Brush

$17 at Amazon $16 at Nordstrom

Size: Medium | Bristle Type: Synthetic

With extra-soft, perfectly angled bristles and slightly beveled edges, the E70 is a go-to for sheer and medium eyeshadow application. You can use it to sweep shadows across your lower lids, define your creases, and even highlight your brow bones. However, if you're really looking to pack on the color, this pick may fall short since it's a leaner, less fluffy brush.

Best for Crease

Fenty Beauty Tapered Blending Brush 210

$24 at Sephora View on Strawberrynet.com $24 at Kohls.com

Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic

When you need to contour the crease of your eyelid, reach for this fluffy pink number. Fenty Beauty's 210 Brush is expertly tapered and custom-cut for blending eyeshadows into a flawlessly diffused finish. The point is ideal for detail work, while the fuller brush makes easy work of blending out the contours. We love this one for experimenting with a dark-to-light color fade. The only con we came across is some reviewers find the bristles a little long for super precise control.

Best for Blending

MAC Synthetic Blending Brush

$30 at Ulta $30 at Nordstrom $30 at Macy's

Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic

While most eyeshadow brushes on this list will make it easy to blend and buff out your shadows, this one is in a league of its own, according to makeup artist Caitlin Cullimore. "My favorite ever blending eyeshadow brush is the #217 by Mac Cosmetics. "It's great for softening the edges of your eyeshadow and for doing eyeshadow in your crease, too." However, since this one's fluffier, it's not ideal for precise application.