Even seasoned makeup users can be somewhat bewildered by the array of brushes for putting on eye makeup when standing in the beauty aisles. You might want to try a smoky eye but have no idea which brushes do what. You may only use one style of applicator brush for your eyeshadows but are sure that with different brushes, you could make a big impact on your looks. Or you may be completely new to makeup and don’t know where to start. Here’s the lowdown on all the types of eye makeup brushes:
1 The Fluff Brush
An all-purpose brush for packing on color all over the lid, blending and highlighting under brow and face. They come in different sizes: The smallest are good for strategic placement of shadow; use medium sized fluff brushes for placing shadow across the eye; and the largest brushes work well for putting shadow on the brow bone as a highlight. You can use this brush to pat on a higher concentration of shadow or for a sweep of lighter color.
Frequently asked questions
2 The Angled Shadow Brush
This is essentially a fluff brush with an angle. The angle gives you more versatility and bit more control. You can use it to sweep shadow in the same way as a regular fluff brush but the angled tip makes it great for getting the right amount of shadow into the eye crease. You also need an angled brush for getting dark shows in your outer “V”.
3 The Blending Brush
If you don’t blend, your carefully chosen palette of shades could end up like streaks of color. To avoid harsh lines where shades meet, you need a blending brush.
4 The Smudge Brush
Looking like a stunted fluff brush, the smudger is definitely needed for creating a smoky eye. The shorter, denser bristles are designed to be less flexible than a fluffer so you get a better smudge. It can also be useful for softening harsh eyeliner, for applying a darker shade of shadow in your eye crease or to your outer contour area.
5 The Pencil Brush
The nicely rounded tip of this small brush makes it ideal for making very precise applications of eyeshadow. You can also use this for applying small sweeps of shadow to your crease and they’re great for blending small areas.
6 The Crease Brush
The crease brush is a large version of the pencil brush. It is also softer because it is designed for adding depth to your eye. Use it to apply shadow right above your crease and then blend that shade downwards into the crease.
7 The Flat Tipped Defining Brush
Do not use this type of brush for eyeshadow application – they are too stiff for that. They are specifically designed to enhance your eye lining. Whether you use liquid, cream, gel or powder, this defining brush gives you a nice clean line – use it to push your liner down into your lash line.
8 The Slanted Liner Brush
All slanted eyeshadow brushes are designed to make it easier to work at an angle to your eye. This one is especially good for sweeping over your eyeliner to get a nice smooth finish. It can also be used directly under the brows.
9 The Bent Liner Brush
One of the best inventions in recent years, this is the best friend of the girl who loves to tight line. If you like your liner to be underneath your lash line or really close to your lash line, it’s something difficult to achieve with regular liner brushes (even slanted ones). The angled head makes tight lining easier to master.
10 The Mascara Fan Brush
You’ll find this in the tool kit of every professional makeup artist but less so in home collections. But why not? If you want to boost the look of your lashes, this brush will help. You use this instead of the wand that comes with your favorite mascara. Pick up the mascara by wiping the brush on the wand and then use the brush to apply it like you would using the wand. You will need more applications than with a wand but you’ll get mascara right down at the base of your lashes.
11 The Spoolie Brush
The spoolie is an ingenious little finishing tool. No collection of eye makeup brushes is complete without it. It’s super useful for giving a more natural finish to your brows after you’ve filled them in with pencil. You can use it to declump and separate your lashes before your mascara dries. And did you know that you can revive tired mascara after a long day by wetting the spoolie and brushing your lashes with it.
12 The Mascara Comb
Yes it’s called a comb not a brush but this is usually a double headed tool – one side comb, one side brush. It is called a mascara comb but the stiff brush side is most useful for tidying up your eyebrows. The comb is great for doing the same job as a spoolie in declumping and separating your lashers in between applications of mascara.
13 The Contoured Eyelash Comb
Yes I know it’s another one that’s called a comb, this you have to know about this. A fairly recent addition to the Sephora range of eye makeup tools, is what you need to create the most natural finish to your mascara. Unlike other combs and crushes designed to tidy up and beautify your mascara, this ingenious little tool has the same curved shape as an eyelash curler so it naturally hugs your lid. The little comb is perfectly designed to gently rake through your lashes to remove any clumps.
