Best Eyeshadow Brushes [Review] in 2022

When it comes to finding good quality brushes to use on your favorite makeup looks, it can be a complete game-changer. Nothing makes me more excited than a new brush or new brush set arriving in the mail.

I have tried a wide array of eyeshadow brushes over the years, and trust me, I’ve had some bad ones, ones that scratch your face or don’t blend your eyeshadow at all.

We’ve all started with the sponge applicators out of the eyeshadow palette from when we’re kids and how far we’ve all come when it comes to makeup since then.

Whether you’re here as a beginner or just looking for a new eyeshadow brush to try, I’ve got you covered girl, let’s go through the full rundown.

When looking for eyeshadow brushes, there are quite a few features and things you need to check before you click to buy– whether it’s down to preference or use. 

What you’re using the brush for: 

There are actually quite a few eyeshadow brushes to choose from, and they all have a different use or purpose. The basic four are the shader brush, blending brush, pencil brush, an eyeliner brush. 

For the full rundown of each, check out my guide on the different makeup brushes here. 

Most importantly, before you click to buy, you need to think of what you’re going to be using this brush for; if you’re looking for a basic makeup look, a shader brush and blending brush will do the job nicely. 

But if you’re looking for eyeshadow art, then you may want to invest in all four. 

Synthetic vs. natural brushes: 

When it comes to eyeshadow brushes, I would always go for synthetic over natural. Not only are these brushes often cruelty-free, but they don’t soak up the product as much as natural.

The difference between the two is that natural brushes are made out of animal fur and hair, whereas synthetic ones are made out of nylon and other plastics. 

Even better if you can find a synthetic brush that’s made out of sustainable materials like EcoTools, that is not only vegan and cruelty-free, but the brush and packaging are sustainable for the environment and made out of recycled materials. 

Durability: 

This is one of the most important factors to consider before buying a makeup brush; it will make your brushes last longer and improve the quality of a brush as a whole. 

No one wants a brush where the bristles fall out after a couple of uses. 

Vegan and cruelty-free: 

Nowadays, products and brushes are becoming much healthier for the environment and better for wildlife and animals. 

There are many more vegan and sustainable options around for you to choose from, high quality and affordable. 

Instead of buying from unethical manufacturers, I cannot recommend switching to cruelty-free and vegan companies so we can combat climate change and the animal testing industry one brush at a time.

What brush should I use for cream eyeshadow?

If you decide that using your fingers isn’t for you or looking for a more intricate eye looks, then getting the right brush is the first step. I recommend using a blending eyeshadow brush or a flat synthetic brush to maintain the pigment.

You can even use a smudger brush if you’re looking to get into tighter corners or if you’re looking to use creamy eyeshadows for eyeliner using an angled liner brush. It is all down to preference.

Do you wet the brush before eyeshadow?

If you’re looking for a well pigmented, creamier eyeshadow look, then you can wet down your eyeshadow brush before use. It will make your finish much more intense than without wetting it.

How many brushes do you need for eyeshadow?

You only really need around 3 to 4 brushes to complete an eyeshadow look: a shader brush, blender brush, liner brush, and a smudge or pencil brush. Once you’ve become more advanced and develop your eyeshadow looks further, you can add more brushes to your kit.

Why are washing your eyeshadow brushes so important?

Eye brushes are the most important to wash as bacteria build-up can cause eye infections which are never nice. I would recommend washing your brushes every few weeks to keep up the hygiene and general care of your brushes while preventing the risk of infections.

How do you clean your eyeshadow brush?

First things first, you need to wet the bristles with lukewarm water; I like to rub the bristles under the running tap with my hand for a minute or two before going in with a cleanser to help break down the buildup. 

Place a drop of your cleanser into the palm of your clean hand or makeup brush cleansing mat and massage the bristles for a few minutes. Rinse and repeat until your eyeshadow brush is clean and the running water is clear after rinsing. 

Squeeze out the excess moisture and leave it to dry on a towel on its side. 

Check out my full guide as to how to clean all your makeup brushes here.

Hopefully, after today, I have helped you select a new brush to add to your kit while giving a breakdown of what makes brilliant makeup brushes as well as the use for each. 

Choose out of any I’ve selected today and remember practice makes perfect; you may not get it right the first time but keep trying. One of these brushes may be your new best friend.