I have several makeup brushes that I love, and my eye brushes are definitely used more than any of my face brushes. I always like to have different brushes that I can use for different things, and I am all about using what works for you. You can use any brush anywhere, they do not have a set purpose. I am going to go over the brushes that I use on my entire eye area, from the eyebrow to the dark circle zone.
Starting from the top, the eyebrows. I think that I have a pretty good natural shape to my brows, but some of the hairs grow in very bright blonde, which makes them appear to be sparse. I like to fill in my brows just to help define my face. I think that defined brows really help to finish a look. First I use the angled brush shown in the middle. It came from a Sonia Kashuk brush set that I received as a gift YEARS ago, so I am sorry to say that I don't know where to find it anymore. The handles are made to look like coral, which explains the weird porous look. I like this brush because it has stayed in great condition, and the shape is perfect for my brows. I'm sorry that it is kind of difficult to see, but it is a simple angled brush. After I fill them in, I like to set my brows with clear mascara. That's where these other two come in. Depending on the day, I will either use the spoolie brush (also by
Sonia Kashuk) or the brow brush (from
Sephora). The spoolie is easy to use and gets the job done, but if I want my brows to be a little more precise or if I just want to put in more effort, I use the brow brush on the left. The bristles are pretty tough, which gives you nice control.
Moving on to eyeshadow brushes, these two are simple, but definitely get the job done. The one on the left is a
Sigma E55 shading brush. This one is great because it is flat, so you can pat color all over your lid or in a more precise area. It is also nice because you can use each side for a different color shadow. It picks up product nicely, and it is more gentle to just pat the shadow on. The brush on the right is also from the corally Sonia Kashuk collection, and I use it to apply color to the crease. I will probably upgrade this one at some point because I am finding it to be a bit rough on the skin. However, the shape and density is perfect for the crease. It is a slight dome shape so it fits nicely in that area and distributes color well.
These are the brushes that I use for liner or for more precise placement of color. I am all about using eyeshadow as eyeliner and for smudging eyeliner pencil. These brushes are perfect for that. Starting on the left, this is a
Sigma E30 pencil brush, which I use when I want to apply shadow in a very specific way, like to define the outer corner or the lash line. I had just washed it, so it is a little fluffier than usual, but it typically has a slightly pointed shape that makes it perfect for small areas. The next one is also from the coral Sonia Kashuk collection, but it is SO GOOD for smudging pencil liner. It is rounded on the top but it is flat like a paddle brush, which gives it a good shape for smudging. It is not too dense, so you don't lose too much product. The next brush shown here is a wonderful multi-purpose brush. It is a
Sigma E20 short shader brush, and it is so great for cleaning up the lower lash line or for applying a highlight below the brow bone. I also use this for concealer occasionally, because its size makes it perfect for small areas. Finally, the brush on the far right is by far one of my favorites. It came in a MAC brush set years ago, it is a
MAC 212 flat definer brush. I love it because it is super thin and precise, but it is flat, which makes it super easy to press eyeshadow into the upper and lower lash line. I like to keep my liner pretty close to the lashes, and this really helps to achieve that. It is wonderful quality, and no matter how much I use it, it always keeps its flat and defined shape.
Last but not least, these are my blending brushes. The one on the left is a
Sigma E40 tapered blending brush. This brush is great for blending lines, but I usually use it to set my undereye concealer. It is fluffy and not too dense, so it is great for lightly dusting fine powder under my eyes or across my brow bone. The one on the right is also from the long lost coral Sonia Kashuk collection, and is essentially a larger and flatter version of the brush I use for my crease. It is great for blending out eyeshadow.
I hope this post was helpful if any of you are looking for new eye area brushes. I did not mention a brush for undereye concealer, because I definitely have a love/hate relationship with concealer and I have found that my fingers work the best for making sure it blends in. Otherwise, I would recommend all of these brushes and I use them on a daily basis. As I said, I do not believe that each brush should have a set use, and you should always find what works best for you.
