Is there a wrong way to use eyeliner? No, but there are endless ways to get the most out of your chosen product. Application processes may vary depending on the desired finished look, but it all begin with using an eyeliner brush. As a makeup-obsessed beauty editor who refuses to leave the house without a wing (even if it's barely visible to the human eye), I've spent more hours than I'd like to admit sifting through my makeup bag to find the right eyeliner brush for the look I'm hoping to create.
If you often find yourself in a similar position, this article may help you weed out the winners from the underperformers. To get a better idea of what to search for, I tapped celebrity makeup artist Carmindy—creator of the quick and easy 5 Minute Face and founder of Carmindy Beauty—for her tips and tricks on how to find your perfect eyeliner-brush match and reap all it has to offer.
Shopping for Your Eyeliner Brush
A quick search online for the best eyeliner brushes reveals products of all shapes and sizes for specific uses, but unless you're a veteran beauty pro like Carmindy, knowing which ones will best serve your eyeliner goals can pose a challenge. "There are many types of liner brushes, and each creates a very different effect," she begins. "Some are for smudging. Others for sharp wings. Some apply powder or pot cream liner, and some are used for liquid liner or painting on little designs." She recommends practicing smart shopping by considering what you'd like for your eyeliner looks.
While shopping for eyeliner brushes to help create stunning makeup looks for her celebrity clientele, she keeps an eye out for eyeliner brushes that are either angled for applying precise wings or soft pointed brushes that can help her smudge pencils and powders. "It takes some practice, but after a while, [it] will be second nature," says Carmindy. She recommends pinpointing which eyeliner looks you want to achieve and then identifying the best products for the job. No matter how you go about applying your eyeliner, she warns agains hurrying through the application.
Perfecting Your Eyeliner Look
According to Carmindy, successfully creating a flawless eyeliner look is all about being smart about the products you use. "For a sharp wing, I like to use a flat angle brush and dip it into a pot cream [or] a wet powder. [I'll] even drag it over a pencil or liquid tip, then apply it along the upper lashes and flick it out at the ends," she tells me. Knowing when to pick up an angled brush and a flat brush could mean the difference between a flawless-looking wing and the dreaded raccoon eyes.
To achieve a smoky look, she suggests opting for a pointed shadow brush and the blending and buffing out the shadow to perfection. According to Carmindy, there's a way to fix any beauty blunder. "You can always use a concealer brush with a little concealer on it to clean up any mishaps or mistakes and make it perfect," she says. "Making mistakes is part of the learning process with any eyeliner brush, so don't let the fear of it stop you from experimenting with your look."
Carmindy's eyeliner brush of choice? Her brand's Dual Ended Eyeshadow Brush. "It's the perfect pointed soft blending eyeliner brush for smudging or softening liners. It's for a more natural effect. The other side has a perfect shadow blender," she explains. You may also find the right eyeliner brush in the most unexpected of places. In fact, her favorite angled brush is the Series 3050 Angular Shader from Princeton Artist Brush Co., which can also be used as a detail brush in watercolor, acrylic and gouache painting.
Below, I've pulled together an edit of the brushes designed specifically for use with eyeliners of all formulas from a number of my favorite brands.
The Best Eyeliner Brushes, Listed
- Carmindy Beauty Dual Ended Eyeshadow Brush
- Bobbi Brown Ultra Precise Eye Liner Brush
- Shiseido Katana Fude Eye Lining Brush
- Anastasia Beverly Hills #3 Tapered Brush
- Shiseido Yane Hake Precision Eye Brush
- MAC 212 Flat Definer Brush
- Nars #26 Push Eyeliner Brush
- Sigma Beauty E06 Winged Liner Brush
- Laura Mercier Smoky Eye Liner Brush
- Hourglass No. 10 Angled Liner Brush
- Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush
- E.l.f. Cosmetics Small Angled Brush
- Dior Backstage Eyeliner Brush No. 24
- Laura Mercier Angled Eye Liner Brush
- Half Magic Precision Eyeliner Brush
Carmindy's Top Pick: Carmindy Beauty Dual Ended Eyeshadow Brush
If your makeup bag is overflowing, consider investing in multipurpose beauty tools like this dual-ended brush. It can be used for both eyeliner and eye shadow thanks to a design that features one end that's dome shaped and another with a tapered point for precise product application.
Customer Review: "I have one in every makeup bag (for the gym, office, home and my mini on-the-go bag). Great for using shadows to line your eyes and apply eye shadows. I have purchased them as gift, and everyone feels the same way, they are in love! I highly recommend them!!"
Best Beginner-Friendly Option: Bobbi Brown Ultra Precise Eye Liner Brush
Featuring an ergonomic handle, Bobbi Brown's Ultra Precise Eye Liner Brush creates crisp, fine lines in seconds when paired with the brand's eyeliner. It has a sharp-taper head with fine yet firm bristles that distribute the perfect amount of product every time.
Customer Review: "I have owned many of Bobbi's gel liner brushes over the years, but this is by far my favorite. It allows you to apply a very thin tightline OR you can create a thicker line with just the right shape. The cap is a great addition!"
Best for Precise Angles: Shiseido Katana Fude Eye Lining Brush
If you're after graphic, artistic angles, get your hands on this best-selling brush by Shiseido. Ideal for use across all types for eyeliner formulas, the brush is crafted using Hidden Core technology that controls pressure for easy blending and a flawless, streak-free finish.
Customer Review: "Never did I think that I would have the most luxurious eye liner brush. It is easy to use (once you grasp the technique) and cleans up easily. I love any type of tool to help to paint the iconic winged line. If you want an eye liner brush that will never fail you, get this one It feels amazing in my hand as its sleek and easily handled. This will last me a lifetime and it will you too. Just keep it clean as with all your beautifying tools."
Best for Tightlining: Anastasia Beverly Hills #3 Tapered Brush
The brushes offered by Anastasia Beverly Hills never let me down, and its #3 Tapered Brush holds true to the reputation. Ideal for detailed application of both powder and cream product, this brush is small and tapered with synthetic fibers that can be used along the lash line, waterline, and lip line.
Customer Review: "Finally, an eyeliner brush made for me! Worked great with gel eyeliner. I was able to successfully and easily do tightlining and over-the-top eye lining and even achieved a wing on the ends (in less than 3-4 minutes)! The width of the ferrule, the length of the brush handle, plus the length and stiffness of the bristles make this perfect for me!"
Best for Waterline: Shiseido Yane Hake Precision Eye Brush
Another Shiseido favorite, the Yane Hake Precision Eye Brush is the perfect chiseled tool for the eyes and brows. Handcrafted in Japan, the brush features a chiseled roof shape for precise application and synthetic bristles for max definition and detail.
Customer Review: "This brush is PERFECT for adding color under the waterline. It picks up shadow perfectly and dispensed it with ease. One of my favorite brushes ever. A must-have!"
Best for All Eyeliner Formulas: MAC 212 Flat Definer Brush
Crafted to line and define the eyes with color, the 212 Flat Definer Brush has firm bristles and a flat shape that make it easy to apply your eyeliner in a single stroke. In addition to being a must-have synthetic-fiber tool, it's suitable for use with powder, liquid, and cream products.
Customer Review: "I have had this brush for a few years now, and it is amazing to line my lower lashes with eyeshadow, as it is able to get very very close to the lash line. It remains in perfect shape without any hair fallout. I highly recommend it!"
Best for Multipurpose Use: Nars #26 Push Eyeliner Brush
This flat eyeliner brush by Nars is designed to work with wet and dry formulas for quick and easy application by pushing or stamping product directly onto the base of eyelashes. The brush's hypoallergenic fibers are also gentle on the eyes and lend themselves to easy post-use cleansing and care.
Customer Review: "I recently bought this Nars Push Eyeliner from Space NK. It is a soft brush, it picks up just enough product and makes products easy to apply. The brush is easy to clean, when cleaned it is like new and seems like it will last me forever. Great purchase!"
Best for Sharp Wings: Sigma Beauty E06 Winged Liner Brush
Beginners, rejoice! You can now create winged eyeliner looks with the help of this easy-to-use Winged Liner Brush by Sigma. It features a small, angled head designed specifically to create winged liner while also offering precise control for all eye shapes and makeup abilities.
Customer Review: "I've never had a brush that is angled perfectly to make the tiniest wing at the tip plus smear the gel eyeliner close to the lashes. It's perfect! Not stiff at all, and absolutely the perfect size!"
Best for Smoky Eyes: Laura Mercier Smoky Eye Liner Brush
We're big fans of smoky eye looks at Who What Wear and even bigger fans of the tools that can help us create them with a simple flick of the wrist. The Smoky Eye Liner Brush gives the user control over eyeliner application using a lightweight, contoured cone tip for definition.
Customer Review: "This is a perfect smoky eye liner brush! I always feel just great when I apply my dry eye shadows or a liquid liner using this brush. So flawlessly the brush does it! It's also a great brush to smooth out my eye liner for a smoky eye effect. I absolutely recommend it!"
Best for Blending: Hourglass No. 10 Angled Liner Brush
The Hourglass Angled Liner Brush features ultra-soft Taklon bristles (an ideal choice for those who suffer from allergies to animal hair) and a weighted metal handle for effortless blending and application. I also love how it can be used with cream and powder products.
Customer Review: "Such a lovely brush. It's angled and is perfect for blending in my pencil eyeliner. I love Hourglass brushes as they are so soft and feel really luxurious. I have replaced my whole set of make up brushes with Hourglass ones as they are the best I have ever used!"
Best for Smudging: Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush
To create bold, smudged eyeliner looks, consider adding this Eye Smudger Brush to your makeup rotation. It can be used for eyeliner and eye shadow due to its synthetic maximum-hair-count tip that's hand-pulled into the perfect shape for effortless use. Say less.
Customer Review: "The brush works indeed perfect for sculpting the eye, and smudging out harsh lines. I find it to be a brush that's easy to work with and allows you to work with precision."
Best Drugstore Option: e.l.f. Cosmetics Small Angled Brush
This small angled brush creates even, thin lines with 100% animal hair–free bristles. It can also be used for applying lip color and eyebrow color in smooth, short strokes. To maintain its health by washing away dirt, makeup, oil, and debris, cleanse the brush with e.l.f.'s Daily Brush Cleaner.
Customer Review: "I use this to put on eyeliner. I use powder shadow (Mary Kay in Espresso or Coal) [with] a bit of water to get a nice fine line, and this angled E.l.f. brush is perfect for it. Like any other brush, does need replacing after lots of use, especially if you want a fine line."
Best Luxury Option: Dior Backstage Eyeliner Brush No. 24
For a luxury option, Dior's Backstage Eyeliner Brush No. 24 delivers definition with easy application. Designed with a tapered, beveled tip, the brush can be used with cream and liquid eyeliners. It's also great for smudging, blending, and building up pigment.
Customer Review: "Super handy brush! I've not been able to master the technique of using eyeshadow as eyeliner, but this brush makes it so easy, I wear eyeshadow as eyeliner almost every day now!"
Best for Hooded Eyes: Laura Mercier Angled Eye Liner Brush
If you have hooded eyes like I do, it can be challenging to create eyeliner looks that are visible without learning how to work your angles. Laura Mercier's Angled Eye Liner Brush gets the job done by helping you reach over your lash line and apply eyeliner directly to the base of the eyelashes.
Customer Review: "The angled eye liner brush by Laura Mercier makes winging liquid and gel liners a breeze. The angle makes doing your own liner so much easier. Product glides effortlessly."
Best for On-the-Go Eye Looks: Half Magic Precision Eyeliner Brush
Half Magic's pocket-sized Precision Eyeliner Brush features a curved half-moon shape that hugs your lash line for perfect application and wings. It's also retractable, making it extremely travel-friendly and easy to use in a pinch. After all, precision is in the name of this product.
Customer Review: "I saw Donni [Davy] use this during a Instagram Live makeup lesson and absolutely NEEDED this! The fact that it is retractable and so compact is so convenient for travel! The brush is so incredibly soft while still having the perfect amount of stiffness for crisp lines!"
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