Makeup Basics - 10 Essential Eye Brushes

continuing in the vein of my previous post on 5 essential face brushes, here are 10 brushes that i think are ideal for the application of a full range of eye makeup styles - from subtle & natural to dramatic & smoky to graphic & precise.

once again, here is a collage of the brushes i recommend, and the different shades (highlight, all over, crease, liner, accent etc.) that could be used with them.

10 essential eye brushes by lareinarumbera on Polyvore.com

1. blending/all over shadow brush. a fluffy, tapered brush used to blend harsh lines, apply a highlight color, and to apply a wash of color all over the eyelid. purpose - blends & applies soft, light/highlight colors. use it for - highlighting, adding a wash of light to medium color to the lid, and for blending harsh lines, suitable for both cream & powder products.
2. angled shadow brush. a medium sized, angled, paddle/flat brush used to apply eyeshadow all over, or in a more precise pattern. purpose - all over wash, application of lid color, precise placement of color. the brush has an angled head which conforms to the shape & contours of the eye area. use it for - washes of color, application of lid color, contouring. suitable mainly for powder shadows.
3. flat shadow brush. a paddle/flat brush of various sizes (choose the one that's the right size for your lid) used to concentrate accent/medium shades on the lid. purpose - application of lid color. use it for - general shadow application - wet/dry, cream/powder. can also be used to apply a brighter/more colorful shade all over the lid.
4. small shadow brush. a small paddle/flat brush (smaller than the one in 3.) used to precisely apply more concentrated colors. purpose - precise placement of any colors, anywhere in the eye area. use it for - very pigmented shadows, accent colors, darker colors.
5. pencil/crease brush. a tightly packed, pointed/bullet shaped brush for smudging dark colors onto the top lid. purpose - contouring, creasework, and smudging. use it for - creating smoking, blended effects, creating a deeper crease, the outer v - suitable for darker formulas, both cream and powder.
6. short shader/smudger brush. a paddle/flat shaped brush with tight, small bristles. purpose - smudges dark colors into the lash line for a intense, dramatic effect. use it for - smoking out liners, smudging shadows, intensifying colors, both with cream and powder forumlas, to create sultry, bedroom eyes.
7. synthetic shadow brush. a large, flat shaped brush with synthetic bristles. purpose - applies creamy formulas, potted primers, and concealers without absorbing too much product. use it for - cream shadows, primers, concealers - anywhere around the eye area.
8. liner brush. there are several types - i generally prefer the straight, pointed one, but others prefer a "bent" pointed brush, or a "push" or "flat" definer brush. choose the one that lets you line comfortably. purpose - applies cream/gel eyeliner. use it for - lining the eyes, with any formula.
9. brow/lash brush. combs brows & lashes so that they are neat. very simple. buy a sturdy one.
10. eyebrow/angled eye brush. an angled brush used to fill in and define brows. can also be used to linen the eyes in a pinch. useful for all types of brow product.