From the big and fluffy to the small and precise, hundreds of different eyeshadow brushes exist.

Besides, there are many good-quality and budget-friendly brush options for makeup beginners.

If you’re not sure where to look, check out brands like e.l.f.

makeup brushes with eyeshadow palette

and Real Techniques, which can be found at most drugstores (perSlashed Beauty).

The first eyeshadow brush on this list is the blending crease brush.

This means that a good blending crease brush should be both tapered and soft.

eyeshadow brush against pink background

Instead of picking up shades, this brush stays clean beside the colors it touches on the eye.

YouTuberSmitha Deepakexplains that these brushes are pointed and dome-shaped, but shorter and stiffer than a blending brush.

A pencil brush can also double for detail work and smudging if you don’t have a smudge brush.

pouch of makeup brushes

With just these five brushes, you should be able to complete almost any makeup look.