The 5 Best Eyeliner Brushes, According to Bobbi Brown

While there are many products in the market for achieving a perfect cat eye or precision winged liner, it’s also possible to use an angled brush and gel, powder, or shadow to create a strong eyeliner look.

1. 1. Prep the area. Make sure your eyeshadow is complete and that your lash-line is clear of loose powder. Use a cotton swab and makeup remover to wipe lashes if not.
2. 2. Pick between gel and powder. For a bold look with staying power, opt for gel; this is the closest you’ll come to mirroring the effect of a felt tip liquid liner. For a softer, more neutral look that mimics a pencil eyeliner, select a powder a few shades darker than your eyeshadow. (Try to stick to blacks and browns, unless you’re going for a vivid and creative expression.)
3. 3. Dip the brush. Pick up only as much gel as coats the tip of the angle. For powder, tap the brush to shake off any extra bits.
4. 4. Draw. Pulling back your lid, swipe the angled liner brush across the lashline. Pay careful attention to the edge: are you going for a dramatic swoosh, a thin, precise line, or a dainty flick after a thick, perfect line?
5. 5. Mirror the lower lash-line. An optional extra is to add depth and color by filling in the same liner to the lower lash-line. For a crisper look, go darker on the bottom line than the top.

With gel eyeliner in a pot, choose a brush with a fine point (whether it’s angled or tapered), and don’t pick up too much of the product to avoid clumps, smearing, or the dreaded cake effect.

1. 1. Eye-Contouring Brush by Chanel. A flat brush that lets you contour along the lid and across the lashline for a perfect smoky eye. The wide head also doubles it as a brow brush.
2. 2. 202 Microliner Brush by Smith Cosmetics. Soft, delicate, and synthetic bristles give this brush precision power.
3. 3. 212 Tightliner Brush by Smith Cosmetics. A multi-use flat definer brush that works with various formulas, from gel to powder, for subtle definition along the inner rim.
4. 4. E68 Line Perfector Brush by Sigma Beauty. An angled brush that can achieve both thick lines and thin lines.
5. 5. M433 Pointed Liner Brush by Morphe. Dense synthetic bristles work better with cream or gel liners; ideal for winged eyeliner looks.

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