Eyeliner brushes are used as an alternative to a pencil because they apply eyeliner in a precise fashion without bumps and skids. An cosmetic brush eyeliner resembles a paintbrush, with a plastic or wooden handle. Many of these brushes are made of natural hair from ponies or goats. This style of brush tool is used in addition with liquid, gel, powder and cream liners. There are several types of eyeliner brushes including angled, fine, superfine, smudge and ergonomic brushes.
Angled eyeliner brushes are the most commonly used. They are also known as bent and slant brushes. The biggest benefit to the angled brush is that a person is able to apply the liner while looking in the mirror and without her hand getting in the way. This style brush can be used with all types of liner. A bent eyeliner brush usually costs around $20 US Dollars (USD).
Fine eyeliner brushes are used for creating thin, yet controlled, lines on the upper and lower lash lines. Fine brushes can be used with liquid or gel liners, to create a dramatic effect, or with dry, powdered liners for a soft appearance. This style of eyeliner brush costs around $10 USD.
Superfine eyeliner brushes are most often used in professional applications. Due to the fine, tapered bristles, this brush type is best for creating dramatic effects around the eyes. They are often used in conjunction with dark, wet eyeshadow, as the thin line is barely visible with light shades. This style of cosmetic brush costs around $6 USD.
Smudge eyeliner brushes are used to create a warm, smoky effect around the eyes. This type of brush has a sponge style tip, instead of the standard natural hair. Smudge brushes are most often used with powdered liner, as wet liner would smear instead of smudge. They are also very effective at blending the eyeliner into the lash line. This style is cheaper at approximately $2 USD.
Ergonomic eyeliner brush tools are designed for comfortable handling. They are often wider at the base, meaning the user will experience less discomfort; this also allows the brush to stand on its end when not in use. Ergonomic eyeliner brushes have flat, square bristles, meaning the product can be easily applied closer to the lash line. This style of brush is perfect for applying cream style liners. A standard ergonomic eye liner brush will cost the user approximately $8 USD.