5 Eyeshadow Brush Alternatives to Use for an Emergency

by Jessica Alberto
Eyeshadow Brush Alternative

It goes without saying that brushes are essential tools for makeup application. After all, you could have the most expensive foundation, concealer, or eyeshadow palette, but what good are they without the proper tools? Any attempts at streak-free blending and buffing would just be in vain. This holds true, especially for eye makeup where brushes are crucial for making (or breaking) a look.

Be it luck, forgetfulness, or a lack of budget, there are, unfortunately, days when we find ourselves without a single brush in the makeup bag. While there’s definitely nothing wrong with being bare-faced, a lack of brushes shouldn’t stop you from achieving beautiful eye makeup. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. There are plenty of everyday objects that you can use in place of expensive makeup brushes. All you have to do is think outside the box, and maybe take a little more time to blend out your eyeshadows.

In this article, we’ll show you five eyeshadow brush alternatives you can use to apply eyeshadow without a brush. You know, if you ever find yourself in a beauty emergency.

Fingers

Who needs brushes when you’ve got the best beauty tools right in your hand — literally! From applying foundation to concealing imperfections, you can do an entire face of makeup with just your fingers. Although they won’t give you the same level of precision as a makeup brush, your fingers are a great alternative for applying powder or cream eyeshadows.

Don't have an eyeshadow brush? Use your fingers to apply shadow.

You’ll only need two shades for a simple glam eyeshadow look: a lighter one that will work as your base and a darker one to add dimension. Use the pad of your ring finger to pat the lighter shadow onto the entire lid. Then, dab the darker shadow onto the outer third of the lid, creating a “V” shape that connects your lash line and crease. Using a clean finger, gently dab over the shadow to blend out any harsh edges. Additionally, you can apply a highlighter onto the brow brone and inner corner of your eyes to make them pop!

Pro tip: Applying a primer onto your lids will help minimize fallout and ensure long-lasting eye makeup. With this type of eyeshadow application, it’s better to work from light to dark.

Sponge-tip applicator

Although most beauty buffs would never choose a sponge-tip applicator over eye makeup brushes, you can’t exactly be picky with your makeup tools during an emergency. Thankfully, sponge applicators have come a long way in terms of quality. You’ll hear many success stories of people who were able to achieve ultra-glam looks using just an applicator!

Spong-tip applicators are a great alternative to eyeshadow brushes.

Sponge-tip applicators are still one of the best alternatives for applying eyeshadow, mainly because they’re convenient. If you ever find yourself without a single eyeshadow brush, chances are, you haven’t got any eyeshadow either. We all forget to pack our makeup every so often — it’s inevitable. But a quick trip to the cosmetics aisle of the nearest drugstore can easily remedy our beauty woes. Many eyeshadow palettes come with an applicator. While it may not be the best tool for eyeshadow application, it can be a lifesaver when needed.

You can easily do two or three-color eyeshadow looks with a sponge applicator. Once you’ve primed your eyes, load one side of the applicator with your base color and apply this all over the lid. Next, load a darker shade of eyeshadow onto the tip of the applicator and apply this onto your crease and outer corners, creating a “V” shape. Clean the tip of the sponge, then go over any harsh edges until blended. Use the other side of the applicator to apply a highlight onto the inner corners of your eyes to complete the look.

Cotton swabs

The humble cotton swab is an inexpensive toiletry staple that’s incredibly useful for all sorts of makeup application. From cleaning up eyeliner or mascara mistakes, wiping off powder eyeshadow fallout, to applying false lashes —there’s definitely no shortage of cotton swab beauty hacks. Here’s one more for you to try.

You can apply and blend eyeshadow with a cotton swab.

Cotton buds are versatile tools that can help you apply and blend eyeshadows. To do this, take a cotton bud and press the tip onto your color of choice to load it with product. Press this onto your eyelid the way you would with an eyeshadow brush to transfer the pigment. Do this until you achieve the desired coverage. Use one swab per color to avoid mixing shades. To blend, take a clean swab and gently loosen the cotton on one end. Use this to go over the harsh lines with a sweeping motion until you’re happy with the results.

Another way to use cotton buds for eye makeup application is to use them like a smudge or pencil brush. The small, pointed tips can smudge eyeshadow or eyeliner, which is great if you want to create a smokey eye.

Paint brushes

Just like makeup brushes, paint brushes come in a wide variety. Although they have longer handles and are made of different materials, with a little adjustment, they can work as super cheap beauty tools for applying eye makeup. All you have to do is pick a brush with the right size and shape.

Paint brushes are an affordable alternative to eyeshadow brushes.

A brush with flat sides can be used to apply shadow onto your lids like a flat shader brush, while angular paint brushes are perfect for applying eyeliner on your upper and lower lash line or filling your brows.

DIY makeup brushes

If you’re feeling extra creative, you might want to try making your own DIY makeup brush at home! All you need is a pencil with an eraser and material to use as bristles, such as your hair or pet’s fur.

Use hair or fur to make your own DIY makeup brush.

Use a pair of blunt scissors to pull out the eraser from the pencil, being careful to keep the metal ring around it intact. Insert the bristles into the eraser end, then press the metal ring tightly to secure them in place. With a sharp pair of scissors, trim the edges of the bristles to your preference. You can cut them straight, curved, or at an angle to recreate your favorite makeup brushes.

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