Essential Tools: Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep Eye Shadow Brush Review

I'm a sucker for good makeup brushes. I believe that tools such as brushes make a world of difference in the way makeup applies, as well as how long it takes to apply it and how much product is needed to create a desired effect. I'm more than willing to invest money in the appropriate high-quality brushes for various tasks. As such, I have quite a collection of eye brushes, each serving a specific purpose, each working with specific products for particular parts of the eye. When I had a chance to try Bobbi Brown's Eye Sweep at a counter a few weeks ago, I knew I had to have it. 

Eye Sweep is a large, fluffy but firm brush meant for applying shadow on the lid and up into the crease or across the entire lid from lashes to brows as a wash. It is not meant as a crease brush--it's far too large for that. However, I find that when I use it to apply shadow to my lid and then "push" the color up into the crease, it's fantastic and makes application a breeze. It's firm enough to pack on the color, yet soft enough to apply a sheer wash or blend other colors together. 

Eye Sweep is probably my largest brush (aside from a couple of super-fluffy blending brushes): 

The domed shape and soft bristles make it easy to work with and a pleasure to use. 

Here are some more shots, just to show you how large the brush is: 

As you can see, it's roughly the size of my index fingertip...much larger than most of my shading brushes. However, the shape makes it easier to use. 

From the side, it's slightly thinner: 

The slightly smaller side of the brush allows for more control if you are just planning to shade the lid without going up into the crease. 

Eye Sweep has become one of my favorite brushes. I use it nearly every day for one thing or another. I use it for the lid, for the lid up into the crease, to highlight, and even to blend colors that are sharply contrasting. It's truly multipurpose. 

Bottom Line: Eye Sweep is one of the best eye shadow brushes I've tried. Although the $30 price tag may seem steep to some, it's well made and should last for years. Seeing that it can be used literally for everything except detail work and the crease, it's a great investment, and you'll find yourself turning to it time after time.