Finding the right eyeshadow brushes can make such a huge difference in how your makeup applies, and Rephr has some of my favorites. Their brushes are high quality, work well with both creams and powders, and have thoughtful shapes that actually make sense for real application. I’ve tested a bunch of their brushes over time, and while I don’t think every single one is a must-have, there are some absolute standouts that I reach for constantly. Here’s my breakdown of the ones I own—what I love, what I don’t, and which ones I think are worth picking up. In this post, all links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own, and I bought these myself.
01 – This is a perfect workhorse blending brush. It’s exactly the right size, shape, and density for any kind of blending you have to do. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on building up the crease, blending out edges, adding something to the inner corner, I can make this work. You can use it with powders or creams though I prefer this one for powder shadows. There’s honestly not that much to say about this brush because it does exactly what it promises to do and super well.
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02 – This is firm eyeshadow shader brush that can work for both powders and creams. It’s not too firm (like the 21 I’ll talk about later) but is still dense enough to pick up enough shadow. It works really well for laying down pigment and is great for softly blending out cream shadows. I’m not a huge fan of this one for glittery shadows vs something like the Sonia G shader brushes (particularly the Soft Shader) but I love using it to build up a matte shadow in the outer corner or building a base with something the Merit Solo Shadows. This is because it’s a pretty small brush, at least for the size of my eyelid. Rephr does make a max version of this brush that I’m thinking of grabbing because I love the shape and density of it.
12 – This is a fairly chubby smudge brush that I like to use for either adding depth to the outer corner or building up an inner corner highlight area that’s less precise. I don’t like the way thick eyeliner looks on me, but if you’re into that look, you’d love this brush. I especially like using this one to pick up a dark brown cream shadow or liner for the outer corner really quickly when I’m in a rush vs trying to build up and blend out a powder shadow. It’s the largest pencil type brush I own – if you’re looking for something similar but smaller, I’d recommend the BK Beauty 207.
13 – This is basically a tiny version of the 01 brush. It’s one of the smallest crease brushes that Rephr makes (they make a mini version of this that’s even smaller), and I love it when I’m trying to do something super precise. Like all the above brushes, this works with creams or powers and has a really great density level for both. It’s great for blending out shadows in smaller spaces or if you’re trying to powder a super tiny spot on your face. This one is the perfect balance of fluffy but tiny. That said, if I had to choose between the 01 and the 13 for me, I’d stick with the 01.
15 – This is a great tapered blending brush that’s slightly denser than the 01, making it perfect for adding depth to the crease while still being able to blend seamlessly. I love using this brush when I want more control over my blending—it’s not too fluffy, so it keeps pigment concentrated but still diffuses edges beautifully. It works well with both powders and creams, though I mostly use it for powders. If you find the 01 a little too soft or large for detailed crease work, the 15 is a great alternative. I find myself reaching for this a lot when I want a more defined look without harsh lines or when the 01 needs to be cleaned so they’re fairly similar.
21 – This was the very first brush I got from Rephr, and it actually took me a long time to try them again after this one. It’s my least favorite brush from them and the only one I wouldn’t recommend. All the other brushes I’m reviewing, if it’s something you’re looking for, I really do think you’ll love the brush and get a ton of use of it. The 21 is just too firm for me, and it never quite picks up shadows in the way I want it to. It says it’s specifically for shimmers and creams but I find that the 02 brush works way better for both of those. I might actually get rid of this one and get the max version of the 02 because I love having this shape of brush around but I don’t like the bristles they used.
29 – This is the kind of liner brush I prefer vs something like the 12 brush. I love having something I can use to line just the lash line with a cream shadow and not have to worry about it ever getting too thick. This brush is dense and stiff enough to pick up cream shadows but also works great with powders. I’ve also used it to fill in my eyebrows in a pinch! It’s not particularly unique if you already have a tiny liner brush, but if you’re in the market for one, this is a very high quality and effective one.
33 – This is a huge brush for an eyeshadow brush. It’s definitely the largest shadow brush I own, and I think that’s what makes it special. You can do a one shadow look so fast, whether you’re using cream, powder, or even blending out liquid shadow. I love using this when I’m in a rush but don’t want to get makeup all over my fingers so want to use a brush instead. You can also use this as a concealer brush or a powder brush in a pinch because it’s so large. I love the tapered shape of it to pick up, lay down, and blend out shadow. This is honestly one of my stand out favorites that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did because I’m not used to giant eyeshadow brushes. I’m so glad I grabbed this one because I end up using it all the time and always am so happy with how the look turns out.
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
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