As Someone Who Tests Make-Up for a Living, I Only Ever Wear Matte Brown Eyeshadows—Here Are the Very Best

Merit eyeshadows are some of the best matte cream offerings around. It's hard to find a non-powder that still has a non-shine finish, but these are fantastic. They come in a number of brilliant shades, all of which are super pigmented and stay put all day long. My go-to is the shade 'Midcentury,' which is described as a 'warm brown'. For those wanting something a touch lighter, there's 'Vachetta' (a warm beige), and if you want a deeper brown, 'Brun' is gorgeous.

MAC eyeshadows helped to get me into make-up in a more serious way during my uni days, and 'Cork' was always a fan fave with the bloggers and YouTubers I used to subscribe to. It's described as a 'muted golden brown' but is still matte. It's a really buildable shade, which is important to me in a brown shadow, as I usually go lighter during the day, then pack the product on for the evening. These also blend beautifully. You just can't beat a MAC classic!

If you're not much of a powder person, a matte crayon eyeshadow is the perfect compromise; you have the ease of application and a more creamy texture, but still with a non-budge finish that lasts all day. Vieve's are great, and the shade 'Espresso' is perfect for more of a dramatic effect. It's the brand's darkest brown (there are three others in slightly lighter browns), and is an essential for any collection. Blend in with fingers or a soft, fluffy brush.

For those who prefer a liquid eyeshadow, r.e.m's Starlet Liquid Eyeshadow Matte offers a unique combination of a liquid formula with a budge-proof matte finish. I love the little doe-foot applicator, which makes putting this on super easy, and the deep brown shade is so gorgeous. There's a slightly darker brown in the range, too, called 'TY.'

Giorgio Armani's Eye Tints are the definition of "chuck on and go". With their doe-foot applicators and easy-to-blend formulas, these are perfect for busy mornings or those who always seem to be time-poor. There are plenty of hues to choose from, with my fave being this lighter brown in the shade '22.' This can be blended around the lid with fingers or a brush.

Soft, buttery and easy-to-blend, Hourglass fans will no doubt be familiar with the brand's signature line of individual, refillable eyeshadows. And yes, the collection does include a number of perfect matte brown shades. My go-to is 'Doe,' which is like a tan-mid brown, perfect for a more subtle wash of colour across the lids.

For those looking to pick up a simple matte brown shadow on a budget, you can't beat this one by No7. At just £7, this is a product which will forever be on your repurchase list. The shade 'Truffle' is so perfect.