Which Makeup Brushes To Buy

Yes, makeup brushes blend makeup better. While fingertips get the job done for low-maintenance looks or multi-purpose pigments, brushes will help you achieve a streak-free, even application. However, if you're going for a quick, effortless look or are applying your makeup on the go, blending with your fingers is convenient and can provide a sheer, natural finish. Using a makeup sponge can also help you blend out product easily and avoid streaks, depending on what product and how much of it you use.

which makeup brushes to buy

As long as your makeup brushes are kept dry and clean, feel free to find creative ways to store your brushes. Try a marble or ceramic jar for an aesthetically pleasing option, or if you prefer to tuck your tools away or take them with you on the go, opt for a brush roll.

Try your hand at even the most intensive makeup looks on TikTok with this mix of natural and synthetic brushes for face and eyes, from celebrity makeup artist Ariel Tejada and the beauty aficionados at Morphe.

Beauty enthusiasts are raving about this ergonomic 12-piece set from e.l.f, with one satisfied customer writing, "Already in love with e.l.f products but their brushes are so freaking amazing! They are soft and great quality, they are very durable, super easy to clean, and helps blend makeup smoothly! Definitely going to buy another set."

This five-piece set of synthetic complexion brushes is perfect for blending out creams and powders, and their signature handle designs ensure they won't accidentally slip out of your fingers mid-swipe.

The person who prefers a no makeup-makeup look most days will get plenty of use out of this streamlined brush set from Illamasqua. It features essentials to expertly apply foundation, powder, and shadow, plus, a handy lash curler and sharper to keep their favorite pencils ready for their next use.

Here's an all-inclusive set from the pros at Hourglass that makes it seamless to replicate your favorite TikTok or runway beauty look. In addition to 17 tools to choose from, many of these brushes are dual-ended for added extra blending power.

Of all the types of makeup brushes, powder brushes are well-suited for adding color like blush when you want a more natural, less pigmented result. Think a dusting of rosy cheeks instead of a dramatic, deeply-hued look.

While stippling brushes can be used with powders, its best use is for liquid cream foundation or cream blush products. To use, put cream blush or foundation on the back of your hand, carefully dip the brush into product and stipple onto face.

Kabuki brushes are also great for powder foundation and blush. Diffuse concentrated product by swirling the brush in makeup, tapping to remove excess and then gently applying by using large, circular motions.

Need to set your makeup with finishing powder? Dip your kabuki brush into the product and spread evenly across your face. Be careful not to press to aggressively so as to avoid disrupting the placement of your blush, highlighter, etc.

Even if you have the trendiest makeup in your collection, they won't produce the glorious results you're expecting without proper, high-quality tools. And who best to ask about the best makeup brushes on the market than professional makeup artists who spend their entire careers working most closely with an extensive lineup of the best brushes for the face, eyes, lips, and cheekbones?

These Carlucce brushes deliver impressive softness that makes blending powders and creams a cinch. The multitasking tools are super travel-friendly because of their short handles. Not to mention, the slate-gray color is so chic and looks great in any makeup bag. The larger Cache Cream Brush is great for base (foundation, contour), while the Hush-Hush Brush is awesome for smaller applications like eye shadow, concealer, and your new Laritzy highlighter.

Kevyn Aucoin's The Loose Powder Brush is dense yet fluffy, which is perfect for picking up and evenly applying messy powders. On top of its even application, we love that this Allure Best of Beauty 2022-winning brush's goat hair bristles are soft and gentle on easily-irritated skin.

When it comes to an all-around face blush that's great for setting powder, bronzer, and blush, look no further than the Nars Yachiyo Kabuki Brush. "It's big enough for all-over powdering but small enough for creating a healthy glow with blush," makeup artist Georgina Graham says. Consider this tool the Goldilocks of the makeup world.

What makes the Best of Beauty Award-winning Shiseido Daiya Fude Face Duo stand out from your standard complexion brushes (and makeup sponges, for that matter) is a bouncy gel blender that lends a fingertip-like application effect for tapping on liquid and cushion compact formulas. It will help you keep your hands off your face, maintain a more hygienic makeup routine, and achieve a skin-like finish.

Sculpt your cheekbones to utter perfection with the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Contour Brush, which won the honor in 2021 and 2022. It's designed with fanlike, synthetic bristles that create a soft, diffused look sans harsh or obvious lines. "I stamp it on the end of my cheekbones at the hairline and slide it down to the sides of my chin," Patrick Ta previously recommended.

Best paired with the brand's complimentary, Best of Beauty-winning Major Sculpt Creme Contour & Powder Bronzer Duos (of which there are three colorways), this brush is your righthand tool for any and all powder and cream formulas.

Los Angeles-based makeup artist Daphne Chantell del Rosario tells us that her go-to blush brush is Chanel's Blush Brush N110, which she denotes is "the perfect shape for the apples of your cheeks." This fluffy wonder is ideal for powder and cream formulas for a flushed-from-within look.

Makeup artist Fiona Stiles calls the Surratt Artistique Highlight Brush "the Tesla of makeup brushes" because "it's so sleek and perfectly thought out [and] the balance [between] the handle and the brush head is perfect." That's pretty high praise, and once you experience the impossibly soft bristles that flawlessly and evenly apply blush, highlighter, and contour for yourself, you'll agree with her.

Ma also counts Jane Iredale's Detail Brush as a staple in her brush collection. The precision tip packs "dense and tiny bristles, making it perfect for spot-concealing," she says, and synthetic brushes generally work well with cream products, in particular.

For hooded eyelids, Ma recommends a fluffy brush like MAC's 217 Synthetic Blending Brush, which she says "gives a smooth, seamless blending job." But, as she notes, the brush is still quite slim and small, so it fits perfectly within the defined creases of hooded eyelids.

While this particular brush (third from the left) is only available in an 11-piece brush set, it's absolutely worthy of your coins. Florida-based makeup artist Lennie Billy counts Spectrum x KJH #22 among her favorites for graphic liner looks or a classic cat-eye. "I love a fine and soft brush that allows [for easy movement] when drawing lines," both on the finer and thicker ends of the spectrum, she tells Allure.

"The Bobbi Brown Eye Contour Brush is great for applying eye shadow in the socket line of the eye," makeup artist Wendy Rowe says. "The shape of the brush makes it especially good for blending easily and evenly," referring to its angled head.

"The Laura Mercier Camouflage Powder Brush might be for powder, but I use it for cream," makeup artist Nick Barose states. This flat, oval-shaped brush is akin to the size of your ring finger, but as Barose warns, "you should never use your finger to apply concealer under your eyes [because] it gets floppy and cakey." Long story short, this is a fine alternative.

One of the most important things to consider when selecting a makeup brush is the quality and type of hair it is made of. Many natural options include Saikoho goat, gray squirrel, silver fox, and even Kolinsky sable. Each type of material serves a different purpose, and it varies in terms of softness.

Few aspects of makeup application are as important as foundation. Creating a smooth, even base is essential, but there are multiple methods to achieve perfection. The best brushes for the task are often made from synthetic fibers, as they play well with cream and liquid formulas and are easy to wash.

Eyebrows frame the entire face, and grooming them can be a multi-step process. Still, there is plenty that can be accomplished with a single brush. If your brows are sparse, a stiff angled option allows you to fill in large sections with a powder or gel to fake a bushy brow, while models with thinner tips let you draw on individual hairs and target any bald patches. Extra-wide angled brushes allow for lightning-fast application.

The popular angled makeup brush provides precision and easy concealing. Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty, considers this contouring brush to be a powerhouse for cream complexion products. It makes quick work of foundation, concealer, cream contour, and cream blush, blending them seamlessly with a cohesive finish, she tells SELF.

Zias, who says she uses a BeautyBlender for most base makeup, says the all-in-one sponge is a major time-saver for an everyday look. One thing to keep in mind: Be sure to squeeze out excess water before using a makeup sponge, and replace it every six to eight weeks to keep clear of any mold or mildew growth.

For most people, investing in a makeup brush set, versus buying each brush individually, makes sense. We tested out the most frequently used brush types (foundation brush, powder brush, and eye crease brush) from 11 makeup brush sets of varying price and quality. Our conclusion: The Real Techniques Everyday Essentials (available at Amazon for $19.99) won the title of Best Overall for its feather-soft bristles, ability to beautifully blend makeup as well as withstand washing without losing structure, and great value. 041b061a72