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Building a flawless makeup look isn’t only about the products you use — it’s also about the makeup brushes you wield to achieve them. There are tons of different tools, each made with a specific function and made for makeup artists of all skill levels, whether you have a simple five-minute routine or love to go all out with glam.
If you already have an established makeup kit that’s stocked up with eyeshadow palettes, makeup primer, and some of the best foundations, selecting the right toolkit of brushes will improve the results you achieve from these beauty products. And while there’s no shortage of impressive makeup brushes on the market, it takes patience and a bit of insider information to select the best ones. So what makes a brush worth investing in? According to Sephora’s beauty director David Razzano, that has a two-part answer. “First off, the quality of a brush is a huge factor — look for brushes with high-quality bristles that feel soft to the touch, and a sturdy handle and ferrule (the metal part of the brush that holds the bristles and attaches to the handle),” he says. Additionally, to accomplish the desired technique, Razzano explains that it is important to look out for the design of the brush. “For example, a good eyeshadow blending brush will have a soft, loose head of bristles, allowing for an even blend,” he adds.
Also take note that makeup brushes also comes in various shapes and with many different bristle densities. “The bristle shape allows for specific application results,” Razzano shares. “A flat bristle shape is usually best to use in a soft ‘patting’ motion, allowing the product to be applied strategically.” At the same time, a rounder taper bristle delivers a controlled seeking application. “As for bristle density, loose bristles deliver sheer to light coverage. Overall, coverage increases as bristles get denser,” he explains.
To help you build the best makeup brush set to add to your collection, we consulted with Razzano, as well as makeup artists Claire Balest and Tonya Riner to break down a comprehensive guide to makeup brushes, including product picks and tips on how to use them.
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Foundation Brush
Use a foundation brush to buff and blend liquid, cream, and powder foundations into the skin. Made with strong and flexible bristles, this type of makeup brush is carefully designed to deliver a smooth and streak-free finish. Most foundation brushes have densely packed bristles that apply your products (be it a drugstore foundation or a foundation for acne-prone skin) with more coverage, and others have less densely packed bristles that give lighter coverage; try to keep that in mind when shopping for brush sets. You can also opt for a round pick that is best for covering large areas in a shorter time, or a flatter brush that allows for precision around the contours of your face like the nose.
Westman Atelier Liquid Blender Brush
One brush we can’t stop gushing over is Westman Atelier’s liquid blender brush. It’s crafted from durable cherry wood sourced from Japan and cruelty-free polyester bristles that never shed. The brush has a compact, round design that helps it blend liquid foundation without leaving it sitting on your skin.
Price upon publish date of this article: $125
Blush Brush
A blush brush typically has medium density, which helps to diffuse pigments without streaks or patches. These brushes work for powder formulas, as well as cream and liquid blushes. Another essential feature of a blush brush is that some have a slightly angled or oblong shape, which helps to reach the hollows of the cheeks more easily. If you’re using a cream blush, generally dip the brush in without using force. Even though you’ll be using light movements, the brush will still pick up enough of the formula to see a color payoff when you apply it to your cheeks.
Dior Backstage Blush Brush N°16
Birthed from inspiration taken from Dior runway shows, Dior’s blush brush gives a professional-like application in minutes. It has an angled design, which helps the brush reach the hollows of the cheeks.
Price upon publish date of this article: $45
Lip Brush
It may seem like an extra step in your makeup routine to grab a lip brush, but trust us, it’s worth it! These brushes allow you to apply lipsticks (especially liquid formulas) with more precision. In most cases, lip brushes have a smaller, flatter shape, which makes it easy to maneuver around the crevices of your mouth. They’re typically constructed with a long, slim wand and soft bristles that form a tapered shape. These types of makeup brushes are particularly handy when you’re applying bright, bold shades (looking at you, red lipstick). Bonus: Lip brushes also help to clean up excess products without leaving a mess behind.
Hermes Lip Brush
The Hermes lip brush is a gift for your makeup routine, providing near-perfect application with liquid and cream lipstick formulas. Here’s how to use one: Either dab your brush into the product or apply the lipstick directly to your lips, then use the brush to smooth it out.
Price upon publish date of this article: $84
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Contour Brush
This type of brush is best for applying and blending concealers and contouring sticks and palettes. Contour brushes blur the sculpting pigments with a medium-soft bristle density for an effortless, air-brushed effect. Another standout feature of contour brushes is their compatibility with different formula types, generally working well with powder, cream, and liquid contouring formulas. They can also moonlight as brushes for liquid bronzers and blushes.
Chantecaille Sculpt Contour Brush
Balest recommends Chantecaille’s Sculpt Contour Brush, which is crafted with cruelty-free and vegan materials that don’t feel harsh on the skin. Instead, the bristles are thick and fluffy, which assists in blending your contouring products.
Price upon publish date of this article: $53
Highlighter Brush
Highlighter brushes are best for adding a shimmery dimension to your nose, cheeks, and the high planes of your cheekbones. You can find them in a fan-like or rounded shape or in a rounded shape, with both types constructed to be fluffy, soft on the skin, and tapered to smoothly deposit the shimmery pigments. “You can use these brushes for cream or powder highlighters, just make sure you use a separate brush for different formulations,” Riner says.
Rare Beauty Positive Light Precision Highlighter Brush
Riner says that Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Precision Highlighter Brush is “the perfect size for making sure your highlights land exactly where you want them, and the longer bristles deliver a light dusting of product.” This brush has a fluffy composition that feels like silk as it glides over your complexion.
Price upon publish date of this article: $18
Bronzer Brush
The best bronzer brushes have a large, rounded head that seamlessly applies bronzer on the skin. They’re also easy to use, just apply your product to the brush and swirl it in a sweeping motion. Our experts recommend dusting the brush over the tops of cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the chin, and the forehead. The bristles on bronzer brushes have a compact design that helps evenly distribute your bronzer without streaks. Better yet, these brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes — many with retractable brush heads for easy storage in your makeup bag or weekender bag.
Charlotte Tilbury The Air-Brush Bronzing Brush
Even though this brush from Charlotte Tilbury resembles a Kabuki brush, it’s best for bronzing. Designed by the makeup guru herself, this makeup tool will change how you apply your favorite bronzers.
Price upon publish date of this article: $44
Concealer Brush
Balest says a concealer brush is great “for applying product under the eyes or precise spot applications on the face.” These come with an angled brush head, which helps them reach under the eyes and other smaller areas on your face. The unique shape also helps blend and conceal blemishes, too. While you can find dedicated brushes for concealers for dry skin or acne, dual-ended complexion brushes are a handy way to get A-plus camouflaging coverage. “I flip back and forth from the large to the small end repeatedly… it’s so much faster than maneuvering two brushes,” Riner says of her favorite It Cosmetics concealer brush. “The large side is great for buffing in sheer layers. And the smaller end is great not only for the smaller contours of the face, but also for adding more coverage to the areas that need it without adding extra foundation all over the face.”
It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion #7
IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion #7 is a true multitasker in your makeup kit that’s handy for any concealer formula. The bristles have a medium-density composition that is gentle on the skin.
Price upon publish date of this article: $50
Eyebrow Brush
Eyebrow brushes are traditionally dual-sided: One with a spoolie and the other with a flat side to lay brows in place and fill out sparse areas. Brow brushes are another powerful tool to have in your lineup since their features include smoothing, fluffing, and directing hairs in place with just a few strokes. The brushes usually have a slim silhouette that lets you quickly flip between the spoolie and the flat side. If you’re new to using a brow brush, start with the spoolie end to brush hairs to where you want them. Then, finish with the flat side to spread your brows evenly. You can also use the brush to hold brush hairs in place when shaping and tweezing your brows.
Jones Road Beauty The Eyebrow Brush
Balest recommends adding this brush to your makeup brush arsenal. It’s best for filling in brows to make them look fuller and more defined.
Price upon publish date of this article: $24
Eyeliner Brush
This brush is “ideal for applying gel or powder eyeliner, and I also love having it on hand to blend and smooth any imperfections after using a pencil eyeliner,” Balest explains. “It’s brilliant for creating a wing or cat eye.” Razzano also raves about an eyeliner brush since it makes applying eyeliner easy for any skill level. “The fine pointed bristle shape is sturdy enough to keep control, but flexible enough to apply product across the lid smoothly,” Razzano says of his favorite Makeup Forever brush, below. “It’s a true artisan brush that can elevate anyone’s makeup skills.”
Makeup Forever 250 Extra Fine Eyeliner Brush
This small angle brush is made with a sturdy handle and a combination of straight and wavy fibers that mimic natural hairs. Its silhouette forms a flat surface that’s slightly angled, which gives precision lines when you apply your eyeliner.
Price upon publish date of this article: $18
Powder Brush
A powder brush has thick and full bristles that pick up powders of all kinds, but are typically optimized to lay down setting powder. “These are best for applying powder to cut shine or set foundation,” Balest says. For light shine control, gently sweep the brush over your skin, focusing on the T-zone. And for more coverage, try pressing and rolling the bristles on your complexion as you apply products. Pro tip: “Always tap powder products off the brush before going to the face,” Balest says.
Ilia Finishing Powder Brush
Ilia’s Powder Brush is fluffy, plush, and soft. The base for the brush is made with sustainably harvested wood that’s paired with a full-bodied brush that glides over the skin.
Price upon publish date of this article: $42
Kabuki Brush
A Kabuki brush is crafted with densely packed bristles with a short handle. Each one is full-bodied and easy to maneuver. Beauty enthusiasts and professionals love this brush type because it suits many formulas, including cream and powder-based face products. But the best feature? Its fuller body covers a large area in just seconds. And when you’re short on time, you can use the brush to dab on tinted moisturizer or skin tints.
Hourglass Finishing Brush No. 7
This Kabuki brush from Hourglass has a large body that covers a good amount of skin in seconds. It also boasts a super soft brush that picks up powder and evenly distributes it across your skin.
Price upon publish date of this article: $69
Flat Eyeshadow Brush
Even though this brush has a flat shape, it’s also angled to fit the curves and inner corners of your eyes. The bristles on this particular brush are short and synthetic. Whether you’re creating a bold eye look or a soft and subtle daytime eyeshadow look, the brush doesn’t need a ton of product. Just lightly dab it into your favorite powder or cream-based eyeshadow, then smooth and blend it over your lids. The smaller side is best for the creases of your eyes, but it’s also helpful in applying the best highlight to the corners of your lids.
Merit Brush No. 2 Eyeshadow Brush
This chic eyeshadow brush handles creases and creates precision lines with ease. Its dual-ended body blends, builds, and diffuses any eye products for a soft finish.
Price upon publish date of this article: $20
Eyeshadow Crease Brush
Specifically made to contour the crease of your eyes, this small-but-mighty tool provides intense color payoff. The brush provides medium to full coverage and is made in a paddle-like shape, allowing the bristles to reach targeted areas on the lids and under the eyelids and eyebrows. “A brush with flat condensed bristles is great for laying color on the eyelids,” Riner says. These brushes are also angled and have a small, round tip that evenly distributes your eye products. Dust your choice of eyeshadow along the crease of your eyelid to add definition. Make sure to go over the area of multiple times to blend fully.
Nars #21 Brush
“The Nars #21 is a fave,” says Riner. “Size matters, so my rule is the darker the color, the smaller the brush — this keeps everything where I want it. I place the colors first and then use a tapered fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend and soften edges.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $26
Makeup Sponge
It’s no secret that Beautyblenders are a favorite among makeup enthusiasts due to their versatility and flawless finish. If you’re unfamiliar with how the makeup sponge works, it’s a small, oval sponge that slightly expands when wet. To use the sponge, dampen it first and squeeze it to remove excess water. Then, apply your product to the sponge and lightly press it into your skin while moving it around to various areas. You can use the flatter side for applying products to those harder-to-reach areas like the bridge of your nose. Always clean the sponge after you see it and let it dry to prevent mold.
Beautyblender Nude Makeup Sponge
The Beautyblender is a TikTok-favorite product for smoothly applying products without streaks or excess product on your skin. Instead, it soaks up a minimal amount of the products and transfers it directly to your skin, which makes your makeup last longer.
Price upon publish date of this article: $20
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Meet the Experts
Claire Balest is a hair and make-up artist who centers her craft around her clients’ unique preferences. After working on stage with teachers in Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta, Balest transitioned to preparing her clientele for the spotlight. Now, she works with some of the best cosmetic companies, including Bobbi Brown, Chanel, and Estée Lauder.
David Razzano is the beauty director of Sephora, where he focuses on all things beauty at the beauty retailer. Razzano is versed in the different types of makeup brushes since his portfolio also includes moonlighting as a makeup artist.
Tonya Riner is a beauty veteran with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She’s a media expert whose work appears in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Allure. The makeup artist also worked on Beyonce’s video for “Blow”.
Meet the Author
Taylor Lane is a WWD and Footwear News contributing freelance beauty and fashion shopping writer based in Charleston, South Carolina. The former New Yorker previously held on-staff shopping writer roles at Yahoo Life and Dotdash Meredith. Lane’s bylines have appeared in publications like InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women’s Health, and more. Lane has several years of editorial experience covering beauty and fashion, reporting on everything from stylish and functional sneakers to the latest and greatest makeup brushes.
