When it comes to makeup, application is everything. Having the right tools at your disposal differentiates between a blotchy, streaky application and a perfectly blended red blush and contour. Your fingers and a makeup sponge have a time and place, but if you’re chasing a professional-grade finish, enlisting the help of the best makeup brushes is the logical solution.
"Makeup brushes provide a more precise and controlled application. They make your makeup look more natural and refined. Brushes are designed to target specific areas of the face, such as the eyes, cheeks, or lips, with greater accuracy than sponges or fingers," explains celebrity makeup artist Benjamin Puckey. "Brushes allow for better control over the amount of product applied because they let you pick up the desired amount of product and evenly distribute it onto the skin."
While brush sets can seem like an easy solution to curating a well-rounded lineup, having brushes from a handful of brands will elevate your collection. Here, Puckey and makeup artists Lisa Aharon and Judi Gabbay Braha share their favorite makeup brush picks and application tips. I also put top-rated makeup brushes to the test. Find the best, below.
The Best Makeup Brushes
- The Best Makeup Brush for Concealer: Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush
- The Best Makeup Brush for Foundation: Kevyn Aucoin The Duet Foundation Brush
- The Best Makeup Brush for Powder: BK Beauty 108 Precision Powder
- The Best Makeup Brush for Contour: Makeup by Mario F4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush
- The Best Makeup Brush for Eyeshadow: Sephora Collection Pro Crease Brush #19
The Best Foundation and Concealer Makeup Brushes
“Synthetic brushes with densely packed bristles are preferred for liquid or cream foundations. These brushes provide a smooth and even application, allowing you to blend the foundation seamlessly into the skin,” explains Puckey. “For powder foundations, a large, fluffy brush is ideal for a lightweight and natural application.”
The Refy Duo Face Brush has everything you need for a flawless foundation application. The white stippling bristles provide a streak-free application and easy blend, while the smaller buffing brush is jam-packed with soft, dense bristles that leave the perfect amount of product on your skin and allow for buildable coverage. The combination of bristles and brush types ensures a natural finish for a no-makeup-makeup look.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Cream products
Brush Density: Tightly-packed with dense bristles on the buffer side and less-dense bristles on the stippling side.
Shape: Dome-shaped stippling brush and flat buffing brush
What We Love: A dual-ended brush with soft bristles that blends seamlessly and provides buildable coverage.
What We Don’t: Some reviews say the stippling side’s bristles fall out easily.
Marie Claire’s Review: “The Refy Duo Face Brush convinced me to drop my makeup sponge. Swirling the stippling brush around my face blends out my foundation beautifully, with no streaks or splotches. As someone with dry, sensitive skin, the soft bristles leave my skin looking ultra-smooth and hydrated while still providing a natural finish. The buffer brush is perfect for blending concealer, cream bronzer, and cream blush back into the foundation in between each step to avoid harsh lines. The versatility of this brush just cannot be beaten.” — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker swears by the Refy Duo Face Brush
If you want that fingertip-like blend with the cleanliness of a brush, look no further than the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush. Its short and slanted shape was designed to mimic the shape of fingertips for quick and creaseless concealer blending. The densely packed synthetic bristles work to buff out any streaks and leave the right amount of product on the skin, while the pointed precision tip allows you to hit all those nooks and crannies under the eyes, around the nose, and along the corners of the mouth.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Concealer
Brush Density: High density
Shape: Short and angled
What We Love: The dense bristles provide similar application to your fingertips without any streaks or patches.
What We Don’t: Some reviewers say the brush can be too dense for under eyes, though great for covering blemishes.
Marie Claire’s Review: “I tend to use my fingers to blend my concealer, although I know it’s not the most hygienic method — which is why I was so happy to find the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush. The angled shape, dense, short bristles, and soft synthetic fibers really do mimic the application of a tapping fingertip. The brush quickly and seamlessly covered up my dark circles and puffy eye bags without the product feeling too heavy on the delicate area. The pointed tip of the brush was also perfect for those hard-to-reach spots like the inner eye corner and creases around the nose.” — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Rare Beauty's Liquid Touch Concealer Brush
If you’re not a brush person, I challenge you to take this dual-ended Kevyn Aucoin foundation brush for a spin. The dome-shaped end is designed to mimic the shape and pressure of a finger, so you’ll easily be able to achieve the sink-into-the-skin effect. Then, just flip your brush around to the fluffier side and you can blend and buff out any streaks or cakiness. It’s truly a dynamic duo that’ll work on any formula, be it cream, powder, or liquid.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Foundation
Brush Density: Medium density
Shape: Angled on the buff side, dome-shaped on the cover side
What We Love: Brush works great with all foundation types; has a large buffer for all over and small end for more precision
What We Don’t: Nothing! This brush has exceptional reviews no matter where you look
The Best Powder Makeup Brushes
"For powder, I prefer a medium-sized domed brush with soft bristles that give a light and even application," says Puckey. The density will vary depending on the shape of the brush and desired finish.
This multi-purpose tool is definitely small but mighty. BK Beauty’s 108 Precision Powder is a smaller, tapered brush with ultra-soft synthetic bristles perfect for mattifying your T-zone. The versatile size of this low-density brush makes setting your under eyes, swiping highlighter on your high points, and placing your blush exactly where you want it a breeze.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Powder
Brush Density: Low density
Shape: Tapered dome-shaped
What We Love: An incredibly versatile tool, perfect for any precise powder application.
What We Don’t: If you’re looking for an all-over matte look, this brush may not be your top choice for setting powder.
Marie Claire’s Review: “My only complaint regarding this brush is that I don’t have multiple of them! The size, shape, and density makes it perfect for so many different powder products. It set my under-eye concealer and powdered my T-zone beautifully; I can’t get over how well it blended out my blush across my cheeks and temples. Despite its small size, the BK Beauty 108 Precision Powder really can do it all.” — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker loves the Bk Beauty 108 Precision Powder brush
A good loose powder brush is an integral part of my routine to ensure my makeup looks airbrushed all night long. Without a swipe of translucent powder, my under eyes will crease, and my complexion is going to be way too shiny. Enter: Hourglass’ powder brush, a dual-ended tool that’s designed to grip every area of the face. The smaller end is perfect for the under eyes, while the fluffier side is ideal for sweeping translucent powder across the entire face. The fibers are made of synthetic PETA-approve fibers as well.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Loose powder
Brush Density: Low density
Shape: Dome-shaped
What We Love: Larger end diffuses powder perfectly around the face, while the smaller side allows for a more precise placement
What We Don’t: Some reviewers say the brush is comparable to much cheaper options and that the bristles are hard to handle.
The Best Bronzer and Blush Makeup Brushes
It’s no secret that cream bronzer and blush products have taken the makeup industry by storm. Fortunately, these popular formula changes have brought on a plethora of incredible brushes that are designed to blend your creams without leaving streaks, while also being able to set them with powdered versions of the same step.
This dual-sided brush is the holy grail for cream products. The larger end has a uniquely sloped shape that perfectly hugs the curves of the face, ensuring a quick and seamless blend. The smaller end is compact with synthetic bristles, perfect for packing on contour for a more controlled application. It provides buildable layers for your desired level of coverage. I like to tap product on for fuller coverage and blend in loose circles for a more diffused finish.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Foundation and creams
Brush Density: Medium density on larger end, and high density on smaller end
Shape: Flatter dome-shape
What We Love: Super versatile and easy to clean
What We Don’t: While advertised as a foundation brush, reviewers found that it left their foundation streaky
Marie Claire’s Review: “I’ve always struggled to blend out my cream contour without leaving harsh lines, but this brush changed that. I used the larger end for my cream bronzer and the smaller end for my cream brush, and the products blended together seamlessly. The slightly curved shape really does form to the unique curves of your face, and the soft bristles make blending a breeze! Extra points for the brush staying perfectly in shape after using it.” — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Makeup by Mario's 4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush
Layering cream and powder formulas on top of one another is a trick beloved by the pros—it’s the key to creating long-lasting wear, deeper dimension, and a slightly intensified finish. This brush was created for exactly that. The angled end is great for cream contours or swooping pigment. Buff it out before layering your powder bronzer over the top with the fluffier end of the brush. If you want to take a page out of Ta’s notebook, flip the script and put your powder on before your cream.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic and natural blend
What It’s For: Contour for both powders and creams
Brush Density: Medium density
Shape: Wide and angled
What We Love: A one-stop shop for both cream and powder bronzer
What We Don’t: Some reviewers experienced shedding after a few washes
Great brushes don’t have to be crazy expensive. Case in point? This Real Technique Blush Brush . It is perfectly fluffy, which is ideal for applying blushes of the pwder variety. Just swirl it in your pigment and sweep the product onto your cheeks. If you want a less intense look, move your brush in light, circular motions—the more pressure you use, the more pigment you’ll see. If you clean your brush, you can also use it for loose powder or bronzer.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Blush
Brush Density: Low density
Shape: Dome-shaped
What We Love: Super fluffy; Disperses product perfectly
What We Don’t: Some reviewers found the brush’s bigger size too large for blush application.
The Best Eyeshadow Makeup Brushes
At a baseline, you need two distinct eyeshadow brushes—a larger fluffy brush and a smaller firm brush. "The tighter the bristles and the smaller the brush, the more concentrated the product is going to be," says Braha. "So think bigger brush, fluffier brush, means more dispersed products.“ For glitter shadows, Braha recommends "a synthetic, smaller, combatant brush to get the glitter to not fly out everywhere." If you really like to play up your artistry, you may want to scope out the scene for a defining brush that can perfect pigment on the lash line or cut crease.
The Sephora Collection Pro Crease Brush #19 is the only brush you’ll need for a simple eyeshadow look. The pointed, tapered shape fits perfectly in the crease of the eyelid, and its hand-shaped synthetic bristles are fluffy enough to use as an all-over blending brush. If I hold it flat, it allows me to build up pigment, whereas if I tilt the positioning to a 45-degree angle, it’s an expert blender. All it requires is feather-light pressure and my eyeshadow becomes blended to perfection, with no harsh lines or stark delineations.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Eyeshadow crease
Brush Density: Medium density
Shape: Pointed, tapered
What We Love: Blends out eyeshadow beautifully and nestles perfectly in the eyelid crease
What We Don’t: Some users find the brush too soft and small to deliver maximum pigment
Marie Claire’s Review: “I’ve used this eyeshadow brush for years and it’s still in pristine condition. The bristles are super soft and make blending out my eyeshadow looks incredibly easy. I love the way I can pack on product to my outer corner and crease while also being able to blend the whole look together with just one brush.” — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
The Sephora Collection Pro Crease Brush is Emma Aerin Becker's tried and true go-to.
The dome shape and densely packed natural fibers make this little guy ideal for packing color directly onto the lid. It’s going to play nicely with cream and powder products, but it’s one of my personal favorites for applying glitter pigments—I swear it minimizes fallout. Pro tip: You can also drag the tip along your lower lash line for added dimension.
Brush Fiber: Natural
What It’s For: Cream, metallic, and glitter eyeshadow
Brush Density: Medium density
Shape: Flat dome-shape
What We Love: Easily picks up and deposits large amounts of pigment for intense color payoff
What We Don’t: Some reviewers wish the brush size was larger
“I can't live without Mykitco's 1.17 Pro My Tiny Angle eyeliner brush for perfect wings and kitten flicks,” says Puckey. The brush is made from fine, synthetic fibers and provides optimal control for little detailing. Applying eyeliner with a brush may take a minute to get the hang of, but if you master the technique, the world of graphic eyeliner is your oyster.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: detail work and eyeliner
Brush Density: High density
Shape: Ulta-fine angled
What We Love: Teeny brush size for incredibly precise placement
What We Don’t: Best paired with a super steady hand for sharp eyeliner
The Best Eyebrow Makeup Brushes
Tapered or angled brushes are going to be ideal for eyebrows, according to Puckey. They’ll provide increased control and precision, so you can deposit products exactly where you want them. Firm, synthetic fibers are going to be your best bet.
Hold this eyebrow brush for a mere five seconds and you’ll feel the luxury. The lacquered handled, expertly weighted design, and angled, synthetic bristles come together to create an intuitive tool for all your eyebrow needs. It can easily define your arches, deposit fluffy strokes, and diffuse pigment. The bristles really grip onto the product, so don’t feel like you need to press hard to get a payoff—a light touch is all you need.
Brush Fiber: Synthetic
What It’s For: Precise Brow Definition
Brush Density: High density
Shape: Angled
What We Love: Super thin brush leaves perfect hair-like strokes
What We Don’t: Not very soft
I’ll be honest: I’m a brow gel and go type of girl. However, this single brush is my best friend if I’m trying to execute a brow moment. I grab my favorite pomade and ever-so-lightly deposit hair-like strokes into my brows, filling in any gaps and strengthening my border. Then, it’s just a little flip of the brush and I can comb through my brows, diffuse the pigment, and create a natural-looking finish. If I’m really in a pinch, I’ll also use the angled end for eyeliner—who doesn’t love a multi-purpose product?
Brush Fiber: Natural and Synthetic
What It’s For: Brow definition and grooming
Brush Density: Medium density
Shape: Angled
What We Love: The small, angled brush is perfect for filling in brows, and the poolie side blends out the strokes and fluffs up the hairs into place
What We Don’t: Customers have complained about the price
What to Look For in Makeup Brushes
- Design and Density
You want to pick a brush that makes sense for the area you're working with. The two main factors: Size and shape. "For larger areas of the face, I like to use a larger fluffier brush," explains Aharon. Flat or paddle-shaped brushes will be your go-to for foundations and powders, but dome shapes are more versatile and ideal for blending products like blush or bronzer.
The formula you're working with (cream, powder, or liquid) will determine how dense of brush you should look for. "For cream products, I recommend a more dense, synthetic brush where the bristles are super compact, so you can get the product and really push it into the skin," explains Braha. "And a powder would be something a little bit more fluffy, flexible, and just easier to disperse in the face."
- Fibers
Makeup brushes are going to fall into two camps: Natural and synthetic. Natural brushes are known to be softer finish, however many times they're made from animal hair. "Synthetic brushes don't shed hair like natural bristles tend to do," explains Puckey. "They give me the same results as natural bristles and are typically made from materials such as nylon or taklon, while natural bristles are derived from animal hair, such as goat, squirrel, or sable."
How Many Makeup Brushes Do I Need?
How many brushes you really need to complete your collection? "If your routine is more complex or advanced, I’d say six to eight. If you’re more of a no fuss, fresh-faced person that likes to keep their glam basic, five should be plenty," Aharon adds. At a minimum, you'll want a foundation/concealer brush, a blush brush, a bronzer brush, a powder brush, and an eyeshadow brush.
How Do I Clean My Makeup Brushes?
It's pretty easy. Liquid soap, a solid bar, or a quick-drying brush spray all get the job done, but Aharon prefers a soap bar, as "it allows you to thoroughly work out the product and grime from the brushes." Just work your fingers through the brush until the water washes out clean. Make sure do let your brushes dry laying down too in order to preserve the brush quality.
How Often Should I Clean My Makeup Brushes?
Finding the right type of brush is only half the battle when it comes to mastering your product application. Clean brushes are the key to application, according to Aharon, because "brushes perform best when they’re clean and free of bacteria." While she washes her brushes every night, Aharon notes, "that’s not realistic for most people. If you use your brushes daily, aim to clean them at least once a week as a minimum."
Meet the Experts
Benjamin Puckey is a New York-based makeup artist. Born in London and raised in Amsterdam, Puckey’s visionary talent grew from a lifelong love for fashion and art. Puckey’s conceptual approach to makeup has since launched his career into high fashion titles and leading designer brands around the world. Since his breakthrough fashion spread with W Magazine in 2011, Puckey’s work has appeared across international editions of numerous publications such as Vogue, Dazed, iD, W Magazine, Allure, and Harper’s Bazaar.
He has also worked with brands including Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Oscar de la Renta, as well as jewelry houses David Yurman and Van Cleef & Arpels. Puckey’s trademark approach to enhancing natural beauty and his pursuit of uncompromising quality resonates deeply with Clé de Peau Beauté, where he now serves as the brand’s Global Color Director.
Lisa Aharon is a New York-based, Vancouver-born makeup artist. She specializes in highlighting her clients’ natural beauty by creating flawless skin looks, working regularly with a wide variety of high-profile clientele, the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Florence Welch, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Bock, and Anna Kendrick, among others. Her work lives in the pages of Cosmopolitan, L'Officiel, The New York Times, Elle, Schön! Magazine, et al, and Aharon has worked with major brands and photographers such as Ralph Lauren, David Yurman, Annie Leibowitz, and Jurgen Teller.
Judi Gabbay Braha started her journey as a makeup artist at the young age of 13 years old. Working summers at a beauty store, she swept floors and did simple inventory all to be a part of the magic of makeup. Finding her passion at a young age enabled her to hone her talents through dedication and the desire to learn. Not so shortly after, Judi was being flown around the world for her talents. She has shot for brands such as BEBE, Catherine Malandrino, Buxom Cosmetics, and English Laundry. She's worked with networks such as Bravo, TLC, ABC, and more. Judi continues to create polished and flawless looks for all of her clientele.
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