The 9 Very Best Makeup Brushes and Makeup-Brush Sets

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist

While you can always use your fingers and sponges to apply makeup, the best makeup brushes and makeup-brush sets can be a game changer — especially if your goal is to create a seamless, blended finish. For that reason, I use makeup brushes almost exclusively, which is how I’ve come to try just about every complexion brush out there. What I’ve learned is that good makeup brushes are an investment — cheaper ones tend to shed, so it’s worth being discerning when you’re shopping. With that in mind, I reached out to top makeup artists to find out the brushes they swear by.

What we’re looking for

Usage: “The shape and size of the head is what determines where the brush is meant to be used and what types of products it’s designed to be used with,” says makeup artist Robin Black, the founder of Beauty Is Boring. The handles can vary, too, but a good grip is important. Ulta Beauty Pro Team makeup artist Deney Adam prefers brushes with longer handles for applying eye makeup, for example, since they offer control and precision. “The same applies for powder-based products like blush, eye shadow, and setting power,” he says. “For creamy or liquid-based products, a short handle is the way to go.”

Bristle density: The nicer it feels on your skin, the better it works. “The softness, density, and quality of the brush hairs is what determines how evenly a product will apply to the skin,” Black says. “It’s important that brushes feel soft and gentle, never prickly or irritating. You can test that quite easily by running the brush over the inside of your forearm in both directions.” The only real exception: Foundation brushes tend to be denser, but they should still feel smooth and comfortable.

Natural or synthetic bristles: Not all makeup-brush bristles are created equal. Natural bristles, made from animal furs or hairs, are known for being supersoft, which allows for better blending. Synthetic brushes are typically made from nylon or other vegan materials, and they’ve come a long way in terms of feel. As a result, it’s mostly a matter of personal preference. “I like using dual-fiber brushes for wet products, like liquid foundations and creams, and traditional ‘natural’ brushes for powder products like blushes and eye shadows,” says makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran.

Best overall makeup-brush set

Best (less expensive) makeup-brush set

EcoTools Fresh Face Everyday Makeup Brush Set

$10

Full face | Miscellaneous | Synthetic

I’ve owned this set of EcoTools brushes for years and won’t ever toss them. (A 4.7-star rating and more than 400 reviews on Target.com don’t lie, either.) They’re cruelty free and vegan, they feel supersoft, and I love the little storage case that keeps them from getting lost in my drawers. The five brushes are versatile enough to cover a full face of makeup, and their long, generous handles are lightweight, making them easy to pack. Best of all, the bristle fallout is still minimal after what might be a decade of using them, which is impressive considering the price.

$10

at Target

Buy

Best makeup brush for complexion

Best (less expensive) makeup brush for complexion

Lancôme Airbrush #2 Dual-Ended Foundation & Concealer Brush

$46

Complexion | Dense | Synthetic

Whether you’re short on storage space or just don’t want to deal with swapping out multiple brushes every morning, this dual-ended tool comes in handy. “The big, wide side is perfect for blending and buffing foundation all over,” Barose says. “The smaller side is perfect for more detailed work like under the eyes and small spots.” It’s ideal if you find yourself using both foundation and concealer on a regular basis, and the ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to hold no matter how you’re wielding it.

$46

at Lancôme

Buy

$46

at Bloomingdale’s

Buy

Best makeup brush for eyes

Best makeup brush for brows and eyeliner

Princeton Select Synthetic Brush Angle Shader

Eyes | Very dense | Hybrid

Anytime you need to create fine, precise lines — for filling in brow hairs or achieving an ultrathin swoop of eyeliner — consider a painting brush. This small one isn’t a dedicated makeup brush, but Martin swears by it. “This has been my favorite angle brush for brows and eyeliner for almost 20 years, and you get it at the art store,” he says. “It’s the best!” Clocking in at $6, it’s also the most affordable option on our list.

at Dick Blick

Buy

Best makeup brush for blush

Kevyn Aucoin The Blush Brush

$48

Complexion | Less dense | Natural

A good blush brush has to be able to shift between blush and bronzer with ease. It also shouldn’t leave streaks, which is a telltale sign your “natural flush” actually came from a cheek palette. That’s where this brush is especially helpful. “I love the slightly pointed oval shape that allows you to create seamless application on the cheeks without blotchiness,” Barose says. I use it to dust blush just below my eyes at the center of my cheeks, which (per a makeup artist) looks more realistic because that’s where the sun hits. Then I tap off excess product and dip it into bronzer, which I brush in a “3” shape around my forehead, down the side of my face and beneath my cheekbones, and just under my jawline.

$48

at HSN

Buy

$48

at Bluemercury

Buy

Best makeup-brush set with sponge

Best makeup-brush travel set

Morphe Rosé Away 6-Piece Travel Brush Set

$28

Full face | Miscellaneous | Synthetic

Morphe is known for its makeup brush sets, which offer a ton of value. “They are the best quality brush for their price point,” Adam says. Low-quality brushes tend to shed or break easily, but here the synthetic bristles are firmly anchored into the ferrule, the metal sleeve that joins the bristles and handle together. The shorter handles (and included carrying case) make them a good option for travel. And with six different uses ranging from complexion to eye, this set guarantees you’ll be covered wherever your trip may take you.

$28

at Ulta Beauty

Buy

Our experts

• Deney Adam, makeup artist and Ulta Beauty Pro Team member
• Nick Barose, makeup artist
• Robin Black, makeup artist and founder of Beauty Is Boring
• Tobi Henney, makeup artist
• Jaleesa Jaikaran, makeup artist
• Daniel Martin, makeup artist
• Rio Viera-Newton, Strategist beauty writer

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