11 Best Makeup Brushes, Approved by Celebrity Makeup Artists
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Ask any professional to weigh in about the best makeup brushes for foundation, concealer, blush, and more, and they’ll probably say it’s personal. “As a makeup artist, I’m kind of equal parts fingers and brushes, but with brushes that’s where the refinement comes in,” says celebrity makeup artist Rachel Goodwin. “When you start using the right brush, the look quickly goes from regular to professional looking.” Think of chefs and their knives: Same idea here but a lot prettier. Oftentimes we, as beauty-loving nonprofessionals, focus on the flash of all the cheek-enhancing blushes, eye-catching shadows, and sculpting bronzers. But what would our fave beauty products be without their meticulous application? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro: Brushes are necessary for an amazing makeup look. And the good news is that the majority of makeup artists say you only need four to five key picks in your tool kit (more on that later). Below, we asked a panel of pros and testers to pick the best ones to help you swipe, stipple, and smudge your way to a flawless finish.
The best makeup brushes, at a glance
Your makeup brush questions, answered
What type of brush bristles are best?
When shopping for makeup brushes you can choose between a vegan and cruelty-free bristle design or one made from animal hair, says Gita Bass, a celebrity makeup artist. The difference? “If you have a porous, natural-hair bristle brush, that means it’s going to absorb product versus a synthetic bristle brush, where the product will sit on top of it,” says makeup artist ShaDara Holmes.
Synthetic brushes are great for cream-based products, says Goodwin. Natural-hair brushes, albeit controversial, are often preferred by makeup artists for their unique ability to distribute powder products on the skin. For instance, as Goodwin describes, goat hair tends to hold a lot of pigment which can be advantageous when applying something like eye shadow where color payoff is the point.
Regardless of what the hairs are made of, it’s important to invest in quality. “Make sure the bristles are densely packed,” says Bass. When bristles are close together, they will pick up more product, which means faster, fuller coverage. Higher-end brushes are typically securely held together with a metal ferrule, meaning hair is bound, clamped, and then put into the brush. Holmes also pays attention to handles. “You want to make sure that it’s not too heavy for your hand when applying products and it fits well in your cosmetic case,” she says.
What makeup brushes do you actually need?
The good news: You don’t need a battalion of brushes to get started. Global artistry director for Nars Cosmetics Uzo recommends having five on hand to create just about any basic makeup look: a concealer brush, a foundation brush, a powder brush, a blush/bronzer brush, and an eyeshadow brush. “If you had asked me this five years ago, I would have excluded the foundation brush, but recent makeup trends and newer foundation formulas require the use of a brush to get the best application results,” she adds. (Fun fact: Some makeup artists even use a clean foundation brush to prep skin by painting on skin care like moisturizer.) After all, with the right brushes you can cross over your look into new, dazzling territory.
How to clean your makeup brushes
If you ask a makeup artist this question, they’ll likely say you should clean brushes every one to two weeks. They, on the other hand, must wash theirs after each use, so we have it easy. To simply and efficiently clean them, Uzo recommends using very hot water and dishwashing liquid. “Dishwashing liquid not only effectively cleans and dissolves hard-to-remove pigments, shimmer, glitter, waxes, and oils, but it does not destroy or dry out the brush hair in the process,” she says. She suggests adding a few drops of a gentle dishwashing liquid to a medium-size, bowl of hot water. Immerse the brushes with bristles face down (that’s important) and let soak for two minutes. Remove the excess water and “lay them flat on a towel to dry to prevent water from seeping into the brush handles, which can loosen the bristles from the bevel,” she says.
Best All-Around Foundation Brush: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush
- Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
- Courtesy of brand
1/11Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush
“I’ll admit it: Even though I’ve been a beauty editor for years with access to a bunch of amazing tools, I use my fingers to apply foundation—until I met this brush,” says our tester. The versatile teardrop shape has every inch of your face covered. Use the domed part to apply foundation to the larger areas and the tapered tip for smaller ones like around the nose, eyes, and mouth. The bristles are soft and densely packed to give you a natural, flawless finish as its name implies. “The first time I used it, I was surprised to see how much my skin glowed with just the right amount of coverage. I got compliments that night not for my foundation but for my healthy complexion because it looked so perfectly natural!”
- What we’re into: The teardrop shape; packed bristles grab the perfect amount of product; creates a natural-looking finish
- What we’re not so into: Some feel that the bristles are a tad rough
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Domed teardrop
- Use it for: Foundation
Best Foundation and Concealer Brush: Makeup By Mario F4 Brush
- Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
- Courtesy of brand
2/11Makeup By Mario F4 Brush
You might know Mario Dedivanovic as the man behind Kim Kardashian’s famously glowy complexion. Well, leave it to him to create beauty tools beloved by fellow pros that help you get those same results. This dual-ended brush is like getting two for the price of one. One end is wide and meant to effortlessly glide over the curves of the face when applying and blending in foundation. The other is more compact and best to help you layer on foundation and concealer to build up coverage.
Goodwin particularly likes the versatility. Even though it’s a face brush, it’s also perfect for applying bronzer on the body. “I can use it on larger areas and blend really well,” she says.
- What we’re into: Dual-ended; great for the face and body; superior blending
- What we’re not so into: Since it’s a dual-ended brush, it’s better to store flat rather than upright
- Bristle material: Synthetic and vegan combo
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Sloped/domed
- Use it for: Any liquid, cream, or powder product
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Best Foundation Brush for Medium to Full Coverage: Anisa Beauty Pinnacle Foundation Brush
- Original image by Glamour tester Krista
- Courtesy of brand
3/11Anisa Beauty Pinnacle Foundation Brush
“The Anisa Beauty Pinnacle Foundation Brush is a game-changer for more even, blended foundation coverage,” says Krista Bennett DeMaio, founder of Pretty Local. “Its triangle shape lets you get into tricky spots like the inner corners of the eyes and around the nose. And the domed, densely packed bristles are great for stippling the foundation into my skin, creating a seamless look.” In fact, it’s specifically made to do just that: give you a natural look even if you want medium to full coverage.
- What we’re into: Gets into the nooks and crannies; gives medium to full coverage; works well with cream or liquid foundation and tinted moisturizer
- What we’re not so into: Some reviewers say the bristles are too soft
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Slightly domed
- Use it for: Foundation or tinted moisturizer
Best Undereye Concealer Brush: IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7
Courtesy of brand4/11IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7
Foundation and concealer go hand in hand. So, it makes sense to have just one dual-ended brush in your toolbox to apply both. And we’re always down for a multitasking product! The fluffier end is for applying and blending foundation and the smaller side is for tapping on concealer under eyes or in spots where you want a little extra coverage. “It’s so great for concealer, foundation, and contouring, and the fibers don’t absorb too much product and are easy to clean,” says our tester. “I try to wash my brushes once a week, so I like ones like this that dry quickly.”
- What we’re into: Two brushes in one; creates a streak-free finish; great for travel
- What we’re not so into: Some say that the bristles shed over time
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Domed
- Use it for: Foundation, concealer, contour
Best Blush and Bronzer Brush: NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush
Courtesy of brand5/11Nars Yachiyo Kabuki Brush
“Its unique spiral dome head makes it seamlessly blend powder, blush, or bronzer products for an airbrushed effect,” says Uzo. Think of it as a highlighter brush and blush brush in one. Its shape and blending ability are especially good for highlighting powders and diffusing color higher up on the cheeks since it picks up a controlled amount of product. All this makes application pretty foolproof no matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
- What we’re into: Look and feel of a traditional Kabuki-style brush; multifunctional shape; high quality and soft bristles
- What we’re not so into: Brush head is on the smaller side
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Tapered dome
- Use it for: Powder blush or highlighter
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Best Eyeshadow Blending Brush: Bdellium #787 Studio Fiber Tapered Blending Brush
Courtesy of brand6/11Bdellium #787 Studio Fiber Tapered Blending Brush
Sometimes the best makeup brush brands may not be ones you’ve seen before. This blending brush from a brand loved by pros is great for someone who’s really into makeup and wants to take their affinity to the next level, says Goodwin. And she’s never without this find, which is her It tool for perfecting face makeup. It’s not too big and not too small, which makes it fitting for all over the eye area, including getting into any crevices.
- What we’re into: Multifunctional size; great for blending around the eyes; brightly colored
- What we’re not so into: Some reviewers say it’s not the softest
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Round/domed
- Use it for: Face makeup, eye makeup, blending
Best Eyeshadow and Liner Blending Brush: MAC 217 Synthetic Blending Brush
Courtesy of brand7/11MAC 217 Synthetic Blending Brush
Let’s just say that this brush made for cream or powder shadows is so good that Gita Bass, a celebrity makeup artist, has about five in her kit at all times. Yep, five! For her there’s not much it can’t do when it comes to eyes. “It’s perfect for depositing eye shadow, shading in the creases of eyes, blending liner and shadow, and even highlighting,” she says. Its fluffiness feels great on skin but will also precisely get product where you want it.
- What we’re into: Works with powder or cream formulas; picks up color nicely and blends well
- What we’re not so into: Some reviewers don’t like the synthetic fibers and prefer the previous natural hair version
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Oval
- Use it for: Cream or powder eye shadows
Best Powder Brush: Make Up For Ever Precision Powder Brush 128
Courtesy of brand8/11Make Up For Ever Precision Powder Brush
As its name implies, this fluffy brush is made for powder, whether it’s loose or in compact form. With a layered oval shape, it’s known for both how it applies powder and how it feels on skin. “I love this brush because of its blend of fibers that allow me to go over the face effortlessly without oversaturating it with powder,” says makeup artist ShaDara Holmes. And no one’s going for a cakey look.
- What we’re into: Great for the face, neck, and décolleté; big, fluffy shape
- What we’re not so into: Some reviewers find it prickly
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Flat, tapered
- Use it for: Loose or pressed powder products
Best Multipurpose Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
Courtesy of brand9/11Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
This vegan brush is a pro pick for its ability to seamlessly apply foundation, contour, or blush. Interestingly, the special design of the bristles is meant to give you the precision and control that you’d have by using your fingertips for a natural-looking finish. “It’s buttery soft and great for blending, but has dense bristles that deposit products beautifully and create a smooth finish,” says Bass. It’s also smaller than many foundation brushes, she says, with a unique angled brush shape. The slightly slanted edge makes it ideal for seamlessly buffing in hard-to-reach corners and along the jawline.
- What we’re into: Ultrasoft yet dense bristles; uniquely shaped bristles
- What we’re not so into: On the smaller side
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Custom angled
- Use it for: Foundation plus cream blush, bronzer, or highlighter
Best for Face and Body: Artis Fini Brush
- Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
- Courtesy of brand
10/11Artis Fini Brush
This unique brush makes putting on foundation somewhat of a soothing experience. Instead of a traditional long handle, it has a special ergonomic curved “fin” (as in fish fin) design with grip pads on both sides that make it easy to wield. “I love this brush for foundation. It glides across my skin, and the ultrasoft fibers produce an airbrushed effect. It really is amazing—makes such a difference,” says our tester. And as you can see, it’s large and in charge, so the 200,000 fibers ensure an efficient and effective (not to mention fast) application, whether you’re using it for foundation, blush, or body makeup.
- What we’re into: The easy-to-hold fin handle; covers large surface areas; creates an airbrushed effect
- What we’re not so into: You may need a smaller brush for getting into corners
- Bristle material: Man-made fibers
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Oval
- Use it for: Foundation, blush, highlighter, contour, and setting powder
Best Affordable Brush Kit: e.l.f. Cosmetics Ten Out of Ten Makeup Brush Kit
Courtesy of brand11/11e.l.f. Cosmetics Ten Out of Ten Makeup Brush Kit
We couldn’t complete this list without having an outstanding brush-kit pick. What’s so great about sets: You get bang for your buck, then you can experiment with different types of brushes you might not have otherwise tried and figure out which ones you can’t live without. This kit comes with 10, including five different face brushes, four for eyes, plus a makeup sponge. Our tester’s fave? The Putty Primer Brush and Applicator, which has a handy little spatula on one end so you can scoop out formulas that are in pots or jars.
- What we’re into: Comprehensive kit with 10 brushes; affordable; includes a sponge
- What we’re not so into: Doesn’t include a carrying case
- Bristle material: Synthetic
- Vegan: Yes
- Shape: Various
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