There is no one beauty secret that guarantees a flawless finish – getting the most out of your makeup routine really is as simple as investing in the right tools. And while it might not sound like the most glamorous of accessories, choosing the right makeup brush can make the difference between catwalk-worthy makeup that stays put all day, and a beauty-related disaster. Here we’ll help you make the right choice first time.
With bloggers and celebs wielding a different makeup brush each week, it’s hard to know what kind of brush suits you best – after all, fads come and go pretty quickly in the beauty industry. So, to make finding the best makeup brush a little easier for you, we’ve compiled a short buying guide to explain the key features and types of brush you need to look out for. Scroll a little further down the page, and you’ll find bite-size reviews of the ones we think deserve a spot in every makeup bag.
Read on and we’ll help you choose the tools you need to blend your foundation flawlessly, carve a chiseled contour and create a sultry smoky eye, whatever your skill level and whatever your budget.
How to choose the right makeup brushes for you
What type of makeup brush should I use?
Every makeup brush is designed to suit particular products and target a certain area of your face, and choosing the wrong brush is a no-no. Here’s a quick breakdown of makeup brush types and what they do:
Foundation brushes are used to apply and blend foundation. They have short, densely packed bristles which evenly distribute the product across your skin, and come in several different styles: flat, angled, kabuki and stippling foundation brushes. Each is suited to different foundation formulas and gives a different style of coverage. Choosing the right foundation brush comes down to personal preference, so we would recommend trying a couple of brushes to see which suits you best.
Powder brushes are a must-have in any makeup collection. This multi-purpose tool has long, soft and fluffy bristles to apply setting powder, bronzer and blusher evenly. To get even more from your powder brush, you can pinch the bristles into a long, thin shape to highlight and contour.
Contour brushes can be small and tapered or long and thin for a precise application. You use the brush along your jawline, down the bridge of the nose and underneath your cheekbones to enhance your bone structure.
Eyeshadow brushes are used to apply and blend eyeshadows and have short, fluffy bristles. There are precision brushes, smudge brushes and blending brushes, which are essential for creating a well-blended smoky eye.
Makeup sponges are a great multi-use tool to have in your makeup arsenal. They can be used to blend out cream and liquid products, and set your base with loose powders. To use, you saturate the sponge in water and then squeeze out the excess. You then dab the sponge lightly in the makeup product and bounce it along the surface of your skin to blend.
How much should I spend on makeup brushes?
The right brush will help you get a pixel-perfect look and let your makeup reach its full potential, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune.
While an expensive brush can have better quality bristles and design details, you need to be careful that you aren’t paying more just for the brand name - something that’s more common than you might think. On the other end of the spectrum, some cheap brushes are stiff, hard and shed very easily. While it may look like a bargain, you might have to replace the brush a lot sooner and that’ll cost you more in the long run.
What else do I need to know?
Cleaning your makeup brushes should be a crucial step in your beauty routine. To keep your brushes in tip-top condition - and for a smoother makeup application - you should clean your tools at least once a week. This will prevent a buildup of dirt and bacteria and will reduce the risk of skin irritation and acne. A regular deep clean will also keep the bristles soft, which help prolong the lifespan of your brushes too. Our personal favourite is bareMinerals’ Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo as it conditions while it cleanses and is non-irritating.
The best makeup brushes from £7
1. Real Techniques Core Collection: The best makeup brush set
Price: £20.99 –Buy it from Feel Unique
For a high-quality brush set under £20, the Real Techniques Core Collection is an excellent choice. This compact set is perfect for beauty on the go or for beginners building their beauty arsenal as it comes with four high-quality brushes that are essential for creating a flawless base. Not only is the set a great bargain, but there’s not one disappointing brush in the kit - it comes with a detailer brush, a flat foundation brush, contour brush and buffer brush.
The set is ideal for chucking in your bag for makeup touch ups on-the-go because the case handily doubles as a brush stand and comes with extra space for all your other makeup tools. The brushes are 100% cruelty free, too, so you can enjoy using them in the knowledge that no animals were harmed.
2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: The best foundation brush
Price: £11.99 - Buy it from Feel Unique
Don’t discount the Expert Face Brush because of its bargain price – it really is a great-quality foundation brush. The brush is designed to build a custom coverage with no streaks while keeping your skin looking natural and fresh. Thanks to its ultra-plush synthetic bristles, liquid and cream foundations are applied with precision and ease but it also works perfectly with cream contour and highlight too. The brush is firm and domed for ultimate blending power and the lightweight aluminum handle allows great control when targeting specific areas.
It’s not the most beautiful brush but its synthetic bristles are built to last and they don’t shed on application. It’s also really easy to keep clean as residue product doesn’t cling to the bristles, so the brush should last you awhile. The Expert Face Brush is Real Techniques’ best-selling brush for good reason – it’ll make an awesome addition to your makeup bag.
3. EcoTools Bamboo Powder Brush: The best powder brush
Price: £9.99 - Buy it from Feel Unique
The EcoTools Bamboo Powder brush perfectly applies just the right amount of product for a polished and even complexion. The brush is great for blending out pressed and loose powder and the bristles are soft enough to set your makeup without disturbing your expertly applied base. While perfect for dusting powder over your makeup for a barely-there finish, we wouldn’t recommend using the brush to create a heavy coverage as the bristles are too fluffy and not dense enough.
As the name suggests, EcoTools brushes are eco-friendly and the brand makes its tools out of natural and recycled materials to not drain the Earth’s resources. The brush’s handle is made from sustainable bamboo and recycled aluminum, and the bristles are cruelty free too – the result is a brush that doesn’t have a big impact on the Earth, or your bank account.
4. Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt brush: The best contour brush
Price: £35 - Buy it from Cult Beauty
The Powder & Sculpt brush is a must-have tool for your makeup arsenal if you want to achieve a flawless base - and it’ll look great on your makeup counter, too. The natural bristles are hand-pulled into a tapered shape by an expert brush maker for increased precision, and the rose gold and crimson handle is faceted to not roll off the table.
The Powder and Sculpt brush is multi-use, so you’re getting a lot brush for your money. The brush evenly applies powder to targeted areas to avoid a cakey finish, and expertly contours and highlights for a naturally chiseled and glowing look. It’s on the small side compared to other contour brushes on the market, but this allows you to highlight your cupid’s bow and contour your nose without dispensing too much product.
5. MAC 217 Blending Eyeshadow brush: The best eyeshadow brush
Price: £28 - Buy it from Amazon
MAC is well-known for its high-quality, professional tools and the 217 Blending Eyeshadow Brush is a firm favourite with London Fashion Week makeup artists. The ultra-fluffy brush blends cream and powder products evenly and precisely, so you don’t have to worry about eyeshadow going where you don’t want it. The natural bristles don’t shed either - so the MAC 217 should be a staple in your beauty routine for years to come.
The price tag may seem hard to justify but the Blending Brush makes a huge difference to the application of your eyeshadow – and it looks like it’s come straight from a makeup artist’s kit. You can also dampen the brush when applying your eyeshadows to amp up your eye look and get a bolder colour pay-off. We would recommend giving the brush a regular deep clean as the white bristles stain when using bold colours and it’d be a shame to spoil such a pricey brush.
6. Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge: The best makeup sponge
Price: £16 - Buy it from Cult Beauty
The Beauty Blender sparked a revolution in makeup application, so it didn’t take long before every blogger, celeb and makeup artist had one in their kit. The appeal is easy to explain: the egg-shaped sponge hugs the contours of your face while delivering a streak-free finish; the round surface seamlessly bounces product into the skin; and the pointed edge delivers ultimate precision around hard to reach areas. The sponge is soft and gentle on your skin, too, and easy to clean as you simply squeeze the sponge under water with a solid cleanser.
It is a bit of a pain to dampen the sponge when you’re getting ready at your makeup dresser, but the results are worth it. The Beauty Blender gives a natural and even finish, and as the open cell structure absorbs water, the product sits on the Beauty Blender’s surface for minimum wastage. As a great all-rounder tool, the Beauty Blender is tough to beat.
