The Very Best Makeup Brushes for Every Step in Your Routine

Loiz's recommendation is now sold out, but here is another popular option worth checking out.

Customer review: "Love this brush! Buffs out foundation really well because the brush is a bit more dense, which creates a flawless finish. One of my favorite brushes!"

Pro: Offers an airbrushed, second-skin look.

Con: Sheds frequently after it's been washed.

This brush can be used for foundations, creams, emulsions, and select powder products. "When I'm working, I use this brush for everything, from moisturizer application to liquid or cream foundations and even cream blushes. It really creates a beautiful finish on the skin and grabs just enough product," René says.

Customer review: "I've got lots of MAC brushes and this one is amazing and easily my favorite. It's great for priming, blending concealer and foundation, and contouring. Definitely worth the price!"

Pro: Allows for a smooth and even base.

Con: Has a tendency to shed during application.

"I'm a huge fan of Real Techniques' brush sets because they're super affordable and have a variety of different sets that cater to every makeup artist's needs," Loiz says. This set includes brushes for setting powder, foundation, highlighter, eye shadow, and blush.

Customer review: "These brushes are extremely easy to use for beginners and help blend so well! The descriptions that come with each one also make it easy to understand which products to use with what. I will definitely be buying these again!"

Pro: Easy to use for beginners.

Con: Bristles are incredibly soft (not ideal for stippling).

Hourglass's powder brush is dual-ended—one side is smaller and tapered, so it's great for setting the under-eye area. The other side is larger and rounded, so it can be used for allover application.

Customer review: "I absolutely love this brush—I use one side for powder and one for blush—great for travel or everyday. It doesn't shed, is super soft with just the right amount of firmness and give for powder/blush application, and feels great in my hand. Truly the perfect brush."

Pro: Both sides of the brush come to a taper for ultra-precise product application.

Con: High price point for an individual brush.

"I always point people to Sigma brushes!" René says. "They're known for having great brush sets, and online, they also provide useful tips for people looking to figure out how to use each one. It's also great because they give you a wide variety of face and eye brushes to work with for an affordable price." This particular set features a large angled contour brush, plus 11 other brushes for eyeliner, eye shadow, foundation, concealer, powder, and more.

Customer review: "These brushes are so buttery soft even after washing. They apply and blend eyeshadow and powder like a dream. I'm highly impressed with how easy and seamlessly they work to blend. A great set with everyday brushes."

Pro: All brushes can be used with cream or powder products.

Con: Brushes are quite large and might be challenging for some to maneuver.

This synthetic contour brush works with both cream and powder formulas. The tapered bristles make for a soft, diffused look.

Customer review: "I love using the contour brush to apply my cream contour! Very unique brush that melts the product into your skin. I'm new to cream contour, so having the right tools to use made it so easy and quick. Definitely recommend."

Pro: Seamlessly applies cream and powder formulas.

Con: Features semi-firm bristles that could be irritable to sensitive skin.

"Katie Jane Hughes's brush set from Spectrum is top-notch!" Loiz says. "They're high-quality brushes designed by one of the most amazing makeup artists in the business. I recommend these brushes for the more experienced artist!" This 11-piece set features a blush brush that can be used on powder and cream products.

Customer review: "The best constructed, easiest to use, most natural feeling brushes. This is the perfect mix of large surface and precision tools. Absolutely recommend."

Pro: Deliver a smooth, airbrushed finish.

Con: High price point.

Make Up For Ever's flat, rounded brush features wavy fibers that can be used on loose and compact powders.

Customer review: "I love the size and the softness. It distributes color perfectly. You really can't go wrong with Make Up For Ever brushes. They're the best."

Pro: Brush is a versatile size and shape.

Con: Does not pick up powder blush easily.

This is a great drugstore option. 

Customer review: "I use this for blush, light contour, and highlights. I don't wear a ton of makeup, so I don't exactly want to spend a ton on brushes. Happily surprised with the quality! Soft, washes well, and applies evenly. I'd prefer one a little thicker for contour but again, as I don't do that often this brush is great."

Pro: Bristles evenly distribute product.

Con: Has a tendency to shed.

The synthetic strobing fan brush from Sigma provides medium coverage and can be used with liquid, powder, and cream products.

Customer review: "This is a great fan brush to apply highlighter to the high points of your face! You can really dust it perfectly on top of your cheekbones, and it doesn't pick up a ton of excess powder. Great brush for the price!"

Pro: Fibers are gentle and hypoallergenic.

Con: Small brush size does not cover much area.

"Whenever I get a little too heavy-handed with concealer, I always reach for this brush to buff out any mistakes. It's great for blending eye shadow as well," René says.

Customer review: "The MAC angled brush is my favorite brush, and this one is my second favorite brush. It is perfect for blending shadows, and I haven't had any problem with bristles falling out. For me, it's a must-have brush. I bought one for my daughter and she loves it too!"

Pro: Duo feature makes blending easy.

Con: Absorbs product during application.

Fenty Beauty's concealer brush is slightly angled so you can precisely apply your concealer. It can be used with liquid, cream, and powder formulas.

Customer review: "This is one of my favorite brushes. I have so many brushes and tried multi of them (including beauty blender) for my under-eye area, but nothing worked as well as this brush did. I only use it with my under-eye concealer, and I 100% recommend it."

Pro: Uses super-soft synthetic bristles at an angle.

Con: Bristles separate easily with heavy use.

Henney's own brush collection is a 12-piece set that features a pencil brush and pretty much every other brush you'll need. "I created my Trademark Beauty The Essential Makeup Brush Collection with 12 brushes so you can complete a whole face of makeup with the set," she says. "It is enough brushes to not have to double-dip in products but also not too many brushes that it becomes overwhelming."

Customer review: "Every brush you'll ever need, including fan brush & eyebrow spoolie, which my previous sets didn't have. They're soft and velvety. The stippling brush is the perfect size and density. I like the white tips (vs. tan/brown) so I can tell when the brushes are dirty. It all fits neatly into the travel bag."

Pro: Bristles are soft and durable.

Con: None.

This pencil brush has natural bristles and a short, pointed brush head.

Customer review: "Love how this applies. I use this to apply my darker colors in the crease, and it's so small and compact that it applies loads of color right where I want it vs all over my lid."

Pro: Perfect for crease work with a short, pointed brush head.

Con: Natural bristles may irritate sensitive skin.

This brush is sheared and tapered so you can target the application just right.

Customer review: "Amazing brush! Love it for packing more pigment while also blending beautifully. I love that it's pointed as well, especially for application on the bottom lash line."

Pro: Does not shed bristles after being cleaned.

Con: Firm bristles make diffusing vibrant pigments challenging.

Made with synthetic bristles, this brush has a long and slim shape for contouring and adding dimension to the eyes.

Customer review: "A beautiful and high-quality brush. I use this for cream eyeshadow and as a crease brush for powder eyeshadow. The best brushes I've ever had. So nice in the hand. Good control."

Pro: Deposits the right amount of color every time.

Con: None.

"Personally speaking, I love a lived-in eyeliner look," René says. "I think it creates a more natural and effortless look. So having this smudging brush in my kit is a must. I use it mainly to stretch out eyeliners or smudge in eye shadows along the waterline or lash line."

Customer review: "I like this Smudge Brush. It helps me to apply my eyeshadows smoothly. I use it to apply eyeshadows on my eyelids and my eyebrows and it works for both. I've been using it for a while, and I have to say that it has not changed the shape or color. Good quality!"

Pro: Provides a sheer and even application.

Con: Features dense, tough bristles that might be hard on the skin.

This medium-size eye shadow brush is made of synthetic bristles and can be used on wet or dry products. 

Customer review: "I adore this brush. I've had it for a few years now. I like the density of the bristles and the length and the longevity of the brush."

Pro: Can be used with wet or dry products.

Con: None.

Sigma's synthetic-bristle brush has a soft, precise, flat head and provides medium to full coverage.

Customer review: "This is one of my very favorite makeup brushes. I use it to apply my eye shadow onto my very deep-set eyes. It works beautifully. I then use a bit of a larger brush to blend. Sigma brushes are by far the best I've ever used. Love this brush!"

Pro: Can be used with cream and powder products.

Con: Bristles are somewhat stiff.

The short and flat design on this brush gives you more control for precise application.

Customer review: "Not too stiff, not too flexible, and just right for apply shadows. It is soft on the eyelid and allows for good coverage while being just stiff enough to keep control of the application area."

Pro: Short, flat design provides ease of control.

Con: The bristles on the brush are quite small.

Westman Atelier's lip brush has a wider head, which enables it to pick up the right amount of pigment. 

Customer review: "I really like this brush due to its heft and feel. Plus, it makes it easy to blend and build your lip shade. The small size is perfect for day-to-day as well as travel. I highly recommend."

Pro: Bristles are very gentle on the lips.

Con: Does not come with a protective cap.

The contoured head on this brush makes it easy to enhance or modify the shape of your mouth. You could build to create sheer to full coverage.

Customer review: "I love this lip brush. It is one of the best ones that I own. The shape is a little unusual for a lip brush, but it actually works great! I am very pleased with the application of product with it."

Pro: Ideal for precise lining.

Con: Luxury price point.

Customer review: "This product is a must-have. It literally restores my blenders and brushes to Look like new. I splurged and got the larger size, and it's so worth it. It lasts a long time and keeps my stuff super clean. If I can give 10 stars, I would."

Pro: Conditions your tools with palm oil, aloe, and coconut oil.

Con: None.