The Difference Between Pro Makeup Application and Yours? The Right Brushes—Here's Your Guide
There's no way around it: Makeup brushes are confusing. Are they necessary? (Yes.) Are fifteen necessary? (No.) Are they expensive? (Potentially!) Do they neeeeed to be an investment? (Nope!) And then there's the whole issue of trying to figure out which brush goes where—compounded by the fact that most aren't even labeled. MAC 217, for instance, is an excellent brush, but what the heck is it for? The vague number doesn't exactly spell it out.
But from watching the professionals to testing ourselves, we're confident we've uncovered the best brushes for every occasion and we're ready to tell you what's what. Before you know it, you'll be a bonafide brush-wielding beauty pro. Watch out, Pat McGrath!
1/11You're just a few strokes away from perfect skin.
Photo courtesy of sephora.com2/11Shadow Brush
Start simple with this multi-purpose brush that’s perfect for patting on eyeshadow. When it comes to color application, it’s all about short, dense brushes because they offer the most control and can pack on a little or a lot for a bold eye.
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Brush, $30. sephora.com.
Photo courtesy of ulta.com3/11Liner Brush
For the perfect feline flick, gel liner and a very thin liner brush make for a powerful combination. And while gel liner gets cakey on the brush after application, that pesky little problem becomes a thing of the past with this innovative liner brush. The silicone tip is super thin for smooth, precise application, and cleaning it is a thousand times easier than your traditional liner brush.
Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush, $6. ulta.com.
Photo courtesy of nordstrom.com4/11Blending Brush
The 217 is a must-have for blending your shadows, a technique that’ll help you achieve any lid look you could ever want. Look for dense, oval-shaped bristles that have some bend to them. This particular brush is great for blending makeup in the eye crease, but you can also use to get a subtle wash of all-over color—used correctly, you’ll get an airbrushed, smokey effect.
MAC 217 Brush, $24. nordstrom.com.
Photo courtesy of sephora.com5/11Eyebrow Brush
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, consider your brows the curtains that frame ’em. This brush does double duty at keeping your brows in tip-top shape. Use the angled brush to fill and define, and the spiral to groom.
Make Up For Ever 247 Double Ended Eyebrow Brush, $28, sephora.com.
Photo courtesy of sephora.com6/11Foundation Brush
There are a bunch of different brushes for applying foundation, each with their own pros and cons. After trying baaasically every single one on the market, this wins a gold star for working well with powder, liquid, and cream foundations, diffusing and buffing all of them for a flawless, smooth finish. The brush is densely packed and dome shaped, so it can reach all curves of your face for complexion perfection. Plus? It’s cruelty free, and the handle is made of recycled aluminum. Good karma, indeed!
Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush, $25. sephora.com.
Photo courtesy of sephora.com7/11Makeup Sponge
While this isn’t technically a brush, sponges are important to have on hand because they’re such a brilliant tool for applying cream and liquid foundations . The results are incredibly precise, plus you can use way less product than if you were using a brush (except you’ll get the same amount of coverage!).
Beauty Blender beautyblender, $20. sephora.com.
Photo courtesy of drugstore.com8/11Blush Brush
This is the best brush out there for flawlessly-blended, pil-perfect blush results. It’s super plush, dense, and round, which means it can blend even the most pigmented colors, in both cream and powder form. Consider it a magic wand for the perfect complexion—it’s sorta like Photoshop for your skin.
Real Techniques Blush Brush, $9. drugstore.com.
Photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com9/11Contour Brush
Angled, buffed brush bristles like this one’s are ideal for contour work, which is all about emphasizing your cheekbones and bringing out the angles of your face. Even more awesome? This big fluffy brush does triple-duty—it can be used for blush, bronzer, and finishing powder, too.
MAC Cosmetics 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, $35. maccosmetics.com.
Photo courtesy of nordstrom.com10/11Fan Brush
Fan brushes can create a gorgeous subtle glow with virtually any powdery beauty product, from blush to highlighters, bronzers to finishing powders. A light sweep of luminizer will give your skin a healthy flush, and because it’s such a delicate brush, you’ll never have to worry about using too much.
Smashbox Fan Brush #22, $18. nordstrom.com.
Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface.com11/11Powder Brush
This budget beauty buy beats all other competition. Set your makeup with this three-buck steal and you won’t be sorry. It’s also A-OK to use as a foundation or blush brush, if you prefer to buff your products in instead of tapping them on. Pro-tip: Don’t apply powder to your entire face. Instead, just focus on the zones that get shiny or oily throughout the day. Less is more.
E.L.F Studio Powder Brush, $3. eyeslipsface.com.
