Glowing skin, defined cheekbones, crisp eyeliner—such a flawless look needs the right tools, and makeup brushes are the hammer and nails of the beauty world. Over the years, the manufacturing of makeup brushes, as with many other products, has predominantly moved to other parts of Asia, where large brands can find cheaper labor. This 10-piece makeup brush set from BS-MALL is a crowd favorite and not just because the set costs around $10. We were particularly impressed by the powder brush, which saved us from the cakey finish of some heavier powders on oily skin. Perfecting your base is the most vital part of your beauty routine, but thankfully this set has you covered. If you’re looking for more of an investment brush set, the most coveted brushes around are the newest launch from Lush – the vegan brush set features 13 makeup brushes in a portable organic wrap. There’s an angled brush for an even base, a blurring brush to hide blemishes and apply eyeshadow base, a blending eyeshadow crease brush, angled liner brush to define your lash line, and a full brush for sweeping powder or blush on. Your makeup brushes should conceal imperfections and give all-day, natural-looking coverage, and using the wrong makeup brushes (or worse, your hands) can result in an uneven tone, streaky application, and blemishes peeking through. The SHANY Pro Signature Brush Set features 24 handpicked brushes selected from the company’s 220 brushes, each of which is designed to be the best type of brush for its use. You should also know that many of these companies also make artist paint brushes, which is why some makeup artists actually buy their brushes at the art supply store , where similar brush styles are often highly discounted when detached from fancy brand names. Angled brushes, whether they’re designed for bronzers and blush or eyeliner, provide more control and precision than either a round or tapered brush. Products that we recognize today like the lipstick , mascaras , foundations , and nail polish , began to emerge around the dawn of the 20th century. The bristles soft on the skin and they come in varied thicknesses. They teamed up to launch multiple eyeshadow palettes and makeup brush kits , all of which have received rave reviews from the online beauty community. The unique design of each brush and the strategically placed bristles perfectly mimic skin to skin application and allow users to reach every curve of their face when applying makeup. Amazon has a wealth of gorgeous, cheap makeup brush sets of 14, 16 and even 32 brushes – an impressive selection of brushes for your face, lips, cheeks and eyes, all for under £15. They hold up to makeup better than natural brushes and as so are the preferred choice when applying liquids or creams, or layering powders. A set of five brushes created by collaboration with a makeup brush manufacturer. Don’t let your kit go without these go-to eyeshadow, foundation, and contouring tools. The curved, flat edge of the Best of Beauty Award-winning Lancôme Camouflage Brush #8 is perfect for patting concealer on top of breakouts without any cakiness or creasing. You can buy brushes individually to make sure each one serves a specific purpose, but you’ll almost always save money buying your brushes in a set. These brushes produce crisp lines and finely blended transitions that allow you to create versatile effects with your eye makeup. Because of all this competition among manufacturers to get business from cosmetic companies and other brands selling brushes, the quality of brush manufacturing has also increased over the years. The brushes are also synthetic which is excellent as they soak up less product than a brush that is made from natural hair. You can opt for small sets that cater for the everyday basics, or makeup mavens can go all-out with comprehensive kits that cater for the tiny details, like the perfect cat’s eye flick. They’re ideal for use with wet makeup, like foundation and concealer, but you can also use them for baking This set comes with six sponges in various shapes and sizes, some of which are angled to fit into tricky areas like your under-eyes and brow bone. Jessica Teich Editor Jessica is the editor for products and reviews at , and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer, and editor for beauty, lifestyle, health, and home content. The Japanese have been making makeup brushes since as far back as the B.C. period. You may come across some makeup brushes with handmade handles. Some of the best makeup brushes on Amazon fall around $20 or less , and the rave reviews will be enough to make you smash the Add to Cart button. Depending on if you want a natural or a more dramatic look, different brush hairs can provide a different effect. Every time you use your makeup brushes, makeup, skin cells and bacteria accumulate in them. Clean your makeup brushes regularly: Depending on how often you use your brushes will depend on how often you wash them. The blush brush has won a Best of Beauty Award three years in a row for this reason alone.

If you have oily skin a goat hair brush is the best choice because it is more durable so can be washed more often. Finding the right brushes is often down to trial and error and can seem time consuming, both before and during your beauty routine. Foundation brush: We’re talking about liquid and cream foundations with these brushes. Most bristles in synthetic brushes are cut to give them makeup brushes set with case their shape. Sometimes buying a one-off makeup brush makes sense – like a replacement for one of your old brushes or one that fits a specific need, like a kabuki brush. Stila’s double-ended brush can be used with concealer under the eyes or the corresponding Stila colour-correct palette. The brushes are made from animal hair and microfiber bristles but are crafted in a cruelty-free fashion. The shape, size, and bristle quantity and quality create an excellent all-around brush that works for contouring, blushes, bronzers , and sheer powders. Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Price: Makeup brushes vary in price based on materials, quality, and brand name. There’s a rounded fluffy brush, which works a treat for powders, bronzers or blushers. Fact: Makeup brushes are the dark horse of any makeup routine Often underestimated or forgone altogether by so many of us, they’re perhaps one of the most important components of a celebrity makeup artist’s beauty kit They’re artists, after all, and the strategic tools they use to sweep and buff product are crucial for the final look. The BS-MALL Makeup Brush Set is praised on several well-respected review sites, including Best Products , Best Reviews , Faveable , and Wise Bread On Amazon, the set has an average 4.3 out of 5-star rating based on more than 8,000 reviews. And when it comes to foundation brushes, there is a wealth of different options: tapered for precision; domed for buffing; soft for light coverage, and more. From the best vegan make-up brushes to the best make-up brush for powder, blush, eyes and more, we’ve handpicked this edit for all budgets for your shopping. Sigma brushes are some of the best in the business, and this soft, flat eye brush is ideal for patting on your eyeshadow before blending it out. There are so many makeup brushes around, each one designed for a specific area of the face or a particular product, and so choosing your set of tools can be overwhelming. This 14-piece set has a wide variety of brushes at a low price. You can’t go wrong with these high-quality, reasonably-priced brushes. Whether you’re just starting out with makeup or you want to build your collection quickly and inexpensively, VANDER LIFE has you covered with this enormous set of brushes that has just about every kind of brush you might need, and then some. If you want to find out visit sweet makeup temptations the site is a virtual encyclopedia of all things Japanese brushes. These brushes are a beauty to behold and even the basic black brushes are a work of art. All the brushes are labeled, well crafted, and of high quality. This set includes an angled shader, blending brush, angled detailer, detailed pencil, small shader, classic shader, and precise shader. It comprises some of the most popular brushes like the nine precision and the seven bigger brushes for eye shadow, lips, brows as well as complexion. The set comes with brushes for every step of your routine, from eyes to lips to face for cream, liquid, and powder cosmetics. This particular set includes a professional brush belt with 28 pockets that are already stuffed with 12 professional-quality vegan brushes. These brushes feature cruelty-free fibers, which are very efficient in saving the product. The 34-piece kit contains brushes for eyes and face, as well as a red beauty sponge applicator. To make application a breeze, the set also comes with a photo instructional guide that helps you learn how to use each individual brush. 11. Urban Decay’s Good Karma brushes tickle your face with synthetic taklon. Makeup brush bristles come in two types: natural hair and synthetic. All of Bobbi Brown’s brushes are, frankly, excellent, but the Blush Brush is among the best, thanks to its ultra-soft bristles and tapered round head for the perfect flush of colour. Which type of makeup brushes you buy depends on your specific needs. Its soft bristles won’t irritate sensitive skin, and they’re protected by the durable cap during storage. Most beauty brands sell their makeup brushes both individually and as part of a complete set, so you have more flexibility to choose the right combination of brushes for your makeup routine. This is true for squirrel hair brushes which are more delicate and should not be washed frequently.

Since Squirrel hair is the softest and most gentle it is used for face brushes, while water badger hair which is much firmer is used for eyebrow brushes. While on the hunt for your next set of brushes, keep an eye out for the variety of the set; a good makeup brush kit should contain, at minimum, a powder brush, concealer brush, foundation brush, blending brush, and an angled brush. Use it to bake underneath the eyes with a dry powder and then use it for foundation, concealer and any cream-based products when wet. Synthetic brushes: These man-made and usually consist of either nylon or polyester filaments, which are often dyed and baked to make them softer, more absorbent, and less prone to damage from makeup and solvents. A neutral-colored eyeshadow can add a little oomph to your everyday eye makeup and help brighten your eyes on days when you want to look more awake. The roll-up case has individual slots for each of the eight brushes, perfect for travel. Our Digital Beauty Editor Katie wouldn’t be without this brush in her kit and won’t apply eyeshadow with anything else. Japanese brushes are made from natural fibres specifically animal hair. Foundation brushes that leave smooth coverage, eye makeup sets that let you define, blend and smudge, and contour brushes that give your face the angles of an angel. But in a rare case of procrastination paying off, it seems we’ve dodged a budget-denting bullet, because there are plenty of quality brushes to be had for just a few bucks a wand. For just $1, you can give yourself eyelids long-lasting eyeshadow with saturated color with our best-selling Eyeshadow Brush Make sure your beauty kit is fully equipped by adding the $1 Blending Eye Brush to blend those shadows and dramatic edges to perfection. When shopping for a makeup set, check carefully to see that each type of brush you might need is included. To blend eye shadows like a professional, this is the makeup brush that you should use. The beginner set consists of a blush brush, eyeshadow brush, angled eyeliner brush, concealer brush, lash & brow groomer, and included carrying case. Sigma is a popular brand of makeup brushes because of the high quality and reasonable price point compared to most luxury brands. 8. Arbonne brushes feel super soft, and their natural reclaimed wood handles are dyed with water-based pigment. These brushes are so smooth, it’s easy to apply any kind of make up you want, no hair shedding, suitable for even the most sensitive skin and great for any type of liquid or cream application. 17. Nanshy uses only super-soft synthetic hair” in its lush vegan brushes—which are famous for their durability, flexibility, and easy maintenance. The last absolute essential is a blending brush, a more feathery option that softens the edges of your look and blends different shades together seamlessly. In Lab testing, we collected 381 brushes from 63 brands ranging in price from $2 to $90, and surveyed 1,557 panelists to learn what’s most important to consumers when shopping for makeup brushes, including price point, ease of use, feel on skin, and application results. While brush sets seem like an easier option—and initially appear to be a better deal—more often than not, they include at least one or two brushes you’ll never use and a couple more that aren’t quite right for your needs. I simply can not believe the quality of these brushes for only $10. The 14 brushes are Angled, Flat Angled, Face Flat, Round, Tapered, Blending, Angled Eyeshadow, Classic Eyeshadow, Concealer, Precise, Detail, Angled Detail, Classic Detail, and Eyeliner. In some cases, such as the Real Techniques Core Collection , 4 brushes are enough for a full-face application. The USpicy 32 Pieces Professional Makeup Brushes are featured on the beauty blog Beauty Short Cut Tips as well as on various review sites like Thoroughly Reviewed and Faveable The brush set maintained a 4.3 out 5-star rating on Amazon based on nearly 2,000 reviews. Uniquely, the type of hair or other materials used in each brush bristle is chosen based on the makeup the brush is intended to apply. The super-soft brushes are synthetic, vegan, cruelty-free, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. It takes time and skin to shape the brush bristles which is the reason for the high price. Rather than layering makeup on top of the skin, the new ‘skin2skin’ foundation and blush brushes are designed to gently press color into the skin. With your set, you’ll get a tapered contouring and highlighting brush, a flat foundation brush, a precision brush for concealer and eyes, and a buffing brush for all-over blending. In our tests, all of the top performing brushes were synthetic. Discover the difference quality, professional makeup brushes can make. 4. If hair removal is normal, it does not affect the function of the makeup brush.

High-quality bamboo handles and soft synthetic bristles will bring some luxury to your everyday routine. If aesthetics mean a lot to you (zero judgement, it’s all part of the makeup brush lust), we’re all about this Morphe X Jeffree Star collab , plus this art deco, millennial pink fever dream brush set , also from Zoeva (what can we say, we’re super-fans). A. Handmade brushes are often higher in quality, and they tend to shed less than their machine-made counterparts. It’s not too expensive compared to many other foundation brushes, either. I like their eye brushes a lot. Contour Brush – A contour brush is a must-have in your makeup set as contouring your face is not possible without this brush. The best make-up brushes are the difference between a slapdash finish and something truly exceptional, but that’s not to suggest that it’s only complex, smoky-eye-and-contour looks that require brushes. Regardless of which set you choose, be sure to clean your brushes regularly with a gentle cleanser. Zoeva’s Buffer Brush (104) , above, is their best seller, a flat-topped brush with feather-light bristles that’s great for blending product an all-over flawless finish, whether you like tinted moisturiser, powder or liquid make-up. The set is ideal for travel and offers 12 different brushes for an endless array of #lewks. Key selling points: Aside from their shiny blue finish, these soft and silky brushes can hold cream and powder products without absorbing them into the bristles—which means less maintenance for you. While they’ll make a significant dent in your purse, you can both feel and see the quality of this set — the foundation brush is one of the most impressive our tester has ever tried, applying foundation smoother than any other. Most professional makeup artists wash their brushes at least once a week. Yes and no. There are distinct differences between high-end and low-end makeup brushes, but whether these factors matter is totally up to you. Whether your preferred look is dramatic or soft and subtle, a good set of makeup brushes is a must. This brush “is user friendly,” says one tester, because “the bristles are different lengths so it can blend out better.” For a smokey eye, load it with dark shadow and swipe it back and forth in a “windshield motion” in the crease of the eye. Soft bristles work on sensitive skin without irritation or redness. A tiny precision brush, that’ll make quick work of pin-point concealing, a small fluffy brush for highlighting or baking, and finally, a dome-shaped buffing brush, which works perfectly for blending out foundation. I had gotten the full set for Christmas and the brushes are sooooo soft and effective,” one shopper wrote. Finally, round brushes are the best for overall coverage and evenly spreading products such as foundation or bronzer. Every single brush went through a series of development and enhancement stages and was sampled, tested, and guaranteed by professional makeup artists, to ensure the set is full of industry-level products. Loved by bloggers and beauty editors alike, Charlotte’s powder and sculpt brush works side-by-side with her bronzing and highlighting palette. The lip, eyeshadow and powder brushes are all pretty standard, but we especially liked the lash and brow comb, which is one of those things that you didn’t realise you needed until you have it. This well-rounded set includes a nice variety of brushes at a great price point. 15. Branded J Collections knows that animal-hair brushes are bad not only for animals but also your skin. Angled eyeliner or eyeliner brush: For crisp lines, you’re going to need one of these small, densely packed brushes. BS-MALL Makeup Brushes are a nice, well-rounded and well-priced set. With 11 face brushes and 14 eye brushes, for those less literate in beauty tools, each comes inscribed with a description of its purpose. Achieving a flawless, natural face is far easier with a few choice brushes to ensure a seamless finish. Carefully patting the product on the skin this brush works to conceal the area with concealers. But make sure to do it on a regular schedule so the makeup and skin oil doesn’t build up and eventually ruin your brushes. Key selling points: If you want to add a pop of color to your makeup kit, these ultra-soft lightweight brushes are a solid pick. And if that wasn’t enough, keeping your brushes safe and organized is key to longevity and a makeup bag is the spot-on solution. That said, you can find high-end makeup brush sets for as high as $500. The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. I consider them to be the best inexpensive makeup brushes, because they are all drugstore. With thousands of cosmetic products available we have a cosmetic and brush combo to make every woman look their best each day.

These collections feature high-quality brushes that leave complexions smooth and evenly pigmented. When shopping for makeup brushes, you may come across the term kabuki brush.” This simply means that the bristles in these brushes are very densely packed together. Key selling points: The subtle curves on these ultrasoft brushes will mesh with the angles of your face flawlessly, delivering natural-looking blending ideal for a low-key, luminescent look. The eyes are such a sensitive area that soft bristles are an absolute must. For this type of money, you’ll find a plethora of machine-made makeup brush sets, many of which cost about $30. This Zoreya Luxurious high quality make-up brushes are perfect for Make-up lovers from beginners to profesionals. Apply your face, lip, and eye makeup with task-specific brushes for the ultimate precision. His favourite flat top foundation brushes are Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and BareMinerals Beautiful Finish Brush. Even though you might want to call in a bucket of cold water to revive you post-sticker shock, it’s worth pointing out that Artis and this covetable collection of makeup brushes just might be the best in the business. The blush, highlighter, eyeshadow and lip brush are all completely synthetic and vegan-friendly. To start your brush collection, I would recommend you go for Real Techniques, both the brush set and eye brush set, which includes five different brushes,” recommends Rajput. It has luxuriously soft, synthetic bristles that pick up pigments and deposit them seamlessly (and evenly) onto your lids. Now that you know all about brushes and know what you are doing when it comes to makeup, go online and browse through a range of makeup brush sets from top brands. A good, fluffy eyeshadow brush allows you to apply colour all over the lids, as well as shading and blending for a seamless finish. Japanese brushes use a mix of natural hairs from goat, horse, water badger, squirrel and weasel. The angled design of the BareMinerals Ready Precision (around $19) is great for applying foundation or powder over the contours of your face. The ability to improve makeup application and skin health, as well as maximize the longevity of makeup, makes Kumano brushes an excellent choice for anyone seeking high-quality artisan makeup brushes. The blush brush and the eye brushes are soft, appropriately packed and shaped and work very well for powder and cream makeup. The EcoTools 6 Piece Starter Set is featured on Urban Vegan , Byrdie’s list of vegan makeup brushes, and PETA’s list of cruelty-free brushes. It’s perfect for applying your liquid foundation, as the product sits neatly within the centre. If you want those dramatic cheekbones, then you need a good contouring brush to use with your contour palette You’ll recognize this brush by its angled top and dense bristles that can hold a lot of makeup at once. The SHANY Pro Signature Brush Set is featured on fashion site Her Style Code , has a thorough review on the beauty blog Beauty Isles , and is included on various review site lists including A Web to Know , 5 Star Deal Reviews , and beauty and fashion ranking site Rank & Style On Amazon, the set has a 4.5 out of 5-star average rating based on more than 1,700 customer reviews. Plus, synthetic fibers are especially great for applying liquid and cream products (like foundation and concealer), and they’re super easy to clean. Some people have ethical issues about using natural brushes (which is where synthetic makeup brushes come into play) but you can also find natural brushes that are certified by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). This set of five EcoTools brushes are made from highly sustainable bamboo. RMS Beauty has released a new line of high-end makeup brushes that are designed to perfectly mimic skin to skin application. Long, thin handles provide precise control for detail work such as applying eyeshadow and eyeliner, whereas fat, shorter handles provide excellent coverage and blending for powder and blush brushes. I’ve found that RT brushes are just as soft (sometimes softer?) than Sigma brushes. With the ability to elevate your look from passable to flawless, makeup brushes are exactly what you need to mimic the that professional finish. Finally, there are two angled brushes; a sharp one for carving out the perfect cat-eye liner, and a softer one that works a treat for smokey eyeliner or for defining the brows. Getting a good grip on your brush while applying your makeup will prevent slip-ups that leave you with eyeshadow on your cheeks. Sisters Hannah and Sophie set up Spectrum Collections from their home in Wales a few years ago, and they’re already the go-to brushes for many a pro make-up artist. Now I am moving onto the best inexpensive makeup brushes for the eyes. E.l.f. Cosmetics has a wide selection of cruelty-free and vegan makeup brushes for eyeshadows, concealers, foundations, and more.