The importance of a good make-up brush has long been underestimated. All too often, we splurge on foundations and palettes, spending upwards of triple figures on the very best options, but the brushes we use to apply them come as an afterthought.

However, the quality of your final make-up look weighs just as heavily on your tools as it does your formulas: invest wisely, and you’ll find every powder, highlighter and lipstick looks endlessly better.

What’s more, a high-quality make-up brush, when cleansed and cared for correctly, will last for years. But that’s not to say you need to buy into the plethora of different shapes and sizes out there in order to achieve your everyday looks. Today’s beauty shelves are piled high with specific shapes for blending, strobing and highlighting but, as Warren Dowdall, senior pro artist at Bobbi Brown explains, a well-chosen kit doesn’t need to stretch into double digits.

“There are so many options out there and honestly, unless you’re a pro artist, a lot of the speciality brushes are 'nice to have', not 'need to have',” he says.

“A good basic set will include a great foundation brush and a concealer brush – paddle or stipple style depending on your preference. For setting your base and blending, a powder brush is a must. I would have two angled face brushes for highlighting, blush and bronzing. For eyes, a larger brush for applying base shades, a smaller eyeshadow brush for detail work, an eye blending brush and a fine liner brush are all you’ll need for most day and night looks.”

So, how do you tell which brushes are worth investing in? According to Dowdall, it’s all about the bristles. “They should feel soft but still sturdy and fit for purpose. Avoid anything that feels scratchy, rough or coarse on your skin. The bristles should be securely held in place with a proper ferrule and you should be able to run your hand gently over the brush without it shedding. Also, look at how the brush is shaped and ask yourself if that shape will make your make-up easier to apply.”

Much has been made about the appeal of a heavy handle, but Dowdall advises not to place too much weight on it. “The theory behind a weighted handle is that it'll offer more control and make application easier. For me as an artist however, the business end of brush itself is much more important than whether the handle is weighted or not. I don’t feel it’s an essential feature when considering a brush.”

Now, back to those bristles. They can fall into one of two categories: synthetic fibres and natural hair. “Synthetic bristles are man-made while natural hair bristles can be sable, goat or other animal hair,” says Dowdall. More and more brands are now migrating to high-quality synthetic bristles as they are more versatile and animal friendly.

“Traditionally, natural bristles work very well with powder products as the bristles grab and blend the powders into the skin. Synthetic bristles were known to be better at applying liquid and cream products as the bristles are not porous like natural hair bristles. This means liquid products are not absorbed into the brush hair and are applied evenly on the skin. With that said, the quality of synthetic fibres has increased dramatically over the years and today’s best options can mimic the finish of natural bristles and give equally beautiful results with powder products.”

Below, see the Bazaar verdict on the best make-up brushes to buy now and use every day. All of our choices are made solely with synthetic bristles.