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As one of the most used items in your makeup kit, quality makeup brushes are worth investing in.

While it’s common for beauty enthusiasts to thoroughly research the makeup they shop, we often neglect to research essential tools like makeup brushes as scrupulously. This is crazy because reliable makeup brushes are actually key to creating the perfect base, an incredible smokey eye, a chiselled contour and so much more.

We spoke to two professional makeup artists to get the lowdown on all things makeup brushes. From what to look for when selecting a brush, to the best for each kind of product, read on to find out what brushes they have in their collection and which ones are worth your coin.

Want to learn more about the pros first? Scroll to the bottom to meet our experts.

Read more: The cheap makeup we buy over high-end products

Scotia Boyd, a film, television and celebrity makeup artist who has worked in the industry for 10 years, says that ‘what you're going to want to look out for when buying brushes is the shape of the brush, particularly the dome that the hairs make. Newer styles of makeup brushes allow you so much more control and precision than they used to, which really takes a lot of the effort out of the makeup application.’

The makeup brushes’ bristles themselves are also an important factor. Allison Depriestre, a hair and makeup artist with over 12 years of industry experience, told us that ‘the softness of the bristles is usually a good indicator of the quality. Whether they’re natural hair or synthetic, the most important thing is that they do not break at all and that they feel soft. Bad quality bristles may cause micro-cuts to the skin when used regularly.’ Eek! Who knew! Allison also went on to say that when scoping out your next set of makeup brushes ‘the bristles should be dense and compact at their base’.

When it came to brands, both Boyd and Depriestre spoke highly of Mac’s makeup brushes. Boyd believes that it’s one of the few brands that ‘creates truly innovative designs’. Depriestre went on to recommend Real Techniques brushes, too. ‘They make blending easy,’ she said. ‘Plus, they last a long time and are reasonably priced.’

One of Depriestre’s favourite beginner brands is Kiko Milano. ‘They have great brushes that are also very affordable,’ she said. ‘Cheap synthetic brushes can actually be great tools — so don’t assume your work will be better if you spend on luxury brands. Trust your touch.’

In terms of specific tools, Boyd believes that it’s wise for every beginner to shop four specific essential makeup brushes. ‘You'll need a dedicated foundation brush, a powder brush, a blush brush and a bronzer brush.’ If you already have these and want to expand your collection a bit more, Boyd went on to recommend investing in ‘an eyelash curler, a makeup sponge and a spooly for blending out whatever brow product you use. These are also the only brushes that I use for my own everyday quick makeup application.’

Here's a breakdown of the best makeup brushes, according to our experts, each of which deserve a place in your collection.

Investing in a brush set is a brilliant idea for those who are new to makeup and don’t have a lot of the tools they need. This set from Revolution Beauty comes with 14 different brushes that will allow you to master your contour, smokey eye, highlighter and more with their durable, yet extremely soft, bristles.

With over 400 five-star reviews, it’s clear that this foundation brush isn’t just Boyd’s favourite. ‘This is a nice dense foundation brush that covers a lot of skin,’ she told us. ‘But it also has a precise edge which is great for working foundation around your eyes to create a nice lifting effect. The actresses that I work with love it when I use this brush on them — and the actors comment on it, too!’

When using the Lock It Edge Brush, Boyd has a makeup artist insider tip: ‘First, apply little drops of your foundation towards the centre of your face (this is where you need the most coverage) and then blend outward using the foundation brush.’

Flawless coverage, here we come.

The unique shape and plush texture of this makeup sponge make it one of the best on the market.

The soft, bouncy sponge can be used wet or dry (depending on the coverage level you’re after). It’s also great for both all-over buffing and getting into those awkward areas like under the eyes and around the nose.

It’s this versatility that we love the most about the sponge; it can handle all sections of the face as well as a range of different formulas, from liquids to powders.

Morphe’s makeup brushes are some of the most affordable and reliable on the market. The E65 is Boyd’s favourite powder brush because ‘it’s wide and fluffy enough to give a nice diffused texture but also comes to a nice point to let you easily set your under eye area’.

A brand recommended by Depriestre thanks to its high quality and durability, Real Techniques is a name worth investing in. With this contour brush, you can easily blend powder, cream and liquid formulas onto your cheeks thanks to its densely packed bristles and wide brush head.

Contouring is typically a tricky step to perfect but the angled shape on this brush makes it really easy to add a bit of definition to your face without your cheeks looking ‘muddy’.

With a slightly tapered yet flat tip, this e.l.f. cosmetics brush is the perfect shape for applying bronzer to the contours of your face. Reviewers rave about how soft and fluffy the brush is, as well as how easy it is to control and blend with.

Bobbie Brown’s brush is the best for applying blusher that leaves your makeup with a bright, natural finish. Its soft bristles that come in a rounded shape are brilliant at building colour and blending it onto the cheeks.

Depriestre is a fan of KIKO’s brushes for good reason: This particular makeup brush is brilliant for applying eyeshadow. It's natural fibres and rounded shape allow you to apply your base shadow of choice with precision and control. The brush’s handle has a slight oval shape to it which makes it easy to hold and use.

Fluffy and easy to blend with, this eyeshadow brush is one of Boyd’s go-to makeup tools. It’s made from 100% synthetic fibres and has been crafted into an oval shape making it a particularly useful brush when blending transition colours into the crease of the eyelid.

According to Depriestre, makeup brand Inglot is widely known for its ‘great shapes and quality brushes’. We like its 31T brush that can be used for both applying eyeliner and shaping brows. Soft bristles and an angular shape make it easy to achieve precise strokes, particularly when filling in or defining your brows.

While different makeup artists will recommend different ways to clean your brushes, the one thing Depriestre and Boyd agreed on is that cleaning your makeup brushes doesn’t have to be a complex ordeal.

According to Depriestre, ‘the best way to clean brushes is the old school way, with soap and warm water. Pick any soap bar and rub your brush against it, let a thin stream of warm water flow onto the brush until you don’t see any more makeup on the soap and the water runs clear.’ If you don’t have a bar of soap, no worries. Depriestre says ‘you can use shampoo or body wash instead, in a silicone cleansing pad.’

Boyd seconds this and advises you wash your brushes with shampoo every few weeks to keep them clean. ‘They’re going to smell lovely, too!’ she added.

When it’s time for drying your brushes (whether you’ve used soap, body wash or shampoo), Depriestre suggests ‘letting them dry flat on a sponge towel to absorb water. Don’t forget to squeeze the fibres to get as much water out of them as possible before you let them dry’.

Read more: Is the StylPro Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer really as good as it claims?

Depriestre is a hairstylist and makeup artist who has had her work featured in the likes of Vogue Paris, Vanity Fair, InStyle and more. She has over 12 years of fashion industry experience and is sought after by clients and brides across the globe desperate to be styled by her elegant, sophisticated touch. One of her major career highlights was styling Kim Kardashian’s wedding guests. Check out Depriestre’s talent agency and learn more about the makeup artist here.

Boyd is a professional makeup artist with 10 years of industry experience. She has worked with an array of celebrities and on film and television sets of major production companies such as Universal, Disney, Lions Gate and more. She’s a self-confessed fanatic when it comes to shopping for the right makeup brushes and loves helping people feel empowered through their makeup routines. You can learn more about Boyd and her work on her website.

Prices updated on 29/07/2022. We are not responsible for any changes on the prices mentioned above.

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