These 6 makeup brushes are the best for picture-perfect application

Whether you’re new to the world of makeup artistry or consider yourself an aficionado, you’ll know that using good quality brushes (or brush kits) is key to a successful application.

From small eyeshadow brushes to larger brushes for full face application, single brush options as well as full brush kits, ones designed for use with powder and others for liquid foundations… there’s a myriad of options available, and choosing the right ones can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve handpicked a selection of the best makeup brushes, to eliminate your anxiety. Whether you’re a beginner, a hobbyist or a professional makeup artist, read on for the top tools to enhance your makeup application.

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Shop the 6 best makeup brushes

Best brush set overall

Complete Brush Set

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$49 at Sephora

Best extensive set of brushes

BS-MALL Makeup Brush Set

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$11.99 at Amazon

Best affordable collection

e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush Collection

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$15 at Target

Best eye makeup brushes

SIGMA BEAUTY X Shayla Mitchell Brush Set

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$86 at Macy's

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Best brush set overall

Complete Brush Set

$49

$49 at Sephora

Pros & Cons

• Works with all makeup formulas

• Comes with both face and eye brushes

• Includes a recyclable brush tray

• Thin bristles compared to others

• No storage pouch

With a unique brush designed for every type of makeup product and area of your face, investing in a brush set that includes a variety of shapes, sizes and designs can be a great place to start. 

And that’s why we love this set from Sephora.

Ideal for beginners and professionals alike, it puts all your basic brushes into one kit. 

Need a large brush for applying full-face foundation? You got it. 

A dainty brush for eyeshadow? No worries.

A brush specifically to fill in your brows? Sorted.

With seven individual, soft-bristled vegan brushes that feature handles designed to hold the bristles securely, so they’ll stay put even after multiple cleanings (no more shedding!), it’s no wonder this kit boasts a 4.7 average rating from over 100 users.

Whether you’re aiming to achieve a natural, beachy or glam aesthetic, this brush kit is more than up to the challenge.

Best extensive set of brushes

BS-MALL Makeup Brush Set

$11.99

$11.99 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Wide variety of brushes

• Budget-friendly

• Comes with a sturdy storage container

• Possibility of bristles shedding

• Not as durable compared to other sets

Looking for a more comprehensive brush set that will ensure you’re sorted for years to come?

You’re in luck. 

This budget BS-MALL 18-piece set of synthetic brushes offers options for everything from eye and crease shadow to foundation, to blush and concealer — as well as options tailored for powders versus liquid products.

And it comes with a handy manual to help you identify which ones to use in every instance, too.

With a 4.6 average rating from over 30,000 buyers, and a convenient black storage container to keep them secure and fresh when whilst travelling, the BS-MALL brush set makes for a fabulous one-and-done purchase.

Best affordable collection

e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush Collection

$15

$15 at Target

Pros & Cons

• Affordable

• Great quality

• Works with all makeup formulas

• Brush purpose engraved on handle

• Vegan and cruelty-free

• No storage option

• Only 6 brushes in the set

e.l.f. Cosmetics is no stranger to the makeup game. In addition to its mineral-based makeup, the e.l.f. brand is also known for its quality brushes at affordable prices. Case in point is this 6-piece brush kit that provides all the essentials for your beauty kit.

While slightly more expensive than other budget options, this comes down to the premium quality and design of the e.l.f. brushes.

Accurately named the Flawless Collection, the six brushes in this kit expertly handle the contours of your face, with each brush having its unique purpose engraved on the handle — so there will be no confusion over which to use. What’s more, this set maintains e.l.f.’s ethical standards with each brush being vegan and cruelty-free. So you can create your favorite looks guilt-free.

Best eye makeup brushes

SIGMA BEAUTY X Shayla Mitchell Brush Set

$86

$86 at Macy's

Pros & Cons

• Premium quality and design

• Comes with a storage bag

• Hypoallergenic and vegan

• Created to prevent shedding

• Expensive compared to other sets

• Brushes are only for eye makeup

Sigma Beauty has teamed up with one of our favorite beauty influencers and makeup artists, Shayla Mitchell, to create the best makeup brushes for your favorite eye looks.

While the set offers the usual blending and shading brushes, this hypoallergenic kit also includes two brushes designed by Shayla specifically to assist with applying eyeshadow and concealer with precision.

High quality and designed to be long lasting, each brush handle securely grips the ultra-soft vegan bristles tightly, to ensure your prized possessions don’t shed. Also boasting waterproof technology, these brushes are durable even when cleaned regularly. 

A limited edition set, if you’re a lover of all things eye-makeup, don’t wait. Snap this set up now, you won’t regret it!

Best brush for foundation

Beautiful Finish Foundation Brush

$35

$35 at Sephora

Pros & Cons

• High-quality soft bristles

• Holds more product in a single swirl

• Plastic storage case included

• Designed primarily for use with powder foundation

bareMinerals is a brand renowned for using natural ingredients within their makeup products. The same applies to its makeup brushes, and our favorite is undoubtedly the Finish Foundation option.

The long outer fibers and beautiful cone shape of this brush allow you to apply foundation for an even coverage. Its fluffy bristles are engineered to hold loose powder foundations like liquid, meaning you can get more product in a single swirl (no one likes double-dipping). 

To earn its place as your favorite brush, this product needs to last — and it will, thanks to its accompanying plastic sleeve, designed to keep the soft fibers together. 

Now that’s what we call a beautiful finish!

Best option for professionals

8-Pc. Rose Gold Complete Face Brush Set

$80

$80 at Macy's

Pros & Cons

• Comes with eight essential pieces

• Designed for sturdiness to prevent shedding

• Expensive compared to other brush sets

Even professional makeup artists need the right tools to create knockout looks.

This complete face brush set by LUXIE combines luxury with quality, thanks to its super soft fluffy bristles that pick up and deposit makeup exactly where you want it. 

The high-quality vegan bristles are designed to work smoothly with both liquid and powder foundations. 

With eight distinct brush options, you’ll be able to blend, contour, and apply makeup like a true professional, even if you’re only just starting out.

How to choose the best makeup brushes

Not every makeup brush is made equal and not every brush has the same purpose. Here are a few things to look for if investing in the best is important to you.

• Bristles: Choose brushes with soft bristles; the softer they are, the better the quality.

• Shape: The shape of the brush will dictate how it is used and how easy and precise your makeup routine will be. Smaller brushes like blenders and crease brushes are good for detail work, while big brushes like stippling brushes allow you to layer your makeup. The shape also determines how easy it is to apply your foundation, and how good your coverage will be. 

• Price: You might be tempted to splurge on a brush just because your favorite celeb makeup artist uses it but the price doesn’t always guarantee the quality of a makeup brush. Set your budget first, and then inspect brushes in that range for the features we mentioned above.

Our verdict: Our editor’s favorites

Choosing the right brush or brush set will depend on your makeup preferences, budget and experience level. And, while each of our options above serves a different purpose, if we had to choose, our top picks would be: 

• Sephora’s Complete Brush Set: Whether you’re a beginner or professional, if you want an affordable high-quality set of essential brushes, then this would be your best choice.

• LUXIE 8-Piece Brush KitLUXIE 8-Piece Brush Kit. It may be a bit pricier, but the quality of the brushes assures us that it’s worth it, not to mention the beautiful rose gold handles.

Prices updated on 07/25/2023. We are not responsible for any changes on the prices mentioned above.