12 Makeup Brushes for Every Step of Your Beauty Routine

If you apply liquid foundation daily, this essential brush will be a total go-to in your collection. Its slightly tapered tip allows for seamless application of primer, liquid foundation, and even concealer—making it a versatile multitasker. And with synthetic nylon bristles, it's also completely vegan and shed-free (an added bonus!).

"I love this brush," says Ipster bergado11. "Perfect for foundation or setting powder under eyes. Now a permanent addition to my growing set of go-to’s."

While tapered foundation brushes can help to create that coveted dewy finish, fluffy powder brushes are the best tool to use with a powder foundation to create a matte, velvety-smooth complexion. This BEAU GÂCHIS brush has loosely packed, ultra-soft vegan bristles that feel great on the skin and sweep up powders flawlessly. For all you makeup minimalists, this multitasking tool can also be used to blend powder blush, bronzer, and even finishing powders. It’s one brush you’ll always look forward to using.

One Ipster writes, "Soft-bristled brush, seamless application of powders, no blotchy patches or brush hairs left on the face." Another adds, "You don't have to use much of the product for it to look good with this brush!"

With a densely packed brush head, vegan bristles, and an angled tip, this brush allows for the precisest of precise concealer coverage. Those hard-to-reach inner corners of the eyes? Considered them covered. Stubborn spot? No problem. It's even perfect for under the eyes and any other areas where you experience blemishes or redness, and it really excels when you need a touch of coverage in super tiny areas. Ipster Steelerchic82 can attest to that. She writes, "Such a great brush for around the eyes especially the inner corner area of the eye."

Not only will this luxe rose gold blush brush become a daily fave, but it will also make for a great front-row addition to your vanity. The stunning handle is built to be extra durable and waterproof while the tightly secured vegan bristles are designed to transfer blush from the pan to the skin without a hint of patchiness.

"This is the softest brush I've ever used and it really transfers blush well," writes Ipster cjhowze15.

Picking out the perfect contouring brush doesn't have to be intimidating. Because the art of contouring is all about precise application, you'll just want to look for an angled brush with dense bristles that make for easy control when you apply your products. This LUXIE BEAUTY brush is the perfect example, and it also happens to be a bit smaller than the standard contour brush, so it’s able to effortlessly apply product to the smaller areas of the face. Want even more use out of this brush? Once your contour is complete, tap off the excess product from the bristles, then use the brush to apply your highlight with the same amount of precision.

"This is quite possibly one of my favorite brushes ever," says Ipster PRuss92. "The shape is lovely and it’s the perfect size for contouring with control."

Since kabuki brushes have shorter bristles and a larger surface area, Boswell says she typically uses them for applying loose powder and setting powder to large areas. Kabuki brushes can also be used with pressed powders, bronzers, and even blushes.

And get this: This high-tech kabuki brush features an electric spinning head that's also interchangeable. This particular compact head is ideal for evenly buffing loose or pressed powder into the skin, giving it an even, natural look. This interchangeable brush head is also antimicrobial and designed to be safe for even the most sensitive skin.

Best Makeup Brushes for Eye Makeup

Repeat after us: Stamp, then blend. Before you start blending your smoky eye, you'll want to use a densely packed eyeshadow brush like this to effectively transfer pigment from the eyeshadow pan onto your lid. This brush features soft but strong bristles and a compact shape that's perfect for picking up and packing on an all-over lid color.

"My second favorite brush in my bag of makeup brushes," says Ipster vickaykayy. "Super soft and picks up eyeshadow well!"

To ensure that your base, crease, and highlight colors all flow into each other seamlessly with no harsh lines, you'll want to use a blending brush. This fluffy, limited-edition brush features soft bristles that are designed specifically to blend and spread out color evenly.

"A small tapered fluffy blending brush is multifunctional," says Boswell. "It easily blends undereye concealer, it’s great for covering blemishes and is also the perfect size to blend shadow in the eye crease. It even works for contouring and defining areas like the nose."

For Boswell, a flat angled eyeliner brush like this is essential for applying gel, liquid, and powder liner. "This firm and flat small brush is perfect for creating a cat-eye or a tight, defined liner," she says. "The angled shape makes it so easy to be precise compared to a typical pointed eyeliner brush."

This eyeliner brush is made from a mix of synthetic fibers with bristles that are firm enough to create shape but soft enough to be gentle on your eyes. Pro tip: You can also wet this brush and dip it into eyeshadow powder formulas to instantly transform any eyeshadow into an eyeliner.

If you prefer gel or pomade brow products over eyebrow pencils, you can reach for a trusty eyebrow brush to fill in and craft those strong, defined brows. This multitasking eyebrow brush is dual-ended: One side has firm angled bristles that you can use to fill in your brows while the other has a spoolie that helps to both blend out the product and style the hairs. The bristles are also infused with antimicrobial charcoal which helps to keep them clean and bacteria-free for longer.

If you're building your brush collection from scratch, one easy way to make sure you have everything you need is to invest in a set. This eye-centric set features five essentials you can use to complete every type of eye makeup look or need, whether you’re using an eye brush to blend, buff, shade, stamp, or line. The high-quality soft bristles are extra gentle on your delicate eye area and are also completely vegan.

"These brushes work like magic! Smooth and simple, very nice," one Ipster writes. Another says, "Lovely set of brushes, I am quite pleased with how well they work. Made me realize how awful my old brushes are."

This three-piece set comes with all the essential face brushes for creating a flawless complexion. The flat-topped stippling brush is your answer to getting an airbrushed foundation finish; the smaller soft-touch brush is ideal for applying foundation or concealer in those hard-to-reach places; and the fluffy face brush is perfect for blush, bronzer, contour, or highlighting.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself captivated by the deep midnight-blue tint of these bristles. Not only are they totally gorgeous, but they're also made from soft synthetic fibers that are cruelty-free and vegan. 

"These brushes are so soft not only on the bristles but the grip," one Ipster writes. "I love that they have notches for you to hold them sturdier!"

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