We are advocates of low-maintenance beauty, but we are also believers of investing in the right makeup tools — especially when it comes to the best makeup brushes. Sure, it’s easier to be lazy and use the foam wands included in a compact or our own fingers for blending (which then leads to blotchy eyeshadow and dirty fingers). We don’t know about you, but when we’re putting our hard-earned cash into buying our favorite beauty products, we expect them to look amazing when applied. So why skimp on the vessel that is bringing your beauty creation to life?
There are countless options when it comes to makeup brushes and yes, it can be overwhelming, but we’ve narrowed down what we think are the must-have brushes for everyone’s makeup bag, and broken down when and how to use them. Trust us, once you start implementing these into your routine, you’ll notice how much easier it is to blend, conceal and more.
Brushes
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Foundation Brush
This multipurpose brush is used to apply foundation in a stippling motion to get an airbrushed finish. It's best to use this with cream or liquid formulas.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Polishing Brush, $57 at Nordstrom
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Concealer Brush
This flexible flat brush will help blend concealer properly to cover up a small area. Its slightly pointed tip allows you to precisely cover up the smaller imperfections.
MAC 195 Concealer Brush, $24 at Macy's
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Powder Brush
For applying a bronzer or blush, use this wide-shaped feathery brush for easy application on the larger areas of the face and neck.
Marc Jacobs Beauty The Bronze Bronzer Brush No. 12, $78 at Sephora
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Kabuki Brush
This retractable brush is ideal for using with loose powders since its densely packed bristles are made to pick up a lot of product at once.
SOHO Naturals Retractable Kabuki Brush, $14.99 at Amazon
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Fan Brush
This wide and spread out brush made with light bristles makes dusting cheekbones with highlighter effortless.
e.l.f. Essential Fan Brush, $1 at Eyes Lips Face
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Eyeshadow Blending Brush
This small yet fluffy brush makes blending eyeshadow and crease-contouring a breeze. It's also a must-have when going for a smoky eye.
NARS #42 Blending Eyeshadow Brush, $32 at Nordstrom
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Eyeliner Brush
For a cat eye, winged liner or overall liner precision, this ergonomic brush will get the job done no matter how clumsy you think you are.
Smashbox Arced Eye Liner Brush #21, $20 at Beauty.com
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Eyebrow Brush
The brow pro herself created the ultimate tool for applying her best-selling products with a brush on one end and a grooming spooley on the other.
Anastasia Beverly Hills #12 Large Duo Brow Brush, $18 at Nordstrom
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Lip Brush
This super chic silver brush has a slight tilt and a flattened bristle surface to resemble the tip of a lipstick for quick and flawless application.
Artis Circle 1 Lip Brush, $24 at Artis
