Not only do the best makeup brushes allow you to easily apply your makeup, but they provide total precision. Many makeup artists prefer natural bristles because they tend to be extremely fluffy for giving an airbrushed finish and tend to grab pigment better, but synthetic makeup brushes are a favorite when it comes to liquid and cream makeup application (there’s also the cruelty-free factor).
When it comes down to it, it’s all personal preference — and budget is something to consider as well. Keeping in mind a certain price range, no matter how low or high, you are bound to find a solid set of makeup brushes and beauty tools that will work for you and your needs. Makeup brush pricing is usually based on the material of the bristles and their size, but can go for upward of hundreds of dollars. Chances are, you won’t need an extravagant arsenal and a handful of everyday makeup brushes will suffice. We’ve done some legwork and rounded up the best makeup brushes — from drugstore to professional grade — for every budget, and some even come in easy-to-use sets.
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Best Makeup Brushes for Every Budget
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Drugstore Favorite
Are you looking to trade up from those dinky makeup applicators that come in your beauty products for some proper brushes? Are you not quite ready to fork over $30 (or more) on a brush? These best makeup brushes are the solution. They're color coded, so it's easy to figure out which brush to use where. Plus, they have extended aluminum ferrules that are lightweight, making your application a little easier. The bristles are even hand cut to create the perfect shape. Some beauty lovers swear they're actually better than more expensive options.
Real Techniques Makeup Brushes, $6.99 to $20.99 per brush at Ulta
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Super Steal
When they call this the ultimate brush set, they're not exaggerating. It contains a whopping 36 brushes for your eyes, lips and face. The range includes a mix of natural and synthetic bristles, so there is a tool for all of your creams, powders and gels. And when you do the calculations, you realize you're paying just over a dollar per brush. You can't beat that.
BH Cosmetics 36 Piece Ultimate Brush Set, $38.99 at BH Cosmetics
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Budget Option
Our favorite part about this foolproof set — besides how inexpensive it is — is that each of the 12 brushes is labeled for its use, making it a perfect collection for a beginner. The range includes face and eye brushes and when you do the math, each brush comes out to a dollar. We can’t think of a better way to spend a buck.
e.l.f. Professional Complete Set of 12 Brushes, $12 at e.l.f. Cosmetics
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Wallet Friendly
Looking to expand your makeup brush collection? This set is a good place to start. You get eight high-quality brushes that you can use to paint your entire face with. And you don't have to worry about brush storage options because they come in a handy brush roll. Divide the price by eight and you will see what a great bargain they are.
Sephora Collection Tools Of The Trade Brush Set, $62 at Sephora
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Awesome Deal
These brushes are proof that you don't need to blow your budget to get great beauty tools. Beauty insiders know that Sonia Kashuk delivers quality products at affordable prices and this brush set is no exception. The bristles are super soft and they make it easy to blend your powders and creams. And who can resist the fun Pop Art design on the handles?
Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Brush Set, $22.99 at Target
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For a Growing Collection
If these are good enough for makeup master Rob Scheppy, then they’re good enough for us. The Brush iQ line is made with DuPont Natrafil filaments, which perform better than natural hair. The ultra soft filaments pick up and distribute product evenly for a seamless blending process.
Tweezerman Brush iQ, $12 to $33 per brush at Tweezerman
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For Expanding Your Range
Pretty much every makeup artist has a handful of MAC Cosmetics brushes in their kit. The brushes are handcrafted using premium materials. Even if you're an aspiring makeup artist, you will still be able to tell the difference. With an extensive range of brushes for eyes, lips and face, you're practically guaranteed to find a brush for any application, no matter how niche.
MAC Cosmetics Makeup Brushes, $15 to $53 per brush at MAC Cosmetics
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More Options
Bobbi Brown always delivers when we're looking for me-but-enhanced makeup shades, but the brand delivers on the brush front, too. This six-piece set features the brushes the brand considers essentials for doing your makeup. The brushes were developed by top Bobbi Brown makeup artists and they've been expertly crafted, so they'll last with proper care. Stash them in the included case to keep 'em looking their best.
Bobbi Brown Classic Brush Collection, $250 at Bobbi Brown
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Cruelty Free
First, there’s the cute factor (the pink and gold accents on the brushes) and then there’s the fact that Too Faced uses cruelty-free, 100 percent “Teddy Bear Hair,” meaning synthetic fibers that happen to be the softest we’ve ever felt. The super girly brushes are lightweight without feeling flimsy or cheap and are ideal for low-maintenance daily makeup application.
Too Faced Pro-Essential Teddy Bear Hair Brush Set, $65 at Too Faced
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No Harm
This brush set is a splurge initially, but once you have it, you're not going to need to expand your brush range much. The case has 21 brushes that work for different formulas and applications. What's more is that they're all cruelty-free. International makeup artist Natasha Denona has made sure that the range uses synthetic hair or natural hair from companies that do not abuse animals.
Natasha Denona Brush Set Pro 21 Piece Set, $290 at Sephora
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Streamlined Set
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of the different brush options out there? This kit is a great option. It features the essential brushes Smashbox makeup artists use. All of the brushes have been studio-tested, so if they pass that test, they should pass yours. Bonus: They're certified cruelty-free and made with the silkiest synthetic fibers.
Smashbox #ShapeMatters Brushes, $59 at Smashbox
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Lotsa Options
Whether you're looking for classic brushes for everyday use or something a bit special, Make Up For Ever has you covered. The extensive range includes brushes with different types of fibers and shapes, so whatever look you want to create, there is a luxurious brush for it. There are 30 brushes for your face alone and 35 more for your eyes.
Make Up For Ever Brushes, $12 to $55 per brush at Make Up For Ever
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Top Notch
Anastasia Beverly Hills only dropped its 25-piece makeup brush collection at the end of 2016, but beauty insiders have quickly fallen in love. There are natural and synthetic bristle options, depending on what products you're working with. And all of the brushes feature long, elegant black handles. Plus, some brushes are dual-sided, so you're really getting two for the price of one.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brushes, $17 to $25 per brush at Anastasia Beverly Hills
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Luxurious and Beautiful
This editor-favorite range works just as amazingly as it looks. The trademarked CosmeFibres are engineered to have a tapered end to allow for a consistent application. Each of the patented brushes has an average of 3 to 10 times as many individual fibers as natural hair brushes and are uniquely shaped to easily and effectively pick up and deliver product. The cleaning system is also patented and is an antimicrobial-treated microfiber cloth with 1 million fibers per square inch, which works by “grabbing” and removing makeup and residue from the bristles without compromising their shape or adding wear and tear.
Artis Fluenta 9 Brush Set, $450 at Neiman Marcus
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Oh So Glam
With their deep brown and gold packaging, these brushes have a glamorous feel. They're as practical as they are luxurious, though. The soft bristles have been hand-pulled to ensure a proper shape and the brushes have ergonomic handles for a comfortable application. They've also been designed so they won't roll off your vanity, so you can say goodbye to makeup spills on your carpet.
Charlotte Tilbury Brushes, $26 to $85 per brush at Net-a-Porter
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So Luxe
One of these bad boys will set you back the cost of a high-end beauty product, but unlike that lipstick or eyeshadow, they're going to last a lot longer. Besides, you need something to apply that makeup product with. The vegan brushes feature 100 percent plush synthetic hair and they pack a serious amount of bristles into a tiny brush head. The fluffy brushes help the color to disperse on your face without any tugging.
IT Cosmetics Makeup Brushes, $24 to $58 per brush at Ulta
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Contour Queen
If you’re looking for the perfect arsenal to help you apply your base as well as contour and highlight better than a Kardashian, then look no further. This beauty blogger favorite has five professional-grade makeup brushes that will apply a setting powder, cream blush or liquid foundation flawlessly. It’s also a great starter set for those looking for top-notch pro tools.
Sigma Basic Face Brush Kit, $83 at Sigma Beauty
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Go Pro
As NARS founder and makeup artist François Nars says, “You cannot achieve good makeup without good tools.” And these brushes definitely fall into the “good” category. You don't have to worry about scratchy bristles or shedding with these sleek black brushes. Add in the fact that they blend colors to a dreamy finish and you will wonder how you ever did your makeup without them.
NARS Brushes, $26 to $70 per brush at NARS Cosmetics
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Splurge Worthy
Makeup brushes are considered an investment and this set is in keeping with that philosophy. It contains 14 brushes designed to makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin's exact specifications. And if they get his approval, they should get yours, too. The professional-quality brushes are handcrafted and they are easy to use. What's more is that the set includes a carrying case that also doubles as a brush easel. Clever.
Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Brush Collection, $650 at Kevyn Aucoin
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Break the Bank
The luxurious quality of these handmade brushes is out of this world — so much so that they’ve only been available in the U.S. since November of 2014 and they’re extremely hard to come across. They are made with natural hairs and are carefully constructed in a 60-step process in Kumano, Japan that is said to take an entire week. The silky-soft brushes are definitely an investment, but should absolutely last for years and years. After all, the process of making them is so rigorous, each hair that is deemed too rough for skin is individually tweezed out of the finished product by a highly-skilled artisan. Yeah, we’re speechless, too.
Surratt Beauty Brushes, $45 to $230 per brush at Sephora
