We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Beauty Beauty Products & Tools The 19 Best Makeup Brushes of 2024 for a Flawless Finish Every Time It's the most important tool in your box. By Danielle Cohen Danielle Cohen Danielle Cohen is a beauty writer and editor who’s covered everything from lip lifts and mini tummy tucks to the best foundation sticks and body bronzers. Her portfolio spans digital, print, and video, with work featured in Allure, Byrdie, CR Fashion Book, RealSimple, Refinery29, and Well + Good, among others. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on April 12, 2024 @ 01:07PM In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered Why Shop With Us InStyle / Joy Kim You can have the most skin-like foundations, creamiest liquid blushes, and buttery eyeshadows, but they’ll do you little good without the proper tools. For beginners, celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips suggests following a simple guideline. “I look for a thicker, denser brush when I need to pack on color, and a lighter, wispier brush when trying to diffuse and blend.” Whether you’re a makeup newbie or a seasoned pro, an amazing brush always makes all the difference — after all, what would the Mona Lisa look like if da Vinci had opted to finger-paint it? To ensure you choose a superior brush that will last for years, we tested the bestselling picks celebrity makeup artists use to create a flawless look. Our Top Picks Best Overall: IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush (See Price) Jump to Review Best Budget: Real Techniques Makeup Setting Facial Powder Makeup Brush at Amazon ($6) Jump to Review Best Liquid Foundation Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush at Nordstrom ($47) Jump to Review Best Highlight Brush: Makeup by Mario EF 2 Makeup Brush at Sephora ($24) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Westman Atelier Liquid Blender Brush at Nordstrom ($125) Jump to Review Best Powder Foundation Brush : e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush (See Price) Jump to Review Best Concealer Brush: Dior Backstage Concealer Brush No. 13 at Nordstrom ($34) Jump to Review Best Powder Contour Brush: Sephora Pro Contour Brush #79 at Sephora ($30) Jump to Review Best Cream Contour Brush: Sephora Collection PRO Foundation Brush #64 at Sephora ($30) Jump to Review Best Bronzer Brush: Real Techniques Ultra Plush Blush Cheek Makeup Brush at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Overall IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush Sephora View on Ulta View On Amazon $43 View On Nordstrom $50 What We Love The ultra-plush, dense bristles make blending a breeze. What We Don't Love Double-sided brushes tend to be harder to store and keep hygienic. I own four of this makeup brush, and keep one in my work bag at all times for on-the-go touch ups. The bristles are densely packed but luxuriously soft, making for a seamless application that feels great on skin. And while its intended use is applying foundation and concealer, the brush is also great for buffing in cream bronzer, liquid contour, and blush. The result is a flawless but natural-looking base. In a real pinch, you can even use the concealer brush for shadow application, making it a true one-and-done tool. For those who prioritize multifunctionality and quality, this is a no-brainer, but we also have to admit that while the dual-sided design is genius, it’s not the easiest to store. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Double-ended dome | Intended Use: Foundation, concealer | Vegan: Yes InStyle / Joy Kim Best Budget Real Techniques Makeup Setting Facial Powder Makeup Brush Ulta Beauty View On Amazon $6 View On Ulta $6 View On Target What We Love This multitasking brush is equal parts affordable and effective. What We Don’t Love It may shed over time if not cared for properly. Celeb makeup artist Alexx Mayo is a fan of Real Techniques in general: “An artist’s tools are just as important as the product itself, and I really love the Real Techniques brushes,” he says. “There’s such a big variety, and at such an affordable price.” Makeup artist Daniel Martin, who famously did Meghan Markle’s makeup for her royal wedding, agrees. Beyond the price (which is so good), Martin counts this brush’s versatility as a major selling point — it plays nicely with creams, powders, and liquid foundations alike. And while some have complained about shedding over time, we’ve had no problems in the year-plus we’ve owned the brush. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Tapered dome | Intended Use: Setting powder, powder highlight, cream highlight | Vegan: Yes Best Liquid Foundation Brush Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush Ulta View On Nordstrom $47 View On Ulta $47 View On Sephora $47 What We Love The unique shape and custom bristles are intended to mimic the control of fingertips with all the luxuries of a brush. What We Don’t Love The size is smaller than your average foundation brush, meaning application will likely take more time. The Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush, and its unique custom shape meant to mimic the delicate and precise control of your fingertips. At first glance, this brush looks deceptively small for applying foundation — the head of bristles is roughly the same size as a quarter. Luckily, what it lacks in size it makes up for in seamless application, flawless precision, and a skin-like finish without getting your hands dirty. The densely packed bristles and unique shape lends itself to getting hard-to-reach spots like the nasolabial folds. The bristles are soft, but not so soft that they simply move product on top of the skin, and allow for streak-free application whether you’re stippling, blending, or pushing the product into the skin. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Custom angled | Intended Use: Liquid, stick, and cream foundation | Vegan: Yes InStyle / Joy Kim Best Highlight Brush Makeup by Mario EF 2 Makeup Brush Sephora View On Sephora $24 View On Makeupbymario.com What We Love Thin dome is perfect for ultra-precise application and blending. What We Don’t Love Some may find it too small for applying highlight. I've been using fluffy eyeshadow brushes to apply highlighter for years, and was excited to learn that Mario Dedivanovic (as in the Mario of Makeup by Mario, known for being a staple on Kim Kardashian’s glam team) does the same. This brush is ever-so-slightly stiff to help with precise application, but fluffy enough that it easily blends product into the skin. This is the ideal highlighter brush for complete control over where the product lands. It gives a seamless buff, too. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Thin, fluffy dome | Intended Use: Eyeshadow, highlight | Vegan: Yes InStyle / Joy Kim Best Splurge Westman Atelier Liquid Blender Brush Sephora View On Nordstrom $125 View On Sephora $125 View On Credo Beauty What We Love The ultimate in terms of luxury, this brush is handmade by artisans in Japan and specially designed by a celeb makeup artist. What We Don’t Love It’s an incredibly short brush and can easily get lost when stored with other brushes. If you want to splurge, then we say really splurge. Crafted with cherry wood sourced from Japan and handmade, cruelty-free polyester bristles, this liquid blender brush from Westman Atelier is as luxe as they come. It smoothes product quickly and evenly, leaving a seamless finish on the skin in just a few swipes. Similar in shape to a kabuki brush, with slightly denser, shorter bristles, it makes second skin-like coverage so easy to achieve, it’s nearly fool-proof. Though densely packed and stiff, the bristles are still soft to the touch and feel plush — not rough — on the skin. The rounded head is ideal for really pressing product into the skin, while the dense bristles ensure streak-free application. Plus, the soft edges of the brush are ideal for hard-to-reach spots like the sides of the nose and under eyes. Bristle Type: Polyester | Shape: Compact round | Intended Use: Blending liquid makeup | Vegan: Yes Best Powder Foundation Brush e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush e.l.f. Cosmetics View on Ulta View On Amazon $5 View On Elfcosmetics.com What We Love This brush is dual-sided — the flat side allows for seamless all over application, while the skinny side provides more targeted placement. What We Don’t Love The bristles fall out over time. Powder foundation seems like the easiest to apply (movies made us believe we could get a flawless application with a flick of the wrist). But we still struggled to achieve the smooth, even these formulas promise, and after putting up with subpar brushes that left us with a patchy complexion, we struck gold with this affordable tool. This foundation brush picks up the ideal amount of product with a quick swirl in the compact, and blends it out like magic. The beauty is in the duality — the fluffy brush has two sides: a flat edge that allows for seamless, all over application, and a skinny edge that provides more targeted application. I use the former to buff out an even layer of foundation all over, and the latter to build up extra coverage where we need it most. The one thing that could improve, though, is the bristle quality: Over time the synthetic fibers fall out, but that typically happens after a few years of use. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Fluffy with flat and skinny ides | Intended Use: Powder foundations, bronzers and blush | Vegan: Yes Best Concealer Brush Dior Backstage Concealer Brush No. 13 Bloomingdale's View On Nordstrom $34 View On Dior.com View On Macy's $34 What We Love The flat, tapered “cat’s tongue” tip is ideal for precision application and smooth blending. What We Don’t Love It requires more work to blend in and perfect coverage than larger concealer brushes. Flat with a tapered “cat’s tongue” shape and rounded tip, the brush is ideal for pinpointing imperfections and gives professional results with a smooth, blended layer of concealer. Best of all, the flat edge makes the brush a great multitasker — stipple on concealer under the eyes or pat in some powder in those hard-to-reach spots. And yes, it works with liquids, creams, and powders alike. Because this brush is so great for precision, it does require more work and attention to blend to perfection, especially when we apply makeup to dry skin, than larger concealer brushes. But if you’re looking for flawless coverage, it’s going to take time no matter what. And with this brush, the result really is flawless. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Tapered “cat’s tongue” tip | Intended Use: Cream and liquid concealer | Vegan: Unclear Best Powder Contour Brush Sephora Pro Contour Brush #79 Sephora View On Sephora $30 What We Love The cylindrical, tapered bristles allow for strategic placement, and they sculpt and blend to perfection. What We Don’t Love It’s too big to use on the nose and some prefer a denser brush for cream contour. When I use the powder formula in our contour palettes, I often go back and forth between preferring densely packed brushes and light, fluffy brushes. While I find that both work, denser, shorter brushes allow for a quick buff with minimal effort, whereas looser, fluffier bristles need a bit more work but leave behind soft, buildable layers. This contour brush was a bit intimidating for us at first; it’s even softer and smaller than what we usually use for contour, but trust us when we say that it completely changes the game. The tapered, fluffy bristles give us a contour that’s simultaneously softly diffused and precisely defined. It makes getting defined cheekbones a breeze and it doubles as a fabulous highlight brush. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: long, tapered cylindrical | Intended Use: Powder contour | Vegan: Yes Best Cream Contour Brush Sephora Collection PRO Foundation Brush #64 Sephora View On Sephora $30 What We Love Densely packed bristles of various lengths apply and blend contour smoothly, leaving behind buildable coverage. What We Don’t Love Because the brush is dense, the resulting contour is more full coverage than subtle. For those who can’t fathom buffing out your cream contour with a fluffy brush, this foundation brush from Sephora is a stellar alternative. The brush features bristles of varying lengths to keep product from settling into pores, which is genius and really does deliver a smooth finish. Despite being densely packed, the bristles are still soft to the touch and cover up texture and irritation flawlessly. The brush applies product in a slightly mottled fashion that quickly blends in with circular motions. Best of all, it never moves any product underneath the contour. If you’re looking for a more subtle contour, though, you may want to use another brush because the end result when using this is pretty full coverage. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Short dome | Intended Use: Foundation | Vegan: Yes Best Bronzer Brush Real Techniques Ultra Plush Blush Cheek Makeup Brush Ulta Beauty View On Amazon View On Ulta $7 View On Walgreens What We Love The large, domed shape is perfect for all-over application and leaves a smooth finish. What We Don’t Love The bristles can get slightly scratchy over time. Yes, this is technically a blush brush, but we found that its large brush head and fluffy shape work far better when applying bronzer. The soft, thin bristles glide bronzer across the face for an even, non-streaky finish, and diffuses product in a way that imparts a natural, light tan that’s never, ever patchy. The brush starts to feel slightly scratchy with continued use, but it still picks up the perfect amount of product and has kept its shape surprisingly well. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Tapered dome | Intended Use: Powder blush | Vegan: Yes Best Powder Blush Brush MyKitCo My Blush & Powder MyKitCo View On Mykitco.uk What We Love The bristles are somehow both dense and soft, making it ideal for blending out blushes. What We Don’t Love The natural fibers aren’t great for blending cream or liquid blush. Phillips swears by MyKitCo brushes — and when Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber’s go-to makeup artist says a beauty brand is good, you listen. According to Phillips, this brush is the “perfect size and softness for applying blush to the apples of the cheeks.” The bristles are expertly bundled to create some density while maintaining its soft fluffy shape, which is hard to find. And it happens to apply blush with impressive precision. Keep in mind: Save this for your powder products since natural bristles are not always good for cream or liquid products. Bristle Type: Natural | Shape: Plush dome | Intended Use: Blush, powder | Vegan: No Best Cream Blush Brush Real Techniques Tapered Cheek Face Makeup Brush Ulta Beauty View On Amazon $6 View On Ulta $6 View On IHerb $6 What We Love The precision brush head allows for buildable, targeted coverage. What We Don’t Love The lighter bristles get easily stained with blush. This Real Techniques brush works slightly better with liquids and creams as its small, tapered bristles precisely apply a pop of color for a natural flush that’s buildable without looking cakey. The bristles are simultaneously dense and soft, which is ideal for cream blush placement — plus, the handle has a nice weight to it, giving you more control when applying. Just know that if you use a highly pigmented blush, it may stain the bristles — so be sure to wash after every use. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Small, tapered dome | Intended Use: Liquid, cream, or powder blush, contour, and highlighter | Vegan: Yes Best Multifunctional Brush MAC 240 Synthetic Large Tapered Blending Brush MAC Cosmetics View On Nordstrom $36 View On Maccosmetics.com $36 View On Macy's $36 What We Love The fluffy tapered head applies and softly blends product in one foul swoop. What We Don’t Love Its multifunctionality is a double-edged sword: Colors can get muddy and blend together within the brush if you don’t wash after each use. This larger tapered brush plays nicely with liquids and cream, but does its best work applying powders and blending soft washes of product to the eyes and face. It’s ideal for sweeping or swirling product, especially a light coat of powder in shinier spots like under the eyes and along the T-zone. The bristles are expertly engineered to be breakage-resistant and feature non-porous fibers that make cleaning the brush easier. (Just be sure you wash it after each use to ensure pigments don’t become muddied). The soft, fluffy fibers and perfectly medium-sized brush head make it incredibly versatile, a key attribute Martin says he looks for in his brushes — add a wash of color to the eyes, buff a darker shade into the crease for some contrast, apply highlighter and contour with precision, or lay down setting powder under your eyes. The brush’s fluffiness makes it easy to pick up the right amount of product, and it makes blending a breeze. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Fluffy tapered dome | Intended Use: Powder eye shadow, powder highlighter | Vegan: Yes Best Eyeshadow Blending Brush Hourglass No. 4 Crease Brush Hourglass Cosmetics View On Sephora $39 View On Ulta $39 View On Hourglasscosmetics.com $39 What We Love The weighted handle provides extra control for easy blending. What We Don’t Love Because this is less tapered and stiffer than most blending brushes, using it might not be the easiest for novices. Hourglass brushes are luxe, thoughtfully designed, and super soft. This brush is fluffy and soft but has a rigidity to it that you don’t traditionally see in blending brushes. The unique, longer shape paired with the weighted handle and stiffer base allow for control and precision, while the fluffier top and flexible bristles create a soft blend that eschews harsh lines. The brush’s shape and length make it great for sculpting the eyes and buffing out color without creating a muddy mess. Sephora beauty director David Razzano says a great blending brush is an absolute necessity for eye makeup, and this one certainly fits the bill. That said, there is a bit of a learning curve when using it, especially if you’re a makeup beginner. But with practice, anyone can be a blending pro in no time. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Medium, straight dome | Intended Use: Eyeshadow crease | Vegan: Yes Best Eyeshadow Shading Brush Makeup By Mario E 5 Makeup Brush Makeup By Mario View On Sephora $24 View On Makeupbymario.com What We Love It’s perfect for a quick and easy sweep of all-over lid color. What We Don’t Love The white base is stylish but gets dirty very easily. If you take a one-and-done approach to eyeshadow, let us introduce you to your new best friend. The fluffier bristle shape allows us to quickly sweep a wash of color over our eyes or blend out any edges on the shadows we've laid down. Plus, the shape fits snugly into the crease of the eye and creates a beautiful accentuation of its shape. Additionally, the wide, tapered shape picks up color easily and blends out shadow like a dream. And, the custom blend of synthetic and vegan fibers makes for a super soft, fluffy head. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Wide tapered | Intended Use: All-over lid color | Vegan: Yes Best Eyeshadow Smudger Brush Charlotte Tilbury Eye Liner Brush Charlotte Tilbury View On Nordstrom $28 View On Charlottetilbury.com $28 View On Spacenk.com What We Love The precise tip allows for targeted, contained smudging. What We Don’t Love The pencil tip can tug at the eyelids. I love the look of smudged liquid eyeliner, but you need the right tools to nail the look. This brush features an incredibly small head with dense fiber bristles that perfectly lays down and buffs out shadow along the lash line. We like to dip the brush in a matte hue and run it along our lower and upper lash lines. The tiny tip allows for precise, targeted application of shadow, which can be difficult to achieve with thicker brushes. And thanks to the sturdy bristles, you can use the tip to create finer lines and graphic effects, or simply rock a soft liner look. Somehow the brush still feels light and luxurious at the same time. Just be sure to glide it lightly around the eye area, otherwise it can uncomfortably tug. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Pencil | Intended Use: Eye liner, blending on the lash line | Vegan: Yes Best Eyeliner Brush MAC 208 Synthetic Angled Brow Brush Nordstrom View On Nordstrom $24 View On Ulta $24 View On Maccosmetics.com What We Love The brush’s flat edge is perfect for stamping on a thin layer of eyeliner. What We Don’t Love The bristles are slightly longer than traditional liner brushes, which makes it more difficult to control. Upper lash liner is a dangerous game: Make one wrong move and suddenly your liner went from subtle to full-on graphic. This brush’s flat, angled head makes it easy to stamp on color and ensure a thin, consistent line from inner corner to outer wing. Plus, the sharp tip and edges make for flawless, precise wings. Thanks to the thin, flat shape, you can customize your liner width to your liking, and the stiff bristles stay taught on the eye. The brush is ideal for both gel shadow liners, too. It definitely takes some practice to get used to this brush shape compared to your average flat-edged liner brush, particularly because of the longer bristles. That being said, with some practice, you can create far thinner and precise lines. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Flat angled | Intended Use: Brows | Vegan: Yes Best Eyebrow Brush Joey Healy Duo Brow Brush Joey Healy View On Joeyhealy.com What We Love The thin liner brush picks up product easily and is great for creating a subtle wash of color on the brow. What We Don’t Love The double-sided feature makes hygienic storage difficult. This brush is a staple in our routine. While the angled liner brush is thin enough to make hair-like strokes with cream and gel formulas, we prefer to dip it in a powder and use it to fill in a light wash of color on our brow. It helps fill in any spots or gaps, and the spoolie ensures optimal distribution of color. Plus, it sweeps our brows into place without scratching the skin beneath it. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: Angled liner | Intended Use: Cream, powder, and gel eyebrow formulas | Vegan: Yes Best Set Spectrum KJH 11 Piece Edit Brush Set Spectrum Collections View On Spectrumcollections.com What We Love This set has you covered with all the essentials you need (and at an incredibly high quality to boot). What We Don’t Love The set is a pared-back version of the original 25-piece brush set, which is less than ideal for more advanced makeup connoisseurs. This set by celebrity and editorial makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is impeccable. It’s beautifully designed and is as functional as it is luxurious. The bristles are soft and fluffy and remain that way even after countless washes. The brushes are generally smaller than traditional makeup brushes and feature longer bristles that give an airy, almost watercolor-like quality to the application process and an airbrush-like effect to makeup (rather than something more full coverage-looking). The collaboration truly excels with its eye brushes, which account for eight out of the 11 included. The selection goes far beyond traditional eyeshadow brushes, though, including petite accent brushes and variously sized fine pencil-type brushes. Phillips, who works with Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Jennifer Lopez, says they’re mainstays in her own collection. Our only complaint is that the other 14 brushes from the original set are no longer available. Bristle Type: Synthetic | Shape: N/A | Intended Use: Full face | Vegan: Yes What to Keep in Mind Bristle Type: Makeup brush bristles often fall into two categories: natural (hair) and synthetic. Synthetic bristles are more common these days, and Martin much prefers them, but natural bristles do offer a softness sometimes harder to recreate with synthetic fibers. Even within the general category of synthetic bristles, brands use different processes to make them, resulting in a range of textures and softness. Razzano explains that fluffy, loose bristles apply products in soft layers, while shorter bristles apply a heavier application of color. As bristle density increases, it’s easier to buff in product. Sensitive skin types or those allergic to animal products should avoid natural hair bristles.Makeup Goals: Your own makeup skills, daily needs, goals, and budget should factor into which brushes you purchase. For example, someone who doesn’t fuss much with eyeshadow might only need a single eye brush, while those new to makeup or looking to start a collection should consider brush sets. If you’re a seasoned pro, consider investing in high-quality brushes that cost a bit more but will last a lifetime.Shape: The shape of both your face and your brush will determine how easy (or difficult) it will be to apply your products. Larger brushes tend to offer less control and precision, but smaller brushes lengthen the overall makeup application process. Your Questions, Answered How many makeup brushes do I need? “When you are first starting out you don’t need a ton of brushes to get great results,” shares Mayo. “You'll want something you can apply and buff foundation in with, a blush brush, a small powder brush, a fluffy eye brush for blending, and something precise for detail work around the eye.” Meanwhile, Razzano suggests people have around six makeup brushes total: Three to four complexion brushes (for foundation, concealer, powder, and then one for bronzer and/or blush) and at least two brushes for eyes (a flatter shadow brush and a fluffy blending brush). How do I clean makeup brushes? While there are soaps made specifically for washing brushes (more on that later), Martin says he simply uses Dawn dish detergent and a silicone makeup pad. Wet the bristles and gently massage the soap in using the mat to get rid of built-up makeup. Rinse and allow your brushes to lay flat to dry before the next use. How often should I wash my makeup brushes? You’re won't like this answer, but almost all our experts wash their brushes after every single use. At the end of the day, the better you care for your makeup brushes, the longer they’ll last and the better they’ll perform. “If you’re only using your brushes on yourself, I would say a biweekly clean is a great way to ensure your brushes are free from buildup and bacteria,” says Mayo. “Plus, a clean brush gives you a much better application.” Alternatively, Razzano suggests using a no-rinse cleanser after each use (which really does take mere seconds), followed by a deep clean two to three times a month. Why Shop With Us Danielle Cohen is a freelance beauty writer and editor with more than five years of experience reporting on the beauty industry and testing products. As a member of InStyle’s commerce team, she swatches, sprays, and samples countless beauty products. For this story, she researched and tested dozens of beauty brushes, read reviews, and consulted celebrity makeup artists Mary Phillips, Alexx Mayo, Daniel Martin, and David Razzano.