We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Talking all things make-up brush, below, Dominic Skinner, global senior artist at MAC, shares everything from how to look after your make-up brushes to which kind of brush works best for each area.
Read more: The Best Foundations For Every Skin Type
How do I choose a make-up brush?
“Firstly, consider the shape – is the shape suitable for what you will be using it for? Does it fit the area of the face you are making up? Too big and you might not get the precise control you need. Too small, however, and you could be painting your face for hours.
“Then there is density. A densely packed brush will give you more opacity with your product, which for foundation might be exactly what you want, but for blush may be too much. On the flip side, a sparsely packed brush will give you a softer, more blended finish, which is perfect for blending out eyeshadow and concealer, but you may not get the fullness of coverage that you want from a lipstick.
“Lastly, I would say balance is also important. The handle should be well-balanced so it feels comfortable in your hand. If the head is heavy, that can prevent you from feeling in control of the brush. There is a lot to think about when choosing the right brush, but that’s why there is so much variety on offer.”
- Best make-up brush set for a tidy vanity: Profusion Brushes Magnetix Set, £12
- Best make-up brush for precise powdering: Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush, £35
- Best eye make-up brushes: Morphe X Ariel Signature Eyes 8 Piece Brush Set, £48
- Best make-up brush for fake tan and body shimmer: Fenty Beauty Face & Body Kabuki Brush, £26
- Best make-up brush for on-the-go touch-ups: Dior Retractable Kabuki Brush, £40
- Best make-up brush cleaner: Isoclean Spray Top Makeup Brush Cleaner, £17
Are expensive make-up brushes worth it?
“When it comes to make-up brushes, the old saying, ‘you get what you pay for’, applies. That’s not to say that the more you spend the better, but most of the time the cost reflects the time it took with design to get the shape, density and balance of the handle just right. However, I don’t always recommend going straight into the expensive end of the make-up brush swimming pool. Sometimes it’s worth starting at a more reasonable price to see if you use it. Then as you find you use certain brushes more often, you can invest in better quality. This way you know you’ll be buying something you will definitely get the most out of.”
How long should you use make-up brushes for?
“Good quality make-up brushes will last you a lifetime if you look after them well. I have make-up brushes that are 15 or 16 years old and still just as good today as when I first got them. If you look after them, they will look after you.”
What’s the best way to clean make-up brushes?
“Your make-up brushes do one hell of a job, so investing in an actual brush cleanser is advised. You would never use hand soap on your own hair, so why treat your make-up brushes any differently? A weekly clean is more than enough if you’re using the same sort of colours throughout the week – but a mid-week check-in can also be beneficial.
“If you’ve used a brush with just powder, dip the hair into some warm water and then dip it into some brush cleaner. Follow this by sweeping the hair gently in the palm of your hand in circular motions. This will make the cleanser foam up and then once you rinse the foam away, the make-up will rinse away also. Finally run the brush between your thumb and forefinger to remove any excess water and leave to dry on its side. The following morning it will be dry and ready to use.
“If you’ve used any liquid-based products like foundation, concealer or lipstick, you need to ‘dry wash’ them first. So instead of wetting the brush first, dip the brush straight into the brush cleanser and work the cleanser through the brush fibres before rinsing. You may need to do this a few times before rinsing, as some long-wearing products can be tricky to remove.
“For some really stubborn residues, work a little washing-up liquid into the dry brush fibres before anything else, as this can help break down any oils or silicone before working into the brush cleanser. After, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry on its side as before.”
What are the most important brushes to have?
“The best foundation brush has to be the Mac 159S Brush. It is the perfect middle-of-the-road brush. It is short but with movement, dense with some sparsity, and flat with some roundness. It allows you to increase the coverage where you need it, and also buff foundation away to create sheerer coverage where you want your skin to come through. It really does work for everyone,” says Skinner.
If you’re applying a light concealer, Skinner says, “an eyeshadow blending brush is perfect, as it will blend out the edges and will look seamless”. If you’re going heavier with it under the eyes, “look to a super dense brush to give you superior coverage.” For this, we recommend the Dior Backstage Large Eyeshadow Blending Brush.
“Most people get their powder brush selection wrong,” says Skinner. “A big brush may seem like the obvious tool to use, but this won’t help you control the amount of powder or the placement of this power. It’ll look too much, too dry and you may end up looking dusty. A large eyeshadow blending brush allows you to powder the areas you want without losing your skin’s natural radiance. Use it to work powder from the inner corner of the eye and under, down the sides of the nose and the nose tip and along the jawline. You’ll be left with powder-matte skin that still looks alive and glowing where you want it. I call this strategic powdering!” The cruelty-free The Body Shop Eyeshadow Blending Brush allows for easy and flawless powder application.
“Blusher is another brush type where people tend to go too big. Smaller is better in most cases, as this allows for more control of the finished look.” The tapered and fluffy head of the Mac 133S Brush works well for blushes of any finish.
“With bronzer, people tend to just use their powder or blusher brush, which is ok, but what if you want your bronzer to shape as well as add warmth? My tip is to use a brush that is slightly more flat instead of round. This way you can use the edge to cut high into your cheekbone, and then use the width to blend out. This will also work along hairlines and jawbones,” advises Skinner. A brush that can shape and blend? Try the Nars ITA Brush.
Read more: Best Blush Products
“Highlighter can be confusing at the best of times. If your brush is too large you can look robotic; if it’s too small then you can look like a piece of strip lighting,” shares Skinner. The tapered natural fibres on Anastasia Beverly Hills’ A23 brush allow for a gentle blend of all your best glimmers.
Multipurpose brushes are an underrated make-up essential: they save clutter, are great for travelling and can do it all. The ultimate one-and-done tool, Saie’s brush boasts luxuriously soft and well-tapered bristles – perfect for diffusing creams and powders onto the skin for a seamless, natural finish.
How do I know if my make-up brushes are good quality?
“The first thing you need to understand is that good quality doesn’t necessarily mean expensive,” says Skinner. “Also, what works for one person doesn’t particularly mean they will work for you.” However, what Skinner does suggest is that you should look for a balance between firmness and softness. If a brush is not firm enough you won’t have control over the application. If it’s too soft, the product won’t transfer onto the eye, but if it’s too rough it will feel uncomfortable. “What you’re looking for is the Goldilocks of brushes, something just right,” he says. “So it’s important to get your hands on them and try them out.”
Below, find Vogue’s edit of the best make-up brushes for every area of your face, and just what it is that sets them apart from the rest.
If your bathroom counter looks like a bombsite once you’re done getting ready, it’s time you considered a set that can bring back some law and order. Enter Profusion’s Magnetix collection, which houses four face and eye brushes in a chic magnetic holder that keeps your surfaces mess-free. With a quality construction that belies their modest price tag, you’ll love this set of brushes for years to come.
£12 £10.95, at amazon.co.uk
Having a tapered edge and bristles that flex, this brush finely feathers liquids and creams, and can also be called on to apply powder highlighters for a natural finish. It’s lightweight too, making it comfortable to use and an easy one to pack for all your summer trips.
£24.99, at sephora.co.uk
Purse-sized and perfectly primed for short weekends away, this set from Charlotte Tilbury keeps all the essentials in one place. From applying your foundation to powders and eyeshadows, you’ll find a make-up brush for every possible purpose in this plush velvet pouch.
£40, at charlottetilbury.com & farfetch.com
Best for bronzers and finishing powders, this brush has dense natural fibres and a circular shape, so it’ll pick up plenty of product and diffuse it well without any streaks or patches. Plus, it comes in a chic cylinder that’s easily stashed in your handbag, with a hygiene case for quick and tidy touch-ups when you’re on the go.
£40, at dior.com
Consider this your upgrade to the fan highlighter brush, which has its virtues but too often leaves a tell-tale stripe of shimmer. Perfect for even the make-up novice, its sinuous shape hugs the cheek contour, giving you a seamless blend across all your high points.
£32, at harveynichols.com & selfridges.com
Precise powder placement is essential for those that like to bake, and it doesn’t get much more precise than Trigwell’s viral powder puff. Whether you use it to set your under-eye concealer or reverse contour your cheekbones, the triangular shape will keep your angles defined for a sculpted, lifted look. Thanks to its flat surface, it also applies powder in smooth, even layers, giving you a totally flawless base.
£15, at beautybay.com
For body oils, shimmers and fake tan, there’s no better choice than this brush from Fenty Beauty. Its wide, angled top perfectly slopes over the shoulders and decolletage, with soft synthetic bristles that absorb minimal product to get you the most out of your products. Plus there’s the gorgeous functionality of its dome-shaped handle, which gives you a firm and comfortable grip.
You can’t beat a beauty blender for a seamless, streak-free base. Beautifect sees the sponge squashed in the depths of your make-up bag, and raises you a blender with its own protective pod. Designed to absorb minimal product, it boasts a firm, flat edge for contouring plus a precision concealer tip. Dampen it with water, then use it to bounce products onto the skin for an undetectable blend.
£12.95, at sephora.co.uk & beautifect.com
Applying eyeshadow is one of the trickier make-up skills to master, but if you could trust anyone to design the best tools for the job, it’s Ariel Tejada. The artist behind Kylie Jenner’s sultry eye looks has created a brush set that brings his signature style within reach: think super fine liner brushes, fluffy blenders and precision tips for deft placement of pigments. From filling in eyebrows to blending concealer and finessing gradients from your eyeshadows, consider this set an essential for elevated eye looks.
£48, at boots.com
Thinking of adding a wash of colour to your eye? Invest in a larger brush from Suqqu. Using the very best Japanese craftsmanship, its soft fibres allow for expert blending.
£40, at selfridges.com.
Trish McEvoy’s career arguably began thanks to brushes, when the art-store paintbrushes she herself cut into shape for make-up developed a cult following. Her eponymous range makes make-up application easy – the Perfect Foundation 76 Brush is great for stippling on foundation.
£38, at harveynichols.com & selfridges.com
Charlotte Tilbury’s Complexion Brush offers a large, flat-top head which makes it ideal for buffing foundation onto the skin, for the ultimate flawless finish. Best of all, its been handcrafted by master brush makers in Europe with faceted handles to prevent them from rolling off of your dressing table.
£45 at cultbeauty.co,uk & charlottetilbury.com
If you’re tired of your brushes absorbing copious amounts of product, you’ll love Shiseido’s offering. Handcrafted by a team of artisans in Japan, this ergonomic tool boasts a uniquely tapered round head which makes it perfect for contouring while its densely packed fibres are great for blending.
£52, at shiseido.co.uk & boots.com
A lovely, fluffy buffing brush, this tool makes applying a sweep of bronzer over the face a quick and comforting affair. The short handle means it fits in even the smallest of bags, and the soft bristles make applying make-up a total joy.
£36.50, at sephora.co.uk & lookfantastic.com
All of Bobbi Brown’s brushes are, quite frankly, excellent, but the Blush Brush is among the best, thanks to its ultra-soft bristles and tapered round head, for the perfect flush of colour. A classic.
£39, at lookfantastic.com & bobbibrown.co.uk
Two brushes in one – thanks to its clever, double-ended packaging – Huda Beauty’s Bake & Blend Brush allows you to dust on blush or bronzer with one end, and buff it in with the other, for make-up that lasts all day.
£24, at sephora.co.uk
Mac’s extensive brush collection is second to none with a plethora of options for every beauty technique. The 195 Concealer Brush is great for applying concealer or emollient products, giving a precise and expert finish to every look.
£16.50, at lookfantastic.com & selfridges.com
Tired of under-eye concealer creases? Look no further than the Morphe M536 Under Eye Bullet Brush. Designed to blend and bake concealer as well as powder in the hard-to-reach under eye area, this brush will smoothen, giving an airbrushed finish.
£10, at sephora.co.uk & lookfantastic.com
Leave it to Rihanna to create the make-up brush to end all make-up brushes: the Cheek-Hugging Bronzer Brush 190. Boasting ultra-soft synthetic bristles in an asymmetrical shark-tooth-inspired cut, this exceptional bronzer brush hugs your curves, from cheeks to jaw, mimicking the effects of natural tanning.
£25, at boots.com & harveynichols.com
Get you a brush that can do both with Makeup By Mario’s EF 1 Brush. With fluffy fibres for blending, setting and diffusing down one end, and soft flat tapered fibres at the other, perfect for targeted application cream and powder formulas, this trusty tool covers all bases.
£26, at sephora.co.uk
Perfect for shaping the most sparse or thick brows, the dual-ended Anastasia Beverly Hills Angled Brush #7 is the ultimate make-up bag essential. The angled brush on the other end can be used to fill in brows, conceal any exposed hairs and define arches.
£18, at beautybay.com & spacenk.com