Best Makeup Brushes This Year

What it looks like: This brush has a rounded tip with softly tapered bristles. You can pinch them flat for precise application.

Use it for applying foundation or highlights smoothly, blending without streaks.Apply foundation (use a brush, not your fingers) or highlights smoothly. Blend without streaks.

Use a brush for liquid or cream foundation instead of fingers or wedge sponges. Let the brush blend. Start in high-coverage areas, then brush down for a natural, smooth finish.

The best brush: The Sigma Beauty F60 Foundation BrushThis brush uses densely packed synthetic fibers. It holds up to heavy use, cleans easily, and does not absorb product or stain.

Get it on Amazon for $15

What it looks like: This is a narrow, flat brush with a rounded edge.

Use it for dabbing and dotting concealer exactly where you need it.Dab and dot concealer exactly where needed.

The hard edge and narrow, curved tip of this concealer brush give precise application for blemishes. This brush applies concealer more precisely and realistically than a finger or your usual applicator. Dab the tip with a little concealer, then gently pat or tap it onto the spot needing coverage, blending the edges when done.

The best brush: The Concealer Brush By Beau Gachis CosmeticsThis brush was a favorite in a recent Ipsy bag. Its very thin, tapered tip ensures accurate, smooth application.

Get it on Amazon for $15

What it looks like: It has a squishy, teardrop shape in a bright color.

Use it for an airbrushed finish or applying foundation if you skip a brush. It works with liquid or powder.Achieve an airbrushed finish. Use it to apply foundation if you don't want a brush. It works with liquid or powder.

Forget those wedge sponges. Though some prefer a brush, a beauty sponge works well. Dampen it, then mostly dry it. A beauty sponge applies and blends liquid, cream, or powder product. Its stamping and stippling motion gives an airbrushed look. Its dampness offers better coverage control for a natural finish. Test it on your hand before using it on your face.

The best brush: The teardrop shape of the beautyblender OriginalMost people use the Original. If you are unsure, try a shape set like the Miss Gorgeous Makeup Sponge Set See what works best for you.

Get Miss Gorgeous Makeup Sponge Set on Amazon for $8
Get the beautyblender Original on Amazon for about $20

What it looks like: This is a typical makeup brush with a large, rounded puff of bristles.

Use it for dusting and blending powder products across your face gently and evenly.Dust and blend powder products across your face gently and evenly.

People picture a powder brush for makeup. Its thick, soft bristles work well for loose and pressed powders. Dip or brush powder on, tap off excess, and gently swirl across your face, starting in the middle.

This is the best brush.TheReal Techniques 201 Powder Brush.Its plush, large shape makes dusting powder products ideal.

Buy it on Amazon for about$8

Looks like:It is an even fuller, softer powder brush.

It works for:It applies loose powder or shimmer.

Like the blush brush, its dense fibers flare into rounded softness. These fibers apply powder, especially finishing powder or shimmer on large areas. Dip the brush into the powder and dust evenly across your face. Do not press too hard, or the makeup underneath will get messed up.

This is the best brush.TheToo Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush.This brush is purse-safe. The retractable design lets you control the brush's fullness and fluffiness by changing the bristle length, giving you more control.

Get it on Amazon for about$27

Looks like:It has a hoof shape with a mostly flat end, similar to a paint stenciling brush.

It works for:It applies liquid products, such as cream blush, primer, and foundation, smoothly for an airbrushed look.

Called a "flat top kabuki brush," the stippling brush shape hides its mix of short and long fibers. Short fibers push product onto your face with a soft tap. Longer fibers create a perfect finish when you softly press and swirl. Think of this motion like buffing. Put product on the back of your hand first, then dip the brush into it instead of the tube or compact, to keep the application even.

This is the best brush.TheLamora Flat Top Kabuki.This brush has dense, silky bristles and easy use. Over ten thousand Amazon reviews and a nearly five-star rating back this up.

Get it on Amazon for$10

Looks like:It looks like a curved brush used to scrub your back.

It works for:It blends and blurs foundation and contour for a perfect finish.

This brush suits users who prefer brushes over the average makeup user. It gives a stippling brush's airbrush effect but with a wider head. Use sweeping or circular motions; the super-soft bristles smoothly blend and buff liquids, creams, and powders. Different sizes work well for different faces or different areas of the face.

This is the best brush. Yoseng Oval Foundation Brushes.These brushes look luxe. Their densely packed bristles evenly apply powder, cream, and liquid foundation.

Get a set on Amazon for$14

Looks like:This soft angled paintbrush has a small curve to the angle.

Good for:Apply and blend contour color evenly.

The angled tip lets you place contour where you want it, following your face's natural curves. Blunt bristles give a sharp edge; a softer, tapered slant creates a subtle contour. If using powder contour, tap off any excess before applying.

Best brush:The Contour BrushLamora Contour Brush SetThis set offers several standard contouring brush shapes. Try them out to see which fits you or if you need all of them.

Get a set on Amazon for$15

What it looks like: It looks like the usual powder brush style, but it has a stubbier tip. Some call this a bronzer brush.

Good for:Apply blush with more control than a powder brush.

The bristles' shorter length means this brush is not as fluffy as a powder brush, giving you more control over blush. Dip the brush in the product, then tap off the excess before using it. Use light sweeps and build the color slowly, especially with blush.

Best brush:TheBella and Bear Blush BrushIt has a slight taper like a contour brush, making it precise. This is a good choice for people who like multi-function brushes.

Get it on Amazon for$10

What it looks like: It sounds like a soft fan.

Good for:Sweep away mistakes, buff on bronzer or highlighter, and diffuse color.

The thin fan of bristles makes this brush great for sweeping. Need to clean up eyeshadow fallout? Sweep it across. Want shimmer on your cheekbones? Sweep a fan brush across and let the sweeps and pressure decide the shimmer level. Sweep away extra blush.

Best brush:TheDocolor Professional Fan BrushThis fan is thick and pretty. It loads up easily for application.

Get it on Amazon for$7

What it looks like: A dainty rounded brush with a touch of taper.

Good for:Get the most color and opacity from your eyeshadow.

If you spritz with setting spray first, the dense bristles of an eyeshadow shader brush pick up much product in a sweep. It applies it evenly with opacity. After coloring, gently pat or press to set the pigment, then brush around the edges to blend.

Best brush:TheSigma Beauty E55 Shading BrushIt has densely packed bristles that pick up and apply lots of pigment evenly.

Get it on Amazon for$16

What it looks like: A baby contour brush, featuring the same soft angled tip.

Good for:Eyeshadow for smudging and contouring.

The angled edge of the contour brush lets you follow facial curves while applying and blending product. You need precision when putting strong pigment on a small spot. This brush's small angle lets you easily reach your crease, nose, or other tough spots.

Best brush:TheBeauty Junkees Angled Eyeshadow BrushThis brush is a smaller version of their popular kabuki brush. It gives you the same smooth application in a smaller size.

Get it on Amazon for$8

What it looks like:It is an elongated powder brush, but much tinier.

What it's good for:Blends eyeshadow.

After you put color on your eyelid, buffing and dusting with a blender brush makes a flawless finish. This tool also creates the ideal smokey eye and helps you achieve a natural look. Like a small airbrush, the eyeshadow blender brush smooths edges and transitions for perfection.

Best brush:TheNYX Pro Blending BrushThis brush has the right amount of fluff and length to blend your shadow perfectly.

Get it on Amazon for$10

What it looks like:A teeny little angled brush with a hard edge.

What it's good for:Applies powder or cream eyeliner with precision.

If you use liquid or pencil liner already, this brush might not interest you. But, if you struggle to apply eyeliner evenly, the eyeliner brush can help. Some people find a brush easier than a pencil or wand, especially with the angled tip. Practice makes perfect for eyeliner. If things go wrong, this brush also works well for a classic smudgy grunge look.

Best brush:Theda Vinci Cosmetics Series 4374 Classic Eyeliner BrushThis brush has a long, narrow tip and a sharper angle than other eyeliner brushes. This gives it extra sharpness and precision.

Get it on Amazon for$12

What it looks like:A double-ended tool. One end has a mascara wand spoolie or comb; the other has a stubby angled brush.

What it's good for:Tames and styles your brows.

Brushing or combing your eyebrows may feel odd, but it starts the process of filling them in right. Use the comb or spoolie to set the hairs. Then, the brush side fills in any gaps with your favorite brow product.

Best brush:TheAnastasia Beverly Hills 7B Angled Flat BrushThis brush balances an angled brush with a slight curve—better for fitting your brow bone—and a shorter spoolie for better control.

Get it on Amazon for$18

What it looks like:Flat like a concealer brush, featuring either a softly rounded tip or a square tip.

What it's good for:Applies lipstick like a pro.

Professionals use a brush to put on lipstick. This method adds color precisely. A square-tipped brush lets you apply lipstick to thin mouth corners. This avoids getting color on your face. Load the brush with color. Apply to your lips, following your shape like coloring in a book.

This is the best brush.TheRevlon Covered Lip BrushThis brush is longer than others. It offers flexibility. This helps you follow your lips' curves cleanly.

Get it on Amazon for$10

What it looks like: This is the daintiest paintbrush. It has a tiny rounded edge or a pointed tip.

This brush works well forThis ups your lip game. Skip the lip liner pencil. Define your lips with artistic flair.

This brush is not for everyone. Most people use the larger, flatter lip brush fine. But, if you feel inspired, this dainty brush is best. It applies liner to define your lip shape. Because it is a brush, you can draw your lips' line with the exact lipstick you use to fill them in. If you dare, it lets you use any lip color you have. You avoid pencil limits.

This is the best brush.TheZoreya Retractable Lip BrushThis brush has a perfect tip for clean outlining. You can also use it to fill in your lips, cutting down on brushes in your bag.

Get it on Amazon for$7