How Many Makeup Brushes Do You *Really* Need?
Main Image – Colour Laboratory/Stocksy
Years ago, a normal makeup brush set might have consisted of a large powder brush, a flat foundation brush and an eyeshadow blender. No bells, no whistles, just three standard brushes. The rest of your makeup would have to be applied with your fingers or that tiny little sponge on a stick included in your eyeshadow palette.
Nowadays, there’s a brush for every single occasion, makeup technique, formula and face feature. There are slanted brushes, fluffy brushes, lip-lining brushes, concealer brushes, hell, there are even fake tan brushes.
So understandably, knowing where to start when buying makeup brushes can be tricky. Particularly if you have a limited budget and, er, limited space in your makeup bag. Because, if we bought every makeup brush available, we’d need a suitcase to store them all in.
Well, don’t panic because I’m here to help. As a beauty editor and makeup and skincare consultant for 18 years, I’ve dealt with my fair share of brushes. I’ve come to learn which brushes are necessary (and which ones really aren’t) and I want to share my top 5 essential brushes with you so that you know where on earth to begin.
Of course, you can always upgrade your collection as you go but for now, consider this your beauty editor-approved makeup brush starter pack.
1. Foundation brush
Whilst some people prefer to apply a liquid base with their hands, there are others who don’t like the mess (*puts hand up*). But a foundation brush isn’t just for a mess-free application. It’s also brilliant for creating an airbrushed finish and giving the user more precision as it allows them to get the product into every nook of the face.
There are a few different types of foundation brushes. The most common ones are the flat brush which enables you to almost paint on your foundation, the flat top kabuki style, which is great for speed, and then there’s the more rounded buffing brush.
The one you choose comes down to personal preference. The rounded buffing brush and flat top kabuki brush enable a more ‘slap dash’ application than the flat foundation brush which is typically used for heavier formulas.
My favourites are, Clarins Foundation Brush (£26/$29) – flat – Zoeva 104 Foundation Buffer Brush (£21.50/$26) – flat top kabuki – and Real Techniques Expert Face Makeup Brush (£9/$8.99) – rounded buffer.
I tend to save money on a concealer brush and use my rounded buffing foundation brush for my concealer, as concealer is usually a similar formula to your base. The trick here is to use your buffing brush to press the concealer in, rather than sweep it over so that those stubborn areas are properly covered.
Image – Target
2. All over brush
This is useful for products like bronzer, blusher or other face finishers like makeup setters, particularly if you use powder formulas. You can use a brush like this for cream/liquid formulas too, but these can be more easily applied with your fingers, whilst powders are best applied with a brush.
Choose one that’s medium to large in size so that it covers larger areas like your forehead and cheeks. If you use one that’s too skinny, your bronzer and blusher might end up looking streaky, and your setting powder might go on unevenly.
I love Beauty Pie Regular All-Over Face Powder Brush (£45 for non-members/£13 for members/$55 for non-members/$16 for members) as it’s just the right shape, size and softness for products like bronzer and blusher.
Image – Beauty Pie
3. Eyeshadow brush
You will never not need a medium-sized fluffy eyeshadow brush in your makeup bag. They are much easier to use and gather powder eyeshadow onto than a mini eyeshadow sponge. They can easily apply a wash of colour over your eyelid, but because it’s fluffy and flexible, you can use it to blend shadow into the creases of your eyes and outwards too.
My favourite is Morphe M433 Pro Firm Blending Fluff Brush (£6.40/$9) as it’s just small enough for my creases but can sweep over my lids generously too.
Image – Ulta Beauty
4. Stubby eye smudger brush
So now you’ve got your eyeshadow brush sorted. But you’ll need a smaller, stubbier one for smudging colour along your top and bottom lash lines if you like a smokey eye. A brush like this is great for creating a smoky winged-out look too.
You could use your fingers for smudging, however a brush keeps the look neater and more precise. My favourite is Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush (£26/$36) which doubles up as a liner brush – two for the price of one!
Image – Charlotte Tilbury
5. Brow brush
This may seem a bit extravagant when you first think about it but hear me out. A brow brush does more than give your brow hairs a smooth over. Brushing them upwards gives them shape and helps them to look thicker, plus it tames stray hairs and creates a template for when you apply your brow colour.
Frequent brow grooming also helps to keep them in good condition too. Healthy brow hairs = maintained thickness and shape.
I like to double up on my brow products and get my money’s worth, so I use Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Precision Pencil (£19/$19) which has a brush on one end and my perfect brow colour and formula on the other.
Image – Rare Beauty
The takeaway
These are the five types of brushes that I think are essential for your starter kit. You can save money on things like concealer brushes, highlighter brushes and lip brushes. Your fingers or the product applicator itself, particularly if it’s a lip colour, can do just as good a job as any brush.
Always ensure you clean your brushes regularly to keep on top of hygiene – they’re going on your skin after all – and keep them in a dry, cool place, preferably in a pot or separate drawer so that the bristles don’t get squashed, damaged and misshaped.
Get Glowing!
