Do you know your blush brush from your concealer brush? With an eye-popping array of different makeup brushes out there it can be hard to know where to start and which brushes will be your daily essentials. From which mineral makeup brushes are best for beginners to learning how to apply foundation with a brush, our ultimate makeup brushes guide will have you skilled-up like a pro in no time.
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“The rule of thumb with makeup brushes is to start with the essentials and build from there,” explains Janeena Rumsey, Glo’s Artistry Lead.
“While there are some brushes that are multitaskers, you’ll want a few key brushes in your kit for precise placement of color. The scale of your makeup brush kit will also reflect the complexity of the makeup looks you’re wanting to achieve too. So, if you’re pretty low-key, you’ll only need a few brushes, but if you’re looking to create more elaborate looks, that’s when you’ll need to add more to your kit,” she adds.
“While it’s tempting to want to try every brush under the sun, when it comes to starting out, there are a few core makeup brushes everyone needs,” shares Janeena. “The best makeup brushes for beginners will be a powder brush, blush brush—which can also be used for bronzers, foundation brush, flat eyeshadow brush, and a crease eyeshadow brush on the fluffier side. Then you can build your makeup brush collection from there as needed.”
Each makeup brush will have a different shape and different density of fibers, for optimal delivery of the specific makeup product to the area of the face they’re designed for.
To help you learn not only the basics, but get to know all the different types of makeup brushes, we’ll take you through which makeup brush is used for what purposes and why you might want them in your kit. Let’s dive into the various makeup brushes and their uses.
“First up, one of the most common questions makeup artists get asked is; ‘How do I choose a foundation brush?’” shares Janeena. “The short answer is it depends on the type of foundation you’re using—so liquid, cream, or powder and preferred coverage level.”
“Whether pressed or loose powder foundation, you’ll need a versatile powder foundation brush that ensures even coverage and natural effect. For this, you really can’t go wrong with our 105 Flat-top Kabuki or 101 Pro Kabuki Brush. Their dense fibers make it ideal for blending medium to full coverage powder foundation, creating a soft-focus finish, plus they’re also super effective for all-over blending too.”
If you’re looking for a more sheer coverage from your pressed powder foundation like our bestselling Pressed Base, you can also try the 104 Dual Fiber Face Brush. It’s less dense than the Kabuki brushes, so offers a more gentle coverage which is buildable depending on what look you want to create.
Because of their consistency, liquid foundations are best applied with a brush that will give you plenty of blending and stippling abilities to ensure a smooth application and the depth of coverage you want. “We love the 105 Flat-top Kabuki Brush and 108 Angled Complexion Brush for this as they offer easy blending and a smooth medium to full coverage effect. They work perfectly with Luminous Liquid Foundation SPF 18 too.”
“As the texture of a cream foundation is a little more malleable than liquid or powder, many people prefer to apply this with their fingers or a Makeup Blender Sponge,” adds Janeena. “But for effortless, mess-free blending, you really can’t go wrong with the 109 Dual Foundation/Camouflage Brush or the 108 Angled Complexion Brush. They actually work well for most types of foundation, but they’re great for cream foundation as the dense fibers at the base of the brush mimic the feel and pressure of your fingers.”
For a more sheer finish cream foundation effect, use a damp Makeup Blender Sponge to apply.
“If you’re a fan of using your fingers or a sponge, don’t be intimidated by using a brush to apply your foundation,” shares Janeena. “If you’re wondering how to apply a liquid foundation with a brush—or a cream or powder, similar rules apply. Your goal is to create a seamlessly natural, airbrushed effect.”
For liquid foundation, pump a small amount on the back of your hand, then dab onto the key areas of your face using your foundation brush. Use your brush to then even out the foundation, sweeping or stippling in small circular motions. Touch-up or add more if needed to create an even glowing effect. You can always finish with a Makeup Blender Sponge for extra precision or to smooth things out further.
With cream foundation, dab the cream onto your face starting from the center outwards. Using your cream foundation makeup brush, stipple and pat in the foundation to ensure even coverage.
For powder foundation, swirl your brush into your powder, tap off any excess, then sweep and blend across your face evenly. If you’re prone to shine in your T-zone, add extra coverage on your nose or forehead.
“Fingers may be the preferred application tool for many of us on-the-go, but actually the oils from our fingers can be detrimental to the concealer’s staying power,” shares Janeena. “It’s a great idea to add a concealer brush to your kit, as it allows you to apply your concealer or camouflage in a more precise way, to areas your fingers may find awkward to blend—think corners of the eyes and nose.
We love 109 Dual Foundation/Camouflage Brush for its multitasking value. You get easy concealer precision at one end, and a bigger foundation brush at the other, so it’s a win-win for your complexion and your wallet. “Also, 304 Dual Fiber Eye Brush is one of my personal favorites for lightweight blending on delicate areas such as under eyes.”
Depending on what type of powder you’re using, a powder brush is a useful brush to have on hand. For setting powder, a soft, fluffy brush will be a game-changer as it helps to apply a gentle amount of powder for a more sheer finish. For this, try 103 Tapered Setting Powder Brush—and you can use it for your loose foundation powder too.
The best blush brush will be dome shaped with long, soft fibers that easily allow for a wash of color to be applied on the apples of your cheeks or along the cheekbones. “You can then layer up to blend and build your perfect color intensity. Try 202 Powder Blush Brush. You can also use it for powder bronzers and highlighters too.”
Whether you want to create a subtle or more statement sculpting contoured effect, choosing a contour brush that’s designed for this very purpose is essential in ensuring ease of application and easy blending. The brush size and shape should fit neatly under your cheekbone. “A true multitasker, for contouring, we love the 107 Contour/Highlighter Brush with its two brush options—the soft round end to apply, blend, and diffuse, while the tapered brush offers definition and precision.”
When it comes to eye makeup brushes, this is where things can get a little more precise, with many brushes serving very specific purposes. “To keep things simple, if you’re just looking to add buildable color, blend, and do some crease shading, the 303 Detail Blender Brush, 304 Dual Fiber Eye Brush, 305 Crease Shader Brush will be your go-tos.”
For more definition, for smokey eye effects and beyond, you may want to expand your eye makeup brush repertoire. This is where smaller and more detailed brushes come into play used to line, soften and smudge.
If you’re unsure what eye brushes you need, we’ve got all the eyeshadow application tips and tricks in our handy guide. This will help you decide the look you want to try and the brushes you’ll need.
For sculpting, filling, and defining your eyebrows, an eyebrow brush will be a helpful brush to have in your kit. “Try using a spoolie brush if you want to fluff and groom your brows, then fill with color using an angled bristle brush like our 309 Dual Brow/Liner Brush. The large brush end can be used for all-over brows, while the smaller brush creates more definition and detailing.”
“A lot of people prefer to apply their lip color straight from the bullet or crayon itself, but using a lip brush can be really helpful in creating unparalleled precision,” shares Janeena. “The tiny yet impactful lip brush gives an accuracy that’s hard to achieve from the product itself, plus it’s extra useful when you’re running low on your favorite lip color too.”
Quality really matters when it comes to your makeup brushes. That said, this doesn’t necessarily mean they should be super expensive. A good quality makeup brush will ensure easy application and blending of makeup formulas, create a natural look, and be long lasting. Look for design details and what the makeup brushes are made from to guide your decision making.
A great place to start is to check whether the makeup brushes are designed by makeup artists. All of Glo’s brushes have been expertly created by makeup artists for both professional and personal use. “That’s always a green flag as you know the quality will be pro-level and the design is meticulously crafted.”
Another detail to look for when choosing a makeup brush is that it has a sturdy ferrule (the metal part) as this will hold the bristles firmly in place and reduce shedding or splaying of bristles.
“Cruelty-free brushes are always a plus,” advises Janeena. “Vegan brush fiber is so superior these days and such great option, as natural animal hair can at times irritate sensitive skin.” All of Glo’s brushes use pro-level, vegan, synthetic fibers which are cruelty-free and super easy to clean and maintain for years.
Choosing makeup brushes can be super overwhelming, whether you’re a professional makeup artist, a makeup enthusiast, or even just a basic everyday makeup wearer. I get asked about brushes SO much, so I thought it was about time that I put my thoughts together in a blog post!
I highly suggest you bookmark this page because I guarantee you’ll be shopping for makeup one day and think to yourself, “wait, do I really need this brush?” Of course, if you want to learn more about how to use your brushes to achieve a gorgeous everyday makeup look, you can find that in my book, Be Your Own Makeup Artist. ????
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Sure, having a huge makeup collection with tons of brushes might be fun, the truth is, most of us can get by with just 2-3 brushes. Even as a professional makeup artist, I’ve had to do super quick applications for a client and I’ve pulled double duty on brushes and guess what? It works just fine!
I get it. It’s so much fun to watch makeup tutorials and see all the fun brushes people have and use, but it’s important to remember that most of the time, these people are getting these things for free from brands. They’re not spending their own money, and if they had to, I doubt they would even own half of them. You do not need 29 makeup brushes. Trust me.
Not convinced? What if I told you that many professional makeup artists, myself included, often use their (clean) fingers instead of brushes to apply makeup to themselves and their clients. There are many cases where fingertips just work better. I make a point to note these cases in my book because I really feel that if something you already own works great, you don’t need to go out and buy something new. Call me crazy, but that’s just what I practice AND preach!
So, if you don’t need dozens and dozens of brushes, which ones DO you need to have in your makeup kit?
Brushes are an essential part of your makeup kit, so knowing how to shop for the right brush is so important. With the right tools (not necessarily the most expensive ones), your makeup will look better, apply easier, and last longer.
Always invest in quality brushes. Again, you don’t need a lot of brushes; you just need the right brushes. When choosing a brush, remember that a high price point doesn’t necessarily mean high quality. Select quality items and keep in mind that if you take care of your brushes (and clean them regularly) they will last a while, so look at it as a long-term investment.
Avoid purchasing brush sets at all costs. Yes, it’s tempting to buy them; after all, they look so pretty organized nicely in that little carrying case. But here’s the harsh truth: sets normally contain a bunch of brushes that wouldn’t normally sell well on their own and I bet you won’t even reach for half of them. It’s really just such a waste of money.
Choosing the right makeup brush is not just about watching a YouTube video and buying everything they recommend. It’s also not about reading this blog post and buying every single brush I mention. When choosing your makeup and brushes, it’s important that you do your homework and decide which products work best for you… not someone else.
I want to empower you with the knowledge you need to buy the best brushes for your preferred makeup look, so here’s a little more info on some of the most popular kinds of brushes and what each of them is used for.
Keep in mind: this is not a complete list. My goal is to help you recognize the most popular brushes that you will see in the makeup brush aisle. I want you to be able to pick up the ones you need and skip the ones you don’t.
Stippling Brush: This kind of brush is perfect for buffing liquid, cream, or mousse foundation. Use small, circular strokes to blend.
Foundation Brush: Use this flat brush to apply liquid foundation by swiping back and forth until it’s all blended.
Powder Brush: This is a large, fluffy brush that’s perfect for applying powder over the top of your liquid foundation.
Setting Brush: This smaller version of the powder brush is perfect for locking in your foundation and concealer with setting powder.
Fan Brush: You will use this thin, flat brush for applying highlighter, blush, and bronzer. This is one I normally tell people they can skip. I actually use my favorite setting brush for this!
Blush Brush: This is a medium-sized blush that is great for applying and blending blush and bronzer.
Angled Cheek Brush: This slanted brush is ideal for various applications, such as blush, bronzer, and contouring.
Lip Brush: If you want to apply lipstick more precisely, you can use this small, flat brush. Most everyday makeup wearers don’t need to invest in a lip brush, in my opinion.
Eyeshadow Brush: This is a flat brush that comes in both large and small sizes, perfect for applying eyeshadow.
Crease Brush: The slight angle of this brush helps get into the crease of the eyelid. This is for more “advanced” eyeshadow applications.
Blending Brush: This small, fluffy brush is ideal for blending different shadow colors for a more natural look.
Eyeliner Brush: This angled brush makes applying gel eyeliner a breeze. If you like to use eyeshadow as an eyeliner, this is a great brush to have, too. You can even use it to fill in brows!
Eyebrow Brush: This kind of brush usually has a comb on one side and a spoolie on the other to groom brows and make them look fuller.
Beauty Sponge: This bulb-shaped sponge is good for patting and blending liquid foundation and concealer. You HAVE to wet the sponge before using it or it will soak up all your product.
Kabuki Brush: Use this short, stubby brush to apply powder foundation in small circular motions. You can use it lightly to apply blush or bronzer, too.
PS: check out this infographic from my book Be Your Own Makeup Artist and save it on Pinterest!
If you are a makeup beginner and you want to build a nice makeup kit, resist the urge to buy a makeup brush set. Instead, here is a list of brushes I believe are essential for beginners:
Once you invest in some brushes, you need to learn how to take care of them. Brushes are made to last a while, as long as you clean and store them properly.
When washing your brushes, use a mild cleanser to maintain quality. My favorite (and the most cost-effective option) is baby shampoo! It’s so gentle, but it still gets the job done. I’ve used Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo for probably 15 years. I still use that on my own brushes, but I splurge a little and use Sonia Roselli Tiger Eye Soap for my pro kit.
For makeup sponges, you will want to use something a little different. I use Beauty Blender beauty sponges, so I can only speak to that, but I double cleanse using Beauty Blender Liquid Cleanser followed by Beauty Blender Solid Pro (you can use this for brushes too, it’s just a little more pricey.)
PS: Want some quick insights about makeup brushes for beginners?! Check out this video I’ve recorded about the topic!
Psst.. If you want to know more about how to wash and sanitize your brushes and the rest of your makeup, grab a copy of my free Makeup Sanitation Guide!
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