12 Best Makeup Brushes for a Flawless Look

RD.COM Beauty & Fashion Makeup

We spoke with makeup artists to suss out the best makeup brushes for every look.

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Via Nordstrom.com, Via Sephora.com (2)

Makeup is an integral part of many people’s beauty routines, but if you’re solely using your fingers to do the job, you’re probably not getting the most out of your products. Time and again, makeup artists cite high-quality brushes as one of the most important parts of any beauty toolkit. In fact, the best makeup brushes can help your products go on smoothly and last until you’re ready to break out the makeup remover.

“Brushes are so important when doing your makeup. You don’t need a ton, but you do need a few good-quality brushes,” says celebrity makeup artist Tarryn Feldman. “Brushes are made to be washed over and over, and if a brush isn’t made well, it won’t last long. Good-quality brushes also help with application of makeup and how well your makeup looks.”

So what makes a good brush, well, good? The best makeup brushes aren’t necessarily the most expensive—although, yes, some are definitely pricey. Still, you can get great drugstore beauty products. What really sets great brushes apart are their bristles, which are specially designed to work with a specific type of makeup, maximizing their prettifying powers to leave you with a flawless face. And whether you’re applying concealer, foundation, or even mascara, a specially designed brush will lead to a dramatically better result.

We spoke with makeup artists to get the lowdown on their favorite tools. So grab your favorite makeup—we love these Black-owned beauty products—and get ready to do some shopping. Add makeup brush cleaners before you check out, and you’ll be good to go.

Via Amazon.com

Best for: Versatility

If you don’t have the patience to switch makeup brushes with each new product you use, you’re in luck. This versatile tool blends cream, liquid, and powder makeup, which means you can use it for all of your faves: foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, and more. “It offers a finish that makes your skin look like you just walked out of a professional makeup studio,” says celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Brittany Gharring. Should you invest in this product, be sure you know how to clean your makeup brushes. There’s a good reason you should clean your beauty tools: Doing so prevents bacteria buildup.

Via Nordstrom.com

Chanel Les Pinceaux de Chanel Retractable Foundation Brush No. 103

Best for: Creams and gels

“This foundation brush is the perfect tool to apply cream or gel foundation textures,” says Gharring, praising its ergonomic shape and ability to deliver quick and easy application. “It’s fabulous for cream blush, lightening a heavy-handed application, or to blend out under-eye concealer in one fell swoop. This retractable brush also fits in the palm of your hand and comes with a lid to keep everything else in your makeup bag sparkling clean, which we all know is a huge bonus.”