The best makeup brushes for every part of a makeup routine

Makeup brushes are essential for doing makeup and it is important to use the correct one for getting the perfect finish. It can be hard to pick out a brush that will work for each part of our makeup routines.

Here are our picks for the best makeup brushes for every makeup step…

Click on any product name to view or buy!

BEST FOUNDATION BRUSH

ZOEVA Silk Finish Brush, £12.99

This soft but dense brush is the perfect foundation brush, with a special shaped brush head it leaves a streak-free finish. It is a dual-purpose liquid and powder brush making it the best foundation brush. The design of the bristles allows you to blend and buff like a pro leading to a flawless foundation finish. It is also vegan friendly with pure synthetic hair!

BEST LIQUID FOUNDATION BRUSH

Cover FX Liquid Foundation Brush, £32

With a flat head, this brush buffs cream or liquid bases into the skin for the best finish. It provides maximum product deposit to ensure an ideal coverage and less product waste. It is flat but dense with rounded hairs to give high performance, it is designed for effortless application and seamless blending. The brush allows you to give you the control you need to build coverage and to create a second skin look. It is completely cruelty-free and 100% vegan.

BEST STIPPLING BRUSH

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, £10

Real Techniques designed a refresh of the expert face brush and it now has sleek pink packaging.  This firm foundation brush can be used when stippling on liquids and creams on all skins. It creates a flawless finish which is no streaky – also budget friendly.

BEST BUFFING BRUSH

Morphe Pro Deluxe Buffer Brush, £16

Featuring a dense, domed head this brush is the most popular for buffing foundation. It perfectly distributes foundation creams, liquids and powders for a non-cakey effect. It can help sheer out foundations and the handle allows you to have control.

BEST CONCEALER BRUSH

MAC 195 Concealer Brush, £18.90

This flexible synthetic fibre flat brush with a slight pointed tip helps with precision application and blending of all concealer formulas.  It is the ideal product to tap concealer in for maximum coverage or to tackle scars. It is also ideal for carving out the eyebrows with concealer.

BEST POWDER BRUSH

ZOEVA powder brush, £12.99

This brush has a feather-like bristles which allow you to apply powder smoothly and evenly.  It can be used for any powder product and will give you the ultimate seamless finish.

BEST HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH

Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush, £35

The powder and sculpt brush allows you to highlight your cheekbones, nose and cupid’s bow effortlessly. It is lightweight and is able to move to fit on the face like you wish. It is the perfect brush for precision and getting the right amount of product for a professional finish.

BEST KABUKI BRUSH 

Daniel Sandler Kabeauti Brush, £27.95

This kabuki brush is designed brush enables instant easy application to achieve powder perfection. It is a big brush which avoids under and over blending of powder. It is suitable for bronzer, powder and blusher.

BEST BLUSHER BRUSH

Bobbi Brown Blush Brush, £33.30

This round brush head and soft bristles makes applying blusher easier than ever, it also makes it look more natural. The brush is shaped to apply the perfect amount of blusher onto the cheeks and fits the cheek area perfectly. It is easy for you to control the product when on this brush making sure it is going where you need it.

BEST BRONZER BRUSH

Benefit Hoola Brush, £21

To achieve a flawless bronzer finish use this brush. It features super soft bristles and a special dome-shaped head to apply products seamlessly onto the skin. It sculpts to your natural contours to make bronzer application natural. It picks up the right amount of product which will create a perfect bronze.

BEST CONTOUR BRUSH

Laura Mercier Glow Powder Brush, £29

This contour brush has a curved brush head to fit the cheekbones and contour areas perfectly. When applying the contour with this brush it will make it easier and quicker to do it. It requires little effort to create the look you would like.

BEST FAN BRUSH

Smashbox Fan Brush, £20

Fan brushes have multiple uses, they can be used for highlighter, cleaning up fall out or appling a product delicately. This fan brush is best for sweeping on powders for a radiant finish. It has a flat, fanned-out brush head created with high-tech fibres that provide the best control.

BEST EYESHADOW BRUSH

Body Shop Eyeshadow brush, £9

To achieve a perfect eyeshadow eyelid shade use this brush! Unlike many flat eyeshadow brushes, this brush is soft and tapered to apply cream and powder shadows for precise results. Best of all it is cruelty-free.

BEST ANGLED BRUSH

Liz Earle Brow & Eyeliner Brush, £14

To create a precise and sharp eyebrow look or perfect eyeliner this is the brush for you. The duo brush has a spoolie and the eyebrow brush to fill in plus shape eyebrows. It helps you to achieve a professional result by being 100% man-made fibres and is cruelty-free.  This also amazing for eyeliner as the super dense brush allows you to get a perfect eyeliner look without a mistake.

BEST SMUDGE BRUSH

Laura Mercier Smudge Brush, £23

This makes the perfect smudge brush with a rounded tip, it is perfect for powder application and eyeliner blending. This brush is small but can make an impact on eyeshadow looks. It is made from synthetic fibres that work well with products to achieve easy blending.

BEST LIP BRUSH

No7 Lip brush, £10

This lip brush is perfect for precision of a lipstick, this small brush will ensure lip product does where it needs to be. You can even use it to line your lips and fill them in.

 

BEST EYEBROW BRUSH

Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brush, £18

For natural or super shaped brows this is a perfect brush. If you are a lover of brow pomade, wax or powder this is for you! This double end brush has a spoolie and a angled brush to create the perfect brow. Use the brush to shape, fill or create brow strokes and use the spoolie to control them eyebrow hairs or blend the eyebrow product.

BEST UNDER-EYE BRUSH

Spectrum B03 brush, £4.99

This small buffer brush is the best way to create a flawless coverage over dark circles and blemishes. The flat top and super soft bristles means it is the best brush to apply and blend cream concealer in with.

BEST STARTER KIT

KISSBOBO makeup brushes, £10.99

This soft and fluffy vegan brush set is the perfect starter kit. This set contains seven synthetic brushes with a bargain price of £10.99. It has every brush you need to start makeup with.