FAVORITES: Makeup brushes you need in your makeup bag

When it comes to makeup, you can have the highest quality products but if you don’t have good brushes for application, you will run into streaks, uneven tones and splotchy pigments.

Like makeup, there are a ton of brands out there that create quality brushes. Over the years, I’ve used brushes from MAC, Sephora, Elf, Sigma and etc. I had many brushes that I swore by over the years depending on the type of look I was comfortable with.

Below are my current tried and true brushes (hence their dirty state, they don’t stay clean for long).

FACE

When it comes to your face, I highly recommend having a sponge and a brush for applying your foundation. This gives you a variety of application techniques and coverage options with one foundation. In addition to your base, you need a brush for concealer, bronzer and blush. I used to use the same brush for blush and bronzer and it used to work for me but I have found a holy grail brush for my bronzer that does the job better.

Foundation

My favorite foundation brush is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This is a dense, buffing brush which makes it perfect for fuller coverage application. I have used this with CC creams, tinted moisturizers and my new holy grail Ilia Foundation and it works amazing with all of them. It doesn’t become streaky and blends the product into the skin flawlessly. In conjunction to this brush, I also use the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This can be used dry or wet but I prefer to wet it under water, wring it out and apply my foundation. I used to use this to apply my whole base but now I use it to blend heavier coverage foundation and soften any lines that may come up. You guys, the beauty blender is amazing and all (I’ve gone through countless pretty pink sponges) but this does the same job the same way and is half the price! Given that sponges are something you can’t keep forever like a brush, I highly recommend this for your wallet.

Concealer

For my concealer, I go back and forth between the sponge mentioned earlier and the IT Cosmetics Love Beauty Fully Blending Concealer Brush #203. This is great for concealing blemishes as it has a tapered edge that airbrushes the makeup on.

Blush

I am very heavy-handed with my blush application which is why I love the next brush so much. The Beautycounter Angled Blush Brush picks up just the right amount of product so that you don’t look like a clown. Made with talon bristles, this brush is also animal-hair free.

Bronzer

Another Beautycounter favorite that can be used for bronzer and highlight is the Fan Powder Brush. This thing is so big that it takes me two seconds to do my contour! The shape provides precise application of bronzer which is very important for contouring.

Setting

To set my undereyes and anywhere that needs powdering (nose, forehead and chin) I use the Real Techniques Setting Brush. I used to use a giant powder brush to set my whole face but I realized that I don’t need setting powder all over my face. The small size of this allows me to set my undereye concealer to minimize creasing as well as apply enough powder on places that can get shiny.

Eyes

The next set is all dedicated to eye brushes. I don’t use any lip brushes in my daily routines.

For all-over wash of color, I choose to use the Beautycounter All-Over Eye Brush. The dome-shape is perfect for applying precise color on your eyelid and this carries on the pigment very well. I never have any fall-out when using this brush with glitters and shimmery eyeshadows either.

Moving onto the crease, this is a very delicate space for me and I need the right tools for the job. You see, my crease area is very little and I need something with a precise tip and another to blend things away. My two favorites are both from Morphe. Morphe creates amazingly affordable brushes that is loved by many YouTubers and Makeup artists. The Morphe M433 Firm Blending Fluff Brush is fantastic at blending out and diffusing color in the crease - this is a must for any smokey look! The tapered edge also very helpful for placing color in the crease or even the outer V. The next brush is one that I use to deepen the crease. The M330 Blending Crease Brush has a pointy tip which allows me to pack on the color for the crease and then I can use the brush to blend it up and out if needed. Next up is the last brush in my must-haves and this is a brush that is tiny but does an amazing job with smoothing out harsh eyeliner. Gone are the days of having you eyeliner be precise and perfect (unless it is liquid, then work that flick). I use the M213 Smudger Brush on days that I use a pencil liner to diffuse the color with a shadow to make it seamlessly blend so that I don’t have a harsh eyeliner line.