One of the questions I get asked the most when it comes to my makeup tutorials is “what makeup brushes do you use?”. I have been working in the beauty business in some form for nearly 25 years, so I have amassed quite a few makeup brushes and use a variety of ones. There are a handful of brushes that I always go back to and buy multiples of in order to have a back up in case one is dirty. I’m pretty simple in my makeup application techniques so I gravitate towards brushes that are easy to use and easy to clean.
I’ve recently had to get rid of some of my long time favorite makeup brushes because they were too dense and stiff to ever get completely clean. I initially wrote this post a few years ago and have since added/removed a few brushes from my everyday routine so I thought I would update it with all my current favorite makeup brushes.
Why Should You Use Makeup Brushes?
I started getting in to makeup in my late teens/early twenties but never saw the need to use makeup brushes…….until I tried the right ones. I invested in a brush set in my early twenties and visited a cosmetics counter (there was no YouTube back then LOL) and asked them to show me how to use them. Then I went home and practiced over and over until I finally began to feel comfortable using them and was shocked at how nicely my makeup went on. The blending was easier, my makeup lasted longer and overall I enjoyed not having to get my hands dirty.
Fast forward to today and I still use makeup brushes every single day to apply my makeup. And now with the availability of tons of makeup tutorials on our phones and computers, anyone can learn how to use makeup brushes easily and for their everyday looks. Applying makeup with the correct brushes will help you use less product, get a more blended and polished look and ultimately help make your makeup last much longer. If you take care of your brushes correctly, you should only need to invest in them once and they will last you for years and year.
Makeup Brushes for the Face
The brushes that I use for the face are often to apply loose powder, bronzer, cream blush, cream contour, powder blush, highlighter, etc. You don’t necessarily need a different brush for every single product you have and many can be used for multiple products. Here are the brushes I currently have and how I use them:
DIBS Beauty Duo Brush #15
I’ll be honest, I don’t love dual ended brushes as much as single ended brushes but this is one of the few exceptions. The shorter side is the one I use the most because it is perfect for buffing in foundation, blush or bronzer. The large fluffier side is great for loose powder or even a quick dusting of pressed powder.
BK Beauty 101 Contoured Foundation Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
While I mostly apply my foundation with a makeup sponge, there are a few times that I will use a brush. When I do, this is the only brush I will use. My issue with really great dense foundation brushes is that while they may apply the product perfectly, they are a nightmare to clean. This one manages to give the most beautiful airbrushed application I’ve ever tried but is still very easy to clean fully.
BK Beauty 107 Flat Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
I have a few of these brushes because they have been my favorite for years and years. It’s great for applying blush – whether powder or cream. It’s not as stiff as the 106 so it allows for a looser application of product and is also the brush I reach for when I need to blend out product that I have applied too heavily.
ILIA Beauty Sculpting Brush
There is a slight angle to this brush so it’s great for using to sculpt but I usually love to apply cream and liquid blush with this. It’s a bit more dense than the BK Beauty 107 so you will get a heavier application with this but still very easy to clean.
IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7
Another example of a dual ended brush that I love though I rarely if ever use the smaller end. The larger fluffy end is the perfect rounded kabuki style brush that buffs in cream and liquid products beautifully. You can use this for foundation, blush, bronzer – basically any complexion product you apply to larger areas of the face.
BK Beauty 106 Round Foundation Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
This is probably my most used brush out of this entire bunch. It is designed for applying cream or liquid foundation and buffs product flawlessly into the skin. I prefer to use this to apply my cream bronzer and blush products. It’s the perfect size to fit my cheek and blends the product effortlessly. I use this nearly every single day and have had to purchase a few backups because I love it so much!
Makeup Brushes for the Eyes
BK Beauty 205 Contoured Shader Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
I use this brush to apply my eye shadow lid color. It has a flatter shape so it allows me to press the color perfectly onto the lid. The larger size makes it great for applying color quickly and covers most of the lid in one or two swipes.
BK Beauty 203 Shader Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
I also use this brush to apply color to my lid but the smaller shape is great if I want to pack color on more intensely or smudge color on my lash line. I will use it on the outer corner to apply a dark color or even with a shimmer/glitter shade to evenly press it onto my lid to get better color payoff.
BK Beauty 212 Medium Blender Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
This is the perfect fluffy crease brush that everyone needs! It blends out color perfectly, picks up just enough product and diffuses it easily into the crease.
BK Beauty 202 Defined Crease Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
I use this brush to apply my eye shadow crease color. Since it is a bit more narrow at the top, it’s great for applying the color precisely to the crease and beginning the blending process.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Concealer Brush
As soon as this concealer brush came out, I knew I would love it. There is a slight angle to it which allows me to lay it flush to the skin under the eye and get a really seamless blend. It’s quite dense and stiff so it really gives a more opaque application rather than something more fluffy. I often need to use less concealer with this brush because it doesn’t blend the product around that much. It just keeps the product right where you placed it and then stipples it in allowing for more coverage.
BK Beauty A506 Concealer Brush (discount code: MAREE10)
This concealer brush is much less dense and allows for a more dispersed application of concealer. It feathers the product out more easily so the coverage is not as intense or opaque. I switch between this one and the Hourglass brush depending on how much concealer coverage I want that day.
How to clean makeup brushes
Ideally, you should be cleaning your makeup brushes at least once a week. I try to stick to this schedule but sometimes I will go longer than that but I try to not go longer than two weeks. I love using this brush mat with this brush cleanser to really give my brushes a deep clean. After I swirl each brush in the brush cleanser, I then rub it into the cleansing mat gently while the water is running to break up all the product stuck in between the bristles. Once I rinse the brush fully, I will lay it flat to let it dry. There is also a brush cleanser spray that you can use on them right after applying product. It dries very quickly in case you need to use the brush again during your makeup application.
There are also a ton of great brush sets available that contain every brush you need for a full face!
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