I thought to switch things up a little bit today I’d share my favorites that together can create an entire makeup kit’s worth of brushes. I was a little bit surprised, I think of myself as a cheap makeup brush girl, but that seems to mostly hold true for my eye brushes. I use a lot of ELF brushes. But, once you expand out to the face, I seem to reach mostly for higher end. The good news is that these brushes can last for a really long time if you care for them properly!

Face

1. IT Cosmetics Dual Airbrush Foundation Concealer Brush: This brush is super soft and the bristles are very dense. I use it for applying product and blending it.

2. Clinique Blush Brush: I’ve had this brush, or something so similar that I can’t tell the difference, since 1995. Really. The same brush. Mine is just now starting to shed and look a little less than great, so I’ll be buying a new one soon. 19 years is pretty good for a makeup brush! I love that this is just the right size for getting blush on to the apples of my cheeks. No other brush has ever worked as well for me.

3. IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush: This is great for foundation, but I mostly use it to apply translucent powder and then buff it in to my skin.

4. Urban Decay Naked Flushed Double-Ended Brush: This brush isn’t very big, it’s actually just the right size to use with the new Urban Decay Flush Palettes. I like to use the flat side to pick up the highlighter and apply it to the upper cheekbone while the angled side is what I use with the bronzer to apply a light contour under my cheekbones and around my temples.

5. BeautyBlender Makeup Sponge Applicator: Not a brush, but kind of the same because it applies/blends makeup, right? I really love my BeautyBlender. I use it every day to blend my makeup, it works best with bouncing it on your skin.

Eyes

6. e.l.f. Essential Eye Shadow Brush: I own about 7 of this brush, it’s my basic brush for applying shadow all over my lid.

7. e.l.f. Studio Contour Brush: The perfect size/shape for applying shadow into my crease.

8. NARS #45 Smudge Brush: In an effort to replace my beloved Sonia Kashuk smudge brush (the exact brush I loved was changed and then discontinued), I’ve looked at basically every smudge brush out there and this one from NARS is the closest. The bristles are dense and fairly stiff, the brush is a bit thicker as well. It’s great for smudging the liner in my upper lash line.

9. e.l.f. Essential Smudge Brush: This smudge brush is a bit more flexible, I like it for smudging shadows (instead of liners). It’s perfect for when I’ve applied a little shadow over a liner and need to blend it out a little.

10. Laura Mercier Smudge Brush: This brush is smaller than it looks, it’s actually the perfect small size for adding a little extra pop of color under my lower lash line!

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