Best Makeup Brush Sets - For everyone!
One of the most underrated and under appreciated tools among those new to makeup is the makeup brush. If you are learning to use makeup or “brushing up” on your skills, a quality makeup brush set will make all the difference for a flawless, and Instagram worthy, application.
My journey with quality brushes started a year ago. I always had a jar on my vanity with brushes, mainly for loose powder. I didn’t know what all those other brushes were for! It seemed a little “extra” to have a particular brush for a certain thing, like for the eyelid crease. Seriously?
Times have changed, I have more experience doing my own makeup, and I can now say that quality purposeful brushes can make all the difference in your makeup application.
I started with an inexpensive set from Morphe, drug-store price level brand found online and at Ulta. It included a faux leather travel tub, which is great for travel, but does double duty as a brush holder on my vanity. At $28, this set is a great value. I use and enjoy almost all of the brushes – there always seems to be one or two that I don’t use when purchasing a set. This is still a bargain even if you don’t use every single brush.
Once I learned more about each brushes’s use, the biggest surprise was how much I enjoyed them for eyeshadow. After watching makeup artists and other YouTube creators, I've learned how to get the looks I want and apply shadows beautifully. A fluffy brush to lay down a transition shade in the crease was an eye opener (pun intended). A flat brush for applying a lighter shade on the inner portion of the eyelid worked well. A second, clean fluffy brush for blending is a must have. You don’t want to use a brush with a dark shadow color on it for blending!
And can I just say, forget about those little sponge applicators that come with some eyeshadows. In my opinion, they can make it harder to apply eyeshadow and achieve the look you want. Great shadow looks are all about blending, and a sponge can’t do that.
Let’s look at some basic sets and what they are used for:
Set #1 - Rose’ Away by Morphe $28
The Morphe Rose’ Away Set
Deluxe buffer
Angled Contour and Blush
Mini Buffer
Blending crease
Mini concealer
Oval shadow
This is a good starter set that can be supplemented with other individual brushes as needed. And I love the travel tubby! I use all but one of these brushes – the Angled Contour/Blush is not my favorite. I have replaced it with a blush brush from BK Beauty. Read on for information about BK Beauty.
Set #2 - BK Beauty Essentials Brush Collection 9 piece - $195
The BK Beauty Essentials Brush Collection
101 Contoured Foundation (option for round foundation)
102 Large powder
103 Bronzer
104 Tapered powder
201 Blended crease
202 Defined crease
203 Shader
204 Smudge it
205 Contoured shader
These brushes were created by Lisa J, a YouTube content creator and former MAC trainer. These are very soft, high-quality brushes. I own two, the 107 for blush and the A506 from the Angie/Hot & Flashy collaboration. I purchased the blush brush because I kept seeing Lisa J using it with both cream and powder foundation. I didn’t realize you could use a brush with cream blush! The brush is so soft and fluffy, I didn’t see how it could blend the blush into my skin. But it does, beautifully.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the BK Beauty Collaboration with my favorite YouTube content creator Angie from the channel Hot and Flashy.
Set #3 - BK Beauty x Angie Hot & Flashy Brush Set – 7 piece $125
The Angie Hot & Flashy Brush Set
A501 Lid Shader
A502 Crease Shader
A503 Blender
A504 Detailer
A505 Shimmer
A506 Concealer (“Kitten Paw”)
A507 Angled Brush
These were created specifically with mature skin in mind. They are super soft (as are all BK Beauty brushes) and address some unique issues of mature skin, like sagging hooded eyelids. The A502 is small enough to get into a small eyelid crease and deposit the right amount of shadow. I own the A506 Concealer and it can be used under the eye, along the side of the nose, or for contouring the face.
If you want to start somewhere in the middle of the road price-wise, Sephora makes quality brushes and has a set that includes a pouch for $69.
Set #4 -Sephora Collection Deluxe Brush Set - 10 pieces $69
The Sephora Collection Deluxe Brush Set
Foundation Brush
Powder Brush
Blush Brush
Highlight Brush
Concealer Brush
Shadow Brush
Crease Brush
Precision Crease Brush
Smudge Brush
Brow Brush
I have individual brushes purchased from Sephora that I love and use regularly, including two smudge brushes.
All the brushes I have used have held up to almost daily use and consistent cleaning (this is a must if you want to keep brushes bacteria-free). None have ever lost bristles and always perform as designed, even after washing.
If you are ready to purchase quality brushes, consider starting with a set, or take it slow and purchase one or two high quality brushes and build your own set. Decide which are most important to you: Are you focused on foundation, blush and contouring? Or do you spend more time on eye looks?
I hope this was helpful. Enjoy, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen everyday!
Kelly 😎
