From a flawless base to a perfectly-blended smokey eye, makeup brushes will help you to achieve whichever makeup look you're after. However, the world of makeup brushes can be a difficult one to navigate - from Powder brushes to Stippling brushes, there are just so many to choose from. Each type of makeup brush has been expertly designed to target different areas of your face and work with different consistencies, so it's super-important to make sure you're using the right ones as they can make or break your makeup look. Explore our ultimate guide to makeup brushes to help you to get the most out of these handy little tools.
Foundation Brush
What Is It?A foundation brush is used for applying foundation for a flawless, airbrushed finish. A foundation brush will help you to avoid a cakey, stripey and uneven-looking base and will help you to really buff your foundation into the skin.
How To Use ItThere are a variety of foundation brushes, all with different uses. For a flawless, HD finish, get your hands on a stippling brush like the Pixi Full Cover Foundation Brush. Start from the center of your face and buff the product into your skin using short circular motions.
Our Favorite Foundation BrushesPowder Brush
What Is It?A powder brush is used to dust finishing powder over the face to set your foundation in place. Powder brushes are large and fluffy to evenly distribute powder onto the face without disturbing the foundation underneath.
How To Use ItSimply get some product onto the brush and lightly dust over the complexion. Try to avoid being too heavy-handed to avoid cakey, powdery-looking makeup.
Our Favorite Powder BrushesContour Brush
What Is It?A countour brush will help you to sculpt and define your facial features. The compact bristles and angled tip will help you to precisely target the areas you'd like to contour.
How To Use ItAfter picking up your favorite bronzer onto the brush, simply dust along your jaw line, forehead and cheekbones for a truly defined look.
Our Favorite Contour BrushesFan Brush
What Is It?Fan brushes are ideal for the light application of powders, especially highlighter.
How To Use ItSimply sweep the brush across your cheekbone and nose for a light, flawless application of highlighter.
Our Favorite Fan BrushesConcealer Brush
What Is It?Concealer brushes are like mini flat foundation brushes. They are perfect for getting into all of the nooks and crannies of your face, as well as expertly concealing blemishes.
How To Use ItSimply use the concealer brush as you would a flat foundation brush - blending out the product until it has been flawlessly blended.
Our Favorite Concealer BrushesFlat Eyeshadow Brush
What Is It?Flat eyeshadow brushes are ideal for the precise application of eyeshadow. Whether you're using it to add definition to the socket or apply an all-over color - this is the perfect brush for the job.
How To Use ItSimply drag or pat product onto your eyelid using your flat eyebrow brush. For loose pigments, it's best to pat the product onto the lid to avoid any fallout.
Our Favorite Flat Eyeshadow BrushesBlending Brush
What Is It?If you're using eye shadow, a blending brush is a must-have makeup brush. Blending brushes help you to soften your eyeshadow for a professional-looking smokey eye.
How To Use ItSimply use light circular motions over harsh lines or to blend two colors together for a flawless smokey eye.
Our Favorite Blending BrushesCrease Brush
What Is It?A crease brush helps you with the precise application of eyeshadow into the crease of your eyelid to add depth and definition.
How To Use ItSimply drag the brush into the 'outer v' of your eyelid and use your blending brush to smoke it out.
Our Favorite Crease BrushesSmudge Brush
What Is It?A smudge brush is another essential addition to your makeup brush collection. It features a small, round brush head with densely-packed bristles. A smudge brush helps you to create that smouldering effect for a professional-looking smokey eye.
How To Use ItSimply drag it along your lower lash line for a precise smouldering effect, or drag it along your eyeliner to smoke it out.
Our Favorite Smudge BrushesEyeliner Brush
What Is It?An eyeliner brush will help you to achieve a flawless, precise winged eyeliner. The small, fine tip gives you ultimate control over your winged-liner look.
How To Use ItSimply use with your gel eyeliner and trace along your upper lash line, extending out if you'd like to create a feline flick.
Our Favorite Eyeliner BrushesAngled Eyebrow Brush
What Is It?Angled brow brushes are perfect for applying both gel and powder consistencies onto the eyebrows. The angled bristles help to achieve a precise, sharp application for a killer eyebrow.
How To Use ItSimply use light, upwards strokes to fill in the eyebrows.
Our Favorite Eyebrow BrushesLip Brush
What Is It?A lip brush is used for the flawless, precise application of lip products. You might think you can just apply lipstick from the case, but using a brush will ensure you achieve a long-lasting, precise lip.
How To Use ItSimply dip the brush into your chosen lipstick and use light, sweeping motions along the lips. This will really push the product into the lips and help it last much, much longer.
Our Favorite Lip Brushes
