I have a confession to make: While I'm more than happy to press expensive moisturisers or luxurious eye shadow palettes into the hands of friends and family, when it comes to makeup brushes, I'm something of a hoarder. Yes, despite being basically unskilled in the art of makeup application, I just cannot resist the allure of a new, fluffy makeup brush to add to my collection.
Do I have any idea how to use all of the ultra-fine eyeliner brushes and densely packed kabuki brushes collecting dust on my dressing table? Not at all. But I used to love that they were there, ready and waiting for a moment when inspiration might strike, and I'll require a flat foundation brush to create a full-coverage skin look or a fluffy blending brush to experiment with some colourful eye shadow.
However, lately I've been struggling with how much stuff I accumulate working as a beauty editor. Yes, testing and trialling new products is an essential part of my job, but it's got to the point where my entire house now resembles a beauty cupboard—and it isn't pretty. So the first thing that I'm culling from my collection is my unused makeup brushes.
And although it hurt me deeply to do so (beauty-editor pals will understand the pain of parting with beautiful products), it means that I now have a carefully curated edit of the very best makeup brushes that will actually get to fulfill their purpose—to apply makeup to my face on a regular basis.
Best Makeup Brushes 2025
- Best Multipurpose Face Brush: IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7 (£39)
- Best Foundation Brush: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (£10)
- Best Powder Brush: MyKitCo 182 - My Soft Multi (£23)
- Best Blusher Brush: Hourglass Veil Powder Brush (£65)
- Best Bronzer Brush: Vieve 121 Blush & Bronze Brush (£29)
- Best Eyeshadow Brush: MAC 217s Blending Brush (£21)
- Best Eyeliner Brush: E.l.f. Cosmetics Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush (£5)
- Best Brow Brush: NARS Brow Spoolie Brush (£13)
- Best Lip Brush: Lisa Eldridge No. 20 Lip Brush (£32)
1. It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7
Whether I'm applying a full-coverage foundation or a sheer skin tint, this versatile makeup brush is one of my most-reached-for. In fact, I've been known to do a full face using just this brush. "This brush really has lots of flexibility, depending on how you like your base," agrees makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto. "It has densely packed synthetic bristles so you can use it to build up product as well as sheer it out and blend. Plus, the smaller brush on the end is really handy for getting into trickier areas like around the nose."
2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
In my opinion, Real Techniques provides the best affordable makeup brushes on the high street. Since the brand launched nearly 15 years ago (to much hype in the beauty vlogosphere), I have always had at least a few of its brushes in regular rotation, but it's the Expert Face Brush that I always come back to. A firm, densely packed, synthetic-bristle brush, it is one of my favourite things to apply my base products with. Whether it's a sheer skin tint or a full-coverage foundation, it somehow makes whatever skin product I apply look better than it otherwise would.
3. MyKitCo 182 My Soft Multi
Caldognetto rates MyKitCo for versatile brushes if "you really love makeup or want a little more precision with your application," and it's this blending brush that's her pick for a great all-rounder. Although it's a little smaller than what you might think of for a powder brush, it means that you can use it with a whole multitude of products—from setting powder to bronzer. "It's a lovely round blending brush that is incredibly versatile and blends out everything from face powder and blusher to washes of eyeshadow on the eyelid," says Caldognetto.
4. Hourglass Veil Powder Brush
How many powder brushes are too many, I hear you ask? Well, this one from Hourglass is seriously special, so it had to stay. I actually have a limited-edition design that launched alongside the cult Hourglass Ambient Lighting palettes one year ago and did not use it for years as I deemed it simply too pretty. However, once I dared to dust it with product, I couldn't look back, for this buffs blusher into your cheeks in the most natural, diffused way ever. If you love a cloud-like wash of colour on your cheeks, then you'll adore this. It is expensive, admittedly, but I've yet to find one better.
5. Vieve 121 Blush & Bronze Brush
I've only recently started wearing bronzer on a more regular basis, so I wasn't sure that a separate brush was essential, but Caldognetto recommends this one from Vieve for great application. "I tend to like bronzer brushes with a little bit of an angle, and this one is a really good shape," she explains. "You can use it in multiple ways, but it's great for bronzer as you can really get into the hair line and beneath the cheek bone, use it to shape the nose, but it also works well on bigger areas like the cheeks too."
6. MAC 217s Blending Brush
Another makeup brush that has stuck with me over the years is this fluffy eye shadow blending brush from MAC. I don't wear eye shadow often, and when I do, I often reach for creams that can be applied with fingertips, but this can be swished over eyelids to blend out harsh edges and soften intense pigments. If you only have one eye shadow brush in your collection, I'd make it this one.
7. E.l.f. Cosmetics Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush
I'll be totally honest, an eyeliner brush is not an essential in my personal roster of tools, but Caldognetto insists that if you do wear liner, then a good one is essential. "I always look for a really long bristle for eyeliners so that it's got a real fluidity to the application," she explains. "When the brush itself is too short, it can jump when you're applying the eyeliner and you won't get the smoothest line." This one from E.l.f. Cosmetics has length, a fine pointed tip and a super-thin finish so you can really create a precise line and shape. And, even better, it's only a fiver.
8. NARS Brow Spoolie Brush
While tinted brow gels are my daily eyebrow product of choice, there are still days when I want to create a particularly groomed brow look, and on those days, I reach for this spoolie brow brush to use after my favourite brow pencil. Caldognetto says almost "any brand of spoolie will do, but they're a makeup brush essential for brushing through brows and even lashes if they've gone clumpy".
9. Lisa Eldridge No. 20 Lip Brush
Most days, I'm more than happy to slick on a lip colour straight from the bullet, regardless of whether the application is a little haphazard. However, when I want my lipstick to last all day or I'm wearing a red lip that requires some extra precision, then a good lip brush really becomes an essential. This one from Lisa Eldridge is brilliant as it has a flat side, which means you can really pack the colour onto your lips and build up pigment, but the tapered edge makes it easy to really get into the corners and your cupid's bow to create a really polished and precise shape too.
How to Choose the Best Makeup Brush
I asked Caldognetto which brushes she would recommend for anyone starting their personal collection from scratch, and the list above should cover you for pretty much any makeup eventuality. However, I was keen to know what pros look out for when choosing the best makeup brushes for their own kit.
"Makeup brushes have changed so much, and while I used to love a natural fibre brush, there are so many great synthetic brushes now," says Caldognetto. She recommends looking for brushes that are densely packed, start with a mid price-point and her biggest tip is to repurchase ones that you've tried and know you love rather than feeling tempted. by more unusual shapes and newness. "Spectrum Collections are great for edits and sets, Real Techniques are amazing for versatility, and MAC will always be good," she says.
How to Clean the Best Makeup Brushes
Now that you've got your edit of the best makeup brushes down, how exactly are you meant to make sure they last? By keeping them clean, of course. Caldognetto recommends cleaning them at least once a week, but if you can't commit to a full clean, then she suggests getting hold of a spray like the Isoclean Makeup Brush Cleaner (£8) to refresh them between uses.
"For a deep clean, I use a silicone cleaning pad from MyKitCo (£20) and tend to use washing up liquid as it's antibacterial and cuts through product easily," she explains. "Just get a pot of water with the cleaner in, dip in the brush and agitate it on the mat until all of the product comes out." Most importantly, though, is making sure just to get the bristles wet and not the handle so that you don't impact the glue that holds the brush together.
"Once they're clean, just shake off the excess water and leave them to dry flat—never place them standing up in a cup or anything as you don't want water to drain into the brush handle," Caldognetto explains.
How We Tested
To make sure I didn't cull anything essential, I recruited the help of makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto to get her expert advice on what she considers to be the best makeup brushes in the business and which ones she would recommend everyone has in their makeup bags—whether you're a total beauty novice or more proficient at application than me. To make the cut, these makeup brushes had to be easy to use, apply products seamlessly, work with a multitude of formulas (creams, powders and liquids), and wash well so that they'll last you a lifetime if looked after.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
