Makeup

14 Best Makeup Brushes

Our readers have ranked the best makeup brushes for contouring, blending and every other beauty need

by Allie Flinn

0 of 15

Having the best makeup brushes in your beauty bag can make all the difference in your makeup routine. Just like a great artist uses a brush to create a museum-worthy painting, we wield our makeup brushes to create perfectly contoured and blended makeup masterpieces.

Indeed, the best makeup brushes can help us create everything from a dramatic smoky eye to an airbrush-like finish with our foundation -- while the wrong one can leave us looking like a blotchy mess. But what should one look for when choosing a makeup brush?

Our readers have tried and tested just about every foundation, eye shadow and contouring brush on the market and ranked them with just about every beauty need in mind. Whether you're looking for a budget makeup brush, a cruelty-free option or one that will withstand constant usage without shedding a single bristle, we have you covered with this comprehensive roundup of the best makeup brushes for every makeup fanatic (or newbie).

Image via Getty

SEE NEXT PAGE: Best Makeup Brush No. 14: Clinique Powder Foundation Brush, $35.50

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products mentioned

Clinique Powder Foundation Brush

9.1

bareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush

9.3

Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush

8.7

E.L.F. Studio Contour Brush

9.4

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Airbrush Powder & Bronzer #1

9.5

M.A.C. 224 Tapered Blending Brush

9.3

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush

8.9

The Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush

8.9

Real Techniques Powder Brush

8.3

bareMinerals Light Stroke Brush

9.8

Sephora Professionnel Platinum All Over Shadow Brush...

9.8

Prescriptives Foundation Brush

9.9

Guerlain Meteorites Powder Brush

10.0

Urban Decay Good Karma Crease Brush

10.0

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Older comments

nice

by brianna121791 Monday, May 13, 2013 at 11:22AM Report as inappropriate

love these tools

by Laurahdz Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 03:36PM Report as inappropriate

I'm still building up my brush collection as budget and usage dictates, but it's good to have this list the next time I shop for one.

by LindaDD Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 03:21PM Report as inappropriate

I wonder which is the better eyelash curler of the ones they showed.

by Chris213 Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 07:03AM Report as inappropriate

Good tools, but I would like to see Eco here, as well as Beautyblender sponges. Also think a lip brush is essential for a perfect pout.

by GigiSD Monday, April 22, 2013 at 05:18AM Report as inappropriate

Eco tools are also good.

by Mollysunshine Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 01:48AM Report as inappropriate

Thank you yet again for helping me choose the right product for what I'm shopping for.

by tyann_ott Monday, March 4, 2013 at 08:29PM Report as inappropriate

I love eyes lips face and their brushes but the dollar brushes seem to fall apart on me... not the bristles but the handle part. It is still useable but drives me a bit crazy.

by krista_dailey Monday, March 4, 2013 at 10:36AM Report as inappropriate

The Shu Uemura eyelash curler is amazing! I am very sad that they don't have a store anymore.

by Sari Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 09:41PM Report as inappropriate

Good to know what brushes to look into

by thequietnoise Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 09:08PM Report as inappropriate