Makeup brushes are a must in any woman's makeup drawer. You can find a range of prices for your brushes. Be prepared to spend upwards of $250 for the best brushes on the market. Here, we give you the best options in the affordable and pricey categories.
Keep in mind you don't have to spend a ton of money on a makeup brush. Acrylic ones actually are easier to clean than the brushes made from fancy animal (sable, pony, squirrel, goat and badger) fibers. But the pricey ones will last you forever.
Extra tip: When traveling, wrap makeup brushes in a bandanna. The cloth will protect the bristles and collect makeup.
Rob Melnychuk/Getty ImagesWhile some people love eyeliner pencils, we prefer to line our eyes with a wet eyeliner brush dipped in a dark eyeshadow. The best eyeliner brushes on the market are from NARS and
M.A.C. Throw out the freebie eyeshadow applicator and instead use a sable eyeshadow brush such as this one by Sephora.
Want the best? Try Paula Dorf's eyeshadow brush. This gentle blue squirrel brush blends shadow from lash line to the crease of your eye. Great for contouring. Another great option: Shu Uemura.
Some makeup artists (including Laura Mercier) use concealer brushes to apply concealer to dark undereye circles, and any discolored areas on skin. The pad of your middle finger works well, also, but you do get more coverage with a brush. This is a great one.
This brush is a stiffer hair that gives excellent control and blends products easily
Fill in sparse brows with a slanted brush made just for eyebrows. Sephora has great brushes at affordable prices.
One of the brow brushes on the market. Other great brands: Shu Uemura.
This basic brush is angled perfectly for lipstick application.
Get all the brushes you need in one set. Sonia Kashuk brushes are inexpensive, but don't feel cheap.
You won't find a better brush set than this one from Kevyn Aucoin. A favorite with makeup artists, this extraordinary brush set allows for precision contouring and placement. Comes with 12 brushes and a brush roll.
