The Ultimate Makeup Brush Guide: The Best Brushes To Buy & Why

A BRUSH IS A BRUSH… OR  IT IS?

I used to be completely lost when it came to makeup application tools. I thought nice brushes were only for professionals and that I shouldn’t spend my money on them. That all changed when I used a higher quality brush. Actually, my outlook on brushes in general changed when I used a high quality brush. There are different levels to quality, of course, but the most expensive brand I have purchased from is MAC. Investing in quality brushes improved my ability to blend makeup seamlessly and my overall opinion on certain products. When you are using a good brush, it really does make a difference that you will have to experience to understand.

I started building this brush collection before more affordable brands, like Real Techniques and Sonia Kashuk, existed. It took years because I started in college and good brushes are expensive. While cost doesn’t always guarantee quality, there are some more affordable brushes you can buy that work very well. For this reason, you’ll see more affordable brands in this post.

I have only ever had to replace a MAC brush if I’ve lost it. I have never broken a MAC brush because I take good care of them, but also because they’re made well. In this post, I’ll explain what the brushes I have are used for and how to care for them so you can get the most out of them if you do decide to build your brush collection.