Best Makeup Brushes: Expert Recommendations for Affordable and High-End Collections in 2024

Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

As a beauty enthusiast, you must be aware of the importance of having the right tools to achieve a perfect look, aka the Best Makeup Brushes. Makeup brushes play a crucial role in enhancing your overall makeup game, and it’s essential to have the right set of brushes that cater to your specific needs. With the ever-growing beauty market, there are numerous options available, making it tough to choose the best one that fits your needs and budget. This article will take a closer look at the various types of makeup brushes and their uses, helping you make an informed decision when investing in a new set.

Types of Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, and each serves a unique purpose. Understanding the different types of brushes and their uses can help you choose the right set for your makeup kit.

You know what they say: “An artist is only as good as her tools”. This especially applies to the beauty world. You could buy the best high-end foundations, eyeshadows, or bronzers but still not be able to accomplish a flawless makeup application without the right tools. Lucky for you, you don’t have to break the bank for some of the best makeup brushes on the market. Here are some of our top affordable and high-end choices for the best makeup brushes and collections out there.

Foundation Brush

The foundation brush is an essential tool for achieving a flawless base. A foundation brush can help you apply the product evenly and blend it seamlessly into your skin. It’s recommended to use a dense, flat brush with synthetic bristles to achieve the best results. A foundation brush can help you achieve a natural, airbrushed finish, making your skin look healthy and radiant.

Real Techniques

The Real Techniques Expert Face Makeup Brush is a versatile tool that assists in achieving a flawless finish. Its large, domed shape is specifically designed for buffing and blending out liquid makeup, ensuring a smooth and seamless application. With the RT 200 hand-cut brush head, this brush allows for precise application, accommodating anything from dense coverage to a soft, delicate finish. It is particularly effective when used with cream or liquid foundations, providing medium to full coverage while effortlessly buffing and blending out the foundation for a professional-looking result.

Powder Brush

A powder brush is ideal for setting your foundation and adding a touch of color to your cheeks. A large, fluffy brush with natural bristles is ideal for this purpose as it helps distribute the product evenly, creating a natural-looking finish. A powder brush can also be used to dust off any excess powder, ensuring your skin stays looking fresh and matte.

Blush Brush

A blush brush is a must-have for adding a pop of color to your cheeks. It’s essential to choose a brush that fits the natural shape of your cheeks, making it easier to apply the product precisely. A rounded brush with natural bristles is ideal for this purpose, helping you achieve a natural-looking flush.

Contour Brush

A contour brush is a crucial tool for defining and shaping your face. A contour brush should have a small, angled tip that allows you to apply the product precisely, creating shadows and contours that enhance your features. Synthetic bristles are ideal for this purpose, as they are firm and provide excellent control.

Eyeshadow Brush

An eyeshadow brush is an essential tool for creating stunning eye looks. There are several types of eyeshadow brushes available, including flat brushes, fluffy brushes, and angled brushes, each serving a specific purpose. For example, a flat brush is ideal for packing on color, while a fluffy brush is great for blending and creating a soft, diffused look. It’s recommended to have a set of eyeshadow brushes that cater to your specific needs, helping you achieve a variety of eye looks.

Morphe M441

This tapered brush has the right amount of firmness and fullness to help blend multiple colors in the crease with ease.

Morphe M167

This flat brush is perfect for picking up shimmers or mattes to pack all over the lid. The firmness of this brush will ensure maximum pigmentation.

If you want to get your whole collection all at once, Morphe also makes great affordable brush kits.

Eyeliner Brush

An eyeliner brush is a must-have for creating precise and defined eye looks. A fine-tipped brush is ideal for this purpose, helping you achieve sharp and clean lines. Synthetic bristles are ideal for eyeliner brushes, as they provide excellent control and precision.

Morphe M456

This tiny brush is very versatile. You can use this for very detailed blending in the crease, adding shadow to the bottom lash line, or highlighting the inner corner and browbone. Altogether, these things make this brush a must-have for your kit.

Lip Brush

A lip brush is an essential tool for achieving a flawless pout. A lip brush can help you apply the product precisely, avoiding any smudging or unevenness. It’s recommended to choose a brush with synthetic bristles, as they are firm and provide excellent control.

Factors to Consider When Investing in Makeup Brush Sets

When investing in makeup brushes, there are several factors to consider to ensure that you are getting a high-quality product that meets your needs:

1. Hair type: Different hair types, such as synthetic, natural, or a blend of both, each has its unique benefits and drawbacks. Synthetic brushes are easier to clean and are less likely to cause an allergic reaction, while natural hair brushes are more expensive but offer a softer and more luxurious feel.
2. Brush shape: The shape of the brush can have a significant impact on how well it works. For example, a flat brush is ideal for applying foundation, while a rounded brush is perfect for blending blush or powder.
3. Brand reputation: The reputation of the brand can be a good indicator of the quality of the brushes. Look for brands that are known for their high-quality products and have a strong reputation in the industry.
4. Price: Makeup brushes can range in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. While you may be tempted to go for the cheapest option, investing in high-quality brushes can make a big difference in the results you get from your makeup.
5. Purpose: Consider the specific makeup application tasks you want the brushes for, whether it be for foundation, eyeshadow, or blending. You can then select brushes specifically designed for that purpose.
6. Handle material: The handle material can impact the overall durability and comfort of the brush. Opt for brushes with sturdy and comfortable handles that won’t easily bend or break.
7. Cruelty-free and environmentally friendly: Consider buying brushes that are cruelty-free and environmentally friendly, as many brush companies test their products on animals or use materials that harm the environment.

Our Recommendation: Morphe Brushes

Morphe Brushes is a force to be reckoned with in the beauty community. They have without a doubt created some of the best affordable makeup brushes. Once upon a time, MAC Cosmetics sold quality brushes for triple the price. Now everyone from small-time make-up artists to the most prominent beauty YouTubers is jumping on the Morphe Brushes train.

Morphe X Jaclyn Hill

The Master Collection

Morphe has also collaborated with YouTuber Jaclyn Hill to create what Jaclyn says are the absolute must-have, best makeup brushes for every makeup lover. There are three separate bundles to choose from. The Master bundle has 24 brushes for the face and eyes along with a brush case.

The Eye Master Collection

This set comes with 8 eye brushes you would need for any eyeshadow looks PLUS a makeup bag.

Complexion Master Collection

Finally, we have the Complexion Master Collection. It comes with 5 face brushes for powder, foundation, or any other makeup product needed for a flawless base.

Other Recommendations

E.L.F.

E.L.F. Cosmetics has to be one of the best affordable makeup brushes you can get at your local drugstore. Their brushes start at $1 and don’t go too much higher in price than that. E.L.F. has brushes for all of your beauty needs. If you are a makeup beginner and want to expand your brush collection without getting overwhelmed, then E.L.F. is your best bet.

Not only are these brushes affordable and of great quality, but they are also very user-friendly. Each brush is clearly labeled for its intended purpose. That way, you’ll know exactly which brush is for contour, blush, powder, etc. If you are a beginner looking to expand your brush collection, E.L.F. also makes a brush set with multiple brushes at a very affordable price.

BH Cosmetics

BH Cosmetics is a fun, colorful makeup brand that makes some of the market’s best makeup brushes in the affordable range. You can easily find these at some of your favorite local drug stores and chains, including Ulta. BH Cosmetics has many different brush sets, each with a handful of brushes that are sold at the same price and usually one especially high-end brush. It is amazing to find that many brushes for such a low price. They are also known to make very colorful, fun brush sets that add a bit of extra flare to your vanity. In short, these affordable brushes make it not only simple but also enticing to unleash the adventurous side of your makeup looks.

Eco Tools

Eco Tools is one of the top competitors in the game for affordable makeup brushes that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. As far as makeup brushes go, a lot of brands use hairs from different animals to process the brushes. These hairs are usually not sourced in a humane way, which makes them neither vegan nor cruelty-free. That’s why a brand like Eco Tools, which 100% caters to those needs and also allows for flawless makeup application, is very rare.

And as great as their products are, you can find Eco Tools brushes at many local drug stores for very low prices. They are best known for selling their brushes in bundles, which come at a fraction of the price of a usual single high-end makeup brush.

This particular brush set has brushes that are versatile enough for different parts of the face. Starting from the left, this set includes the angled brow brush, which is perfect for adding defining strokes to your brows and applying gel liner to them. The second brush is perfect for blending matte shadows through your creases. The third, bigger, and fluffier brush is perfect for adding powders to the face. The fourth brush is perfect for packing shimmers and shadows onto your eyelids. Finally, the fifth one is an angled contour brush that is perfect for precisely adding bronzers to the contours of your face.

All of these brushes should be available at your local drugstore and conveniently come bundled together. Buying brushes can be overwhelming for a beginner, but the Eco Tools bundles make it easy to get a large number of brushes for a fraction of the price.

Final Words…

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when investing in makeup brushes and select brushes that will help you achieve your desired makeup results.

We hope you’ve found our guide to the best affordable and high-end makeup brushes helpful. After many, many years of being forced to break the bank for makeup brushes, the beauty community has finally evolved. Now you can afford to get as many affordable meetings as you need at a fraction of the price compared to previous years.

Now you can rock any makeup look you have in mind with a flawless, even application. If you would like to just have a classic and chic bronzed look for the office, then go for it. If you want a colorful or rainbow-eye look to go out with friends, then go for that. With the help of some of the market’s best makeup brushes that fit your budget, you now can wear whatever makeup looks transforming you into the happiest and most confident version of yourself.