Editor’s tip: While sweeping it across skin helps blend foundation seamlessly into skin, using it to stipple product into skin increases the coverage.
More brushes we love:
– Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush, $46
This 2023 Best of Beauty winner has a genius teardrop shape and elliptical bristles that buff away streaks around the nose, jaw, and hairline with ease.
Best for Concealer: Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush
Why it’s worth it: “You should never use your finger to apply concealer under your eyes [because] it gets floppy and cakey,” makeup artist Nick Barose warns. “A tiny synthetic brush lets you cover just what needs to be covered with accuracy and care,” says Stiles. Rare Beauty’s Liquid Touch Concealer Brush has an angled edge that can reach tough nooks and crannies, and uses synthetic, densely packed bristles for a plush feel that’s still firm enough to build coverage.
Editor’s tip: With its angled shape and bouncy feel, this brush is designed to mimic the shape of the fingertip for extra precision and better blending.
More brushes we love:
– Laura Mercier Camouflage Powder Brush, $30
This flat, oval-shaped brush is akin to the size of your ring finger and great for blending cream formulas, despite its name.
Best for Blush: Chanel Blush Brush N°110
Why it’s worth it: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Daphne Chantell del Rosario tells us that her go-to blush brush is Chanel’s Blush Brush N°110, which she considers “the perfect shape for the apples of your cheeks.” This fluffy wonder is ideal for powder blush and cream blush formulas for a flushed-from-within look.
Editor’s tip: The tapering on either side of the brush allows it to get into the contours around the cheeks.
More brushes we love:
– Jones Road Blush Brush, $34
“Somewhere north of 40, I traded powder blushes for creams in recent years because they started looking cakey, but this brush leaves such a natural finish, it’s brought me back to my favorite palettes,” says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly of the 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner.
Best for Bronzer: Sephora Collection Pro Bronzer Brush #88
Why it’s worth it: Designed for cream bronzers, the Sephora Collection Pro Bronzer Brush #88 has soft, short, synthetic bristles that make it easy to buff cream formulas into skin without lines or streakiness. The tapered handle gives it a comfortable feel in the hand, and while it’s billed for bronzing, it works well for blush and foundation, too.