A quality makeup brush can mean the difference between a cakey, uneven look and a face so flawless you’d swear it was airbrushed. While you might be tempted to use the poofs and blending tools that come packaged with your go-to foundations, eyeliners, and blushes, you’d be doing your favorite products—and yourself—a disservice. For the most part, makeup brushes are best sold separately. In the end, it’s worth shelling out a few more bucks for a brush that’s engineered to perfection to help you speed through the tedious application process with unimaginable ease.
Tip: We recommend buying in bulk. Not only should brushes be cleansed frequently, as they tend to accumulate dirt, oil, debris and buildup that can irritate and even harm your skin and cause acne, they also need to be replaced every few months or so, depending on how often you use them. According to makeup maven Bobbi Brown: “When the bristles start to fray, shed, or lose their shape [they’re kaput]. I can’t emphasize enough that the right tools are as important in getting the look you want as the actual makeup itself. If your brushes become too pinched or squashed, then they simply will not be up to the job.”