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An artist is only as good as their tools — and yes, that includes makeup artists. The right portfolio of brushes can make all the difference, which is why investing in one of the best makeup brush sets on the market will pay dividends if you’re looking for a polished, pro-level finish.
According to Danielle Kimiko Vincent, celebrity makeup artist, brow expert, and founder of Kimiko Beauty, everyone — from beginner makeup moguls to celebrity MUAs — can squeeze much use out of a complete set of the essential types of makeup brushes.
“I love a good brush set because it can encourage you to start experimenting with new techniques that you might not have otherwise considered,” Vincent explains. “For example, an angled eyeshadow brush can be used in many more ways than a standard flat brush. You might learn to create a color wash with the wide section of the brush, and then use the narrow side to make an accent with a darker color.”
It also helps that there’s “usually a price break,” when you opt to purchase an entire set versus individual blush brushes, bronzer brushes, and eye makeup brushes, Vincent adds. “Even if one of the brushes doesn’t become a favorite, the value is [still] there.”
The best set of makeup brushes for you depends on your everyday beauty preferences, the types of bristles that work with your skin, and whether or not you’d benefit from special features like weighted handles for shaky hands.
To curate this list of the best makeup brushes sets in 2026, we spoke with Vincent, celebrity makeup artist Linda Hay, Jamie Makeup founder Jamie Greenberg, and global makeup artist for Jane Iredale Nechelle Turner.
Ahead, editor-loved eye makeup brush sets, travel makeup brush sets, and professional makeup brush sets with all the tools you need for casual or special-occasion glam.
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most searched
EcoTools Sea Gems Face Set
If complexion makeup is the focus of your routine, you may not need an entire brush portfolio. EcoTools’ Sea Gems Face Set pares things down to just four tools for applying and blending your base, blush, bronzer, and other complexion products. The swirl foundation brush buffs and blends foundation, just as the cream blush brush diffuses color across the cheeks. There’s also a kabuki brush for powder, plus a seashell-shaped sponge (so darling!) made especially for blending.
The handles here are partially crafted out of ocean-bound plastic, and the set as a whole is vegan and cruelty-free.
amazon’s choice
Sigma Beauty Most-Wanted Brush Set
Your makeup brush collection doesn’t need to rival a professional makeup artist’s kit to get the job done. Sigma’s Most-Wanted Brush Set makes a convincing argument for keeping things simple with five versatile brushes that cover the basics, and then some. The F80 Flat Kabuki is ideal for buffing and stippling foundation, while the F35 Tapered Highlighter doubles down on powder, highlighter, and contour. The E25, E40, and E30, in the meantime, handle eyeshadow blending and detail work requiring greater precision.
With their dense-and-smooth synthetic bristles as well as hefty handles that feel good in your hand, these brushes will earn their place in your beauty routine rather than taking up space in your drawer.
revolve’s #1 bestseller
M.O.T.D Cosmetics Hooded Eye Makeup Brush Set
Hooded eyes can turn even the simplest eyeshadow look into a precision exercise, which is where the M.O.T.D. Cosmetics Hooded Eye Makeup Brush Set comes in. The five-piece assortment is specifically designed for hooded eye shapes, with smaller brush heads that make it easier to put on and blend pigment exactly where you want it. You’ll get dedicated tools for crease work, eyeshadow application, smudging, blending, and eyeliner (translation: There’s no need to force one oversized brush to do every job).
The pro-performance Taklon fibers featured front and center (known to mimic the sensation of boar hair while delivering streak-free finishes and never irritating sensitive skin) are also hypoallergenic and antibacterial, giving the set plenty of practical appeal alongside its very specific purpose.
stellar ratings
Evrchgiea Professional Makeup Brush Set
Think of this as the beauty equivalent of having a fully stocked kitchen: You may not use every tool every day, but it’s nice to have the right one when you need it. Amazon’s Professional Makeup Brush Set is equipped with 25 brushes, 10 makeup sponges, and a travel case for good measure, making it the most comprehensive option in our roundup.
The bristles you’ll encounter are silky against skin and flexible, while the wooden handles are guaranteed to sit comfortably in your hand as you build pigment. An illustrated guide is included, too, which makes the set extra enticing if you’re experimenting with different brush shapes and want a little direction along the way.
affordable & high-quality
Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush & Sponge Set
Some makeup brushes are fun to try once, while others become permanent fixtures in your beauty bag. Real Techniques’ Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush Set falls into the latter category. The five-part kit is a particularly good starter set, composed of four brushes covering the complexion and eyes that are joined by the brand’s Miracle Complexion Sponge for tapping, blending, and buffing.
It’s an easy-to-use beauty purchase that our editors continue reaching for year after year… even after testing plenty of other brushes.
over 60k hearts
Sephora Collection The Total Brush Set
A well-rounded compilation of makeup brushes should give you the right tool for each task at hand without complicating the regimen unnecessarily. Sephora’s The Total Brush Set offers eight brushes spanning complexion, cheeks, eyes, and brows, with selections for foundation, concealer, powder, blush and contour, eyeshadow, crease blending, smudging, and brows.
Rather than collecting brushes one at a time, you get a coordinated lineup that can readily take you through a complete makeup look. The accompanying bag also makes it easy to take your newest investment on that upcoming getaway.
revolve’s #2 bestseller
Iconic London All Angles Brush Set
If you love a little sculpting action, look no further than the overqualified All Angles Brush Set. Aside from its everyday complexion and eye brushes, the 12-piece makeup arsenal boasts tools for contouring the nose, defining the high points and hollows of the face, sharpening sculpted edges, and creating a more precise brow or wing.
The collection isn’t limited to full glam, though: Several brushes are meant to work towards sheer, luminous coverage and softly blended color. In other words, no matter if you keep things natural or dial up the drama, the choice is completely yours with this Iconic London crowd favorite.
luxe look
Laura Geller New York Professional Makeup Brush Set
You might not be a makeup pro quite yet, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to own professional-level makeup gadgets. This sleek, sophisticated, five-piece set from Laura Geller New York receives high praise on Amazon. What you’ll be getting here? Thick, vegan, shed-proof, and plush brushes that deal masterfully with foundations, powders, blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows, and more.
We have a soft spot for that kabuki brush in particular, which can be swept across your cheeks in broad strokes or patted on them with intent. For bonus points, this is the only brush in the kit that’s retractable, meaning you can take it with you from the plane to the train to the dinner date — ensuring your look stays impeccable while on the go.
led mirror included
BS-Mall Travel Makeup Brush Set
Going abroad and want to look stunning for all those Instagram posts on the horizon? Instead of figuring out how to pack your larger makeup brush set into a weekender bag or suitcase, temporarily swap it out for a travel makeup brush set — like this Amazon top seller with thousands of positive reviews. Each of its brushes has a wooden handle that’s pleasant to the touch, as well as nylon bristles that will never play rough with your skin.
The marquee element here, though, is undoubtedly that carrying case, which is equipped with a built-in mirror that swivels 360 degrees, LED lights, USB-C charging, and touchscreen capabilities. No longer do you have to stealthily reapply your highlighter in the bathroom, as this set allows you to flex your artistic prowess from anywhere.
fully recycled
Jenny Patinkin Sustainable Dual-Ended Luxury Makeup Brush Set
Beauty expert and makeup artist to the stars Jenny Patinkin knows what people need when it comes to makeup brushes that go the extra mile, and it’s safe to say the ones in this set doles out quality in spades. Inherently space-saving due to their dual-ended nature, the picks all flaunt special features like domed shapes, angled orientations, or “demi-stiff” textures that go better with certain makeup products.
The bristles in question are recycled, and so are the weighted handles adjacent to them. What’s more, the set promises to have 2.5 times as many bristles per brush as competing models.
travel-friendly
It Cosmetics Your Superheroes Full-Size Travel Makeup Brush Set
Shoppers can’t stop raving about how beautifully It Cosmetics’ makeup brushes blend face makeup, and the set above more than lives up to the hype. The company’s Heavenly Luxe powder brush alone costs $50, so consider this Ulta exclusive a major bargain: coming to you with six brushes for the same exact price.
Whereas some travel makeup brush sets are made up of miniaturized tools, this one takes advantage of full-sized face and eye brushes that you can store inside a handy sunglass case–sized pouch.
good for beginners
E.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Face Brush Collection
Newsflash: You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in order to get a handful of brushes that feel amazing and know their way around makeup. Two WWD Shop writers use E.l.f.’s Cosmetics Brush Set on the daily, what with its nonexistent learning curve and roster of six brushes that pay dividends in context of the brows, eyelids, and complexion.
Psst… we found that they stay in mint condition when washed regularly with mild soap and warm water.
expert-vetted
Hourglass Vegan Brush Travel Brush Set
Hourglass is renowned for its luxury makeup brushes, which get a seal of approval from celebrities like Hailey Bieber. Each brush in the pictured set has bristles that were manufactured out of PETA-approved Taklon, not to mention heavier-than-average metal handles that are godsends for makeup lovers dealing with shakes or tremors. Hay says she can’t live without these Hourglass essentials, explaining that they are beautifully engineered and “become an extension of your hand.”
Individual Hourglass makeup brushes sometimes sell for over $60 a pop, making this crème de la crème offering an absolute bargain at $340.
best for eyeshadow
Morphe Eye Want It All Eye Brush Set
Eyeshadow palette enthusiasts know that Morphe makes some of the most coveted, colorful ones on the market… so leave it to the brand to create a stellar eyeshadow makeup brush set that doesn’t only cater to its own eyeshadow line. Perfect for those who prefer to make a statement on the lids, the Eye Want It All Brush Set comes with seven makeup brushes in total, from the full and fluffy to the pencil-like.
most elevated design
Saie The Brush Collection
It’s true: Saie makeup brushes are TikTok sensations, and searches for them have tallied hundreds of millions of views on the app at this point. The Big Brush (second from left) gets the most attention on BeautyTok, where testers showcase how it effortlessly applies cream and liquid products for a skin-mimicking result. With this top makeup brush set, you’ll get the tool along with a complexion brush, double-ended eye brush for highlighting and contouring, blush brush, and fluffy brush for powder work.
Name a better quintet, we’ll wait.
Types of Brushes in a Makeup Brush Set
Despite what you may see on social media, you don’t need an overwhelming number of brushes to achieve a professional-level look. According to Greenberg and Hay, your kit should include a mix of the following types of makeup brushes:
Foundation brushes to apply and blend your face makeup. Hay recommends keeping two: One for applying foundation and the other for polishing the skin.
Angled brushes for brows and eyeliner.
Eyeshadow brushes in various sizes. Hay suggests options that range from the tiniest point for fine work to big, fluffy eyeshadow brushes for buffing and blending shadows.
Pencil brushes to use on the lower lash line and for a more concentrated shadow color in the outer corner of your eye.
Concealer brushes for smaller, more targeted applications.
Powder brushes for applying setting powder to the T-zone, as well as blending powder bronzer or blush onto the skin.
Angled contour brushes for bronzer and contour sticks.
Lip brushes to detail richly pigmented lip colors and to blend-slash-diffuse lip liner.
What to Look for in the Best Makeup Brush Sets
Not all makeup brushes are created equal. When shopping for this beauty category, there are some key details to consider.
Synthetic vs. natural hair: Turner explains that bristles on makeup brushes are either natural or synthetically made from nylon, polyester, and other faux fibers. Natural hair brushes, per Turner, have cuticles, making them porous and therefore better able to attract and keep the product in the brush (which ultimately results in a more sheer application).
“Their porous nature can also make them a breeding ground for bacteria,” Turner says, adding that natural hair brushes tend to have a higher price point with questionable longevity.
Synthetic brushes, on the other hand, are nonporous. As such, they “pick up and distribute more product onto the skin for a defined and precise application,” Turner tells WWD. It’s worth noting that stiff synthetic brushes or those with a shiny coating can result in a streaky final look, so you’d be wise to invest in those with fluffier, softer bristles.
Hay uses a mix of natural and synthetic brushes on her celebrity clients, and she notes that the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. “The quality of synthetic bristles has come such a long way,” Hay explains, noting that Hourglass makes options she loves to use.
“In either case, look for shedding,” Turner warns. “Shedding or lack thereof is a good indicator of the fiber quality as a whole.”
Number of makeup brushes: Be realistic about how many brushes you need and how many brushes you’ll actually use on a daily basis. “If you’re advanced and like to try new techniques, a larger set with a wide variety [of brushes] will suit you best,” Vincent shares. “If you’re relatively simple with your makeup, then an edited set will be great for you.”
“A basic brush set for the minimalist might be a five- to eight-piece one with foundation, blush, powder, lip, and eyeshadow brushes,” says Hay, who also notes that double-ended brush sets are especially handy, seeing as how a five-brush set with dual bristles gives you 10 total brush options to work with.
Handle material and length: Vincent tells us that, as far as length goes, medium or short handles work well and fit better within a personal makeup bag. However, for a professional makeup artist, longer handles are the move when applying powder or blush. “This allows me to view my client from slightly further back, giving me a fuller picture of what I’m creating,” she says.
In terms of handle material, you pretty much have two choices: wooden or plastic. “This may not be important for everyone,” Vincent prefaces, “but specifically for natural brushes, I prefer a beautiful wooden handle and brush hairs that have been hand-cut and tied. This usually means a high attention to detail has been given to the taper and placement of the brush hairs, which I find translates to a more refined lay-down of powdered products.”
How to Clean Makeup Brushes
You wash your face every day, so why should your makeup brushes get a free pass? If you’re wondering how to clean makeup brushes properly, the process is actually pretty simple. A little regular maintenance can help remove the makeup, oil, dead skin cells, and debris that build up on your tools while keeping the bristles in good shape.
For a typical makeup routine, a weekly deep clean is a solid rule of thumb. However, brushes used with foundation, concealer, and other cream or liquid formulas can require more frequent attention because they tend to hold onto more product.
Rinse with lukewarm water: Start by wetting the bristles with lukewarm water while holding the brush downward. Avoid running water directly over the ferrule or handle, since moisture can work its way into the brush and weaken the adhesive.
You also don’t need hot water to get the job done. Lukewarm water is enough to loosen makeup residue while being gentler on the bristles.
Add brush cleanser: Place a small amount of gentle brush cleanser in your palm or onto a cleaning mat. Swirl the brush through the cleanser using light, circular motions, concentrating on the bristle tips before gradually working toward the middle.
For larger, denser brushes, a textured cleaning mat or glove can help break up stubborn foundation and powder buildup. Just remember that more pressure doesn’t necessarily mean a better clean.
Rinse until clean: Once you’ve worked the cleanser through the brush, rinse it under lukewarm water until the water runs clear. If you still see makeup coming out of the bristles, repeat the cleansing step rather than scrubbing harder.
Gently squeeze out excess water with a towel, and reshape the bristles with your fingers. Avoid twisting or wringing the brush, which can cause unnecessary wear and shedding.
Dry them flat: Lay your brushes flat on a clean towel, or use a brush-drying rack. Keeping them flat or angled downward helps prevent water from traveling into the ferrule as they dry.
This is one step you don’t want to speed through. Make sure your brushes are completely dry before using them again, and avoid putting damp brushes into a makeup bag or closed container. A hair dryer may seem like a convenient shortcut, but heat can damage delicate bristles and adhesive.
Give frequently used brushes extra attention: If you’re reaching for the same foundation or concealer brush every morning, consider using a daily brush cleaner between weekly washes. A quick spray-and-wipe routine can help remove surface residue, although it shouldn’t replace a proper deep clean.
And if your brush has started looking a little more “well-loved” than luxurious, take that as your sign. Clean brushes aren’t just better for your beauty tools — they can also make your makeup go on more smoothly and evenly.
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Meet the Experts
Linda Hay is a world-renowned makeup artist known for her uncanny ability to highlight what is unique within all her subjects. Hay’s work has appeared on the covers of magazines from W to Elle to Allure, and she’s worked with Hollywood elite like Heidi Klum, Selena Gomez, Megan Fox, Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, and Naomi Watts — making sure the stars look nothing short of head-turning for red carpet events.
Jamie Greenberg is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jamie Makeup. After painting the faces of stars like Kristen Stewart, Kaley Cuoco, Rashinda Jones, and more, Greenberg has rightfully earned her stripes as one of the top makeup artists in the country. A master of both jaw-dropping red carpet looks and natural, no-makeup makeup, Greenberg has a loyal following of over 350,000 over on Instagram, where you can catch some of her latest work.
Danielle Kimiko Vincent is the founder of ultra-popular makeup brand Kimiko. She’s also a makeup artist and brow expert who’s considered an industry authority in the world of beauty. Vincent’s work has been seen in various national publications, and she’s widely lauded for her trademark less-is-more approach.
Nechelle Turner is a global makeup artist for beauty brand Jane Iredale. Turner has worked in the industry for decades, creating flawless looks for clients (many of whom have walked the red carpets of both the Grammys and BET Awards) while also educating other makeup artists about the craft.
Meet the Authors
Claire Sullivan was the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she wrote and edited beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. Sullivan has reported on and tested makeup brush sets for over eight years.
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending beauty products and how to shop them most effectively.
Camila Quimper is a Commerce Writer at Penske Media, where she covers fashion, beauty, luxury shopping, and the latest trends across WWD, Footwear News, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Rolling Stone. Previously, Quimper was a Commerce Editor at E! News, and her work has also appeared in Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire, Men’s Health, i-D, Dazed, and other publications. Before joining E! News, Quimper got her start in e-commerce at Hearst Magazines, testing products alongside the Good Housekeeping Institute team, covering major shopping events, and curating gift guides. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism from London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and loves reporting on the best beauty finds to add to cart.
