There are so many different types of makeup brushes available today that sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Here is a breakdown of the essential makeup brushes to have in your collection.

Blending Makeup Sponge

Makeup sponges are great to apply liquid foundation in a blended, line-free way. Squirt a bit of foundation onto the back of your hand, pick some up with the sponge and start to blend the color all over your face and neck. It can also blend in cream concealers around the eyes and nose with the pointed tip.

Face Brushes

Powder and Blush Brush

This brush is great to apply powder foundation, veil, highlighter, bronzer and even blush. Because of it is large and fluffy, it gives natural coverage – just make sure to tap off the excess before sweeping onto face.

Kabuki Brush

The kabuki brush is similar to the powder brush, but fluffier. It is great to give very light coverage, or to blend out bronzer/blush for a more natural look.

Stippling Brush

This brush can be used with all types of foundation – powder, cream or liquid. The bristles are more compact than with a powder brush, and therefore it will deposit more of your foundation, giving fuller coverage. This brush is not swept across the skin, instead is it stippled down multiple times all over the face and neck.

Concealer Brushes

Concealer brushes can be large or small and are flat. The small brush is used to apply concealer under the eyes, around the nose, and around the mouth. The large brush is used on more open areas, and to blend out the concealer.

Eye & Lip Brushes

Bent Eyeliner Brush

The thin tip and bent end make this the perfect brush to apply any precise eyeliner with.

Angled Eyeliner Brush

The angled eyeliner brush is great to give a solid, dramatic line with eyeliner, and can also be used to gently blend eyeliner to give a smudged look.

Eyeshadow Blender/Crease Brush

This is a multi-purpose brush that works especially well in blending colors in and around the eye socket. It is also great to highlight just under the brow bone.

Basic Eyeshadow Brush

This soft and flat brush is great to pack on eyeshadow directly onto the lid.

Angled Eyebrow Brush

An angled brush is great to fill in eyebrows or even smudge eyeliner.

Dual end Brow/lash Comb and Spoolie

This brush is essential for well groomed eyebrows. The spoolie end helps to separate lashes after you’ve applied mascara. The clear head combs eyebrows (and can hold them in place to trim eyebrow hairs) while the black bristles gently brush eyebrow hairs into place and can also blend eyebrow powder/gel/color.

Covered Lip Brush

A lip brush makes applying lipstick much easier. Having a covered brush is best to avoid dust getting into the bristles.