7 Make-Up Artists Reveal Their Favourite Brushes

Haus Labs’ Foundation Brush is my ride-or-die. The density and shape make it perfect for buffing and blending foundation, giving a flawless, streak-free finish. It’s soft but structured, which makes it so versatile with different formulas. This handy puff by Huda Beauty is great for setting and baking under the eyes or around the T-zone. The velvety texture picks up just the right amount of powder and the cushiony design makes it both gentle and precise – especially brilliant good when I want a soft, airbrushed look without finish that won’t disturbing the rest of the make-up underneath. For eyeshadow application, I can’t be without Hourglass No. 12 Beveled Shadow Brush. The angled, tapered shape makes blending in the crease effortless. It’s great for diffusing colour, creating soft transitions and building intensity where I need it – a true kit staple.

Cruelty-Free Foundation Brush,  £35 | Haus Labs

Easy Bake Powder Puff Duo, £10.95 (was £11) | Huda Beauty

Nº 12 Beveled Shadow Brush, £39 | Hourglass

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Morphe’s M103 is one of those brushes that does a lot of heavy lifting. The angled shape is thoughtfully designed to hug the natural contours of the face, making it brilliant for working cream and liquid base products into the skin. From my own line ByJoyAdenuga, I’m always reaching for the 005 – small but mighty. I designed it to be truly multi-use, working effortlessly with creams, liquids and powders. It’s perfect for setting under the eyes, placing highlighter exactly where you want it and blending cream blush seamlessly into the skin. Another I can’t be without is the 011, for all your foundation needs. The soft, fine bristles and generous surface area allow you to buff product into the skin effortlessly, giving a smooth, even finish. 

Angled Cream & Liquid Foundation Brush M103, £14 | Morphe

Brush 005, £15 | By Joy Adenuga

Brush 011, £25 | By Joy Adenuga

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For versatility, the Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush wins. Perfect for smudging liner or adding shadow along the lash line, it’s also great for building up shadow pigment in a certain area of the lid. I even use it to blur lip liner. The MyKitCo. 142 is meant to be for powder but I always find myself using it for foundation as it’s the perfect size for buffing into the face. I also love the brand’s 222 brush – the ultimate multi-tasker. I use it for everything: eyeshadows, powder and very often buffing in concealer under the eyes.

Eye Smudger Brush, £26 | Charlotte Tilbury

142 - My Angled Powder Brush, £24 | MyKitCo.

222 - My Seamless Blender Brush, £20 | MyKitCo.

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Ultra-fine and firm, the M·A·C 210 Precise Eye Liner Brush is my go-to for detail. It allows me to create anything from a barely-there lash line to a super sharp, skinny flick. I use it a lot to work product right between the lashes for subtle definition. Then there’s Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Complexion Brush – such a solid, versatile choice. The larger end blends foundation and cream contour seamlessly into the skin whereas the smaller end is perfect for precise concealing or sculpting. It’s great for working cream products into the skin and gives a polished, skin-like finish. I could easily do most of a face with just this brush. Finally, small but essential, the MyKitCo. 300. This is perfect for controlled mascara application – especially useful for weddings or red carpets where there’s no room for mishaps. It allows for a level of precision that a standard wand can’t and I also love it for adding mascara to false lashes. It’s such an underrated tool. 

210S Precise Eyeliner Brush, £16.50 | M·A·C Cosmetics

Hollywood Complexion Brush, £36 | Charlotte Tilbury

300 - My Groomed Lash Brush, £17 | MyKitCo.

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A true make-up artist staple, M·A·C’s 217 deserves its iconic status. It blends and diffuses eyeshadow effortlessly with its fluffy, yet controlled shape. Use small circular motions in the crease for a soft, diffused look with no harsh edges. Cream and liquid blushes can be notoriously fussy – particularly the highly pigmented formulas – but the Morphe M204 makes application effortless. A recent addition to my kit, I adore its cheek-hugging shape – the dense, rounded bristles pick up just the right amount of product and buff it into the skin with zero patchiness. Then the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Brush is the ultimate all-rounder I recommend to everyone because it just makes your base look so much smoother. It works seamlessly with foundation, cream bronzer, blush and highlighter, blending everything into the skin for a flawless finish. It’s indispensable, both my personal routine and professional kit.

217S Blending Brush, £21 |  M·A·C Cosmetics

M204 Rounded Cream & Liquid Blush Brush, £14 | Morphe

Full Coverage Face Brush, £39 | Bobbi Brown

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My favourite thing about the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush is how it hugs the natural contours of the face. The ultra-soft bristles blend product into the skin like butter and the tapered edge makes it so easy to get into every curve. Designed with a fine, tapered tip, M·A·C 210 creates precise lines while adding density. The firm-but-flexible bristles provide control, allowing the brush to glide along the skin. Another of my must-haves is the Lisa Eldridge Seamless Blend No.8. Thanks to the short, dense bristles, it’s ideal for sweeping through the socket line to sculpt and build depth as well as layering shadow. It’s also my go-to for precise powder setting around the nose or other targeted areas.

Real Flawless Foundation Brush, £41 | Laura Mercier

210S Precise Eyeliner Brush, £16.50 | M·A·C Cosmetics

Seamless Blend Brush No.8, £36 | Lisa Eldridge

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Brushes are incredibly important and personal, as an extension of my hands and creativity. It’s also nearly impossible to choose only three favourites. Charlotte Tilbury’s Powder & Sculpt Brush is excellent for precise and firm application, depositing product exactly where you want it. Rephr is a great brand to have on your radar, the brushes feel so light and nimble in your hands. The 10/10 Collection is all you need for eyes – ten handcrafted brushes ranging from tiny to a large buffer, created by master artisans at an affordable price. Finally, I was a latecomer to the Beauty Blender, yet now it’s a beloved staple in my kit. Dupes do not compare, no other sponge is as soft or creates the same long-lasting finish.

Powder & Sculpt Brush, £36 | Charlotte Tilbury

The 10/10 Collection, £85 (was £153) | Rephr

Original Makeup Sponge, £16.95 (was £17.50) | Beauty Blender

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