We Asked Two Experts: How Much Should You Really Spend on Makeup Brushes?

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Where do you keep your makeup brushes? Mine are split between a giant, concealer-smudged sandwich baggy and the back of my bathroom drawer. I think every girl probably has a stash of makeup brushes strewn about her house, some purchased as early as the 2010’s bold-eyebrow era, and other, more recent, purchases marketed as the perfect tool to get that dewy, clean-girl look. I have brushes that I have picked up in the clearance section at Walgreen’s and others that are revered for their luxury qualities–price tag included. Then why is it that, even though I have enough makeup tools to give a full-beat to the entire cast of Wicked, I frequently pick up some of my oldest, and cheapest brushes? 

It’s time to find out what actually makes a good makeup brush. With help from friends like Mario Dedivanovic, founder & creative director of Makeup By Mario and Fenty Beauty’s global director of artistry, Crista Chan, we’ll get to the bottom of what makes a brush special, how and when to use them, and what's worth the splurge. 

Why Should I Give a Fluff About Fibers?

So, what makes a good brush? It’s really all in the details. Buyers tend to focus on aesthetics and brush softness, thinking that softer automatically equals better, but that is not always the case. 

When it comes to the fibers used in the brush, just years ago it would be as simple as synthetic vs. natural (like goat, squirrel and even horse) as the biggest quality differentiator, but things have changed drastically in the past decade. Technology has evolved that has closed the gap between synthetic and natural bristles, rendering them almost identical.

In 2026, virtually no mass-market brushes are produced with natural fibers. The switch is due to manufacturing prices, advancements in technology and concerns with animal-cruelty. If your curiosity is piqued and you want to try natural fiber brushes, which at this stage seems to be unnecessary considering new innovations, you would most likely have to shop overseas at brands like Hakuhodo or on smaller sites like Canadian brand Rephr, which is working to make natural brushes more accessible to the average consumer. Of course, price does increase with natural fibers, so you will be looking at spending upwards of $100 for a single, quality face brush.

Jenny Patinkin, a makeup artist and founder of her namesake beauty brand, is all about cruelty-free synthetics, but warns that not all synthetic hair is the same.

“Cheap synthetic fiber is often thicker, less flexible and has a machine-cut, blunt tip which does not apply makeup in the same way as a tip designed to mimic the shape of natural hair," explained Patinkin. “Some of the less expensive bristles are coated in a shiny film which prevents makeup from adhering well–which translates to a patchier or streakier application.”

When going synthetic, Patinkin says it's important to search for bristles that look, feel and apply as though they are natural hair. This can be achieved by looking for brushes produced with crimped bristles to mimic natural hair patterns, porous fibers rather than super-fake, plasticy ones, and a matte finish that allows makeup to properly adhere to the bristles. 

Fenty Beauty’s global director of artistry, Crista Chan agrees, highlighting bristle fibers as her number one criteria when finding a good brush.

“Most brushes nowadays are synthetic fiber, which can be very slick,” Chan remarked. “They are starting to craft synthetic brush fibers to mimic the texture and feel of natural hair: wavy, textured and therefore able to hold and blend product much easier.”

For Mario Dedivanovic, founder & creative director of Makeup By Mario, the factors above remain true, but he believes that bristles reach their peak potential once the brush is used and feels lived in.

“A new brush can feel too rigid or pristine, it's the ones I'd used hundreds of times, where the fibers had softened, opened and reshaped around the way I work, that became the most important tools in my kit,” said Dedivanovic.

For his brand, Dedivanovic worked hard to create products that don't require months of use to achieve a lived-in feel. His cult-favorite F4 complexion brush is a great example, “I wanted to design the brush at the point most brushes only reach after years of use. You shouldn't have to spend months breaking in a complexion brush. It should feel softened, responsive and trusted from the first time you pick it up.”

Fiber density also plays a major role in application, and is important to pay attention to it when choosing brushes that are right for your routine. Larger, less-dense, feathery brushes are great for blending without disturbing other layers, while tighter, denser brushes are great for packing on more coverage.

You can see it in the two ends of the Makeup By Mario F4 Brush when using the same formula,” explained Dedivanovic. “The large end is less dense and diffuses foundation or cream for lighter, skin-like coverage, while the smaller, denser end gives targeted application and more coverage.”

Although most brushes are marketed for a specific purpose, makeup is just another art form, and artists don't always play by the rules.

“You have to think of your makeup brushes the same way you think of painting a picture or a wall,” said Patinkin. “It all comes down to personal preference and the look you want to achieve.”

Tools for Cut Creases and Chiseled Cheekbones

Let's talk shape: do the fancy angles and tapered ends really matter? All the artists I asked agree–a brush's shape should match its job: flat for packing product, tapered for precision and fluffy for blending. Here’s what I recommend looking for when building your kit.

Brands like Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty are thinking critically about shape when creating their brushes. r.e.m’s recent launches like the Foundation Brush and C1 Concealer Brush utilize wedge shapes (almost like a makeup sponge) to help deposit product in tight areas, and glide along the hollows of the face. 

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is playing with concave shapes rather than sharp angles. The brand’s Cheek Hugging Highlight Brush 120’s unexpected, asymmetrical cut (inspired by a shark tooth) and the soft-scoop shape of the Foundation Brush 165 both allow for maximum curve coverage. The shape allows for products to glide against the face’s natural contours, so products can be dispersed smoothly along the cheeks, brow, cupid’s bow, the bridge of your nose, and even your collarbone.

Although sharp angles can be fun, and seem to be at the center of recent innovations, sometimes you need some soft edges. A dense buffing-brush, most commonly used for blending liquid products, utilizes a large surface area and a flat or slightly domed top to buff product seamlessly into the skin for a more natural look without sacrificing coverage. Some of my favorites include Merit’s Brush No.1, Beauty Pie's Seamless Foundation Buffing Brush 001, and Westman Atelier’s Liquid Blender Brush.

Fluffy powder brushes like Westman Atelier’s Powder Brush and Kosas’ Powder Brush along with different liquid product brushes like Hourglass’s Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush and Fenty’s Precision Concealer Brush 180 are also important to have in your makeup kit. They serve as great multipurpose complexion tools for everything from setting powder, contour, liquid makeup and blush. 

When it comes to eye brushes, having a handful of options that are good for multitasking is your best bet. I recommend a rounded, fluffy blender like the Morphe M332 Medium Rounded Blender Eyeshadow Brush, a dense shader brush to pack on shadows and smoke out liners like the Anastasia Beverly A3 Pro Brush Firm Shader Brush and something perfect for blending liquid eye products like the Kosas Multitasking Eye Brush.

For those of us who find difficulty in making decisions, a dual-ended brush can take away some of the pressure. Makeup By Mario reigns supreme in the world of dual-action, double-ended brushes. From his E6 Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush to the cult-favorite F4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush there is a dual-ended brush for every occasion. Double-ended brushes are not only compact and easier to keep track of, but they also tend to be more cost effective, with one eyeshadow brush from Makeup By Mario coming in at $24, the dual ended option at $36 makes for a significant discount. Some other dual-action brushes I love are Merit’s Brush No. 2, Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Impeccable Foundation & Face Brush, Patrick Ta’s Dual-Ended Complexion Brush No.2, REFY’s Duo Brush 2.0 or the e.l.f. Cream & Powder Makeup Face Brush which you can score for just $8.

If your mind is still reeling from trying to understand what brushes are best for your routine, a set that covers several categories like Sweed’s Face & Eye Brush Set, Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Essentials Brush Set, Jenny Patinkins’s Superstition Set or Make Beauty’s Complexion Brush Set are great starting points.  

Stocking Your Toolbox

Knowing the nitty gritty details on materials and manufacturing can be helpful when picking out a brush, but what should you actually be looking for when browsing the makeup aisle? Heads up, the answer isn’t the price. There was a time when artists looked outside the beauty world in order to find the tools they needed. 

“I was shopping at art stores and trade shows to find unique styles and shapes that would deliver the results I wanted in a brush,” recalled Crista Chan. “Now, brands have made finding a great makeup brush so easy for the consumer, you can find so many versions and price points of the kind of brush you are looking for.”  

Your favorite brush doesn't have to come from the luxury beauty section. Times have changed– consumers now have access to professional-quality products at affordable prices. 

“There is a misconception that higher priced brushes are better quality, but that's really a consequence of branding and marketing positioning,” said Jenny Patinkin. “You have to remember that mass brands sold at Target and Walmart get better pricing and economy of scale because they do huge production runs, which enables them to keep their quality solid but their prices lower.” 

So, if you can find good results for a lower cost, why are people still purchasing tools from luxury brands? It really depends–some brands have higher price points strictly because they can. Similar to the luxury handbag market, brands have learned to market themselves as a symbol of aspiration, and they continue to sell their product even without a specific niche. 

On the contrary, there are some brands with a real reason behind their higher prices. Westman Atelier’s brushes, which range between $38 and $125, are meticulously handcrafted in Japan by old-school, master artisans using high-end, cruelty-free synthetic fibers. This may just seem like good storytelling, but sometimes the answer is quality over quantity. Between the bunny-soft fibers and sturdy construction–it is truly a difference you can feel, and gives your makeup routine a luxury, ritualistic quality. 

Chan observed a return to the appreciation of brush craftsmanship. “A mass produced brush will never top a handmade brush designed and assembled by experts,” said Chan. “[I like] being able to buy one beautiful brush to use as a ritual versus a bunch of brushes that will fall apart and get forgotten.”

“I would never judge a brush by the price alone–what matters is how it performs, how it feels in your hand and whether the shape actually makes sense for what you’re using it for, " agreed Elio. “I’d much rather have five amazing brushes I use every day than 30 that I don’t really need.”

When in-store playing around with brushes both Jenny Patinkin and Crista Chan agree it's important to give the tool a good look and feel. 

For Jenny Patinkin, a simple test of the security of the bristles in the ferrule could be the best way to find a quality brush. "Cheaper brushes tend to be less densely packed, which means that there's a chance they could shed,” Patinkin explained.

Chan considers comparing brushes of the same range to be helpful in determining quality of brush production, “look at all the brushes that are the same brand or number, do they all look uniform or do some look wonky?”

Dedivanovic and Elio agree sometimes taking a chance on a brush and seeing how it works with your products is the best way forward. 

“Consider how it performs with the products you use, whether it can do more than one job, and how easy it is to use,” said Dedivanovic. “A brush you reach for daily is most important as brushes are meant to last.”

“A great brush picks up the right amount of product, blends it seamlessly into the skin and leaves a smooth, flawless, streak-free finish,” added Elio. “You should feel like the brush is helping you, not making application more complicated.”

Start with the makeup you wear and buy brushes shaped for those steps, and pay attention to density, it's the biggest factor in the coverage you end up with,” said the Makeup By Mario Founder. “Look for tools that do more than one thing–fewer, better brushes beat a drawer full of them.”

“It’s ok to collect one piece at a time, you don’t have to buy a full set at once,” explained Chan. “Invest in that one brush that will make the difference in your makeup at that point in time.”

Don’t Let Your Brushes Get Caked Up 

If there is one tip all of the founders, artists and brands agree on (including me) is that no matter how expensive your tools are–you have to take care of them. That means cleaning and storing them properly.

“Whatever brushes you invest in, make a commitment to take care of them by keeping them clean, " urged Jenny Patinkin. “This will help with your makeup application as well as their longevity.”

Even Mario Dedivanovic, who is a proponent of the lived-in brush emphasises the need for a clean kit, “buildup changes how a brush picks up and releases product,” said Dedicanovic. “A good brush will last a very long time if cared for properly–I have had many of my brushes for a long time.”

Not only can dirt and improper storage leave your brushes looking funky and performing sub-optimally, but it can also lead to breakouts and other conditions, especially when working so close to sensitive areas like the eyes. Brush cleansers like e.l.f. Clean Queen Liquid Brush & Sponge Cleaner, Sigmagic® Brushampoo™ Foam and Sephora Collection Jumbo Daily Brush Cleaner work wonders to remove leftover product and sanitize your tools. 

“Keep them clean!” Chan advised. “This is so important to ensure you are keeping your skin, eyes and everything that brush touches healthy.”

Best in Class Brushes

I am a firm believer that your greatest makeup tool will always be your fingers, but after exploring some of the innovations in brushes, I have been converted to the clean fingers club. Find my top makeup brush picks below.