There are a million and one makeup brushes to choose from, and with makeup becoming more and more popular thanks to the likes of YouTube stars, Sephora and Mecca Cosmetica (no really... thank you), it can make the decision of choosing the right makeup brushes for yourself more difficult.
Don't be afraid of choice though, because more options especially in the budget brands means more chances to fit your budget and skin needs, so I thought it would be helpful to put together a brush capsule - the absolute makeup brush essentials to create both basic and more dramatic makeup looks.
Foundation Brush - there are many ways to apply your foundation, but to save time and to get an even finish, applying your foundation with a buffing brush can make life a whole lot easier.
Concealer Brush - whilst this isn't really an absolute necessity, a concealer brush will help you to cover 'hard to get' areas around the eyebrows and eyes, and is also really helpful to apply concealer to your highlight areas - a triangle under the eyes, down the nose and on the forehead to be exact.
Small Powder Brush - I prefer setting my cream products with a small to medium sized powder brush as it gives me more control with how much product I want to apply to certain areas on my face. Sometimes I may only apply a setting powder down the center of my face if I'm going for a dewy look with creme blush.
Large Eye Shadow Brush - after apply concealer or a primer to your eyelids, it's always a good idea to apply a neutral eye shadow which makes blending eye shadows easier and lets you start with a clean canvas for colour. I find that a large flat shadow brush lets you apply a base colour but it's also a great brush for adding a wash of colour over the crease, which you can wear on its own or as a base to build shadow gradient.
Bullet Eye Shadow Brush - this is the second eye shadow brush you'll need. The domed tip and short bristles makes it easier to apply more intense shading in the crease, outer 'V" and under the eye, and is a brush that can also allow you to some blending depending on the size of your bullet brush.
Blending Eye Shadow Brush - this is the last eye shadow brush you'll need, and I've included it as it has a dual purpose. With its longer bristles and fluffy top, it makes it great for blending your eye shadow to blend away any harsh edges, but it is also a great brush to add a powder highlighter to places like the tip of your nose, your brow bone, your top lip and your cheekbones.
Blush Brush - of course this brush is a necessity! Applying blush not only makes you look youthful, it gives you dimension to your face. I like using a dome shaped blush brush which is great for lightly buffing on your blush for a more blended an even look.
Contour Brush - I've included this brush because contouring is so popular, but it's not an absolute necessity. If you aren't into contouring then you can ditch this brush or swap it for a large powder brush to apply a bronzer, but I think it's also a great multipurpose brush to add colour to the face with a bronzer, or to contour with.