THE MORPHE GUIDE TO MAKEUP BRUSHES

 

Ready to level up your look? Getting a handle on the best brushes for putting on your makeup can make a big difference. A well-made and well-chosen makeup brush works wonders at picking up and delivering colour, improving accuracy of application and blending better—in addition to feeling amazing in your fingers and on your skin.

 

Pros may experiment with dozens of makeup brushes before finding their favourite to create a flawless complexion or contoured cheek or arched brow. We should know. Morphe became a makeup brush authority meeting artists’ limitless creativity with an all-inclusive assortment of best-in-class tools at affordable prices.

 

Visit our site or the makeup brush wall in one of our stores, and you’ll see that we offer makeup brushes for every part of the face (and body, too). Some makeup brushes will look familiar, and some will not. Some will even seem like duplicates—but are in fact unique in their bristle count, firmness or cut. Plus, there are different makeup brush collections and sets.

 

So where do you begin when you’re browsing for your makeup brush crush to perfect your winged liner, faux glow or plumped pout? You can experiment, too—or get swept away by your first choice. Just keep these five questions top of mind to help break it down.

 

  • Where are you applying your makeup?
  • What type of makeup formula are you working with?
  • What’s your desired end result?
  • Do you want sheer, medium or full coverage?
  • What’s your skill level?
  • THE BEST FOUNDATION BRUSHES
  • THE BEST CONCEALER BRUSHES
  • THE BEST CONTOURING BRUSHES
  • THE BEST HIGHLIGHTER BRUSHES
  • THE BEST BRONZER BRUSHES
  • THE BEST BLUSH BRUSHES
  • THE BEST POWDER BRUSHES

 

  • For larger areas of your face or body, go for a medium-to-large makeup brush. With foundation application, for example, you’ll get the job done faster.
  • For flatter or smoother surfaces of your face or eyes, pick a flat makeup brush. The shape is ideal for laying down product and building colour—minus the guesswork.
  • For tinier spots? Choose a smaller makeup brush. Concealing complexion imperfections or making those inner tear ducts stand out? You’ll want the precision a detail brush provides.
  • For deeper facial contours or eye creases, select tapered or pointed makeup brushes. The angled shape helps colour go in so your finished look will stand out.

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  • Liquid and cream formulas are best applied with makeup brushes that have synthetic bristles. Why? Synthetic bristles tend to gravitate together, enabling you to master a smooth and streak-free appearance.
  • Powder formulas are best applied with makeup brushes that have natural bristles. The difference maker here is the hair cuticle, which picks up pigment until you need it—for improved colour payoff and more control building and blending along the way.

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  • To achieve a soft, blended, airbrushed effect, use makeup brushes with soft- to medium-density bristles and domed shapes. You’ll want to hold your makeup brush at the top of the handle, applying soft-to-medium pressure and using buffing motions to intensify colour.
  • To create a bold, precise, highly pigmented look, harness the power of flat makeup brushes. Bristles are packed tightly together in flat makeup brushes to pick up and lay down colour instantly. Go in with medium-to-full pressure, first sketching out your pigment placement before amping it up.

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    Yes, the product you choose will help determine the coverage you’ll get—but the makeup brush will, too. The fluffier and less dense the bristles of the makeup brush you use, the more likely your coverage will be sheer to medium. The flatter and fuller the bristles, the more likely your coverage will be medium to full.

    • You’re a beginner? We got you! Start with a few makeup brushes that will work like magic to help you blend product. Traditional shapes—you know, the ones we mentioned earlier that you’ll likely recognise straightaway—are usually multifunctional and easy to use. Looking for our recommendation for the aspiring artist in you? Any of the brushes in our Creator Series.
    • You’re an intermediate? You’re ready—and likely eager—to get into the details. Flex your skills by adding a few detail brushes to your basics you already have on hand. Brushes from our Rose Gold Series give you the best of both worlds, whether you’re looking to prep a natural, everyday look or go full-on glam.
    • You’re a pro? You have the basic brushes—and then some. Paint your next masterpiece with unique, precision models from our Elite Series or Morphe X Ariel Signature Collection.

     

     

    THE BEST FACE BRUSHES

    That aha moment? When you’ve found the best foundation brush to perfectly prep your canvas. Putting your most fabulous face forward can call for a few other makeup brush types, as well. Consider this your checklist—whether you’re concealing, contouring, highlighting, or applying bronzer or blush.

     

    What does a foundation brush do?

    The best foundation brushes blend foundation evenly and seamlessly, helping you build the level of coverage you’re after, as well as different finishes and effects. Don’t forget: If your foundation is a liquid or cream formula, which most foundation formulas are, you’ll want a foundation brush with synthetic bristles that come together to guide your glide.

     

     

    DOMED BUFFER BRUSH

    Description: A large brush with a domed head and low- to medium-bristle density.

    What it does: Provides sheer-to-medium foundation coverage for a natural or perfected complexion.

    How to use it: Load it up with foundation and then stipple, dot and dab it onto your complexion.

    M439 DELUXE BUFFER

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    FLAT BUFFER BRUSH

    Description: A medium-sized brush with a flat top and dense bristles.

    What it does: Creates a buildable, full-coverage foundation effect.

    How to use it: Load it up with foundation and stipple and buff onto your complexion.

    M6 PRO FLAT BUFFER BRUSH

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    PADDLE BRUSH

    Description: A large brush with flat, wide-angled bristles.

    What it does: Picks up the most product instantly for opaque coverage.

    How to use it: To maintain a softer appearance and less streaking, maneuver the paddle brush from the very tip of its handle.

    E63 WIDE ANGLE FOUNDATION BRUSH

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    What does a concealer brush do?

    Have a spot or two that needs some buff love—or looking to brighten your undereyes? A synthetic-bristled concealer brush paired with a hydrating liquid or cream concealer are your secret weapons. You can also use this dynamic duo to accentuate your brow arches, shape a cut-crease effect or refine the shape of your lips.

     

     

    MINI CONCEALER BRUSH

    Description: A small brush with a flat head and rounded tip.

    What it does: Blurs blemishes and minimizes discolouration, like dark undereye circles.

    How to use it: Apply your formula, then blend gently.

    421 MINI CONCEALER BRUSH

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    MINI BUFFER BRUSH

    Description: A small brush with short, dense bristles and a domed tip.

    What it does: Softly blends away harsh concealer application edges and camouflages pigmentation in hard-to-reach areas, like the corners or your eyes and around your nose.

    How to use it: Buff gently, using the rounded point.

    M173 MINI BUFFER

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    CAMOUFLAGE BRUSH

    Description: A small, flat paddle brush with synthetic bristles.

    What it does: Picks up a generous amount of concealer to pack on coverage quickly.

    How to use it: Use patting motions to instantly soften discolouration.

    M224 OVAL CAMOUFLAGE BRUSH

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    BLENDING BRUSH

    Description: Fluffy, slightly rounded brush.

    What it does: Seamlessly blends concealer for an airbrushed finish.

    How to use it: Apply product with swiping or soft, circular motions—especially on delicate undereye skin.

    M433 PRO FIRM BLENDING FLUFF

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    What does a contour brush do?

    If sculpting your face is your aim, then getting the best contouring brushes can help you up your game. Contouring is a technique that creates the illusion of intensified shadow on different features—for example, your hairline, the hollows of your cheeks, temples, jawline, eye creases, nose, chin and even décolletage. With the right placement of product and tools, you can make what you want to emphasise pop and what you want to pull back recede.

     

     

    ANGLED CONTOUR BRUSH

    Description: A full, soft angled brush.

    What it does: For powder contouring, this brush fits effortlessly into the hollows of your cheeks and around the curves of your face to create a perfectly blended look.

    How to use it: Place and diffuse colour.

    E4 ANGLED CONTOUR

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    POWDER BRUSH

    Description: A dense, fluffy, short brush with a domed point.

    What it does: For powder contouring, this brush also seamlessly applies and diffuses colour.

    How to use it: Sweep on powder, using the side of the brush.

    M449 DETAILED POWDER BRUSH

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    SMALL FLAT ANGLED CONTOUR BRUSH

    Description: A stiff, short, angled brush.

    What it does: For cream contouring, helps place and blend product precisely—for example, when defining your nose.

    How to use it: Apply and blend.

    M164 SMALL FLAT ANGLED CONTOUR

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    MINI POINTED POWDER BRUSH

    Description: A fluffy, tapered brush with a domed shape and medium-dense bristles.

    What it does: For cream contouring, it fits the hollow features of your face to place the right opacity and diffuse the application edges.

    How to use it: Apply and blend.

     

     

    E48 MINI POINTED POWDER

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    What does a highlighter brush do?

    The best highlighter brushes help you glow for it, bringing radiance—whether it’s matte, dewy, glossy, shimmery or full-on metallic—to the high points of your face or all over your complexion.

     

     

    POINTED PACKER BRUSH

    Description: A fine-tip brush.

    What it does: Precisely highlights the bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow, top of your brow arches, your brow bones and your cheekbones.

    How to use it: Load brush with highlighter, then pack on shine where desired.

    M709 POINTED PACKER BRUSH

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    POINTED BLENDER BRUSH

    Description: Soft, narrow, fluffy brush.

    What it does: Brings out the intense shine of powder highlighters, while diffusing the application edges.

    How to use it: Load brush with highlighter, then blend.

    R37 POINTED BLENDER

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    HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH

    Description: A duo-fibered brush.

    What it does: Softly applies cream highlighters for an allover glow.

    How to use it: Apply and blend.

     

     

    M451 DETAILED HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH

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    What does a bronzer brush do?

    Get that sun-kissed look—without stepping outdoors. The best bronzer brushes sweep on a faux glow, gently dispersing a hint of tint where sun would naturally create colour—on your forehead, bridge of your nose, cheeks and point of your chin.

     

     

    SMALL CHISEL BRUSH

    Description: A medium-sized, fluffy paddle brush.

    What it does: Disperses bronzer softly and evenly across your face for a natural-looking flush.

    How to use it: Load brush with bronzer, then sweep and blend across skin.

    M403 SMALL CHISEL BLUSH

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    POINTED CONTOUR BRUSH

    Description: A tapered, synthetic brush with a bit more density.

    What it does: Targets bronzer placement—sweeping on a forgiving amount, while blurring the application edges.

    How to use it: Dust on where you want colour, like on your cheekbones, then blend.

    R13 POINTED CONTOUR

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    FAN BRUSH

    Description: A fan-favourite, literally, with bristles that flare out on the sides.

    What it does: Creates a sheer, buildable, sun-kissed look.

    How to use it: Dust across skin to diffuse colour and sweep away excess powder.

    M310 LARGE SOFT FAN

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    What does a blush brush do?

    After a peak cheek? Build colour and dimension with a few good blush brushes. Blush not only helps your skin look more healthy and radiant, but it can also pull together a harmonious colour story.

     

     

    MINI POINTED POWDER BRUSH

    Description: A small, soft, tapered brush.

    What it does: Applies gel, cream or liquid blush, depositing a small amount of product with an even blend.

    How to use it: Pop on pigment, stippling on colour to build opacity or blending for an airbrushed finish.

     

     

    E48 MINI POINTED POWDER

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    SMALL CHISEL BRUSH

    Description: A small, fluffy, pointed brush.

    What it does: Applies powder blush.

    How to use it: For a precise shape, build colour concentration on the apples of your cheeks; for a diffused flush, sweep blush across cheeks.

    M403 SMALL CHISEL BLUSH

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    What does a powder brush do?

    Set it and forget it with powder and a powder brush. Often the last step of your makeup routine, sweeping on powder can help absorb excess moisture and oil on the complexion for a matte that lasts.

     

     

    UNDEREYE BULLET BRUSH

    Description: A small, flat brush with medium- to full-density bristles

    What it does: For targeted mattifying, swoops up powder to “bake” in concealer or sets shiny areas of your complexion, like your T-zone.

    How to use it: Pick up a generous amount of powder, then apply.

     

     

    M536 UNDER EYE BULLET

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    ROUND POWDER BRUSH

    Description: A large, luxurious, rounded, fluffy brush.

    What it does: For overall mattifying, disperses powder evenly across the face, taking away shine in record time.

    How to use it: Load brush with powder, then dust it across your complexion.

     

     

    E2 ROUND POWDER BRUSH

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    FLAT POINTED POWDER BRUSH

    Description: A soft, flat brush with a pointed head.

    What it does: Smooths your complexion.

    How to use it: Using the flat side of the brush, press and roll on powder.

    E49 FLAT POINTED POWDER BRUSH

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