By Jillian Cener

In terms of necessity, makeup brushes are just as important as the makeup itself – if not more.  While a product may be made well and look great, if the brush you use to put it on doesn’t deliver, you might as well not wear it all!  The quality of a brush makes a huge difference in how makeup comes across on your face.  But don’t worry, you can find great brushes at any price point with a little research.  Here’s my list of the essential makeup brushes you need at prices you can afford:

Concealer Brush

This brush helps you to smooth out lines and edges between your concealer and your actual skin.  While I use one myself, I find that it isn’t always necessary. Sometimes, patting the concealer in with your fingers does the trick.  You might find, however, that you like to have a good concealer brush on hand.

Splurge – Bare Escentuals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush($20 at sephora.com)
Save (My pick) – e.l.f. Studio Concealer Brush ($3 at eyeslipsface.com)

Foundation Brush

A good quality foundation brush is an absolute must.  A full and fluffy brush will give you even, flawless coverage and help your complexion immensely.  Make sure, however, to buy the brush that fits your type of foundation (liquid, powder, cream, etc.).  If you use powder foundation, look for a kabuki brush.  If you can spend a little more on this brush, go for it!

Splurge – Benefit Cosmetics Foundation Brush ($24 at ulta.com)
Save (My pick) – Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki ($7.64 at amazon.com)

Blush Brush

This is another brush that necessitates good quality because of the large area that it covers.  A good blush brush will help distribute the right amount of blush onto your skin, blending it in naturally.

Splurge – Clinique Blush Brush ($26.50 at nordstrom.com)
Save (My pick) – e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush ($3 at eyeslipface.com)

Eyeshadow Brush

A good eyeshadow brush will pick up just the right amount of eyeshadow and apply it effortlessly onto your lid.  Look for a brush with small-enough bristles to fit comfortably on your eye.  Again, you may want to look for brushes that are specifically made for powder or cream eyeshadows.

Splurge – Sephora Collection Classic All Over Shadow Brush – Small #22 ($14 at sephora.com)
Save (My pick) – e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow “C” Brush ($3 at eyeslipsface.com)

Blending Brush

This brush is an absolute necessity, though many people forget all about it.  By swiping the fluffy bristles over your eyelid a few times after applying eyeshadow, it can remove all harsh lines and help transition from one color to another.  This is especially useful when doing a smokey eye.

Splurge – Urban Decay Good Karma Blending Brush ($26 at ulta.com)
Save (My pick) – e.l.f. Essential Blending Eye Brush ($1 at eyeslipsface.com)

Eyeliner Brush

Last, but not least, is an eyeliner brush.  While I realize that many people use pencil eyeliner, a good eyeliner brush is extremely important when using gel liner.  It can be the difference between a seamless line and raccoon eyes!  I splurged on this brush myself and have no regrets at all.

Splurge (My pick) – Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush ($25 at Sephora.com)
Save – ULTA Professional Synthetic Pointed Eyeliner Brush ($14 at ulta.com)

Until next time,
Jillian

Image Source: We Heart It