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: Apply product with swiping or soft, circular motions—especially on delicate undereye skin. 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. What it does: For cream contouring, it fits the hollow features of your face to place the right opacity and diffuse the application edges. 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.

What it does: For overall mattifying, disperses powder evenly across the face, taking away shine in record time. What it does: Targets bronzer placement—sweeping on a forgiving amount, while blurring the application edges.

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

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

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.

CAIA Cosmetics

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. 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.