As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please note that you are never charged any extra for that.
Any beauty guru knows that a makeup brush is an integral part of their makeup routine. You can have the hottest new lip gloss from your favorite celebrity (Fenty Beauty, anyone?) or invest in the most expensive makeup brands.
Still, it won’t matter unless you have an excellent applicator.
While many turn to sponges and Beauty Blenders, or even stick with their hopefully clean fingers, none match the precision or elegance of high-quality makeup brush brands.
However, with all the available products deemed the best quality makeup brush brands, how can we know which ones are good?
Table of Contents
The best brush brands
We have rounded up some of the best brush brands for makeup and later talked about some of the top-selling brushes.
MAC Cosmetics:
MAC Cosmetics, also known as Makeup Art Cosmetics, was founded in 1984 by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in Toronto, Canada. The brand is known for its professional-grade makeup products that are used by makeup artists in the fashion, film, and television industries. MAC’s product line includes foundations, concealers, powders, eye shadows, eyeliners, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. They are available in more than 120 countries worldwide. Some of the brand ambassadors include Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Ruby Rose.
Estée Lauder:
Estée Lauder was founded in 1946 by Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph Lauder. The brand is known for its luxury skincare and makeup products, which are sold in more than 150 countries worldwide. Estée Lauder’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup and skincare products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, and Constance Jablonska.
L’Oréal:
L’Oréal is a French cosmetics company founded in 1909 by Eugène Schueller. The brand is one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies and is available in more than 130 countries worldwide. L’Oréal’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup and skincare products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, and Céline Dion.
In 2016, L’Oréal bought IT Cosmetics for $1.2 billion from Kern Lima.
Maybelline:
Maybelline is an American cosmetics brand founded in 1915 by Tom Lyle Williams. The brand is known for its affordable and accessible makeup products, which are sold in more than 120 countries worldwide. Maybelline’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, and Christy Turlington.
Revlon:
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932 by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph. The brand is known for its affordable and accessible makeup products, which are sold in more than 175 countries worldwide. Revlon’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Emma Stone, Halle Berry, and Olivia Wilde.
NARS:
NARS is a French cosmetics and skincare brand founded by François Nars in 1994. The brand is known for its high-quality, professional-grade makeup and skincare products, which are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide. NARS’ product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more, as well as skincare products such as moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Charlotte Rampling, Tilda Swinton and Penelope Cruz.
Urban Decay:
Urban Decay is an American cosmetics brand founded in 1996 by Sandy Lerner. The brand is known for its bold, edgy, and colorful makeup products, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Urban Decay’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Ruby Rose, Jourdan Dunn and Nikki Reed
Charlotte Tilbury:
Charlotte Tilbury is a British makeup and skincare brand founded by Charlotte Tilbury in 2013. The brand is known for its luxurious, high-quality makeup and skincare products, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Charlotte Tilbury’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more, as well as skincare products such as moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Kate Moss, Penelope Cruz and Rosie Huntington-Whitely.
Anastasia Beverly
Hills: Anastasia Beverly Hills is an American cosmetics brand founded by Anastasia Soare in 2000. The brand is known for its high-quality, professional-grade makeup products, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Anastasia Beverly Hills’ product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include Kim Kardashian West, Nicole Scherzinger and Sabrina Carpenter.
Huda Beauty:
Huda Beauty is a Dubai-based cosmetics brand founded by Huda Kattan in 2013. The brand is known for its high-quality, innovative makeup products, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Huda Beauty’s product line includes a wide variety of makeup products, including foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, and more. The brand is also known for its collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities, and other notable figures in the beauty industry. Some of the brand ambassadors include J Lo, Cardi B and Kylie Jenner.
EmaxDesign
EmaxDesign is a brand that specializes in makeup brushes, beauty tools and other cosmetic accessories. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in China. Their products are designed to be of high quality and affordable.
EmaxDesign offers a wide range of makeup brushes, including foundation brushes, powder brushes, blush brushes, and eye shadow brushes. They also have a variety of other beauty tools, such as tweezers, eyelash curlers, and makeup sponges. In addition, they offer a line of makeup brush cleaners and brush holders.
The brand’s products are available in many countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and many other European countries. They also have a strong presence in Asia and are expanding to other regions.
EmaxDesign has not any official brand ambassadors or celebrity collaborations. The brand is known for its high-quality products and affordable prices. They have a strong online presence and many of their customers leave positive reviews about their products on various e-commerce platforms.
In conclusion, EmaxDesign is a reputable brand that specializes in makeup brushes, beauty tools and other cosmetic accessories. They have a wide range of products and are available in many countries. They have gained a positive reputation for their high-quality products and affordable prices, and are expanding to more regions.
Artis
Artis is a luxury makeup brush brand that was founded in 2013 by Matthew Waitesmith. The company is based in New York City and is known for its high-quality, innovative makeup brushes that are designed to mimic the look and feel of professional artist brushes.
Artis’s flagship product line is the “Oval brush collection”, which features a patented design that is meant to mimic the shape of a finger, which allows for more precise application and blending of makeup. The brand’s other product lines include the “Circle brush collection” and “Elite brush collection” which are designed for a variety of makeup application needs. In addition to brushes, the brand also offers a line of brush cleaning products, including a brush cleaner and a brush shampoo.
Artis brushes are sold in over 20 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and Japan. The brand has a strong presence in department stores and specialty beauty retailers, as well as online.
Artis has a number of well-known brand ambassadors, including makeup artist and beauty influencer Charlotte Tilbury, makeup artist and beauty influencer Pat McGrath, and makeup artist and beauty influencer Lisa Eldridge. These brand ambassadors have been featured in Artis’s advertising campaigns and have used Artis brushes in their professional work.
Overall, Artis is known for its high-quality, innovative makeup brushes that are designed to mimic the look and feel of professional artist brushes. The company’s flagship product line, the “Oval brush collection”, features a patented design that is meant to mimic the shape of a finger, which allows for more precise application and blending of makeup. The brand is sold in over 20 countries worldwide and have a number of well-known brand ambassadors.
Shany
SHANY Cosmetics is an American makeup brand that was founded in 2002. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality makeup products at affordable prices. It was started by a makeup artist and photographer, who wanted to create a line of cosmetics that was accessible to everyone.
The brand offers a wide range of products including eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes, powders, and brushes. They also have a line of nail polish, false lashes and other accessories. The brand is known for its high-quality, pigmented products and their wide range of shades. They are also cruelty-free and many of their products are vegan.
SHANY Cosmetics is available in the United States, Canada, and a few other countries. They sell their products through their own website, and also through various retailers like Ulta, Target and Walgreens.
The brand has also collaborated with several beauty influencers, makeup artists, and celebrities to promote their products. Some of the brand ambassadors include Jackie Aina, Jackie Ohh, and James Charles.
Sigma Beauty
Sigma Beauty is a US-based makeup and beauty brand that was founded in 2009 by two women, Simone Xavier and Rene Xavier Filho. The brand is known for its high-quality makeup brushes and other makeup tools, as well as its wide range of other beauty products such as eyeshadows, lipsticks, and skincare.
One of Sigma Beauty’s most popular products is its line of makeup brushes, which are made with synthetic fibers that are said to mimic the feel of natural hair brushes. The brushes are known for their durability and effectiveness in applying makeup. Sigma Beauty also offers a line of brush care products, including brush cleaning solutions and brush protectors.
In addition to makeup brushes, Sigma Beauty also offers a wide range of other beauty products such as eyeshadows, lipsticks, and skincare. The brand’s eyeshadow palettes are particularly popular and are available in a variety of shades and finishes. Sigma Beauty also offers a line of lip products, including lipsticks and lip glosses, as well as skincare products such as moisturizers and serums.
Sigma Beauty is available in more than 150 countries worldwide, including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia, as well as many other countries in Europe, Asia, and South America. The brand has a strong online presence, with an e-commerce website and active social media accounts.
Sigma Beauty has also collaborated with several notable beauty influencers and makeup artists as brand ambassadors, such as Nikki Tutorials, Jackie Aina, and Desi Perkins. They have also collaborated with several other beauty influencers to create makeup tutorials and product reviews, which help to promote the brand and its products to a wider audience.
It Cosmetics
IT Cosmetics is a makeup brand that was founded in 2008 by Jamie Kern Lima and Paulo Lima. The brand is known for its high-performance, problem-solving makeup products that are designed to enhance the natural beauty of the wearer. IT Cosmetics is focused on creating products that address the concerns of women of all ages and skin types, including issues such as aging, acne, and redness.
The brand’s signature product is the CC+ Cream, which is a full-coverage color-correcting cream that provides hydration, sun protection, and anti-aging benefits. Other popular products include the Bye Bye Foundation, which is a full-coverage moisturizer, concealer, and SPF 50+ sunscreen, and the Celebration Foundation, which is a powder foundation that provides buildable coverage and a radiant finish. IT Cosmetics also offers a wide range of other makeup products, such as eye shadows, mascaras, and brow pencils, as well as skincare products, such as moisturizers and serums.
IT Cosmetics is available in a number of countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia. The brand is sold through a variety of retail channels, including department stores, specialty beauty stores, and online retailers.
IT Cosmetics has a number of brand ambassadors, including makeup artist Jamie Kern Lima, who is also the brand’s co-founder and CEO, as well as television personality and beauty influencer, Jackie Aina. Additionally, IT Cosmetics has also partnered with various celebrities such as Jamie Chung, Camila Coelho, and others.
In 2016, Kern Lima sold IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion.
The best makeup brushes
Now, it is time to find some best quality brushes that ensure precision and perfection in your makeup journey.
Best Overall Brush – Artis Elite Mirror Oval 8 Brush
Out of all the makeup brush brands we reviewed, the best overall goes to Artis. Their Elite Mirror Oval 8 Brush may not be the most affordable, but it is the most versatile.
This brush employs a unique flat mirror shape and incredibly soft CosmeFiber bristles to seamlessly blend liquid, cream, and powder formulations on your face and neck. It can blend foundation, bronzer, contour, and blush, eliminating the need for more brushes.
Artis has a variety of brushes for all parts of your face. One of the more intriguing features is the ergonomic grip that allows you to brush makeup anywhere you please without cramping up your hands.
Artis promises cruelty-free products, making it an excellent choice for both your face and conscience.
Best Budget-Friendly Brush – EmaxDesign 12 Pieces Makeup Brush Set
If you are looking for the best budget makeup brush brands, EmaxDesign has your back. For only $10.99, you can get 12 high-quality brushes with bamboo handles.
The set includes foundation, big and small eyeshadow, highlight, eye smudge, concealer, eyebrow, bluster, eyelash, multifunction foundation, multifunction blush, and mini kabuki brushes to cover all of your makeup needs.
These brushes are designed for liquids, powders, and creams, making them perfect for all your products.
Overall, for such a low price, EmaxDesign is the pinnacle of best affordable makeup brush brands. So, if you cannot spend a lot on brushes, consider investing in this brand.
Best Professional Brush – MAC 263 Synthetic Small Angle Brush
If you want one of the best professional makeup brush brands, look no further than MAC. MAC caters to makeup artists, so you know you will be getting a fantastic product.
One of our favorite MAC brushes is the 263 Synthetic Small Angle Brush. Small angled brushes are incredibly versatile, as they will define your eyeliner, eyebrows, and lipstick.
This particular brush features stiff, tight bristles, making it ideal for cream and powder products.
Currently, MAC is a cruelty-free brand working towards a cruelty-free world.
Best Makeup Brush Set – SHANY The Masterpiece Pro Signature Brush Set
These brushes’ composition includes expert-curated pony, sable, goat, and badger animal hair combined with synthetic microfiber bristles, all on an oak wood handle.
While SHANY uses animal hair, they do not test on animals. PETA even lists them as a cruelty-free company.
With the Masterpiece Pro Signature Brush Set, you will get a soft and durable product. It is easy to wash, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial to prevent breakouts.
The roll-up vegan leather pouch adds the luxury of portability to this already amazing set.
Best Foundation Brush – It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush #6
If you want airbrushed skin all day long, you need to consider It Cosmetics. The Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush #6 is an ultra-luxe and plush beauty tool designed to conceal every imperfection.
The Heavenly Luxe works with liquid, cream, and powder foundations. You can start with a thin layer and steadily build up more for the coverage you desire.
What makes this cruelty-free brush different is the 88,000 high-quality, synthetic hairs that carefully distribute the product to hide all pores and blemishes from view.
At this price, it is a hefty price for one brush, but almost every reviewer says it is worth it, and we agree.
Best Eye Makeup Brush – Sigma Beauty E55 Eye Shading Brush
One of the best eye makeup brush brands out there is Sigma Beauty. Their E55 Eye Shading Brush is a synthetic-bristled shading brush that provides medium to full coverage.
You can pack the eyeshadow on thick or thin and create stunning looks with this brush. In addition to eyeshadow, the E55 also applies primer.
This brush works well with powder and cream eye makeup, and the soft bristles ensure a smooth, painless experience. It is also reasonably affordable at only $16.
Best Blush Brush – Sigma Beauty F10 Powder/Blush Brush
We love versatile products, and out of all makeup brush brands, Sigma Beauty knows best. Their F10 Powder/Blush Brush is synthetic-bristled with a beveled head for medium coverage.
Since you can use it for both powder and blush, you will eliminate the need for two brushes for only $25.
The F10 is cruelty-free and waterproof. A drawback is that it only works with powder products, so you will have to apply your cream blush with something else.
Nevertheless, the softness, precision, and quality of this brush cannot be beaten.
Conclusion
There are tons of excellent makeup brush brands available today, and here we have narrowed down a few of our favorites.
Wherever you are on your beauty journey, there is a brush just for you.
We recommend that beginners start with a cheaper brush set to become familiar with application techniques and each product’s uses.
More advanced makeup artists should look into getting individual brushes for each product, as the quality within a set is not always consistent. 7 Best Makeup Brush Brands in the world with their best selling brushes will help you choose the right brands and some of the brushes that are awesome.
FAQs and more on brushes
Does it matter what makeup brush you use?
Yes, it matters a lot. The sizes of your makeup brushes, materials in them, and the capacity to serve the purpose are key factors in your makeup perfection.
Are expensive makeup brushes worth it?
Yes, for most of the time, expensive brushes from trustworthy brands worth the extra bucks you put on them. They serve the task as needed.
What brushes do professional makeup artists use?
Find the brushes here.
What are the best foundation brushes?
Find the list here for full coverage.
How do I know if my makeup brushes are good quality?
You may test the quality of the brushes on your skin. If they feel very comfortable and ultra-soft, they are mostly good in quality. You may use it on your palm to see whether bristles drops. It will test the durability.
