The 7 Best Makeup Brushes, Tested by Real People

Best Overall

MAC 170 Synthetic Rounded Slant Brush

$42 at Nordstrom View on Maccosmetics.com View on Bloomingdales

Every beauty guru has a go-to tool in their kit, and the MAC 170 Synthetic Rounded Slant Brush is the one many makeup artists reach for. Celebrity makeup artist Anton Khachaturian tells PEOPLE this brush is "the ultimate complexion tool," and fellow MUA Jamie Greenberg recommends placing your product "with the chiseled flat part and [blending] it with the amazing bristles." Receiving a perfect score in design, application, and ease of cleaning in our testing, this makeup brush was a clear standout.

Our tester loved its synthetic vegan bristles that were soft on her skin, but densely packed to avoid absorption and subsequent makeup loss. The shape also received praise for its ability to "get into the contours of your face" and reach tricky spots (such as around the nose).

Designed for foundation, cream contour, blush, and powder, this brush is a universal tool to keep in your glam kit. Our tester said the MAC brush applied foundation quickly and simultaneously created a "beautiful and smooth" finish. Its versatility makes this brush ideal for your daily beauty routine — and as a bonus, it's easily cleaned with soap and a quick rinse.

Though our tester didn't find any flaws with the brush, it does have a high price tag. While it's more expensive than a drugstore pick, we firmly believe the cost matches the value.

Shape: Dome, round | Brush Material: Synthetic vegan fibers | Uses: Coverage, contour | Designed For: Powder, cream, or liquid formulas

Best Budget

e.l.f. Cosmetics Buffing Foundation Brush

$10 at Amazon $7 at Target $9 $7 at Walmart

High-quality beauty tools don't have to break the bank. This e.l.f. Cosmetics Buffing Foundation brush offers a sophisticated design, versatility, and easy maintenance for an affordable price. Our tester raved about the soft bristles, which are made from vegan synthetic fibers rather than animal hair. The tapered shape allowed easy access to the contours and grooves of her face, noting that it works best around the eyes and nose.

The e.l.f. makeup brush is designed to work with all types of foundations — powder, cream, and liquid — and applies each effortlessly. Our tester appreciated how it blended her foundation "quickly and smoothly, without blotchiness."

While rinsing the bristles was easy, they did retain a faint stain from the makeup color. Our tester also said she's used to big brushes, and this one was a little small for applying product to larger areas on her face.

Shape: Dome, tapered | Brush Material: Synthetic vegan fibers | Uses: Buffing, blending | Designed For: Powder, cream, or liquid formulas

Best Investment

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Buffing Foundation Brush #6

$50 at Amazon $50 $40 at Nordstrom $50 at QVC

Though designed for powder products, this brush worked flawlessly with liquid foundation during our tests (so it gets bonus points for versatility). Our tester loved the flat top design of this brush as well as the weight of the handle.

The soft but dense bristles allow the foundation to sweep across your face without losing much product en route. "It's a good size for blending foundation onto any part of your face," our tester said, noting the streak-free finish.

This brush aced our cleaning test, with all of the foundation rinsing out quickly and fully. While we hesitated at the price, sometimes you need to treat yourself — and this is worth it.

Shape: Flat top, dome | Brush Material: Synthetic hair | Uses: Blending, contour | Designed For: Loose and pressed powders

Best for Foundation

Tarte Foundcealer Foundation Brush

$30 $24 at Amazon $32 at Tartecosmetics.com $32 at Macy's

If a sponge is not cutting it, you'll want to opt for the Tarte Foundcealer Foundation Brush as an alternative for foundation application. The fluffy dome-shaped brush head is densely packed with soft, synthetic bristles that seamlessly blend your liquid foundation into your skin for a natural finish.

This blending brush scored well in design, application, and more, especially when it came to liquid foundation (and according to the name, it should work just as flawlessly with concealer, too). The densely packed bristles are short, which allows for a more concentrated and controlled blend than a longer-haired brush, which may leave unsightly brushstrokes on your skin. Our tester also noted how "light and easy it was to hold," as some brushes felt awkward in their hand.

This brush is the whole package if you're looking for an option that will work for both your foundation and concealer, making it a one-stop shop for all of your base makeup needs. But if you prefer powder foundation over liquid, you may not get the same airbrushed effect, as these bristles blend best with liquid foundations.

Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Uses: Coverage, blending | Designed For: Liquid foundation, concealer

Best for Contour

Lune+Aster Foundation Brush

$38 at Amazon $38 at Bluemercury.com

If you're looking for a brush to go with your contour kit, this brush will create shape and definition on your face. With lavishly soft bristles and an angled shape, the Lune+Aster brush is perfect for contour. The synthetic vegan bristles were a hit with our testers, and the short ergonomic handle made it easier to apply pressure and control the brush strokes.

This brush earned a perfect score across all of our tests and applied product equally well across large facial areas as well as tight spots around the nose and under the eyes. Suitable for liquids, sticks, and powders, this brush can blend out any formula to achieve a smooth and even result.

And after you apply your makeup, "the product squeezes right out of the short bristles, making the cleaning process quick," our tester said. As with some others on our list, this makeup brush is expensive, but we think the price reflects the value.

Shape: Angled, dome | Brush Material: Vegan fibers | Uses: Contour, coverage | Designed For: Liquid, stick, or powder foundations

Best for Powder

Real Techniques Custom Complexion Foundation 3-in-1 Brush

$8 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $12 $11 at Jcpenney.com

There are many different uses for powder: you can set an area with translucent powder, lock in your look with a finishing powder, or opt for a powder foundation. The Real Techniques Custom Complexion Foundation brush is a standout because of its versatility. Though this brush can be used for liquids, we've found that its prowess is in powder application.

"The ability to change the stiffness of the brush helps control where you want coverage," our tester said. "I feel like I was able to waste less product by concentrating it where I wanted it."

We used the mini lever on the handle to switch the brush's length and density. Minimum (the longest bristle-length setting) is best for light swathes of powder to set your liquid foundation, whereas maximum, the shortest brush level, allows the bristles to be more compact and dense for more concentrated coverage. "I really liked that I could use the max setting to really build coverage quickly in certain areas," our tester said. The mid-level is for everything in between.

The versatility of this brush is unbeatable, which is why our testers approved of this style even though they felt the bristles fell a bit short compared to some of the others. "The quality of the bristles could be better, but the flexibility of use makes up for it," they said. If you're looking for a brush that can take on all of your powders, this is it.

Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Uses: Sheer to full coverage, blending | Designed For: Powder, tinted moisturizer, foundation, concealer

Best for Coverage

Real Techniques Blend + Blur Brush

$27 at Amazon $27 at Walmart View on Realtechniques.com

Though unconventional in design, this foundation brush did a standout job of creating some serious coverage. Our tester compared the simple yet ergonomic handle to that of a toothbrush.

The brush has a densely packed oval head of stiffer bristles, but our tester reported that they were not rough on their skin. The compact brush head allowed for a seamless blend and easy buildup of coverage, which was a huge benefit of this brush. "I was able to get decent coverage without having to continuously add more makeup," they noted, appreciating the flawless finish. "I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to build up even coverage."

Based on our experience, this brush would perform best with liquid products over powder. The density of the bristles helped to work the liquid onto the skin with a smooth finish, whereas powder may be easily picked up in this process, potentially creating patches or an uneven texture. But if liquid foundations are the name of your game and you appreciate an easy-to-use brush, then this could be your new go-to.

Shape: Oval, dome | Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Uses: Full coverage, blending | Designed For: Cream or liquid foundation