From bristles types and brush shapes to the hundreds of options available, choosing your makeup brushes might actually seem more daunting than choosing your makeup itself. Not to worry! As always, we’re here to cut through the slew of options and bring it back to the essentials.

Each type of brush is used for applying makeup that differs in density, texture, and volume. So, let's take a look at the six most essential makeup brushes you need to achieve a flawless makeup look, wherever you wander.

Foundation brush

When applying foundation, you can choose to use a brush, sponge, or your fingers. There are a few reasons, however, that most professional makeup artists use brushes – they give you a flawless finish, they’re easy to clean, and keep you from clogging up your pores with oils and bacteria from your fingers.

Foundation brushes are typically dense and flat with high-density bristles that allow for quick and easy buffing.

How to use

To get a perfectly smooth, even foundation application, apply foundation to your T-zone and cheeks and make smooth, even strokes with your brush, working your way outward toward your hairline and jawline. Once the foundation has been evenly distributed, gently stipple (press) and buff (swirl) the brush into your skin until the foundation has been completely blended to your desired level of coverage.

Our recommendation

The flat, tapered end of our Round Trip Brush is perfect for applying foundation – whether you're using a liquid, cream, or gel formula. The synthetic bristles make it easy to clean and won't absorb much product, helping your foundation last longer. Perfect for use with Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation.<product>1</product>

Powder brush

Whether you prefer mattifying powder foundations such as Wanderlust Powder Foundation, or just need to set your foundation using a translucent powder, powder brushes will give you a photoshopped effect and rid you of any flaking, creasing, or cakiness.<product>2</product>

Powder brushes have dense, fluffy bristles in a dome shape. This helps them grab onto powder formulas and distribute them evenly on your face, without mess or spillage. You’ll also find the famous kabuki brushes fall under this category. The difference? A powder brush has soft bristles, which is best for dispensing loose powder evenly, whereas a kabuki brush is slightly less fluffy and slightly denser, which makes it a great multitasking brush and helps distribute products (both liquid and powder) with ease.

How to use

Lightly press your brush in your powder of choice, tapping off any excess before applying. When using a full-coverage powder as your foundation, apply in the same way you would liquid foundation – starting in the center and working your way out. Do this in a buffing motion. When applying a fine layer of powder to set your makeup, gently dust the brush over your T-zone.

Our recommendation

The dense kabuki end of our Round Trip Foundation Brush is expertly designed to give you that filter effect regardless of what type of powder or foundation you wear.<product>3</product>

Blush and bronzer brushes

Bronzer and blush brushes have long, fluffy bristles and a dome shape that evenly diffuses powder pigments. The difference between blush and bronzer brushes comes down to the shape. Blush brushes tend to be more rounded and fluffy, while bronzer brushes feature more of an angle to hug the contours of your face. These brushes will help you achieve a natural-looking flush, glow, and/or contour.

How to use

Press your fluffy brush into your powder blush, or apply cream blush directly to the apples of your cheeks, or just above the cheekbones if you're going for a lifted look. Lightly swirl the product until blended.

Again, either press your angled brush into a bronzer powder or apply a few dots of cream bronzer directly to your cheekbones, jawline, and the outer edge of your forehead, then sweep the brush in a “3” pattern starting along your hairline, cutting across your cheekbones, and moving back down along your jawline for added warmth and definition.

Our recommendation

It may be tempting to use one brush for everything, but we highly recommend against it. Firstly, you risk messing up your makeup, and secondly, cleaning brushes within a single makeup application is likely to be a big mission. Luckily, with Round Trip Dual Blush and Bronzer Brush you have one dedicated brush for your blush application, and one for your bronzer. The tapered blush brush features multi-length bristles for even color distribution, while the angled bronzer brush provides effortless precision when shaping and defining. The soft synthetic bristles are suitable for powders, creams, gels, and liquids.

Eyeshadow shading brush

This small, flat brush with a rounded edge is the key to getting an opaque, even layer of color on your lids. The dense bristles pick up on lots of product for a concentrated effect. Pack on the shimmer or create a trendy halo eye.

How to use

Rub the brush over the product then press the eyeshadow onto your eyelids, swirling the brush around the edges to blend them out. Use this brush to get sharp cut-crease eyes.

Our recommendation

Pack the color on with the precise shader brush end of Round Trip Dual Eyeshadow Brush. The short, compact bristles transfer powdered pigment onto your lids for a bold, defined look.<product>4</product>

Explore professional makeup brushes from Wander Beauty

Of course, all those brushes on top of a whole range of makeup products can be a lot to carry for women on the go. That's why we’ve created a range of dual-ended brushes that give you the benefits and use of six unique brushes in three travel-friendly applicators.

Discover our top makeup and skincare tips when you explore the Wander Beauty range.