Beautiful makeup boils down to two things: good skin (I’ve got you covered) and quality brushes. Without these essential elements, even the most gorgeous products can end up looking patchy, cakey and uneven. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Makeup, skincare and brushes are the very bottom blocks. Without them, you’ve got nothing to build upon. Let’s dive into the best luxury makeup brushes on the market so that you can get that flawless look in no time.

Spectrum

Vegan, cruelty free and oh-so-pretty, Spectrum brushes can take your makeup game from zero to hero. I’m a particular fan of the eye brushes because they make any shadow blend like a dream. They’re very much a luxury product but they’re also fairly affordable too, compared to many other luxury makeup brushes out there. I love the original “millennial pink” brushes but keep an eye out for their many limited edition collections too – most recently they brought out a Cruella De Vil range in honour of the iconic Disney villain.

Beautyblender

Who’d have thought that one little sponge could disrupt the entire cosmetics industry? The Beautyblender came out in 2007 and within a few years, every makeup vlogger in the burgeoning YouTube community was calling it their holy grail.

Makeup artist Rea Ann Silva invented the Beautyblender on the set of Girlfriends, an early 2000s sitcom. The HD cameras were unforgiving and Silva struggled to make the actors look sufficiently airbrushed. Her solution was the Beautyblender: a sponge which buffed foundation into the skin evenly without leaving any lines or patches behind. 

The rest, as they say, is history. Thousands of Beautyblender knockoffs have hit the market. They may be a cheaper alternative, but they don’t hold a candle to the real deal – they tend to absorb far more product and they don’t last as long. 

As well as the original foundation sponge, you can buy the Micro Mini version which is ideal for concealer or super precise work – around the brows, for example. There’s also a Blusher version available which is perfect for giving your cheeks a rosy glow. 

Zoeva 

Zoeva’s stylish brushes are the perfect combination of quality and affordability. These luxury makeup brushes have gained a cult following and I just love their rose gold set – it looks beautiful on any dresser. This brand is cruelty free but not vegan. This means that although they do use animal hair for their brushes, the manufacturing process doesn’t harm animals. Zoeva also partners with many charitable organisations to support vulnerable women around the world. 

Artis Oval Brushes

I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something so luxurious and aesthetically pleasing about oval makeup brushes. This style of brush has really made a comeback recently and there’s just no question that the Artis Oval brushes are the original – and best. The Smoke Oval Brush in particular is just perfect for just about everything, except perhaps eye makeup. Foundation, highlighter, blusher, bronzer and contour powders all glide on oh-so-beautifully using this baby.

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown is the undisputed queen of the natural look. She built her cosmetics empire around the philosophy of embracing and enhancing your natural beauty. It makes sense, then, that her luxury makeup brushes blend seamlessly and create a gorgeous natural finish to help you achieve a skillful yet subtle makeup look.

Natasha Denona 

Natasha Denona has a reputation for excellence. Her 21 piece pro brush set doesn’t come cheap, but the rave reviews prove that it’s an investment. She designed these brushes carefully for their respective uses. They’re professional grade and trust me, with these luxury makeup brushes on your vanity, you’ll never have a bad makeup day again. 

For more beauty, make sure you check out my guide to dermaplaning and ultimate guide on how to prevent mask acne.