Face Study: The Best Makeup Brushes

With such a vast array of makeup brushes out there, it can be tricky to know which ones you really, truly need in your makeup arsenal. The essential first step is knowing what they're all best for. You see, while some have the sheer precision of a pen and ergo form the perfect accompaniment to your pot of eyeliner, others look more like a paint brush in a bid to buff powder over your entire complexion in one fell swoop.

Any beauty expert will tell your the importance of a good set of brushes, especially when it comes down to their ability to create a truly flawless finish. So, here at GLOSSYBOX we put a selection of brushes for all tasks to the test. From Becca's clever perfecting brush to Marsk's eyeshadow blender, you'll be able to put your makeup on like a pro with our selection of the best tools around...

To beat those dark circles Dark circles are no one’s friend, but attempting to conceal them can often draw attention to the eye. This kind of dome-tipped, featherlight brush allows you to really buff in under-eye concealer so the finish is flawless and smooth. Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Bamboo Edition, £7.50 at Love Makeup

For airbrushed foundationFlawless foundation application is made so much easier with a brush like this one, created by PixiWoo’s Sam and Nic Chapman. The dome tip and synthetic fibres are firm enough to allow a blend that looks almost air-brushed. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, £11.99 at Look Fantastic

The finishing touchIf you use loose powder to ‘set’ your look or to keep you shine-free then think of this brush as the final step in your regime - fluttering it over skin, especially the T-zone, with loose powder will give a soft-focus finish to skin. Becca The One Perfecting Brush, £36 at QVC Beauty

The all-rounderFor buffing it doesn’t get much better than a kabuki brush - characterised by short, dense fibres - and this angled shape allows you to work with the contours of your face, which makes perfect bronzer easy to achieve. Eco Tools Angled Kabuki, £9.99 at Boots

The trend setterTwo of the hottest trends in beauty right now are contouring and strobing - when you’re on-the-go nothing makes them as easy as this short, wide and flat goat hair brush. It angles perfectly into and over contours like no other shape around for a make-up artist finish. NARS Kabuki Artisan Ita Brush, £43 at SpaceNK

For perfect cheeksThe typical trick with blusher make a ‘duck face’ to find the plumpest part of the cheek, but this tapered style helps find that sweet-spot for precision application. Fashion Fair Blush Brush, £26 at Boots

For your best brows If you draw-on or emphasise your brows this is a must-have tool thanks to stiff bristles that almost comb pigment onto the hair for an effect that’s natural. MAC Cosmetics 208 Angled Brow Brush, £16.50 at Debenhams

The can’t-live-without A key part of any eye look is blending; it’ll help stop your eye make-up creasing and will work shadow into your lid giving it grip. Also handy for using a featherlight touch with a cream shadow under the arch of your brow to give a more defined style. Marsk Eyeshadow Brush Pro, £13.49 at Marsk

To finally master eyelinerThis clever brush turns any eyeshadow into a precision liner and is the best tool for achieving a feline eye with your gel or liquid liners. The angle allows a dexterity that’s so important with executing one of beauty’s most notoriously tricky looks. Smashbox Arced Liner Brush #21, £16 at Smashbox

Oh, and here's how to clean makeup brushes