Top 5 compared
The best makeup brush sets
Foundation blended smoothly into the skin and eyeshadow softened at the edges, with the right brush for each step.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 5 at a glance
A makeup brush set is a group of brushes shaped for different jobs: a dense or angled brush works in foundation, a small pointed one dabs on concealer, a big fluffy one sweeps on blush or powder, and small tapered ones blend eyeshadow and draw liner. Some sets cover the whole face, some only the eyes or the base, and big kits add sponges and spare shapes.
Every set here uses synthetic bristles, which pick up liquids and creams as well as powders and rinse clean with a little gentle soap. After washing, dry them flat or bristles down rather than upright, so water doesn’t run down into the collar and loosen the glue that holds the bristles in.
What matters
- Enough brushes for your routine, or more if you like to experiment.
- Brushes for what you make up: base, cheeks, eyes or all three.
- A case, holder or bag if they travel or stay on a dresser.
#1EcoTools Start The Day Beautifully Makeup Brush Kit (5 brushes)
$10–$20
Five bamboo-handled brushes cover a full face: angled foundation, blurring concealer and full blush brushes, plus a crease brush and an angled liner. EcoTools’ Daily Defined kit tops it on rating yet does only the eyes.
What owners say: Owners praise the quality and the smooth, even finish it gives daily makeup, and find the brushes easy to wash. Durability splits opinion.
A closer look: Setting powder and bronzer go on with the full blush brush as well as blush, so the cheeks and the finishing step share one brush; tap off the extra on the back of a hand first. The collars are recycled aluminum, and PETA certifies the set vegan and cruelty-free.
- Bamboo handles
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Angled brush for liner
Best for: Base, cheeks and eyes in one kit
- In the set
- 5 brushes
- Covers
- Foundation, concealer, blush, eyes
- Storage
- Storage case
#2EcoTools Daily Defined Eye Makeup Brush Kit (5 brushes)
$10–$20
Five brushes just for the eyes: a large shadow brush lays colour on the lid, an angled crease brush and an accent brush build depth, and a fine liner brush and a smudger finish the lash line. It suits anyone who wears more eye makeup than base.
What owners say: Well made, long lasting and easy to blend with, owners report. The mix of brush sizes divides them.
A closer look: Pat shadow on with the large brush, then sweep the angled one back and forth in the crease to soften the edge. The smudger blurs a pencil line into a smoky one, and the fine liner brush draws a thin line with liquid or cream liner.
- Smudger softens pencil lines
- Crease brush adds depth
Best for: Shadow, crease and liner looks
- In the set
- 5 brushes
- Covers
- Eyeshadow, liner
- Storage
- Storage case
#3BS-MALL Makeup Brush Set with Holder (18 brushes, 5 sponges, pink)
$20–$30
Eighteen brushes in the usual face and eye shapes, five sponges (three of them mini) and a holder that stands on a dresser, all in pink with wooden handles. Every brush stays in view, ready to pick up.
What owners say: The quality impresses owners, who call the brushes super soft and nice on the skin, and love the pink colours.
A closer look: The holder turns, so whichever brush you want spins to the front, and the sponges have their own case for a bag or a weekend away. Use the mini sponges damp under the eyes and around the nose, where a full-size one is too big.
- Pink wooden handles
- Mini sponges for small areas
Best for: Brushes kept out on the dresser
- In the set
- 18 brushes + 5 sponges
- Covers
- Foundation, powder, concealer, eyes
- Storage
- Rotating holder, sponge case
#4TEOYALL Angled Kabuki Foundation Brush Set (3 brushes)
$10–$20
Three angled kabuki brushes made for base makeup: foundation, concealer and contour, with powder, blush and bronzer too. The slanted synthetic heads follow the curves of the face for a smooth blend, and the handles are wood with a black finish.
What owners say: Very soft with a dense feel, owners say, and the brushes apply and blend makeup beautifully and hold up well. Views differ on how non-stick they are.
A closer look: Work liquid foundation in with small circles, then turn the angled edge under the cheekbones for contour or around the nose for concealer. No case comes with the three, so a cup on the counter keeps them tidy once they’re dry.
- Angled heads follow face curves
- Works for blush and bronzer
- Black-finished wooden handles
Best for: Buffing in base and contour
- In the set
- 3 brushes
- Covers
- Foundation, concealer, contour
- Storage
- No case
#5HEYMKGO 15-Piece Makeup Brush Set with Bag (champagne gold)
$10–$20
Fifteen brushes with champagne-gold handles cover foundation, contour, highlight and blending as well as the eyes, and they travel in a faux-leather bag with a carry handle. It’s a full kit to try every shape and settle on the few you reach for most.
What owners say: Professional-looking results and bristles that haven’t shed, by owners’ accounts, and they like the carry pouch. Some find the brushes less sturdy than they’d like.
A closer look: Let each brush dry fully after washing before it goes back in the bag, so the bag stays fresh between trips. The handle on top means it can hang on a hook in a small bathroom or ride in a suitcase instead of taking up a drawer.
- Champagne-gold handles
- Bag hangs from a hook
Best for: Trying lots of brush shapes
- In the set
- 15 brushes
- Covers
- Foundation, contour, highlight, eyes
- Storage
- Faux-leather bag
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1EcoTools Start The Day | #2EcoTools Daily Defined Eye | #3BS-MALL 18-piece with holder | #4TEOYALL 3-piece kabuki | #5HEYMKGO 15-piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for eyes | Biggest set | Best for foundation | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Price | $10–$20 | $10–$20 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $10–$20 |
| In the set | 5 brushes | 5 brushes | 18 brushes + 5 sponges | 3 brushes | 15 brushes |
| Covers | Foundation, concealer, blush, eyes | Eyeshadow, liner | Foundation, powder, concealer, eyes | Foundation, concealer, contour | Foundation, contour, highlight, eyes |
| Storage | Storage case | Storage case | Rotating holder, sponge case | No case | Faux-leather bag |
| Best for | Base, cheeks and eyes in one kit | Shadow, crease and liner looks | Brushes kept out on the dresser | Buffing in base and contour | Trying lots of brush shapes |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
