When you are looking for face brushes you can easily get lost with all the choices available in the market today, even more when you are just starting to build a little collection. The most common questions I receive are about the “cheapest+most versatile+most efficient” face brushes, with that in mind, I tried to create this post for you, either to help you in your research or to point you in the right direction.
My first advice is : buy fewer brushes, but greater brushes. If you have a monthly budget, start with the minimum and then buy them gradually. If you start with great brushes, believe me you will avoid wasting your money on brushes that you’ll not use anyway.
The most important and complex brush to choose is the foundation brush. It will depend on so many factors, if you have dry skin, if you use thicker products, powder products, if you want heavier coverage, all that will directly affect your choice. Foundation or base makeup is only flattering when the application is nicely done, it’s supposed to boost your confidence, if you feel that your foundation is patchy, not well blended and too obvious it might just do the total opposite.
My profile :
- I am not a makeup artist, my recommendations are based on my own experience
- I have very delicate and dry skin therefore I don’t often use powder foundations but more liquid or cream
- I prefer sheer to medium coverage so I will never fully cover all my pigmentation irregularities
- I prefer a more natural looking coverage and with my dry skin I would not be able to bear heavy ones anyway.
Below you will see an example of what I consider to be some of the most essential and affordable face brushes :
This is just a tiny sample of what you can find out there, the final choice will depend on your budget, your skin and specially the products you use and how many of them you would be applying during your makeup routine.
I can use all these brushes with liquid/cream products, even the Billy B. Not sure what material the Billy B is, it feels like a mix of goat and synthetic fibers but I think it’s durable enough to use it with both powder and cream products anyway and endure heavy maintenance with the washing.
If you only want to use a brush for powder blush, maybe it’s better if you use darker brushes, you still need to wash darker ones on a regular basis but maybe not as often as white ones since you won’t see all the powder residue therefore it could just mean an easier maintenance. I spray some alcohol on a cloth and gently wipe my goat or synthetic brushes with it after washing them, this is to kill any germs left on the bristles (I don’t do that with more delicate materials like squirrel hair).
If you are interested in a post about how to “de-germ” your makeup, there is one here that covers many items.
The essential face brushes
Please keep in mind that this is just an example, I have just selected a few that I think could fit the three-in-one category “cheapest+most versatile+most efficient”
Hakuhodo J544 (41$) : goat-synthetic fiber brush, versatile (liquid/cream/powder), it’s dense enough for foundation application, firm enough for blending, precise enough to go near the eye area. It feels very soft but still does a great job with the blending. I also use it with cream blushes, or I mix liquid blush with foundation to give a natural flushed look.
Hakuhodo J110 (52$) : goat. Big enough for bronzer or powder, small enough for blush, fluffier and softer than the S110. This brush is probably just the right size to allow a greater versatility for these three options. This brush will work with most of the blushes, pigmented or less pigmented. But for extremely pigmented ones, I’d rather recommend you to get a squirrel brush instead.
Billy B Four (28$ only available in the USA) probably a mix of natural/synthetic. Also a highly versatile brush, this is the size of brush I have been hunting for a while. Perfect for blush, contour, finishing. The bristles pick just the right quantity of product and apply it evenly, it’s soft (enough), not too firm or too dense so the application remains soft and without streaky lines.
Hakuhodo J4002 (32$) goat-synthetic fiber. Again, a great versatile brush to own, you can use it for cream blushes, highly pigmented powder blushes, highlight (great for sparkly products) or also to wipe the excess or fallout off.
Koyudo Fu-pa06-p (60$), goat-synthetic fiber. Amongst all the Fu-pa options, I have chosen this brush for it’s versatility, all the Koyudo Fu-pa brushes are fantastic but you may be able to get more usage out of this. One side is goat and the other goat-synthetic fiber, I actually can do many things with this little gem, for example apply foundation with the slicker side and blend using both sides. Also good for contouring with cream products, applying and blending concealer or lighter foundations on the center of the face.
Hakuhodo J5533 (17$), goat. It’s fluffy enough to deliver flawless contouring on small zones like the sides of the nose, or to set concealer with powder or even to softly apply concealer. The fantastic think about these white goat brushes is that they can be used with powder or liquid products so the options are so much greater.
Hakuhodo J125R (27$), goat-synthetic fiber. Same usage as above, if you already have this one in your collection you can use it for concealer or cream/mousse eyeshadows. It’s also meant for contouring and highlighting and all the duo-fiber brushes that have synthetic bristles that extend further allow a fantastic application of glittery or very pigmented products.
More about foundation
Depending on what you prefer, you can either get a versatile brush or just pick the one and only that you will be using for that purpose. I can give you a few examples with some other brushes shown here :
The BP013 (57$) delivers the perfect flawless sheer to medium coverage that I love with thicker cream foundations.
I often use the Mac Mineralize cream foundation since it works nicely with my skin, no breakouts, no dry patches but it can feel a bit too heavy, if I don’t use a foundation brush like the BP013 the application would be too thick and my pores would drown.
Another example, if you love to use the Chanel Bronze Universel, it can look too orange if not applied correctly but if I use this brush, it just the delivers an amazing sun-kissed glow, it’s not a precise brush so you might need help with smaller corners more difficult to reach but it’s just fine for me 🙂
I also love to use mineral powder foundations with this brush, like the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF15 but powder foundations are not the best for my skin, it’s ok in summer but winter is really not the best time to use them. My favorite “powder foundation routine” is to apply Mac Skinfinish Natural with this BP013 on top of a sheer coat of liquid foundation, the result is FLAWLESS and this is what I do when I want a polished slightly heavier coverage, still natural and dewy.
This brush is firm but fluffy, still soft on the skin but has thicker bristles and that’s what makes it so amazing with either mineral powder foundations or thicker creams.
The Hakuhodo J4001 (54$), it’s big and covers quite a lot of surface but if you love cream bronzer, like the Chanel Bronzer Universal or these Givenchy healthy glow powders – that I LOVE – these are weird textures, not really powder not really cream but perfect for that brush. For me it’s actually too big and flexible for applying foundations, better take a firmer brush like the J544.
The Koyudo Fu-pa07-p (57$) is the one to have if you want to apply any liquid foundation “the fastest way possible”. I place my foundation with a flat concealer brush or with the fingers and then I blend with this. It’s like a horse that will do it’s job in a record time. It’s soft, I can use it without any problems at all on my dry skin but if you have skin problems maybe it’s better that you use the double-sided version of it, the application will be even softer and since it has too sides it blends even more softly.
A bit more on the blush/bronzer/powder topic…
Hakuhodo J531 (87$) goat. If you are looking for a big, incredibly soft and utterly fluffy brush, this one is not exactly cheap but this is a fantastic option and less expensive than the Tom Ford bronzer or other squirrel brushes, I do prefer squirrel brushes but this one is a dream. You can see below a pic near the J110 for size reference.
Koyudo BP026 (30$) goat. Always by my side, it “buffs” blush and powder like a wild dream, it’s dense and firm but has enough elasticity to do it without burning or making the whole process a hell for your skin. Picks a huge quantity of product too and for some blushes you need either great “picking” capabilities or great “polishing” capabilities and that’s the best option I can recommend. It’s angled and you can also apply thicker contouring and then flawless blend it.
Hakuhodo Kokutan Eyeshadow L (64$) blue squirrel. It’s a very recent purchase. I am delighted with it, you can see in the picture below that there isn’t much difference in size with the Billy B, I prefer the Hakuhodo to the Billy B but honestly both are amazing options as “smaller” blush/contour brushes. In my opinion everyone should have a brush that size. I don’t have any other cheaper options except for the Billy B but since this one is not available outside the USA, I had to mention an alternative. If you know of a similar size brush, please share with us 🙂
This Hakuhodo is dense but extremely soft, will work wonders with contour or blush provided that you love smaller brushes for blush.
A bit more into concealing…
Hakuhodo J4005 (34$) synthetic fiber. Once more another versatile brush :
- You can apply and blend concealer
- You can apply cream contour products and blend
- The angled side will allow you to be a bit more precise around the eyes
- You can place the foundation on your face with this brush and the use a foundation brush to blend, if the product is placed with this brush it will be less sucked into the bristles of a fluffier foundation brush.
It’s flat but still has some thickness compared to other concealer brushes and since it’s bigger and soft, it gives so much more possibilities.
These were my cheapest – yet great – brush recommendations, please let me know what you think and what your favorite foundation routine is, together with the brush you love to use 🙂
I hope it was useful for you and if you have questions or you want similar options with different materials, don’t hesitate 😉
47 comments
Oh no, I really wish I’d ordered the Fu-Pa06 as well, now! My Koyudo package is still at customs, would you believe?
I am definitely going to order the Kokutan L – I prefer large eye brushes and small face brushes, so this would be a great one for me. Is it much bigger than the Suqqu L?
You should see the looks I get from the girls at the gym every morning when I take out all my brushes – everyone else uses the sponge applicators, and there I am with my brush roll and different brushes every day!
Really ? it has been a while !!!
I know you and I know you would love the Kokutan L 🙂 this one is made for you !
I can imagine their looks ! 😀
I am climbing the walls – I am doing everything I can to speed up delivery, but Parcelforce want even let me pre-pay the customs charges until the package has been released from customs, and it has been there since Christmas. They also won’t let me change the delivery address, which is annoying, as with the hours I’m working at the moment, I probably won’t even be home to receive them.
Also, the customs charges are more than a third of the cost of the brushes, which I find a little excessive. That, together with the long wait means that I will only really order from some of these Japanese brands when I have a large order to place, so I will be waiting a while for the Fu-Pa 06 and the Fine Kalla KK 002 and 003 brushes from Rakuten.
I am definitely going to get that Kokutan brush – it looks perfect. What I love about Hakuhodo and Kohlindo (for Chikuhodo) is that it’s so quick and easy – you just can’t beat the customer service, and ordering from them is a great experience.
Je les ai enfin reçus! It took so long, but it was so worth the wait. I just cannot stop touching the red squirrel cheek brush. I have washed the Fu-pa 07 and 10 ready to use tomorrow – I can’t wait.
I hope it went fine Dena 🙂
Hi Sonia,
I think you probably know what my favourite foundation is atm! My current routine is to lay down the Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation on the face with fingers then use the Fu-pa-07p (and alternate with the Shiseido #131, or the Chikuhodo G-10) to blend. I use the Fu-pa-10p to contour with the TF S&I, and then depending on the blush, the Nars Yachiyo, the Dior Cheek Brush, the Chikuhodo… something like that.
Now I want the Koyudo Fu-pa-06p! Might just quickly add that to my Koyudo order if I can haha…
I still haven’t used the Koyudo BP013 maybe coz I don’t really own any thicker creams. I’ll see what I can dig up… maybe the Chantecaille Future Skin?
Hi Bonnie !!
thank you for sharing 🙂
oh I haven’t finished yet with the Fu-pas, so many brushes to test but as I said I am having fun, I am in paradise 🙂
Not sure the BP013 will be the best for the Chantecaille, I have the Chantecaille but I don’t think it’s thick enough to appreciate this brush 🙁
do you set your foundation after application ?
With the KGD I mostly don’t just because I love the slight dewiness of its finish and it’s remarkably “sweat-proof” (at least, as sweat-proof as it can be in 42C!) that I don’t have problems with it melting off.
Actually, I just remember that I have the TF Traceless Stick sitting around unopened. Completely forgot! I do have the LM Mineral Powder but like you, I rarely wear it. Maybe the BP013 will be expressly reserved for that…
I’d love to know if and how it works with the TF, really curious since I would love to get it ! and please try it also with the mineral powder 😛
I would really love to know your opinion with mineral powder ! THANK YOU !!
I’ll give you a more detailed review later, but here are some first thoughts. I tried the BP013 today with Traceless. Firstly, I’m quite liking the foundation, gorgeous finish. The shade might be a tad light right now (I have #5 natural), but nothing that a little bronzer, contouring, blush etc won’t fix. It seems quite moisturising, although I’ll have to wear it a few more days to tell, but I am already thinking that this will be better as a winter foundation than a summer one.
Now, the brushes I used to apply it. I tried it on last night, applying it with the Fu-pa-07p and I loved it. But I’m really enjoying that fu-pa anyway and it really does work with everything. Today, I used the BP013 and I was in a rush so this might be affecting my current opinion of the brush. As you said, it does provide lovely sheer to medium coverage BUT I found it very hard to control and manipulate the foundation, maybe because it’s quite big and the hair is quite long. I found that it took a lot longer to blend the TF than I had with the fu-pa, even though BP013 is bigger. Because I’m usually in a rush in the morning, I don’t know if this is ideal for me… the end result is good and while I haven’t really compared it with the fu-pa yet, if I can achieve the same result with the fu-pa in a shorter period of time, I can see myself preferring the fu-pa. I also feel like I felt more “comfortable” with it on using the fu-pa – maybe I was in such a rush that I didn’t blend it properly, but I felt that with the BP013 the cream was still sitting on top of my skin.
I don’t know! I will try it again tomorrow and let you know 🙁 I’m really hoping that it was because I didn’t use the brush properly and tomorrow it will wow me. It really is such a beautiful brush – I think I have something for big, white goat brushes as the ones I love “caressing” the most (gosh, I sound creepy) are the TF Bronzer, the BP013 and the TF Cheek. It’s something about dense, fluffy balls of whiteness…..
Thank you so much Bonnie, you are right, I wish the BP013 was smaller with the same spring and thickness…
I will reply to you later on, I am now at work and will be in long meetings all day long 🙁
What can I say?? Another incredibly helpful chapter for your Brush Book!!!
Seriously! Can I be your agent? I’ll start looking for a publisher 😉
oh Stacy we should join forces 😀
another great post, Sonia, thank you ! On your recommendations I’ll get the J544, I love the G544 for blush, when used with powder blush it gives the most beautiful glow. BTW the little G545 is excellent for concealing under the eyes. I wanted to get a back up of G545 but will probably take something new. I wonder if the new small fu-pa will work for that?
Thank you Nikoleta,
The G545 seems interesting for the shape I did not see that they had a small version, shame they don’t have a J545 but I might still get that one 🙂
The little fu-pa works nicely for concealer, I am sorry I am late with my review 🙁 I have just used it a few times so far, it does not feel like a fluffy brush but it blends like a fluffy brush, weird, that’s why I want to give it some more time and I can assure you that this week I will be needing concealer ! intensive work at the office 🙁
I’ve been lurking about for a couple weeks now and just wanted to thank you for the super-informative posts you do, especially the brush-posts. I’m a former professional makeup artist (now i make perfumes, go figure) and can attest to the wisdom in what you say regarding saving up for quality brushes. I started off small and built up to a respectable collection that has lasted me for MANY years, just buying one or two good brushes when i could until i got more established.
At the time, my collection was largely Trish McEvoy and they have stood the test of time.
Now, i’m very excited to give the Koyudo and Hakuhodo brushes a try – i hadn’t even heard of them until reading your blog!
Thanks again!
~ Twyla
You are welcome Twyla 🙂
you stayed in the “beauty world” that’s fantastic, I am 40+ and I have still not found “the” perfume I love and that my skin loves too 😛
I love Trish brushes, I have a few and I am happy with them, Trish brushes have been around and strong for years !
You know, i can never settle on just one perfume, which is probably why i started making my own, lol! I wear a different scent every day of the week, and people collect them and tell me they do the same!
I never knew i’d actually be successful at it, and now i do what i love, which is fantastic. But i still have a deep love of makeup!
PS your post on Tom Ford eyeshadows has made me decide i need to have them. ALL of them. You’re good :).
I will have to try yours definitely ! 🙂
thank you 🙂
That’s so sweet! Well if you do decide to try my perfumes out, make sure to leave me a note (in the cart area there’s a note-to-seller link) and i’ll set you up with extra samples to try :).
Hi Sonia, what a informative post 🙂 Just when I think you have said it all, you tell us more!
I am seriously thinking about getting a fu-pa and am deciding between 07 (or smaller 08), or slanted 12 (or smaller 13). The slanted brush has a 7 surface vs the 07 which is 5 sided. Do you know what a 7 surface is? The diagram is so strange — there seems to be a bump in the back. If you don’t know, I can email Koyudo and find out more.
BTW, do you like slant brushes for foundation? Sometimes I like them and sometimes I don’t for face/cheek brushes so am on the fence.
thank you 🙂
sorry I don’t have much time to explain but the shapes of the 12 or 13 are just angled
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/2_7_8_12_13.jpg
no weird shape, just angled, which gives more flexibility on the longer side 🙂
Is “slant” = angled ? if yes, I am loving these angled fu-pas, the small one is fantastic size and fantastic versatile flexibility, I am having problems choosing my favorite and I haven’t even been able to try them all yet 🙂
Sonia, thank you, thank you, thank you for the fu–pa photos! You are so kind! 🙂 I know you are very busy at work. I emailed Koyudo to ask about the angled fu-pas and also emailed CoolJapan to see if they would have them on their site.
no problem at all, I have the pictures ready for the review, I just cannot manage to test them faster, I am happy they are soft otherwise I would have no skin left by now 😀
I asked Cool Japan if they will be carrying the fu-pa 07p, 08p, 12p and 13p. They said they are awaiting information from Koyudo and won’t be able to update until end of the month.
I’m really enjoying your basics posts and I’ve tweeted them. Very thorough and helpful, especially for those trying to build a great brush collection. I’ve love if you could do a more in depth eye brushes post!
xxkarima
Hi Karima,
thank you !
I hope I will then 🙂
hi sonia, please, I need your help…recently I saw this video from wayne. At 3:50 he starts talking about amazing hakuhodo stippling brush but there is no info in description bar, so is wayne holding the J4001 or J4002????? And is it true what he says about not exfoliating dry skin???? here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFyZbT4TW4
I love his contouring technique with creme makeup so I want to get the same brushes that he is using and recommending….and would the J544 also do the job of blending the colours together??? like in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI197_8IGzA
from 4:30 he starts the magic of blending
thank you soooo much for your help and great posts:)
Hi Kat,
it’s the big one 🙂 J4001, it’s very soft and it won’t exfoliate dry skin, for me it’s even a bit too “floppy” for the final blending 😀 but it’s really a matter of personal preference. I cannot really “push” the foundation into my skin but it’s simply the best stippling foundation around compared to any other very similar ones !!!
If you are using the same technique (circular buffing) then the J4001 is better for that purpose and you may not need such a “versatile” J544 for example, although not flat like the J4001 you could still blend like that with the J544.
thanks for showing me the links, I had missed these videos ! 🙂
I am so grateful for your help, Sonia. Today, I placed my order for both of them, the J4001 and J544:) the temptation was stronger than me:))))
you won’t be disappointed Kat, you will get so many use out of them ! please let me know when you get them if they fit your needs and which one you end up preferring 🙂
Oh, Sonia!!!(Where are you find that smile faces??)amazing post!!!
I support and understand you so much about brush prices.
As for my mind I always prefer to buy the best quality, the most beautiful design even(especially)
if I don`have money(but I`m super crazy and bad example, becouse I can be very calm and think that it is a good investment even I will choose between food and good brush I will choose the brush) and you know,
I think that is Holy Grail and Real Economy in my mind.%)) And it is easy for me than buying 15 not so bad, but not so good mac brushes or every 2 weeks new collection mac lipsticks. They are very expensive for me(only if I find unusual and very beautiful color haha).
My main rule is to have: 1)great skincare that works(I mean not to buy very expensive, but terrible)
2)great brushes(even if your brush collection will include only 3 brushes)
3)great base make up and blush that will revive me
for my cheapest+still great duo
try this http://www.japonesque.com/catalogue.cfm?fla=productsSplash
brush set 20$
Foundation brush is amazing for that price,very worthy,consiller brush in the same brush set is pleasant to use,eye brush very good as well and lip brush I quite like.
Hi Margaret,
We are all a bit crazy here 😛 no need to feel guilty !!! we love beautiful and efficient brushes and very often we just cannot resist temptation 🙂
Before I was also spending a lot of money on small things, now I spend about the same but in more precise “dreams”, less items but more pleasure 😀
Thank you for sharing with us, I really appreciate it !
Do you have any favorite makeup brand in Rusia (is that were you are ? )
Hi
Looking to buy some Hakahodu brushes- I have someone in London who could get me the Tom Ford creamy foundation brush – how does that compare to the J544- to use with my liquid foundation for flawless natural coverage- they suggested the G5557 but that is angled-??? also looking at TF blush brush – The Hakuhodu eye brushes you have shown looki amazing!
Hi Sonia, I am absolutely amazed on your elaborate descriptions and love for brushes so kudoos on that! I have been addicted to your site for the last couple of weeks! That being said i’m actually not a complete beginner on brushes, I own quite a few mac and real techniques but still am on the look out for better. First to start with I’m looking for a very good complete travel set which covers all the basics. I am looking at the Kokutan mini travel set ( the vermillion seems expensive and big to carry)…any thoughts suggestions on the kokutan or any other/? Like I said I want really good efficient brushes and I’m sure you could guide me better!
Hi Amber, I will be posting soon about what brushes in my collection make my perfect set, so if you could just wait a few more days you will get my answer with more details.
Actually I can tell you that the Kokutan series are absolutely amazing, I have the Kokutan T and the eyeshadow L (for blush/contour), and they are in my top favorites for both their efficiency and their quality.
If you want to travel with them, these series are a great option, great quality for smaller brushes. Also some Billy B are excellent for their versatility and their size. But I still haven’t finished picking all the brushes that make my perfect set 🙂 I am also using the face expert from Real Techniques and quite enjoying it !
Ahhh the perfect brush set aka Sonia’s HG’s!
That will be an awesome post! Really can’t wait!
The Real Techniques face brush is a pleasant addition isn’t it?
oh it is yes, amazing price for a foundation brush !
I just ordered Tanseido YGQ 17, bristles are longer than the shu 18 goat, so I-JUST-CAN-t-WAIT 😀 😀
That’s one post I can’t wait for!
I have the RT Expert Face as well but I’m not a huge fan. It eats too much foundation for me, although I do like it for blending at times. I do like bringing it on trips because it’s cheap but still efficient so I don’t have to worry about damaging my white goat hairs 🙂
The expert face brush is my favorite :)! And thanks soo much for replying…I’m waiting anxiously for your perfect set..!!! Meanwhile I checked Billy B’s brushes…and they look really nice too…..they have a complete big set which apparently is out of stock, (I’ll probabaly have to order the individual sets if i decide to get them. But lets see…will wait for you :)…..
Hi Sonia,
I have followed your blog for a while now. I must say you seem like a true collector of fine things in beauty 🙂 Any professionel MUA could get information on brushes that they’d like to hear about.
I look forward to your post on your perfect brush set, as you have so many. Btw. which ones do you carry around with you either to work or a night out? I take it that you have either found an excellent travel set or bring a few of your favorite brushes?
Hi Jeanette 🙂
thank you so much ! Since I have so many it takes me a while to choose and it’s actually very difficult to select only a few so I decided to make one set under each category “the softest, the best value for money, the most efficient, etc…”
Since I haven’t finished taking all the pics for that post yet I will add the brushes that I take with me everyday in my makeup bag, thanks for the very good idea !
I just made my first Hakuhodo purchase yesterday! I ordered the G5552 foundation brush but plan on using it for cream blushes and also the 210 blush brush for blush or contouring. I’m looking forward to ordering more soon!
so, my little Black Beauties arrived yesterday! I’m am really impressed as they were ordered Tuesday, shipped that same day and arrived within 2 days! (mind you I’m in NY)..they are so pretty standing up in the glass square vase. Luckily I found your blog along with a bunch of others who are easily excited about these beautiful brushes as my husband just can’t get excited about them like me! :0
fantastic !!! that was impressive !
Ooooh. Based on many blogger raves, I was thinking about getting the Le Metier de Beaute concealer brush – but now I’m thinking I’ll skip, and get the J122R or the J4005!
I’d say go for the J’s 🙂