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4 Best Makeup Brushes of 2026, Tested by Experts

We tested sets from BK Beauty, E.L.F., Morphe, Real Techniques, Sigma, and Sonia Kashuk. The runner-up costs less than your lunch, and we found several good foundation brushes.

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Makeup brushes from Morphe, BK Beauty, Sonia Kashuk, Real Techniques, E.L.F., Sigma with makeup
CR tested six popular makeup brush brands to find the most comfortable to hold and the best at providing a smooth application without shedding.
Photo: Lisa Fogarty/Consumer Reports

The best makeup brushes can mean the difference between flawless makeup and makeup that appears cakey, streaky, and separated. That’s how vital brushes are to the application process. 

Case in point: It took me longer than I want to admit to realize that spending $40 on concealer and using my fingers to apply it was as good as throwing money away. My makeup looked okay in my bathroom, but in natural light, it was a patchy mess. My makeup game changed the day I invested in makeup brushes.

In this article
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Best Beauty Products We've Tested and Evaluated
Best Lip Balms

If you’ve shopped for makeup brushes, you won’t be shocked to learn that pricing is all over the map: One brand sells a foundation brush for $8.75; another sells an $80 foundation brush. But you can find good brushes for every budget that are soft and dense, don’t shed or irritate your skin, and have good-quality handles that are sturdy and comfortable to hold.

Whether you’re curious to see if a less costly makeup brush set can expertly blend foundation, concealer, powder, and eyeshadow as well as a more expensive set, or you’re itching to know if that $200 set of brushes you keep seeing on TikTok is worth the hype, you can rely on Consumer Reports tests of makeup brushes from popular brands to find the best ones.

Best Everyday Essentials

Bar soaps, towels, toothbrushes, and other bath products are among the household basics that can make your days easier, more comfortable, and safer.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

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Lisa Fogarty headshot

Lisa Fogarty

Lisa Fogarty is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports. She studied journalism at Columbia University and has written numerous health, parenting, fitness, and wellness articles for The New York Times, Psychology Today, Vogue, and NPR. Lisa is passionate about mental health and is a co-creator of The Hunger Trap Podcast, which focuses on eating disorders. In her spare time she surfs, plays the guitar, and kickboxes. Follow her on X: @lisacfogarty

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