This Is the Only Brush I'll Use to Set My Makeup (2024)

Clé De Peau Beauté Concealer Brush

“For concealer, I always use Clé De Peau Beauté's Concealer Brush, which is a densely packed flat synthetic brush with a rounded tip,” explains Puckey. “It works great to smooth out concealer and precisely cover blemishes and discoloration.” The domed shape is perfect for packing product over imperfections and getting into all the little under-eye crevices.

Kevyn Aucoin The Duet Foundation Brush

If you’re struggling to part ways with your finger application, I challenge you to take this dual-ended Kevyn Aucoin foundation brush for a spin. The dome-shaped end is designed to mimic the shape and pressure of a finger, so you’ll easily be able to achieve the sink-into-the-skin effect. Then, just flip your brush around to the fluffier side and you can blend and buff out any streaks or cakiness. It’s truly a dynamic duo that’ll work on any formula, be it cream, powder, or liquid.

Hourglass Veil Powder Brush

I don’t bake my face anymore (I’ll leave that beauty trend in the early 2000s), but a good loose powder brush is still an integral part of my routine. Without a swipe or two, or three, of translucent powder, my under eyes will crease and my complexion is going to be wayyyy too shiny. Enter: Hourglass’ powder brush, a dual-ended tool that’s designed to grip every area of the face. The smaller end is perfect for the under eyes, while the fluffier side is ideal for sweeping translucent powder across the entire face. The fibers are made of synthetic PETA-approve fibers as well.

Nars #15 Precision Powder Brush

“I love Nars' #15 Precision Powder Brush, which is a smaller tapered brush made from soft synthetic hair for precision powder application,” says Puckey. “It also works great for powder highlighters.” The small, tapered design is perfect for sweeping a little shimmer on the high points of your cheeks, across your cupid's bow, or along the brow bone.

Merit Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush

Whether you’re working with a powder, cream, or liquid bronzer, this brush has you covered. The shorter handle provides intense control, while the densely-packed synthetic bristles ensure that there is no stark bronzer line in sight. With firm pressure and few, circular brush strokes, it’ll be impossible to differentiate where your foundation ends and bronzer starts. In order to avoiding going too heavy, I recommend dabbing off a bit of product on the top of your hand before taking the bronzer brush to the skin.

Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Dual-Ended Sculpting Brush

Layering cream and powder formulas on top of one another is a trick beloved by the pros—it’s the key to creating long-lasting wear, deeper dimension, and a slightly intensified finish. This brush was created for exactly that. The angled end is great for cream contours or swooping pigment along your jawline, forehead, and the bridge of your nose. Buff it out before layering your powder bronzer over the top with the fluffier end of the brush. If you want to take a page out of Ta’s notebook, flip the script and put your powder on before your cream.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Great brushes don’t have to be crazy expensive. Case in point? This Real Technique Blush Brush. It is perfectly fluffy, which is ideal for applying blushes of the cream variety. Just swirl it in your pigment and lightly stipple the product onto your cheeks. If you want a less intense look, move your brush in light, circular motions—the more pressure you use, the more pigment you’ll see. If you clean your brush, you can also use it for loose powder or bronzer.

Anastasia Beverly Hills A13 Pro Brush

“This is ideal for applying eyeshadow to the lid with maximum payoff,” says Cich. The dome shape and densely packed natural fibers make this little guy ideal for packing color directly onto the lid. It’s going to play nicely with cream and powder products, but it’s one of my personal favorites for applying glitter pigments—I swear it minimizes fallout. Pro tip: You can also drag the tip along your lower lash line for added dimension.

Makeup By Mario E 3 Makeup Brush

I’m not an eyeshadow pro by any means, but I’ll be damned if this particular brush doesn’t make me feel like one. It feels natural in my hand and truly does everything I could ever need. If I hold it flat, it allows me to build up pigment, whereas if I tilt the positioning to a 45 degree angle it’s an expert blender. All it requires is feather-light pressure and my eyeshadow becomes blended to perfection, with no harsh lines or stark delineations.

Mykitco 1.17 Pro My Tiny Angle

“I can't live without Mykitco's 1.17 Pro My Tiny Angle eyeliner brush for perfect wings and kitten flicks,” says Puckey.The brush is made from fine, synthetic fibers and provides optimal control for little detailing. Applying eyeliner with a brush may take a minute to get the hang of, but if you master the technique the world of graphic eyeliner is your oyster.

Tom Ford #16 Angled Brow Brush

Hold this eyebrow brush for a mere five seconds and you’ll feel the luxury. The lacquered handled, expertly weighted design, and angled, synthetic bristles come together to create an intuitive tool that’s equipped for all of your eyebrow needs. It can define your arches, deposit fluffy strokes, and diffuse pigment with ease. The bristles really grip onto the product, so don’t feel like you need to press hard to get payoff—a light touch is all you need.

Bobbi Brown Dual Ended Brow Definer

I’ll be honest: I’m a brow gel and go type of girl. However, if I’m trying to execute a brow moment, this single brush is my best friend. I grab my favorite pomade and ever-so-lightly deposit hair-like strokes into my brows, filling in any gaps and strengthening my border. Then, it’s just a little flip of the brush and I can comb through my brows, diffuse the pigment, and create a natural-looking finish. If I’m really in a pinch, I’ll also use the angled end for eyeliner—who doesn’t love a multi-purpose product?

Benjamin Puckey is a New York-based makeup artist. Born in London and raised in Amsterdam, Puckey’s visionary talent grew from a lifelong love for fashion and art. Puckey’s conceptual approach to makeup has since launched his career into high fashion titles and leading designer brands around the world. Since his breakthrough fashion spread withW Magazinein 2011, Puckey’s work has appeared across international editions of numerous publications such asVogue,Dazed,iD,W Magazine,Allure, andHarper’s Bazaar.

He has also worked with brands including Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Oscar de la Renta, as well as jewelry houses David Yurman and Van Cleef & Arpels. Puckey’s trademark approach to enhancing natural beauty and his pursuit of uncompromising quality resonates deeply with Clé de Peau Beauté, where he now serves as the brand’s Global Color Director.