Budget makeup brushes worth buying & what to use them for

For me, gorgeous glowy Instagram worthy makeup isn’t always about purchasing the most expensive brand, its HOW you apply and what you are using that matters.

So, if you’re not loving the way your makeup is looking rather than switching the makeup it may be the tools you’re working with. And ask yourself this… When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes and blenders? Ensuring the cleanliness of makeup brushes before use is crucial in preventing acne and other skin diseases, safeguarding the skin from potential bacterial and fungal infections.

I personally clean my face brushes once a week and my eyeshadow brushes, after each use to stop them from staining especially if I have been using colour.

I have tried many different brush cleaners with price points ranging from £1.50 right up to £15 for a bottle and I always go back to my trusty surgical spirit – nothing cleans my brushes quite like this and for less than £2 a bottle it’s easy to keep my brushes clean without breaking the bank.

But let’s get to the good bit.

What are the best cheap makeup brushes and why?

Depending on how you like to apply you makeup determines what face brushes are best for you.

Peaches & Cream buffer brush | £7 fabulousmakeup.co.uk

For a medium/buildable coverage always opt for a large face brush, my favourite is the PC19 from Peaches and cream makeup, not only is this brand super affordable the brushes are really high quality and you can purchase separately, as part of a bundle or as a complete set. So there really is a choice for everyone.

Joy Adenuga contour face brush | £11.50 byjoyadenuga.com

For contour opt for an angled brush, this will help sculpt the face, I was lucky to receive the multi-use contour face brush from Joy Adenuga and it has quickly become one of my most used brushes! The shape of the brush is perfect for applying both a liquid contour and for use under the eyes when applying concealer. All of the brands brushes are 100% Vegan with high grade synthetic hair, I’m obsessed with how soft and versatile this brush is, if you struggle with contouring or you have a smaller face shape you will find this brush super easy to use.

Made by Sunday beauty blender | £8 madebysunday.com

For a lighter coverage I would always suggest swapping out your brush for a good quality beauty blender, patting your foundation/tinted moisturizer to your skin rather than brushing on will always give you a much more natural base. It’s also a good idea to use a blender if you struggle with streaks/lines on application.

My favourite beauty blenders are from Made by Sunday, the mix of micro fibre and vitamin e saves you 70% of your foundation giving you that flawless airbrushed feel without caking on the makeup.

Real Techniques essentials kit | £15.99 Amazon.com

If you’re a beginner a great place to start is Real Techniques and they offer a great first kit which includes 5 items including a beauty blender, face brush and small eyeshadow brush.

For eyeshadows, the rule for me is to always have at least four brushes for any makeup look (this can vary depending on the look you are going for)

For your base colour always opt for a smaller pointed shadow brush, this will help to keep the shadow neat and help to focus the colour where you need it, the bigger the brush the harder it is to control where you are applying the colour.

I always have at least two larger, fluffier brushes for blending this is ideal for diffusing any harsh lines and for adding more definition to the eyes.

I also like to always have a small flat brush, which is perfect for packing glitter or pigments to the lids, never use a fluffy brush when applying glitter as it will just go everywhere.

For eyeshadows I use a range of brands my favourites being Peaches, my kit co and Spectrum. All of which you can build up your kit by purchasing separately or as a kit.