Creating the perfect makeup look is about more than the cosmetics - you need the right tools too. Even ‘natural’ makeup looks for everyday wear can benefit with the finesse of being applied with the right brush. Just try to attempt a cut-crease eye or winged liner without the help of an eyeshadow brush. It simply can’t be done.
There are myriad brushes for applying foundation, bronzer, blush, eyes and more to your complexion, but unless you’re a pro makeup artist, it can be tricky to know where to start. That’s why having a brush set in your kit is a stroke of genius.
They usually contain every applicator you’ll need in coordinating colours and housed in a matching bag so you can take them on trips with ease.
They also make excellent gifts for the beauty obsessive in your life. We’ve gathered the best around, from big brands to budget, to help you narrow the selection.
Best makeup brush sets at a glance
- Best for an all-rounder starter set for true versatility: Real Techniques Artist Essentials Brush Set - £20, Boots
- Best for makeup afficionados with expansive product collections: Rio 24 Piece Professional Cosmetic Make Up Brush Set - £34.99, lookfantastic
- Best for the eye-shadow obsessed: Morphe x Ariel Signature Look 8-piece eye brush set - £48, Selfridges
- Best for variety and versaility on-the-go: By Beauty Bay Prism 12 Piece Travel Brush Set With Holder - £25, Beauty Bay
- Best for blending, buffing and stippling: Rose Inc The Complexion Brush Gift Set - £54, Space NK
- Best for ulta-soft goodness and precise application: Spectrum Collections 10 Piece Malachite Brush Set - £41.24, lookfantastic
- Best for flawless buffing and proffesional-grade bristles: Otis Batterbee Precision Makeup Brush Set - £65, Otis Batterbee
- Best for luxurious, full-face application while travelling: Hourglass Vegan Brush Travel Set - £315, Liberty
- Best for a capsule collection of the bare necessities: Charlotte’s Magic Mini Brush Set - £40, Charlotte Tilbury
- Best for precision and MUA perfection: Laura Mercier An Artist’s Gift Make-Up Brush Collection - £67, Harrods
Shop our favourites below
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Real Techniques Artist Essentials Brush Set
Real Techniques
Best for: An all-rounder starter set for true versatility
- Number of brushes: Five face and eye brushes
- Synthetic bristles
- Lip smudge brush for blending cream lipsticks and liners
Express your latest look with ease thanks to Real Techniques’ brush set. There are five brushes in this collection, ready to cover, colour, blend and buff face, cheeks, lips and eyes to your desired effect. This set includes a fan-shaped brush, perfect for contouring as well as gliding powder highlighter along cheekbones.
Buy now£20, Boots
Rio 24 Piece Professional Cosmetic Make Up Brush Set
Rio
Best for: Makeup afficionados with expansive product collections
- Number of brushes: 24 face and eye brushes
- Super soft bristles
- Ergonomic and weighted handles
- Faux leather roll-up pouch for travelling
Whether you’re a makeup veteran or just discovering the world of beauty, a great set of brushes will help you master your favourite looks. Containing a whopping 24 brushes, Rio’s set has it all.
The high quality brushes are made with super soft synthetic bristles, are comfortable to hold and come in a faux leather roll-up pouch that make them ideal for travel.
Whether you’re working with liquid, powder or gel formulas, these brushes can handle them all.
Buy now£24.99, lookfantastic
Morphe x Ariel Signature Look 8-piece eye brush set
Morphe
Best for: The eyeshadow obsessed
- Number of brushes: Eight eye brushes
- Suitable for all skintypes
- Includes pencil defining brush and crease blending applicator
Borne from its recent collaboration with celebrity MUA Ariel (Kylie Jenner’s go-to), Morphe’s eight piece brush set is perfect for anyone who already owns foundation and blush brushes, and is instead looking for precision tips and angles to take their looks to the next level.
In cream and honey tones, the brushes include a cream shadow blending brush, crease blending brush, fluffy blend brush, smudging brush, packer brush, a defining brush and a pencil definer.
Buy now£48, Selfridges
By Beauty Bay Prism 12 Piece Travel Brush Set With Holder
Beauty Bay
Best for: Variety and versatility on-the-go
- Number of brushes: 12 holographic face and eye brushes
- Matching brush holder
- Easy clean and antibacterial
- Black and white synthetic bristles mimic natural hair
- Cruelty free and vegan friendly
If you’re in the market for an plentiful and versatile brush collection for a fraction of the price, Beauty Bay have got you covered.
This set is for the girls and guys for whom putting on daily warpaint is a non-negotiable essential. Beauty Bay’s easy clean and antibacterial bristles will ensure your brushes do their job while keeping your face breakout-free.
We particularly love the matching cylindrical brush holder for on-the-go ease. No more fighting your way to the bottom of your makeup back for your favourite blending brush.
Buy now£25, Beauty Bay
Rose Inc The Complexion Brush Gift Set
Rose Inc
Best for: Blending, buffing and stippling
- Number of brushes: Four face brushes
- Vegan friendly synthetic bristles
- Matching brush cup
For some of us, a flawless face is the key to confidence no matter the occasion. If you’ve mastered your very own perfect complexion look, give the products in your arsenal the love they deserve with this collection from Rose Inc.
Another set with a gorgeous matching brush cup, this collection will sit proudly on any vanity – at home or away – for all your blending, buffing and stippling needs.
Buy now£54, Space NK
Spectrum Collections 10 Piece Malachite Brush Set
Spectrum Collections
Best for: ultra-soft goodness and precise application
- Number of brushes: 10 face and eye brushes
- Ultra-soft synthetic bristles
- Vegan and cruelty free
- Crystal-inspired design
Sometimes just doing the job isn’t good enough, the product must look the part. We understand, and so do Spectrum Collections. Crystal lovers and aesthetic lovers rejoice, for this Malachite brush set from the beauty brush specialists has answered all your prayers.
Spectrum Collections is renowned for its beautiful collaborations and plentiful makeup sets, and this one is a sure-fire investment and cult favourite for a reason.
Buy now£41.24, lookfantastic
Otis Batterbee Precision Makeup Brush Set
Otis Batterbee
Best for: Flawless buffing and professional-grade bristles
- Number of brushes: Five face and eye brushes
- Oval and round shaped
- Densely packed bristles for buffing
- PETA-approved vegan and cruelty-free
- Synthetic bristles made from professional-grade nylon
Oval brushes made their way onto the makeup scene back in 2016, but their popularity has continued well into the 20s for a very good reason.
Not only do they contain incredibly densely packed bristles for flawless foundation application and blending, but their handles allow for better grip and precision. This is most notable when it comes to the smaller, oval eyeshadow brushes which are used for professional buffing, packing and blending. This is why this set from Otis Batterbee will play a staple role in your makeup bag. There’s five options for every part of the face.
Buy now£65, Otis Batterbee
Hourglass Vegan Brush Travel Set
Hourglass
Best for: Luxurious full-face application while travelling
- Number of brushes: Six face and eye brushes
- Faux leather case
- PETA-approved synthetic Taklon bristles
- Ideal for flawless editing on-the-go
If it’s luxury you’re after, it’s luxury you’ll get with this vegan brush travel set from cult favourite beauty brand Hourglass.
With PETA-approved Taklon bristles, you can be sure that your face shall only be graced with the finest synthetic bristles money can buy. We’re particularly enamoured with the double-sided Ambient Lighting Edit Brush which can be used with powder, cream and liquid formulas for a flawless filter effect.
Buy now£315, Liberty
Charlotte’s Magic Mini Brush Set
Charlotte Tilbury
Best for: A capsule collection of the bare necessities
- Number of brushes: Four mini face and eye brushes
- Velvet clutch case
- Perfect for blending, touch-ups and flawless finish
Charlotte’s Magic Mini Brush Set is back and better than ever. With this handy velvet clutch case in tow, your daily look will never fall short from perfection - capsule makeup brush collections simply don’t get better than this.
The flat-head, super-soft and densley-packed foundation brush is a particular favourite of ours.
Buy now£40, Charlotte Tilbury
Laura Mercier An Artist’s Gift Make-Up Brush Collection
Laura Mercier
Best for: precision and MUA perfection
- Number of brushes: Five face and eye brushes
- Suitable for all skin types
If you already own the bare essentials when it comes to makeup brushes, and you’re looking to enhance the precision in your looks, this set from Laura Mercier is for you.
It’s an artist’s gift indeed - featuring five of the brand’s most popular brush models, this set allows for premium application of your favourite products.
Buy now£67, Harrods