All the Makeup Brushes You Actually Need — and How to Clean Them

“The biggest misconception about brushes is that you need a hundred of them,” says the makeup artist Diane Kendal, who’s also the creative director of Rabanne Beauty. “Unless you’re a pro, it’s better to have only a handful and wash them regularly.” The New York-based makeup artist Linda Gradin estimates that most people need just three to seven brushes for everyday use — to even out the skin, add some color to the cheeks and create simple, well-defined eye looks. The best ones can also do double duty; you can apply lipstick with a small, angled eyeliner brush, for example. And while putting on makeup with your fingers can be great — skin-to-skin contact warms formulas, helping them to blend easily — you need brushes if you’re looking for polish and precision. Here’s a breakdown of the essential styles to have on hand, and how to clean them.

Foundation

If you prefer powder foundation, a medium-size brush with loose bristles, such as Real Techniques’ Ultra Plush Powder Makeup Brush, can evenly distribute the product for a matte, but not caky, finish. Tightly packed options like Westman Atelier’s Clean Foundation Brush are the most effective at moving liquid and cream formulas across the skin, without absorbing too much product or causing it to streak. And a note that while beauty sponges work well for creating a high-coverage, airbrushed finish, they also hold on to more bacteria and dead skin than brushes; save them for the occasional, formal event.

Concealer

When covering up tiny blemishes or hyperpigmentation, many people “go wrong [by] putting too much product on,” says the makeup artist Lauren Parsons,which can cause caking and bring more attention to the area. Instead, conceal precisely by using a small-tipped brush, such as Westman Atelier’s Spot Check Brush.