Byrdie / Kevin Liang
Never underestimate the importance of a blush brush, especially when blending products. High-quality makeup brushes—including blush brushes—are always worth investing in. The right brush with the best blush can be the difference between a splotchy look and a flawlessly flushed one.
There’s no shortage of blush brushes available. Which ones are worth including on your vanity or in your makeup bag depends on what kind of blush you use, how much you want to spend, and the size and shape of your face. No need to stress or scroll through endless options, though. We researched the best of the best options, tried several ourselves, and got recommendations from professional makeup artist Jasmin Lo before landing on these brushes that’ll give you the perfect glow.
Best Overall
Bobbi Brown Blush Brush
Perfectly angled to sculpt cheekbones
Soft yet dense bristles
Makes blending easy
Bristles can shed with continued use
Size: Large | Bristle Material: Synthetic
Leave it to Bobbi Brown to create the ultimate blush brush. It’s no wonder this brush has won awards; it makes applying and blending blush ridiculously easy. The soft but dense bristles are designed to pick up the ideal amount of blush, leaving behind the Goldilocks amount on your cheeks—not too much, not too little, but just right. The bristles are cut at an angle with a rounded head so they hit the entire apple of your cheek, taking out the guesswork and leaving you with natural-looking, sculpted cheekbones. The price of this brush is no joke, but it’s worth the cost for flawless and foolproof application every single time.
Best Budget
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Affordable and easy to use
Designed by professional makeup artists
Large, fluffy bristles
A little heavy to hold
Size: Large | Bristle Material: Synthetic
This brush was designed by makeup artists Sam and Nicole Chapman, so you can trust it’ll deliver a natural-looking, professional result. The soft, synthetic bristles are large, fluffy, and flexible, so you’ll get a smooth-looking finish without needing to blend excessively. We love that you can use it with powder blush and powder bronzer (so more bang for your buck). It’s a little heavy in your hand (that's the longer aluminum handle) but is still comfortable to use. It's also a breeze to clean. (You do clean your makeup brushes regularly, right? Right.)
Best Sustainable
EcoTools Precision Blush Brush
Made from recycled materials
Cut for precise application
Can be used with cream or powder blushes
May be too soft for hard-to-blend formulas
Size: Large | Bristle Material: Synthetic
A blush brush that is good for your face, your budget, and the planet? We’re sold. This sustainably-made brush is crafted from super soft bamboo and recycled materials and is wrapped in minimal packaging too. The unique square cut of the bristles—all 70,000 of them—deliver precise pigment application so you can sculpt your cheeks like a pro. You can use it with cream or powder blushes and highlighters, too, though we’d save this soft-bristled brush for looser powders. Plus, check out that price. If you're looking for affordable makeup brushes, it doesn't get any better.
Best for Powder Blush
Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush
Works with all kinds of powders
Tapered for precise application
Also works for highlighting
Bristles can shed
Size: Small | Bristle Material: Synthetic
This brush does it all, from contouring to applying powder and swiping on blush, of course. Thanks to its multitasking tapered end, it can highlight your cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow. It can also shade your temples or the hollows of your cheekbones to sculpt your features. We love that this brush works with both loose and pressed powder, and the delicate fibers make for precise application no matter what product you’re brushing on. It’s pricey, that’s for sure, but considering how versatile it is, we think it’s worth every penny.
Best Dual-Ended Brush
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Brush
Makes blending easy with versatile brush heads
PETA-approved
Gives a soft, airbrushed finish
A little heavy to hold
Size: Medium | Bristle Material: Taklon
The only thing better than a luxurious blush brush is a luxurious dual-ended blush brush like this one from Hourglass. It features a duo of soft, PETA-approved Taklon brush heads—one that’s rounded and one tapered. Both make blending ultra easy and help give you a soft, airbrushed look. Try using the rounded side to carve out cheekbones or apply an allover color. The smaller tapered side precisely applies blush and highlighters. Considering it’s a two-in-one design, this one is a solid value. The only downside is it's heavier to hold than others we've tried.
Best for Cream Blush
Merit Tapered Blending Brush
Can be used to blend with all cream products; multiuse
Chic design
Natural-looking end result
Can take some getting used to
Size: Small | Bristle Material: Synthetic
Okay, okay so technically, this MERIT brush is an allover complexion brush. Still—trust us on this one— the dense, flat tip of it works incredibly well with creamy blush products. Since cream blushes tend to get sucked up into brushes more easily, you want one that's designed to spread the product around rather than absorb it, like a foundation or tinted moisturizer brush. Just pat the product onto your cheek area with your fingers, then blend it in using this guy that deserves a front-and-center spot on your vanity. It takes some practice to get the blending just right, but once you get the hang of it, you’re guaranteed a natural-looking flush every time.
Best for Beginners
Fenty Beauty Face Shaping Brush 125
Easy and comfortable to hold
Tapered for precise application
Agnled to sculpt cheekbones
Bristles are a little stiff
Size: Small | Bristle Material: Synthetic
If you find blush placement a bit fiddly, try this foolproof option from Fenty Beauty. It has a slightly tapered brush head and a long, easy-to-hold handle which allows for precise application, meaning you can get a targeted but natural makeup look—even if putting on makeup isn’t your strong suit. The synthetic bristles, which are on the stiffer side, work well with both creams and powders. Plus, it’s relatively small, making it especially good for sculpting the cheekbones of angular face shapes.
Best Tapered Tip
Sigma Beauty Powder/Blush Brush
Diffuses product for a soft finish
Can also pack on pigment
Good value
Doesn't work as well with cream blush
Size: Medium | Bristle Material: Synthetic
The key to this Sigma Blush and Powder Brush’s brilliance is in its shape. The slightly beveled head ensures you get even coverage and a soft finish no matter what color you brush on. It’s quite precise and packs on pigment exactly where you want it. We break this brush out for a bright, poppy cheek, or work with a light hand to get a gentle, diffused color. We love how well this brush works with powder highlighters, too. Just skip using it with cream formulas; its shape lends itself to powders much better.
Best Luxury
Chanel Blush Brush
Works with both powder and cream
Tapered for precise application
Applies smoothly
Can shed after washing
Size: Large | Bristle Material: Synthetic
Superfans of designer makeup will love Chanel’s high-stakes take on the humble blush brush. It features soft synthetic bristles with a tapered design, which allows for precise application of either powders or creams. The oversized brush head is a plus, too; it applies smoothly, making soft, even, and luminous color a breeze to achieve. You’ll pay a luxury-level price, but in exchange, you’ll receive a luxury-level product with the iconic, signature label down the side of the handle.
Best Angled Brush
Laura Geller New York Angled Blush Brush
Sculpts cheeks effortlessly
Affordable price point
Densely-packed bristles
Picks up less powder
Size: Medium | Bristle Material: Synthetic
Go ahead, chisel those cheekbones. This angled brush from Laura Geller creates the illusion of a sculpted look with a simple swipe or two. The high number of jam-packed bristles adds color just where you want it. It can also be used to blend powders and foundations into a soft finish. (Gotta love that versatility!) The bristles are soft, which we adore, but tend to pick up less powder than other similar brushes. Still, for this price, it’s worth adding to your brush collection.
What to Look for When Buying a Blush Brush
- Size and Shape: According to Lo, the most important feature to consider when buying a blush brush is the size and shape: “Ideally, you want a tapered blush brush that is right for the size of your face,” Lo explains. “The size is more important than the shape in my opinion, though," she adds. “You want your brush to be about the size of the apples of your cheek, and this varies from person to person… A bigger brush is fine for bronzer, but when it comes to blush, the placement and result will be affected by the size of the brush in comparison to your face."
- Synthetic or Natural Fibers: What the bristles of the brush are made of is also important, especially when it comes to using cream versus powder product formulations. As a general rule of thumb, synthetic brushes are best for cream and liquid formulas, because they’re a) more hygienic and b) smoother. Natural bristles are less “perfect” so they can work well with pressed and loose powders. However, animal welfare and moral codes come into play here—if you're not comfortable using animal byproducts, you'll want to steer clear of these natural bristles. These days, however, most synthetic bristles are designed to be effective across both cream and powder products, so you don’t really need to use a natural bristle.
- Cleaning: Lo says it’s vital to keep your brushes clean not only to retain a nice feel but to prevent breakouts and skin irritation. “A gentle milky bar soap or a small squirt of shampoo works well," explains Lo. "Wet the brush hairs under a tap, lather the soap or shampoo in your palm, and gently work the suds through the brush hairs. Then rinse thoroughly, softly press out excess water, reshape, and allow to dry overnight, lying sideways on a table with the brush hairs hanging over the edge to the air.”
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Algar has over five years of experience covering the beauty industry and writing product reviews.
We spoke with professional makeup artist Jasmin Lo to learn more about the dos and don'ts of blush brushes for this article.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough blush brushes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.