Walking into a beauty store and seeing the wall of makeup brushes can be overwhelming. Do you really need twenty different brushes? The answer is no. A well-chosen set of five to seven essential brushes is all you need to create virtually any makeup look. Here is the ultimate guide to the brushes every beginner should own.

The Foundation Brush

A good foundation brush is essential for achieving a smooth, streak-free base. There are several types to choose from. A flat-top kabuki brush with densely packed synthetic bristles is versatile and works well with liquid and cream foundations. It buffs product into the skin for a natural, airbrushed finish. A stippling brush, with its dual-fiber bristles, is excellent for buildable coverage and works beautifully with lighter formulas like BB creams.

The Concealer Brush

A small, tapered concealer brush allows for precise application of concealer under the eyes, around the nose, and on blemishes. Unlike using your finger or the wand directly from the tube, a brush gives you more control over placement and blendability. Look for a brush with synthetic bristles that are soft and flexible. Use tapping motions to blend concealer rather than dragging, which can disturb the foundation underneath.

The Powder Brush

A large, fluffy powder brush is essential for applying setting powder or finishing powder. The key feature is the softness and fullness of the bristles, which should pick up just enough product without depositing too much at once. Dome-shaped powder brushes are the most versatile, allowing you to sweep powder across the T-zone and press it around the nose.

The Eyeshadow Brush Set

You need at least two eyeshadow brushes for basic eye looks. A flat shader brush is used to pack color onto the lid and is essential for applying your base shade and the main lid color. A fluffy blending brush is used to blend eyeshadow in the crease and soften edges. With just these two brushes, you can create a variety of eye looks from simple one-shadow applications to more complex multi-shadow looks.

The Blush and Bronzer Brushes

An angled cheek brush is perfect for applying bronzer and blush. The angled shape follows the natural contours of the cheekbones, making it easy to apply product precisely. For blush, look for a slightly smaller, dome-shaped brush that places color on the apples of the cheeks and blends outward. For bronzer, a larger angled brush works best for sweeping along the hollows of the cheeks, forehead, and jawline.