Having a good blusher brush can make all the difference between an okay makeup job and an outstanding one. Also known as a cheek brush or cheek contour brush, blush brushes can also be used for bronzer. But, which one is the best? Should you go for an angled, tapered, or compact shape? Which type of bristle is better, synthetic or animal? We have scoured the internet to find out just what makes a good blusher brush.
So if you’re wondering which is the best blusher brush, we have the answers! Read on for our handy buying guide to help you pick the best brush for you. We've also compiled a ranking of the best blush brushes available on Amazon, eBay, and John Lewis, from brands such as Bobbi Brown, MAC, and Real Techniques.
Quick List - Top Blusher Brushes
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It can be difficult to decide which blusher brush to buy. There are so many options out there, and are the expensive brands really worth the money? We take you through the key points to think about when making this decision, from which brush shape and bristle density to suitability for use with different types of blusher.
The most critical parts of the blush brush are, of course, the bristles. These were traditionally made from animal hair, but these days, the vast majority of makeup brushes feature synthetic bristles. While synthetic bristles are generally easier to clean and less porous, many makeup artists still prefer animal hair bristles as they pick up and apply the product better.
However, this is changing as more brands have invested in making better synthetic fibres that are softer, give a better performance than before, and are easier to clean than natural bristles. Our ranking showcases a range of synthetic-fibre brushes, reflecting the popularity and performance of the brushes in the UK market.
In addition, synthetic bristles are naturally a better option for people who want vegan or cruelty-free products, but it might be worth also checking if the brand has any particular certifications, if you are interested in supporting vegan and cruelty-free brands.
If you want to apply a pop of colour to the apples of your cheeks, choose a brush with a small and compact head. The shape of the head helps deposit product in a smaller area, giving you focused application right where you want it.
Round, fluffy brushes and tapered brushes are great for giving you a good, even application, resulting in beautiful rosy cheeks.
For a more chiselled look, use an angled brush that is designed for contouring. The shape of the brush helps you put down colour precisely to get a shaded effect.
Some brushes are designed primarily with powder blushes in mind, while others were developed to work well with both wet (cream and liquid) and dry (powder) blush. Most manufacturers will specify that their brushes are versatile and will suit various types of blusher, making them handy, whatever your favourite style of blusher.
Some brushes don’t specify whether they are suitable for wet and dry application, but as a base level, all blusher brushes should work well with a dry powder blush.
These types of brushes are less common but offer great versatility. They generally fall into two categories: fully retractable and customisable. With fully retractable brushes, the bristles are either all the way out for use or all the way in for safe storage, whereas with customisable varieties the bristles can be adjusted to different lengths to allow different effects.
By retracting the bristles all the way into the handle, it’s easy to keep the bristles clean and take the brush with you in your makeup bag.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dior Backstage Blush Brush N°16 | ![]() | Performance and Quality in One Brush | |
2 | Bobbi Brown Blush Brush | ![]() | Luxurious Bristles for Professional Results | |
3 | Real Techniques Blush Brush | ![]() | The Award-Winning Performance Brush | |
4 | Estée Lauder Blush Brush | ![]() | Perfect for Accurate, High-Impact Colour | |
5 | Real Techniques Custom Cheek Brush | ![]() | Retractable Bristles for Beauty On-The-Go | |
6 | MAC 129S Powder/Blush Brush | ![]() | A Professional-Quality Brush for a Great Finish | |
7 | Eco Tools Precision Blush Brush | ![]() | A High-Performing Brush With Green Credentials | |
8 | Clarins Blush Brush | ![]() | A Luxuriously Brush for Beautiful Contours | |
9 | BareFace Minerals Professional Contouring Angle Brush | ![]() | A Super-Soft, Quality Brush Offering Precision Application | |
10 | e.l.f. Powder Brush | ![]() | For Great Performance On a Budget |
These professional-quality brushes offer both the accuracy to sculpt the perfect cheekbones - thanks to its angled head - and the blendability to give you a soft-focus wash of colour on your cheeks. These brushes are easy to clean, look fabulous and offer great performance. They can also be used with bronzer.
This brush features incredibly soft, synthetic bristles that will help you to create the perfect naturalistic look. Loved by the pros working backstage at Dior runways shows, now you can enjoy that same quality at home.
Popular with professional makeup artists, Bobbi Brown products are renowned for their quality and functionality. This brush offers great performance, with a compact, rounded head made from luxuriously-soft bristles.
The bristle density and shape of the head allow the brush to pick up just the right amount of colour and deposit right where you want it to create a gorgeously flawless, blended look. Offering well-thought-out design and fabulous quality, this brush is well worth the investment.
Real Techniques is one of the leading makeup brush brands in the UK, and it’s easy to see why, with a wide range of attractive, quality brushes at reasonable prices. The award-winning Real Techniques blush brush is one of their bestsellers, gliding effortlessly over the contours of your face to deliver a flawless finish.
The cut and density of the synthetic bristles ensure that your blusher is well blended, meaning you will never walk out with blush streaks! Perfect for cream or powder blush, this brush is ideal for all users and at under a tenner, it represents fantastic value for money.
The Estée Lauder blush brush features synthetic bristles and is ideal for applying liquid, cream and powder blushes. The compact, domed shape gives you a high level of control for accurate colour application. The brush has a high bristle density for high impact colour.
Estée Lauder are known for their quality makeup brushes and this is no exception; the quality is evident in the look and feel of the brush.
The only retractable brush on our list, the Real Techniques Custom Cheek Brush uses innovative slide and click technology to bring you a brush that offers customisable application. This brush can also be fully retracted for storage, making it incredibly handy for versatile makeup on the go!
By sliding the control mechanism, you can control the width and length of the bristles, taking the brush from ultra-fluffy for sheer coverage to medium for a natural look, up to a small compact brush for a bold colour pop.
MAC products are favoured by makeup artists for their quality and functionality, and this brush offers the sort of performance you would expect from the brand. The brush head features synthetic bristles precision-cut in a dome shape.
The soft bristles are cut long to allow them to skim over the surface of your skin, ensuring the product blends well. This brush is also suitable for use with bronzer or face powder. Best suited to powder blushers.
This super-soft synthetic brush is made from recycled materials with a natural, renewable bamboo handle and comes with a reusable storage pouch. Featuring a unique, square cut, it is designed to offer precision application of your blush exactly where you want it to ensure a flawless finish.
Not only does this brush look good, but it also offers great performance at an amazing price - this bamboo brush might not be the most luxurious option, but it's a great choice for affordability.
Featuring an angled head made from super-soft, synthetic fibres, the Clarins brush is perfect for skimming any type of blush or bronzer over the contours of your face. The handle of the brush is made from birchwood sourced from sustainably-managed forests, making these brushes a more eco-friendly option.
This is a really nice quality, versatile brush that offers an accurate application of a wide variety of cheek products. However, other brushes offer a similar level of performance at lower price points, giving them the edge in our ranking table.
Designed to be used with mineral blushes and bronzers, this brush is best suited to use with powder blushers. Made with a premium birch wood handle, the brush head is cut at an angle to optimise precise application for a flawless, contoured finish.
The brush has an attractive design and the handle is nice and chunky, while the brush head itself has gorgeously-soft, dense bristles. However, this brush has been ranked lower on our list as it can be difficult to get hold of.
This versatile synthetic blush brush features a flat head that offers quick application of your blusher. It can be used with cream, liquid or powder blushes, or even bronzers.
This did not score higher on our ranking as the quality of the brush didn’t feel as high-end as many of the others on our list and it didn't have the same precision. However, as the budget option, it gives good value for money.
There's no point in buying a blusher brush if you don't have a blusher! Still unsure about which one is best for you? Don't worry, we've already found some of the best blushes - and some other essential makeup products - available online in the UK. Take a look!
Navigating the complex world of blusher brushes is no mean feat, but we hope that our article has helped you somewhat in narrowing down which blusher will work best for you. Here's to glowy pink cheeks for years to come!
Author: Sonata Winchester
No. 1: Dior Backstage|Blush Brush N°16
No. 2: Bobbi Brown|Blush Brush
No. 3: Real Techniques|Blush Brush
No. 4: Estée Lauder|Blush Brush
No. 5: Real Techniques|Custom Cheek Brush
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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