15 of the best blusher brushes – plus everything you need to know about choosing the one right for you
If you ask us, blusher is one of the most crucial – and fun – parts of any makeup look. It’s no secret that the right colour, texture and formula has the ability to level up the final result tenfold – and whether you opt for a more traditional pink shade, a barely there peachy flush or something altogether bolder, the impact blusher can have is truly incredible.
As much as it's about the product you use, a perfect blusher finish is very much about ensuring you use the right type of makeup brush to apply it, too. There’s a reason there are so many different types of brush available these days, after all – and the tools you use really can make a huge difference to the overall finish.
It's official: good blush brushes can make blending and buffing even easier and more seamless, but who to know which the best blusher brushes actually are? Here, we asked makeup artist Jesse Walker to share her best kept secrets – so consider this everything you need to know about shopping for blusher brushes (plus some of our all time favourites).
What type of brush is best for blush?
It really depends what kind of blush you are applying. Creams and liquid formulas are easier to apply with synthetic brushes because natural fibre bristles are more prone to absorbing the moisture from the product,” explains Jesse. “Powder blushes apply well with a natural fibre cheek brush, although there are many vegan alternatives available, too.”
What shape and size brush is best for applying blusher?
“It really depends what kind of blush placement you prefer and how big your cheek area is. For example, if you usually apply blush on the apple of your cheeks, you might prefer a denser, more square-shaped cheek blusher brush,” says Jesse. “For a higher, more sculpted placement, an angled blusher brush. But, as with all things makeup, the best tool for you is the one that feels right in your hand, so try a few out and see what works.”
Is a contour brush the same as a blush brush?
“I wouldn’t say so – for powder contour, I prefer larger brushes with a domed tip as they pick up slightly less product and blend it out more seamlessly. You can then build up if necessary rather than accidentally applying too much product in your first swipe,” says Jesse. “For cream contour products, I use a much smaller brush to apply with as the pigment tends to be much denser and you want application to be precise - then blend out with a larger synthetic brush as needed.”
Can you use a fan brush for blush?
“I don’t think fan brushes are the easiest way to apply blush, I tend to use them for highlighter instead,” says Jesse. “Though they can work in an emergency!”
How to choose the best blush brush
“The key thing is to look at your face shape and size, then decide what you want to achieve with blush. If you want to give your face a more lifted and sculpted look, it’s best to use an angled brush and apply the blush higher up on your cheekbones. For pops of colour on the apple of your cheek, a denser brush with a smaller surface area will work better,” says Jesse. “It also depends on the level of pigment in the blusher and how this translates onto your skin tone; if you have very light skin and a very pigmented blush, a more fluffy and less dense brush is better, but if you’re having trouble getting the colour from your blush to show up then you might want to try a brush with a firmer, denser edge.”
The best blusher brushes for 2022 at a glance:
- Best blusher brush overall = Bobbi Brown Blush Brush, £37, lookfantastic.com
- Best blusher brush for liquid blusher = Hourglass No2 Foundation/Blusher brush, £57, cultbeauty.com
- Best blusher brush for cream blusher = Rose Inc Number 2 Blush Brush, £22, spacenk.com
- Best double ended blusher brush = Refy Duo Brush, £16, Selfridges
- Best cruelty free makeup brush = Lush People Powder Brush, £32, lush.com/uk
After more makeup brushes to elevate your tools collection? Shop the best foundation brushes, bronzer brushes, eyeshadow brushes and the best makeup brush cleaner.
Scroll for our full edit of the best blusher brushes of all time.
Best blush brush
Bobbi Brown Blush Brush, £37, lookfantastic.com
Why we love it: This is one of Bobbi Brown’s best selling tools for good reason. The dome-shaped brush easily picks up cream, powder and liquid textures and helps to achieve a wholly natural-looking flush with minimal effort required.
Save when you shop for the best blush brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best blusher brush for liquid formulas
Hourglass No2 Foundation/Blusher brush, £57, cultbeauty.com
Made with PETA-approved Taklon bristles (they’re a hygienic, less-likely-to-irritate alternative to animal hair), this brush is medium sized and the weighted handle helps ensure you’re always in full control so you can always apply product exactly where you want it.
Save when you shop for the best blusher brush with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best ergonomic blusher brush
It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Blush Brush, £30, lookfantastic.com
This cleverly-designed handle will fit snugly into your hand to make blusher application a breeze, and the angled head will hug the contours of your face and glide smoothly across your face. No streaking or patches in sight.
Save when you shop for the best blusher brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best vegan blusher brush
Vieve 121 Blush and Bronze Brush, £28, cultbeauty.com
The newest addition to the growing Vieve makeup family, the 121 brush is made from ‘ultra plush’ synthetic bristles for a natural finish that’s easily buildable. It will help flawlessly blend liquids, powders and creams into skin while the tapered side can help sculpt cheek and jawbones.
Best multi-tasking blusher brush
Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush, £35, feelunique.com
You might be thinking this is on the small size compared to most other blusher brushes, but the size and dome shape allows you to perfectly shade in the hollows of your cheeks, as well as being perfect to apply highlighter or bronzer onto temples, nose and cupid’s bow. This brush really does do it all.
Save when you shop for the best blusher brush with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Best dual fibre blusher brush
NYX Professional Makeup Pro Dual Fibre Powder Brush, £12, feelunique.com
Made with a mix of natural and synthetic fibres, NYX’s powder brush can be used with loose or pressed powders for an airbrushed, natural-looking finish.
Save when you shop for the best blush brush with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Best high street blusher brush
No7 Blusher Brush, £14.95, boots.com
Full, tapered bristles make this a great brush for applying powder based products. Use circular buffing motions to effortlessly blend colour onto your cheeks.
Best blusher brush for cream formulas
Rose Inc Number 2 Blush Brush, £22, spacenk.com
Versatile and super soft, Rose Inc’s blusher brush is one of our favourites. Clever fibre technology and an extended tip make for optimal product pick up, no matter if you’re using a cream powder or liquid formula. The angled cut of the bristles work with the contour of the cheeks and makes for a natural blend and finish.
Best affordable blusher brush
Real Techniques Blush Brush, £9.99, feelunique.com
A medium sized, traditional looking blusher brush, this pink tool from Real Techniques won’t disappoint. The rounded brush is ideal for tapping, swirling and blending blusher onto the apples of your cheeks.
Best blusher brush for travel
Hermes Beaute Blush Travel Brush, £41, selfridges.com
As chic as it is effective, Hermes’ cute travel brush will slip into your makeup bag without taking up much space. Made with natural goat hair, the bristles are soft and durable, plus it’ll pick up product well and is great for blending.
Save when you shop for the best blusher brushes with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best double ended blusher brush
Refy Duo Brush, £16, refybeauty.com
Why we love it: Made from vegan, synthetic fibres, this double-ended brush is ideal for applying blusher, foundation and bronzer. Use the bigger end to stipple product directly onto your cheeks, and then blend it out with the other end for an effortless, streak-free finish.
Best dome-shaped blusher brush
Illamasqua Powder Brush, £28, lookfantastic.com
The bristles in this brush are tightly packed to help create a seamless blend. It’s created for use with powder products, the size of the brush means you can use it to apply powder as well as blusher and the tapered end helps for precise application wherever it’s needed.
Best angled blusher brush
Spectrum Collections Angled Cheek Brush, £8.99, feelunique.com
You can always count on Spectrum to have a brush to fulfil every one of your makeup needs, and the Angled Cheek Brush is no exception. It promises to hug the contours of your cheek for precise application, and it’s made from Taklon bristles and FSC wood handles.
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