What better way to gift your loved ones (or yourself) than with the most basic tools in makeup – brushes? These should always include brushes for loose powder, blusher, eyeshadow and brows. The best brushes are soft, not poky, and are full of bristles. Buying them as a festive set can save you 30-60 per cent off the regular a la carte prices.
Travel Essentials. Bobbi Brown Travel Brush Set offers a face brush, a blusher brush, and three eye makeup brushes, packed in a maroon clutch. $196.
For Touch-ups. M.A.C Snow Ball Brush Kit / Mini gives you a powder brush, eyeshadow brush and an angled liner/brow brush in a cute rose gold pouch. $57.
The All-Rounder. M.A.C Snow Ball Brush Kit / Basic consists of a powder brush, pointed foundation brush, all-over shadow brush, smudging liner brush and brow groomer brush all in silver. $86.
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The Pro Set. M.A.C Snow Ball Brush Kit / Advanced packs an angled powder brush, angled foundation brush, angled large shadow brush, angled small shadow brush and bent pointed liner brush within a glamorous gold pouch. $86.
The Cute Collectible. Shu Uemura Peach’s Favorite Premium Brush Set features a face brush, cheek brush, eyeshadow brush and a two-in-one eyeliner & lip brush with little Super Mario-inspired symbols printed on their handles. $125.
A Basic Starter Kit. Smashbox Drawn In. Decked Out. Multi-use Brush Set has a foundation brush, three eye makeup brushes and a fan brush that’s good for blushers, and contouring and highlighting powders. Comes in a roll-up pouch. $69.
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To Display Proudly. Tarte Artful Accessories Brush Set is a super pretty brush and holder set that offers a cheek brush, complexion brush, highlighter brush, shading eyeshadow brush and blending eyeshadow brush you can show off on your dressing table. $69.
Eyes Only. Urban Decay Most Wanted Eyeshadow Brush Set is a dedicated eye makeup kit comprising three double-ended brushes (that means six different ones): a smoky smudger brush/tapered crease brush, detailed tightline brush/shadow brush and blending brush/large blending brush. $65.
The Most Comprehensive. Zoeva Opulence Vegan Brush Set has almost everything you need. A buffer brush, face shape brush, petit face definer brush, petit fan brush, concealer buffer brush, petit eye blender brush, soft definer brush, cream shader brush, wing liner brush and precision lip brush. $82.
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A version of this article first appeared in the December 2017 issue of Her World magazine.